The Punk and the Ballerina

Under My Skin

Ari's point of view. September 2005.

I called Dad to pick me up from Sebastian's house. He didn't recognize the address I gave him. He asked me what the hell I was doing in that part of town. I told him it was related to the play. I could feel a lecture coming.

"Thanks for the snack, I'll see you at school tomorrow?" I said as my dad honked the horn.

Sebastian gave a small grin. "Sure."

With my hand on the doorknob, Sebastian reminded me why I was there. "Remember our deal? Nobody knows about my dyslexia."

"Of course," I nodded before leaving.

I walked down the creaky porch steps to get to Dad's SUV. I sat in the front seat.

"Whose house is this?" Dad asked sternly.

"Sebastian Gray's. He's in the play, we were rehearsing," I put on my seatbelt.

"Do I know him?"

"Yeah, he's in my class. He has a band. He's a nice guy."

Dad sat there trying to mentally identify who Sebastian was. "Is he one of those punks with ripped clothing? I didn't think you hung with those kinds of people."

Father was awful judgy. Maybe that's where I got it from. No wait, my mother was the judge of all judgers. "We were just going over lines for the play. He plays my love interest."

"He's just playing right? Is he your boyfriend?"

My cheeks combusted. "No Dad! He's just my friend. It's just business."

Dad drove out of the neighborhood. "I hope so. You need to focus on school and dance."

No need to remind me. It's been my entire life since I was three. It was nice to go rogue and step into an unfamiliar world for one day. A part of me wished I could stay in Sebastian's world for a little longer.

Mom made it a point to lecture me about not going to that part of town without asking her or Dad. I tuned her out with the empty "Yes ma'am."

Maybe I could invite Sebastian over, maybe we could have more Ramen as we rehearsed. Why was I thinking about him again? I tried to drown my thoughts of Sebastian out with Chad Michael Murray, a much better guy to occupy my wandering thoughts.

***

Lunch was getting annoying. Was it just me, or were Mali and Olivia being more obnoxious? All they did was talk smack about anybody that wasn't us. I could see why Sebastian and his friends avoided us. I watched them from afar, laughing and looking like happy teenagers while I was stuck with my queen friends, pretending I enjoyed them when I was sick of their same conversations.

Olivia was talking about a new guy she was seeing. "Travis is cute, but all he wants to do is watch sports. He always invites me to his games. I mean, his family can afford college, it's not like he needs a scholarship."

"We higher class always have so much more to prove," Mali rolled her eyes.

"How's the play going? Is skater boy ruining everything?" Olivia asked me.

"He's doing really well, actually. Who knew Sebastian could act?" I said, for once having positive thoughts associated with Sebastian Gray.

"I guess he has to serve some kind of purpose," Mali crunched her crouton.

I saw Sebastian make his way to the garbage cans. I gave him a small smile, to my surprise, he smiled back.

The girls caught sight of him. Mali couldn't resist. "Every mutt has its day."

"Especially poor and smelly ones," Olivia chimed in.

There wasn't any need of that. Sebastian was a decent guy and he sure didn't stink, I actually liked the way he smelled. Where did that last thought come from?

"Don't make fun of him, he hasn't done anything to you," my voice sharp.

"Chill out, it's just Sebastian," Olivia seemed surprise at my sudden defense.

My face burned. I didn't have to stand up for him, but something about their insults seemed especially cruel. "He hasn't done anything, how about you save it for when he actually screws up?"

They looked at me wide eyed before they resumed eating. Sebastian nodded at me, whatever that meant. I think it was a good gesture. He was a man of few words.

Another play rehearsal. Sebastian was almost off script, before everyone else. I just had a few more monologues to memorize and I would be off book. We were getting ready to rehearse the opening scene where Star introduces herself while she practices her dance on the ballet bar. I caught Sebastian watching me intently.

"How flexible are you?" He asked.

I loved to show off my flexibility. I put myself in position and did a perfect split.

"Shit, don't hurt yourself," Sebastian was taken aback.

I got myself out of the split. "It takes a lot to hurt me physically."

"What about emotionally?"

He was scratching the surface. But I didn't want him to know he was right, it wasn't his business anyway. "I feel and bleed just like you."

Sebastian smirked. "I knew you had more depth than your shallow friends."

"What the hell does that mean?" I put my hands on my hips.

"You're not as nasty as them. You stood up for me even when you didn't have to," Sebastian circled around me. "I could've handled myself, you know."

And there he was, being the stubborn, ungrateful guy that irked me since elementary school. "I guess I don't like when they pick on people unprovoked. You don't even smell bad."

I couldn't stop myself on that last part. Shit. This caused Sebastian to laugh. He had a good laugh, it was almost contagious.

"That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me, Ari. Just because I live on Section 8 doesn't mean I stink."

I buried my embarrassed face in my hands. "I didn't mean to say that out loud."

"Don't fall in love with me, Ari," Sebastian said before he took his victory walk. Like I would ever fall in love with Sebastian Gray.

Sebastian: 1.

Ari: 0.

***

Sebastian's point of view.

I was shocked that Ari defended me when her bitchy friends ragged on me. She didn't have to, I was ready to let them have it, but something about her sticking up for me was...nice.

She got all flustered and embarrassed when she told me I didn't smell bad. It was cute how she hid her face in her hands.

Cute. Why did I think Ariana Townsend was cute? I guess she was attractive in her own way. I could see she was more of a human than a wannabe bimbo heiress.

No, I wasn't crushing on her. I was just enjoying this side to her I never got to know. But why couldn't I stop thinking about her? Or that split she did?

Once this play was over, things would go back to normal. We would go back to hating each other, she would go back to her world, I would stay in mine. The only difference is I would actually have respect for her.

Maybe we wouldn't be enemies again.