Showcase

#BLACKBOYJOY - WINNER

WINNER

STEPS OF LIFE by Sun-Luke

PUBLISHED BOOKS ON WATTPAD
THE PERFECT SUGARBABY
THE KILL

ENTRY

"I've been walking in the dark so long, now the light hurts."
*******************************************

"And again." The middle-aged ballet instructor yelled while watching over each student dance the complicated number. Her eyes slowly crept upon the mocha skin, brown-eyed male student who kept missing the most important step in the finale number.

"No. No. No. JT, you have to count each step carefully." Madame Lewis stated. She walked over to him and mimicked the dance steps he was suppose to do with ease.

"The show opening is tonight and you guys are still not whipped into shape. Again from the top!" Madame Lewis yelled as the students began to moan and cursed under their breath.

J.T. sighed internally as he got himself in place ready to dance the number for the hundredth time. Being the black male lead in a white female dominated industry, the pressure was on him. He couldn't afford to mess up. He knew his livelihood depended on tonight's performance and that an opportunity like this would never come around again. Times like this, he wished the love of his life was still here to ease the pressure he was feeling with her kind, thoughtful words.

The music began playing as J.T. readied himself into position. Once his cue came, his feet began to sway rhythmically to the music. He counted in his head by clicking his tongue to the root of his mouth.

Right Foot Click Turn Click Left foot Click

He taught himself this trick once the love of his life was taken from him. It was his way of dealing with stress and maneuvering around daily.

"Parfait." The instructor yelled as the dancers clapped their hands relieved that they didn't have to redo the dance again. "Now go home and get some rest you all, do not do anything that could jeopardize the performance tonight. Everything must go well."

JT nodded his head in agreement and retreated with everyone else to get his belongings from the locker. He was clicking his tongue intentionally while the ballet's musical number played in his head. Once he gathered all of his belongings he realized that he left his phone in the dance studio and rushed to get it.

"Mr. Thomas." Madame Lewis called out, startling JT.

"Yes mam." He answered with his voice wavering and his heart rate returning back to normal.

"Come here."

He followed the sound of her voice as worry and despair clouded his mind. Was she calling him there to take the role from him? JT felt like he had put blood, sweat, and tears in the audition. If anybody deserved to dance as Prince Ivan in the Firebird Ballet, it was him.

"Is there something wrong." He asked trying to sense any emotion in her voice.

"I wanted to tell you this the day you got the role." Madame Lewis gazed at JT wiping the tears from her eyes. She knew she was about to crush his heart and soul but it had to be done for the sake of the ballet.

JT could feel the sudden, somber change in atmosphere and prepared for the worst. He wasn't going to cry. His crying days were over and society preached that men weren't supposed to cry.