She's A Good Liar

Chapter 1

Chapter 1~ (3 weeks later)

            “Mrs. Marie, I've finished my chores,” Alice smiled up at the dance teacher. It was late on a Thursday afternoon, and Alice was at the dance studio. Everyone had left for the day, and that was the time that, when done with her chores, Alice liked to practice.

            Mrs. Marie looked down at her and her face softened into a small smile. “The floor is yours, but my new assistant teacher is coming in to practice. They should be here any minute now.” She looked down at her watch and scurried off to her office.

Alice pulled her auburn hair into a ponytail and walked over to the radio to pick a song from the iPod they used for dance class. She picked a slow one and walked to the middle of the room.

Suddenly, the motions took her. Her surroundings disappeared as her body melted into the music. She felt poised and relaxed as she moved across the floor. Her motions told a story, as most lyrical* dances did. This song was about a girl who was kicked down all of her life, and all she wanted to do was dance. She meets a boy and finally gets the chance. The dance was meant for two people but Alice could never find a partner.

The song slowed to a stop, and Alice was nearing the last move. She was supposed to lean to the side and point her leg to the ceiling, but she lost her balance, leaning too far, and ended up stumbling to the ground.

“At least put a chair there, if you’re not going to dance with a partner,” she heard a voice say from the doorway.

Alice glanced up from the floor and saw a boy, about her age, standing with his shoulder pressed to the door frame. He was young looking, and he was definitely a foreigner. She jumped up quickly, “Uh…you’re not supposed to be in here.” She glanced down at his street shoes, and groaned at the mess she would have to pick up again.

He laughed at her. “Uh…I’m pretty sure I am.” He threw the duffle bag he was carrying onto the bench at the side of the long room and walked over to her. “How about you try that last part again, perhaps with a partner? You should probably redeem yourself, because that was pretty embarrassing.” He crossed his arms over his chest. She could smell his cologne, it smelled like mint and pine.

“I’m alright,” she replied, walking over to her own bag, which was tossed underneath the bench.

“Are you afraid?”

“…Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

She turned around to look at him. He had natural brown hair but dyed it blonde at one point, but then decided to shave off the sides, leaving blonde locks on the top of his head, which were pushed around messily in every direction.

Alice eyed him questioningly. Why was this strange boy testing her patience like this? She didn’t know what country he was from, but maybe they were naturally nosy to strangers they just met. He was staring at her, like a child stares at a piñata, right before they smack it in half.

“Center of the floor, on one knee, and be sure to support my arm and hip,” Alice groaned, defeated, and walked over to the music, rewinding it a few seconds before the last part.

She began again, replaying the last few steps, and when the time came, she took a deep breath and lifted her leg in the air.

She felt one of his hands grasp her side, right below her armpit and the other hand on her thigh, to keep her steady, which instantly turned her ears and cheeks pink. She pushed away suddenly, embarrassed but also a little excited that she finally completed the last move the right way.