Red Shoes, Black Coffee (Red & Black #2)

25 | Go get them, tiger!

Ada

Ten days to the concert, the preparations are going at a full speed. I operate between practice and school or school and practice, occasionally hitting home to get some sleep. I've rarely seen Jed since his mum's birthday, having exchanged maybe five words total during that time. I feel bad appearing unannounced at different hours and leaving early in the morning, but it's not like I can help it. There haven't been any more burglaries in the dorms but they're still not entirely safe, considering the thief hasn't been caught yet. And I've only started sleeping well recently, coming back home so tired I can barely make it to the bed.

"Ugh. I think my feet are about to fall off." Levi groans, slumping down beside me. He stretches out his legs, propping his feet on the seat before us. " I should have never chosen Juilliard. I don't think I like dancing anymore."

I grin. We're having the first general practice on the main stage, performing under the watchful eye if Mr. Wallis. For some reason, he set his mind on the dancers and made the decision to torture them. I can hear their tormented sighs all the way from the scene to where I'm sitting in the audience. And I'm not even occupying any of the front seats. 

I laugh, glancing up at him from my notes. "Isn't that the whole point of it? To make you hate this so much you resign and become a doctor instead."

"I think medicine studies are less painful than this." He mumbles. 

I send him a pitiful glance and return my focus to my notes. "Where's Julie Ann?"

"Dead, most likely."

I look at him sharply. Levi rolls his eyes. "She went to get something to drink. Relax." He explains. "Somehow she still has enough strength to walk. But she'll be back soon."

Levi lets out a long, agonised sigh and rests his head on my shoulder. His head is heavy and he smells of sweat but I don't move, letting him rest. He needs it more than I need comfort. 

Levi doesn't enjoy the peace for long, though. Barely few minutes after he closes his eyes, Colin slides into the seat next to Levi, bringing bad news. 

"Hey, Levi?" Levi doesn't lift his head but he mumbles in acknowledgment. "I hate to say it, but you need to get up and back on the stage. Mr. Wallis doesn't like something about the turns. He wants you to perform once more."

"God no." Levi groans, his head lolling to the side. It slides off my shoulder, landing in my lap instead, right on top of all the notes. Not minding that at all, Levi rolls onto his back and throws an arm over his eyes. 

"Why does God hate me?" He says to no one in particular. 

"I'm truly sorry." Colin's voice sounds upset but I saw his lips twitch slightly with amusement at Levi's over exaggerated reaction. "But I think -"

"Dancers!" Mr. Wallis's booming voice cuts Colin off mid-sentence. "On stage! Do not let the other students rot waiting for you to perform."

"Oh, how I would like you to rot, you old, cranky son of a -"

Before he can finish, I clasp my hand over Levi's mouth. His warm breath grazes the inside of my palm when she speaks the last word. Giving him a look, I take my hand back and push him upwards with the other. 

"Up you go." I tell him when he scowls. "One last time. I promise that if he tries to force you to dance again, I'll threaten him with something awful."

That spikes Levi's attention. Lifting his brows, he sits up in one fluid motion. "Promise?"

"I promise." I tell him with my eyes glued to my notes. "Now go get them tiger!"