The Ballerina

Chapter 9

I left the house at seven. It didn't take me as long as I thought it would, it took me about an hour to get to the Brooklyn Royals Dance Academy. I took a couple back roads, which of course was a lot faster than taking the highway. I parked the car in the already very crowded parking lot.

I closed the car door shut and locked the car, before heading up to the dance studio. I pulled open the glass door, classical music blared loudly through the speakers. Several woman wearing all black walked around, correcting the dancers.

I spotted Niña in the front at the very end of her row. She was flying through the air, incredibly light on her feet. Her thick hair tucked away neatly into a bun. I stood by the door, astonished. I stared at her amazed by her beauty as she danced.

I watched and watched, it was amazing.
"Water break," announced one of the woman.
All of the girls ran over to the benches which were surrounded by water bottles. I watched as Niña walkers over, it was as if she wasn't tired at all. A little after she spotted me and waved with a huge grin on her face. Once she grabbed her water bottle, Niña walked over to me.
"I thought I saw you out of the corner of my eye, but I wasn't sure," she stated.
I nodded unsure of what to say.
"You're early," she stated.
I cleared my throat, rubbing my sweaty palms on my jeans. "I didn't want to arrive late."
She smiled. "So you decided to get here a half hour early?"
I nodded. "I didn't want to keep you waiting."
"Such a gentleman," she laughed, before taking a gulp of water.
I smiled, unsure what to say. Conversation was usually a breeze I almost always had something to one going especially with girls, I always knew what to say, but with Niña I'm a bit speechless.
I watched as she made her way back over to the group of girls, who immediately surrounded her like bees. I decided to take a seat in one of the plastic black chairs that were lined up against the wall. The girls practiced on their own for a while, I kept my eyes on Niña, she was exquisite.
They ended almost ten minutes before eight-thirty. Niña ran over to me and said a bit breathy, "I'm going to take a shower here, but I'll be out in a bit."
"Okay," I said just as she turned around.
I fiddled with my thumbs as I waited for Niña to get out of the shower. Minutes and minutes passed until I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I pulled it out and opened the notification.
It was a text message from Victoria. "Hey babe ;)" it read.
I smirked down at my phone and started to reply, until I heard foot steps on the tile. I looked up from my phone and my jaw dropped in awe.
Niña wore a well fitted short white dress with short brown boots. Her hair fell down at her shoulders in loose curls and had a couple of long necklaces around her neck as well as a few bracelets on her left wrist.
"How do I look," she asked, smiling and turning around in a circle.
"I-I-I-" I said speechlessly.
Niña grinned. "I'll take that as great," she giggled. Niña tucked her hair back behind her ear and I noticed that she was wearing earrings, they complimented her appearance well.
She stood there for a couple minutes as if she were waiting for me to say something, but I was too dazed by her beauty. "So are you just going to sit there and stare me or are you going to take me out to dinner because I'm starved."
"Oh uh yeah," I said before blinking a couple times. I slid my phone back into my pocket and got up from the chair.
"Thank you," Niña smiled as I held the door for her. "So where will we be eating," she asked once I let go of the door.
"That is a surprise," I said, smirking.
She groaned. "You are so-" she stopped her self and started laughing.
I laughed along with her, I just couldn't help myself. "What," I asked, chuckling.
"Nothing," she said, shaking her head and smiling.
"Tell me," I begged.
"You just remind me of someone I used to know," she said her smile fading.
I shoved my hands into my pockets. "I assume your talking about your ex," I stated, looking back up at her.
She nodded slightly.
"He's an ass, he doesn't deserve you," I said. In the back of my mind I knew I didn't deserve her either not after all the things I had done.
Niña nodded once again. "Can we not talk about him right now," she asked in a low voice.
I smiled slightly. "Of course," I said, wrapping my arm around her shoulders.
Niña leaned against me slightly. "You're a sweet guy, Dylan," she said, looking up at me.
I smiled. If only she knew. "Only for a sweet girl like you."
She smiled warmly back at me.
We stayed quiet as we made our way back to the car.
I opened the passenger door for her. "Thank you," she said, sitting down.
Once I knew she was settled in I closed the door and made my way to the driver's side. I opened the door and sat down before shutting the door.
As soon as I started the engine Bring Me To The Horizon started blaring through the speakers. I looked over at Niña, who look petrified as she leaned back against the seat and clung at the sides with her knuckles turning white.
I quickly turned the volume down to low and switched to the radio. "Sorry about that," I said, smiling sheepishly.
"It's fine," she said, relaxing into the seat a little.
I glanced at her from time to time, I wanted her to be comfortable in every way possible. Soon I was out on the highway, speeding and cutting people off as I went.
"You're a horrendous driver, Dylan," Niña stated.
I glanced at her using my peripheral vision and smirked. "So I've been told."
Niña laughed in response and rested her hand on top of mine. She was silent for a few minutes.
"So how are you liking school so far," I asked.
She shugged. "It's okay, I really like Parental Development and English class," she paused and as a smirk crept up on my face, she looked over at me. "Not because of you," she said, rolling her eyes and laughing lightly.
"Yeah okay," I said, chuckling.
"It's true," Niña said, laughing as she playfully hit me in the arm.
I chuckled. "You're really cute when you get defense," I said I'm between laughs.
"What," she asked.
"Nothing," I said, closing my mouth and keeping my eyes on the road. I didn't want to scare her off and my reputation was bound to scare her off at some point. And don't forget the accident. I clenched my jaw as tightly as I could, fighting the urge punch something. The crash played again and again in my head. I could hear the brakes, screeching against the pavement. I could hear their screams. I remember grabbing the steering wheel, trying to get the car back under control, but I couldn't...
"Dylan," I heard faintly. "Dylan," I heard now more clearly and pronounced.
I looked over at Niña who was shaking my arm. "Are you okay," she asked.
I blinked a few times. "Yeah, I'm fine," I stated, clearing my throat.