Dancing In His Arms

Chapter 51

Two fridays after the competition, Aria is sitting in her bed finishing off some homework her professors assigned.

As she is about to get under the covers her phone rings. Rushing over to answer it she doesn't have time to check the caller ID. Otherwise she would of ignored her fathers call.

"Hello?"

"Come home Aria." No hello, how are you. Nope, just a straight up order. Clearly her father hasn't changed.

"I can't do that, I have school." faking confidence in her argument, she finds herself slumping at her fathers next words.

"You're almost done. There is no need to pay for the diploma when you already know the information. That's the only reason I let you go, to better the store."

"But-" trying in one last effort, she gets cut off.

"No buts. Things are tighter around here, and short of taking another job we won't have enough money to go on. So come home so I can fire that idiot employee before we go broke."

Hearing the exhaustion in his voice, guilt creeps into her. She knows without a doubt there is no way her father would get a second job, let alone allow her mother to get one. Her mid 40's mother and nearly 50 father aren't getting any younger, soon they won't be able to move the heavy inventory around. And if they happen to fall...

"Okay" 

...

Six days.

Six days it has been since anyone heard a word from Aria.

When she didn't show up to Saturday practice Luke called Donny to see if she happened to sleep in, thus sleeping through all the calls and texts he sent her way.

However he learned that she had left a note saying

'Had to go home. I'm sorry to do this. Don't know when I'll see you again, Aria'

Thinking something came up and she would be back in a couple days, Luke used the time to come up with dance moves for them and hang out with Ace, Tim and Jack more.

But now, after almost a week, it's her birthday and still nobody has been able to make contact with her.

Fed up, he makes his way to her apartment in search of Donny.

Letting himself in he hears a screech before a thud. Looking over at the couch he sees a disheveled Donny looking over the back, presumably at the woman who apparently fell behind it startled upon his entry.

Paying no mind to it he gets to the point. "Where the hell is Aria"

Sighing, Donny runs a hand down his face before slumping in his seat. "She's asked me not to tell you. Or anyone else for that matter."

Seeing red, Luke marches over and grips him by his undone collar, pulling Donny up till he is in his face.

Speaking in a deadly calm voice, he lowly says. "Where is she. Now Donny."

Pursing his lips in an inner debate, he finally caves. "She is working for her parents hardware store. I at least got her to agree to take online classes instead of dropping out completely."

"Address" he demands.

"I'll give it to you...on one condition." Ready to nearly throw him across the room, Luke reins in his emotions long enough to let him know to go on.

"Bring out girl back Luke."