Branded

Chapter 3

"The cast will be posted tomorrow afternoon. Thank you to all of those who auditioned. Class is dismissed." Ryland, my dance teacher, announces to the class. Other girls at the studio shoot him their best princess looks to try to gain his favor. Of course, it won't work on him. Ryland doesn't play like that.

Ryland approaches me as I finish packing all of my things. He waits until the other girls are out of earshot before speaking. "You have so much potential, Leanne. Don't limit yourself. I expect you to give your all at the performance."

"I made the cast?" I ask surprised.

Ryland nods, "Practice these next few weeks an extra hour if you can. I'll also be arranging private lessons for you. Tell your uncle you'll need Wednesdays off because as soon as you're dismissed from school, I want you here. Just until the recital."

"Oh, alright. Why do I need to practice so much?" I ask kind of curious. I don't dare ask a direct question about who is the lead. He wouldn't tell me if I asked like that.

"Well, you need to do better than your best if you're going to dance the lead role. I'll see you Monday, Leanne." He responds before leaving me alone in the studio. I contain my excitement the best I can.

Once I know I'm out of sight of the studio, I break into a sprint. I need to get back to tell Nikki the news. She's in the kitchen preparing food for me. She usually does before she starts her shift at the diner down the street. She takes good care of me, but I guess its just habit for her. She used to have to take care of her dad once he lost his ability to walk.

"Hey, Lee. You can get a shower before you eat, if you want. Its not quite done yet." Nikki says without looking in my direction.

"Whatcha makin?" I ask looking over her shoulder curiously.

"Fried rice. I know you had it last week, but I still had some rice left so I just kinda threw it together."

I smile, "It'll be great. It always is. I'm gonna grab a shower."

"Alright. I'll probably be gone by the time you get out. I'm working an extra hour or two tonight so I'll see you tomorrow." She says. She nervously glances over at her backpack on the table.

"Didn't finish your homework yet, huh?" I ask

She shakes her head, "No, its done." She's so lying.

"What do you have left?"

"Nothing. Its-" She looks up at me, "Its really not much. Don't worry. I'll finish it on my break."

"What about eating?"

"What are you, my mother?" Nikki says jokingly, "I'll probably make myself something there. Don't worry. I'll be fine."

She continues to cook with a spaced-out look on her face. Something's happened, I can tell. She's not going to admit it to me, but she's upset.

"What happened?" I ask softly.

She shakes her head, "Just my dad again. He was in the hospital again this morning." She pauses for a long time, "I don't know how much longer he's going to last. They said they'd be releasing him this afternoon, but the nurses don't care. They aren't taking care of him like they're supposed to. And I'm so far..." She stops herself short, like she always does when talking about him, "I've got to go. I'll keep the stove on low to keep it warm. Bye"

She grabs her bag off of the table and leave the apartment. Hopefully something will happen at work to cheer her up.

~ *Nikki's POV* ~

It's quieter tonight than most nights. Only seven people have dined here in the past three hours. Its getting colder outside, so I guess most are somewhere else warming up with loved ones. Slow nights like this give me time to work on homework. I hear the jingle of the door bell, but assume its just someone leaving. I don't even bother to look up at the door. I guess assuming really does make and ass out of you and me. A few minutes later, someone is tapping their fingers in front of my book.
I look up startled.

"What does a guy have to do to get some service around here?" asks the guy who'd been here only yesterday.

"Oh, um, sorry." I say hastily getting up and covering my work. Of course I manage to knock a ton of stuff off of the table. I shove as much as I can into my bag before bending down to get the rest. He's already holding it out for me to take. I hesitate a moment and look up at him. I make eye contact and chills run through my body. I manage to say, "Thanks."

I seat him at a booth and run to get him a menu. I leave it at his table and walk away casually. I don't know why, but I have the urge to turn around and look at him again. I do, and he's looking right at me. I try to make it look like I was checking my apron for something, but I know he's not convinced. I can feel his gaze as I walk into the back and hide from him for a few minutes.

With me being the only waitress working, I have no choice but to go out there again and face him. I take his order - same thing as yesterday.

"Are you going to be ordering that every day?" I ask jokingly.

"I'm allowed to order what I want. Its none of your business as to why I do it. I'll give you the order, you give it to the cook, and you bring the final product out to me. Its really not that complicated" he says in the most rude tone ever.

"I was just making conversation. You don't have to be a jerk about it." I say slamming my order book shut and walking away. When his order is done I walk over there long enough to drop it on the table and start to leave again. He clamps his hand around my wrist and pulls me back over.

"Hey!" I protest.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asks.

"Umm back to work. Some of us have things to do."

"I want to talk to you, though."

"Oh well. Maybe you shouldn't have been so rude." I retort. A couple of teen guys who'd been sitting in a corner both start muttering to each other, leave money for payment, and walk out of the diner. They both eye the guy who's holding me hostage warily. "And now you're scaring my customers away."

"I guess I didn't realize you were a student. Is that why you always look so tired?" he asks.

"Of course I'm a student. I'm not some drop-out like you." the moment the words leave my mouth, I regret it, "I'm sorry. Its none of my business. Circumstances could have led to no other option. Let's just start over." I sit in the booth across from him and hold out my hand, "Hi, I'm Nichole and I'll be your waitress whenever you come here to eat... probably"

He takes my hand and electricity shoots through me. I meet his eyes. They're a haunting shade of green with a hint of grey. He smiles at me for the first time, "I'm Michael."