Jericho and Vienna sat with their backs against the mirror that covered an entire wall of the studio. AJ had left to take his fidgety little brothers back home, trusting Jericho and Vienna to continue practicing. Instead, Jericho and Vienna took it as their opportunity for a break.
Vienna flexed her toes in her little silver ballroom heels. Bruised and bloodied from pointe, but nevertheless beautiful in their ability and power.
At the moment, Jericho was pretty sure he had less talent than Vienna had in those toes. "You know, I'm beginning to think this was a ridiculous idea."
Rather than provide a word of encouragement or a pat on the back, Vienna snickered, "I coulda guessed that the moment you walked in here."
Jericho closed his eyes and wiped a hand over his face. "What else am I gonna do, though? I need that money."
"For what? Gonna buy yourself a Benz, white boy?" When Jericho didn't answer, Vienna -- miraculously -- shut up. "Hey, Jerry." Rolling his eyes, Jericho looked over at Vienna, who was staring at him with that intensity she usually reserved for special things, like dancing and teasing AJ. "Whatever you need the money for, it seems like it's important. AJ and I are here to help, okay?"
Silence.
Jericho leaned down toward Vienna. Closer, closer...
"Whoa, dude, what're you doing?" Vienna had scooted away from him, eyebrows raised up into her mass of blond curls.
"Sorry. Sorry, I thought...Did I completely misread that moment?"
Vienna let out a sharp laugh. "Not only that, but you completely misread me."
"What do you mean?" Jericho asked, watching as Vienna stood up and began redoing her hair.
Through the bobby pins she held in her teeth, Vienna muttered, "I'm not into you, man."
"Oh." Jericho stared at his shoes, at the scuffed black leather and frayed laces that used to belong to AJ. AJ had outgrown them, but they were still a bit big on Jericho. "So...are you, um -- you're gay?"
Vienna giggled, a bobby pin tumbling from her mouth to the ground. Jericho stared at it for a second before handing it back to her. "No, I just don't want to kiss you. Problem?" She had finished with her hair and stood over him, hands on her hips.
Clearing his throat, Jericho murmured, "No, no problem."
Vienna held out a hand to him and helped him up. "Whatever. Let's get back to dancing, ladies' man."
YOU ARE READING
Dancing Through Bullets
ActionAll pasts are hard to hide from though it's harder to do so when they're chasing after you. Jericho is running from his past. AJ is a dancer who will get sucked into that past when they unexpectedly meet. When Jericho first steps foot in the studi...
