Branded

Chapter 4

I look at the clock. It reads 6:17. A moment later, the diner's door opens and he walks in. Michael comes in at the exact same time every day. Maybe its a little weird, but his smile always makes my day. Even though he only seems to be smiling when I'm talking to him. He just scowls at everyone else. I turn, suppressing a smile, to see him only to find I don't need to. Michael walks over to his booth with his arm around a girl.

~ *Lee's POV* ~

"Again," Ryland says studying me critically. I do the routine again, but know its not adequate enough. His voice is demanding, "Again. Do you not want to be in this recital or no?"

"Yes, sir." I say softly and feel a tear run down my cheek. I wipe it away as fast as I can. I try again and just can't do it.

"Sit down, Leanne." Ryland says as he sits on the floor. I follow his lead. He sighs deeply, "What's bothering you?" I shake my head as I find a sudden interest in the ties on my pointe shoes. Ryland won't accept that as an answer.

I sigh, "Its a lot of things."

"Lee, I've taught you ballet for six years. I moved out here with you to be able to continue to teach you. You can talk to me."

"My parents are disappointed in me because I got an 87% on a paper I should have gotten an A on. They won't even answer my phone calls. My best friend is acting weird. I'm worried about her. And now I can't even dance right." The tears start to rush out and I can't stop them.

Ryland wipes them away, "Anything else?"

I start to shake my head, but then I stop. There is something else, "There's this boy... He's always at the station because he's always in trouble, but I think he's taken a liking to me."

"And how do you feel about him?"

I look at him confused, "What? He's a punk. Of course I can't stand him."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes, I'm quite sure." Lying through my teeth.

"Well, maybe your "hatred" for him will be motivation for you to try harder." Ryland stands and helps me to my feet, "When will your friend be here to film you?"

"She should be here soon. She had to finish working before she could come here. She said by seven." I reply and start to dance again.

Nikki walks in about fifteen minutes later. Her face is ashen and it looks as if she's been crying recently. But, she wears her fake smile to appear as if not a thing in the world was wrong. I wish she wouldn't do that.

"Hey Lee. Sorry I'm late. The cook burned himself so I had to wait extra for a meal." she says fighting something in her throat. She's definitely been crying. She pulls out her video camera and Ryland gets her situated. She's going to film me dancing and then Ryland will show me tips where I can improve. Like in the Blind Side.

I look at the clock just before we begin. Its twenty 'till seven. When I look again, it's nearly ten o'clock. My brain doesn't think it's possible, but my aching muscles scream at me that it is. Ryland looks at me with approval, "Come in tomorrow and we'll review the material. Can you make it, Nikki?"

"Um, I'm not sure. I can try, but I may have to work. I'll give Lee the video in case I can't." She says glancing nervously at the clock.

"Well, please come if you can. I want you to see where she needs to fix things so you can help her when she's practicing on her own." Ryland says. He offers us a ride home, but we decide to walk. Nikki walks in silence, like she always does, but she seems uneasy.

"What happened today?" I ask curiously.

She looks up startled, "Hmm? Oh, nothing. Its not important. I'm just tired, that's all."

"You've been crying recently. I can tell."

She shakes her head, "No I wasn't crying. I promise. I ran to the studio and the cold air made my eyes dry and watery."

I don't believe her, but I drop the subject. We walk in silence after that. We almost arrive to our apartment when Nikki stops dead in her tracks. She stares ahead with a hurt look on her face that she quickly masks with a fake smile. I look ahead and see a guy with dyed hair with his arm around a girl: a stereotypical punk/pretty-girl combination.

"Hi, Michael," Nikki says faking normalcy.

"Oh, hey Nick." He says before glancing in my direction, "Who's this?"

"It's my best friend Leanne," she starts, "Lee, this is Michael. He eats at the diner from time to time."

"Oh, Hello," I say with a polite smile. Michael doesn't look amused. There's an awkward period of silence where Michael's girl and I glance at each other and then at Michael and Nikki. But the two only look at each other.

"Well, see you tomorrow, Michael." Nikki says before continuing towards the apartment. Her pace is faster and I can still see her as she runs up the stairs towards where we stay. I turn and see Michael's eyes following her. He glances briefly at me before continuing on with his girlfriend.

I jog towards our building and run up the stairs. Nikki left the door ajar for me. I close and lock it once I'm inside. Nikki is pacing back and forth in her room when I find her. "Who was that?"

"Just some guy who comes in and eats at the diner often."

"He isn't just some guy? He's got you all worked up. How often does he come?"

"Every day at 6:17 pm. Without fail. He orders a double cheeseburger, no tomatoes or lettuce, with a side of fries and black coffee. Sometimes he orders a shake, but that's only when he's in a a good mood." she recites his order without even looking up from the floor that she's concentrating so hard on.

"You like him, don't you." I ask.

"No, yes, I don't know. He's so confusing. He seems like such a loner and then BANG he brings in a girl I didn't even know he had."

"Awww, you're heartbroken." I say

She stops and looks up at me, "Is that what's wrong with me?"

I nod, "Don't worry. It will pass. He's a punk anyways. Not worth your time."

"You're probably right... but he's just so..." she flops face down on her head and moans really loud.

I laugh a little, "Sleep well, Nick."

She jumps when I say that, "Don't call me Nick." She pauses for a while before continuing in a quiet voice, "I mean, I don't care. Good night. Stretch before you sleep, Lee, so you won't cramp."

I close her door as I leave. Its nice to have some ammunition against her for when she bugs me. If she found out about Calum's crush on me, though, she'd give me a hell of a time. Oh well, he hasn't been in the station for a week. He's probably dead somewhere. 'Or maybe,' I think to myself, 'He's changed and is a good boy now.' Yeah, right.