#AllTheThings

Downhill Slide

 Show day. 4:45 p.m.

 Sharna sat in the makeup trailer, making conversation with Peta.

 “So, P, how's Maks?”

 “He’s doing leaps and bounds better. He's in the audience tonight.”

 “That's good. That's really good.”

 Peta reached over and grabbed Sharna's hand.

 “How are you holding up, Shar?”

 “Okay.” She looked down. “Just show day nerves.”

 “Come on, Shar, even if shaky, you always manage to pull a rabbit out of a hat on show day.”

 Sharna knew what she meant. Sharna had this natural stage presence that captured the hearts of everyone.

 “James is out in the hall, watching the choreography and going over it..so…” Her voice faded off when she heard two men arguing.

 More specifically, Val and Maks arguing.

                             ~~~~~

 Peta was stuck getting her makeup done, so Sharna bolted out of the trailer.

 “WELL DO YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE YOU'VE DONE TO HER?! YOU ACT LIKE EVERYONE IS DOING JUST GREAT! YOU HAVE NO CLUE WHAT YOU PUT THIS GIRL THROUGH! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHATSOEVER! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU DID TO THAT GIRL! NO IDEA, MAKSIM CHMERKOVSKIY!” Val yelled at his brother.

 Sharna stayed behind the wall that separates her from the brothers. She didn't want to get into this already hot water.

 “WHAT COULD HAVE I POSSIBLY DONE TO THAT STUPID LITTLE GIRL?!” Maks defended himself.

 He was so appalled by his brother's arrogance that tears started to fall down his face. That's the one thing Maks has never seen: his brother cry.

 “I STAYED UP ALL NIGHT WITH THAT GIRL FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS! SHE HAD PANIC ATTACKS OVER YOU. YOU GETTING HURT MENTALLY HURT SHARNA! SHE GAINED THIS MENTAL BLOCK WHERE SHE WOULDN'T LET ANYBODY LIFT HER, LET ALONE GET CLOSE TO HER! MAKS, SHE HAS TOLD ME THAT I AM THE ONLY ONE SHE CAN TRUST! SHE WOULD FLINCH WHEN I'D GET NEAR HER! SHARNA FLINCHED WHEN JAMES WOULD GET NEAR HER! SHE FLINCHED WHEN DEREK GOT NEAR HER! YOU SCARED HER SO MUCH THAT SHE COULDN'T CONTINUE HER CAREER, HER PASSION! AND THE FACT THAT YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT THE HARM YOU CAUSED TO THE ONE WOMAN I LOVE, MAKES ME WAY TO MAD TO SAY! THERE ARE BRUISES ALL OVER THAT GIRL'S BODY FROM TOSSING AND TURNING DUE TO NIGHTMARES BECAUSE SHE WAS SO SCARED! YOU ARE THE ROOT OF THAT AND YOU CAN'T SEE THAT! LOOK AT YOURSELF! YOU'RE MARRIED, AND HAVE A GREAT HOME! YOU OBVIOUSLY KNOW WHAT UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FEELS LIKE BECAUSE PETA LOVES YOU TO DEATH, BUT IT PAINS ME TO SAY YOU'RE MY BROTHER WHEN I KNOW YOU CAN'T CARE ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST AS MUCH OF A FAMILY AS YOUR YOUR BLOOD-RELATED FAMILY!”

 Maks was so mad. All his anger collected in his hand as he straight slapped Val across the face.

 Maks couldn't stand being around the man he once thought was his brother. He left in a rage of fury when Sharna turned the corner.

 “Oh my gosh! Val, are you okay?!” She asked, crying her own tears.

 His cheek was bright red, and so were his eyes when they met Sharna's.

 “Shar, how much of that did you hear?”

 She didn’t say, her face told the whole story.

 “You heard all of it.” Val accepted the truth.

 She nodded.

 “Babe, I am so, so sorry! That threw you off your game for the live show tonight, and--”

 “Val…” She exhaled.

 “I know what you're about it say. And to be honest, Maks doesn't know anything about the suffering you went through. He can't see it is his fault.”

 He quickly embraced Sharna like his life depended on it.

 “Sharna, I am so sorry you had to hear that.”

 “It is okay, Val, it's nothing I haven't heard before.”