Striving for Greatness: A Vladimir Chigvintsev Story

20

What did these guys have against France's best dancers? They are obviously jealous that they haven't been trained by them.

"Penny is an exquisite dancer" I said "she must have learned from her father." I stood up.

I missed her, I wish she would come back so I could smell her Lilac scented hair once more, so she could bring some happiness back to this table, and so I could find my way back to the hotel. Without her I would get lost.

I shook off the thought of her. I'm glad these guys can't hear my thoughts right now, they would not think I'm as tough as I try and carry myself to be.

"Did Artem teach you everything you know?" Julian asked

"No.. I.."

"It was Maksim who taught you." He continued. "And well Penny is a girl, she couldn't possibly have learned her sexy moves from Jacque."

"She learned it from me," Benji busted out laughing once more and this time Julian chuckled with him.

"What?" I asked

"Benji and Penny have had a thing for over a year now.." Julian said and my heart sank. I shouldn't have been thinking about her so much tonight. She is already taken.

"I have two left feet on the dance floor." He laughed "but in her bedroom... When her fathers not home..." Him and Julian gave eachother high fives and did some secret handshake. I was already over it. This is why I don't ever go out back home. I can't relate to their teenage immaturity.

I stood up to walk away and Julian pulled me back down.

"Where you going man, we didn't mean to make things awkward, I really do want to be friends with you. It's an honor man. Like I said, your father is my idol, I'm dying for the day that he dances again."

Again more rumors. Everyone thinks that my father has nothing to do with dance, it may be true but I know he is going to be something again.

"He's going to be my new assistant coach this fall." I said proudly, hoping that he actually will be. "I am going to be co-trained for six months by the greatest dancers to ever step foot in a ballroom. So yeah you better watch out in March when I walk away with that trophy."

Julian looked jealous he knew that would be a dream team and that I really could be some competition for him.

Penny came walking back over without the girls. I was hoping she was ready to walk back to the hotel, I was dying to get away from these jerks.

"Here comes my partner now." Julian smiled. "Pen, are we going to win the championship, like we won French nationals together."

"Duh." She said, with all smiles on her face and confidence radiating off of her. "Second place is not an option."

I rolled my eyes. Of course Julian is her dance partner. Of course my chances with her have gone from good to bad to never going to happen. I was so into our dance we shared together that I almost believed that by some miracle I could convince her to come to America to train with me and to be my partner.

Looks like this American girl, Macy, will have to do. I was missing Valerie right now. If she hadn't left me I would have had something to brag about.

• • •

Penny walked me home and I spoke nothing about the guys until she asked,

"Did you like them? I was hoping you would hit it off with them. Your father.. Er, Maks.. Was very adamant about you getting out and making some friends here."

"Yeah." I lied "thanks, Ben and Jules were awesome." I pretended like I hit it off so well with them that I used their nicknames.

"I think so too." She smiled and then made her way back in the same direction we had just come from. I looked up to see that I was standing alone in front of the hotel.

I walked up and went straight to sleep, I didn't care about those guys. I cared about getting enough rest to be ready to work harder than ever before tomorrow when I'm back in the studio.