"And five, six, seven -- no, no, no, you have to wait till I get to eight." AJ leaned against the wall by the stereo, watching the pair with thinly-veiled amusement. He couldn't decide which was more entertaining: Jericho's completely obvious lack of skill or Vienna's flagrant annoyance.
"AJ?" Vienna called over the music, removing herself from Jericho's awkward grasp. "Can I talk to you for a second?" She waved him over to the little door in the back, and AJ followed Vienna into the the cluttered area after sending Jericho a reassuring grin. Sitting on the bottom steps of the staircase, he nodded at her to speak.
"Why exactly is this guy still here? He's got no fucking clue how to dance!" she hissed.
AJ looked up at V, with her frizzy blond curls poking out of her bun, and shrugged. "I mean, why not? Sure he isn't...experienced like we are, but he could learn."
Vienna glared at him, and a smile tugged at his lips. "I mean, come on, V. The guy was a dancing tree in elementary school! We can't just turn that kind of talent away!" AJ chuckled as Vienna slapped him on the arm.
"Fine. I'll give the kid a shot, but I won't be happy about it," V pouted, reaching for the door.
"Don't worry, no one would ever expect that of you," AJ replied, laughing as he followed V back out into the studio. Jericho was facing the mirror that ran the length of one of the walls, practicing the basic waltz footwork AJ had taught him.
Up until the moment Jericho noticed them in the mirror's reflection, AJ had to admit he wasn't half bad. He just needed practice. AJ could remember how much practice he needed before he could shoot a gun as easily and accurately as his dad and he never lost patience with him. Unlike Vienna, AJ wasn't ready to give up on someone so quickly.
"Jericho!" AJ clapped a hand on Jericho's shoulder, standing behind him as they faced the mirror. "You see that guy? Not the tall, handsome guy, obviously, that's me," AJ added with a humorous wink, "But you, you, young tree, we are gonna turn you into a dancer. I guarantee it." He nodded, sending a grin toward Jericho.
For only the second time since he arrived, Jericho smiled. "Thanks, man. That's -- that means a lot."
"No problem, wouldn't say if I didn't mean it. I always speak the truth. V, come on." AJ took his place by the stereo again, resuming the classical piece they had been listening to for the past hour. "Okay, and five, six, seven, eight."
YOU ARE READING
Dancing Through Bullets
AksiAll 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...
