The Beauty Is A Beast

Chapter 6: Coffee And Confessions

A/N: Hey guys! Staying up really late to finish this because it may be the last time I update for a little while. SORRY! I don't wanna put it on hold but It's inevitable. Just stick with it please! Hope it's long enough. HAPPY SUMMER! :D

Sleep is the only thought that comes to mind. It's 8 AM, the morning after the party, I'm still in this god forsaken dress, my feet hurt like hell, and I'm dragging a half-asleep Tommy up 3 flights of stairs. He giggles and stumbles, and all I want to do right now is strangle him.

We finally make it up to my bedroom, where we both instantly collapse on my bed. Tommy begins snoring and holding me like a teddy bear, cutting off my circulation. I try to push him away from me, but it doesn't work. So I just snuggle in next to him and close my eyes.

When I wake up, I check the time on my phone and see that it's 10:45 AM. I lay back in bed and close my eyes for a moment, when I realize that today was one of my last days of ballet rehearsal until my recital. I sit straight up and scream. Tommy sits up, groaning in pain and clutching his head. "Damn, Anna, turn down the volume. And the sun while you're at it."

I roll my eyes and hurry out of bed towards my closet, shutting the doors behind me. I look all through my shelves to find my black leotard, pink tights and skirt, and my legwarmers and shoes. As I hurry to put everything on and stumble out of my closet, I see Tommy reaching into the drawer of my nightstand for the Advil I keep in there on mornings like this.

I hear my phone going off and he throws it to me. Checking the caller ID, I see the name of my ballet teacher, Madam Krikov. I groan and hit the answer button. "Hello?" I politely say into the phone. The only reply I get is a string of Russian curse words. I roll my eyes and say, "Calm down, Madam Krikov, I'm on my way."

"No," she snaps. "You work at home today. I want you to do 100 plies and releves, 50 double pirouettes, hold an arabesque for 3 minutes, and if it turns into attitude you start over! I want you to go through your routine 50 times and it better be en pointe today! If you aren't here at 5:30 AM sharp tomorrow feeling more sore than you ever have before, then I'll know you didnt' do it!" And with that, she hangs up.

I sigh, and begin stretching.

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I show up to class on time the next day, tired and sore. I want nothing more than to pass out on the ground, but Madam Krikov has other plans for me. I practice my routine En Pointe, and anytime I mess up Madam Krikov makes me start over. When I finally finish to Madam's liking, I breathe a sigh of relief and head to the locker rooms. But Madam stops me on the way.

She smiles a tired sort of smile. "I just want to let you know why I made you work so hard today."

Then she sighs, "It has been a VERY long time since I've had the honor of coaching and teaching and moulding so much talent in one dancer. You're the best student I've ever had, and I hold you at higher esteem. You are like a daughter to me, and I want you to know that no matter what you do, or how you go through life, just remember: No matter what you perform, there is always an audience. They may not like what you do, or they may love it. But as long s when the last note hits you know you gave it your all, that's all that matters." And with that, she walks into her office.

The entire time I'm changing into my legwarmers and flats, I can't help but get a little teary-eyed. She gave me good advice that she knew I would understand, and I know I have a friend in her.

As I walk out into the brisk mid-morning air looking for the nearest coffee shop, I decide to forgoe the Impala and walk around. The streets are filled, but not as bad as during the week. It's about a month until Halloween, and already shops are setting out their Halloween decorations.

My mind wanders, and before I know it I'm thinking about a certain blue-eyed boy. When I realize that I'm daydreaming,I take out my iPhone and decide to play some music as I walk the streets to keep myself distracted.

I see a little local coffee shop and walk inside, and the song for my recital dance comes on as I wait in line. I use this oppurtunity to rid myself of thoughts of James, completely immersing myself in mentally going through the moves of my dance.

The song is almost over by the time I make it to the front, so I pull out the earbuds and look  at the menu. "I'll take the caramel machiatto with a shot of espresso," I tell the barista in a dull voice. Then I hear an all-too-familiar voice behind me add smoothly, "As well as a grande hot cocoa, put it on my tab Johnny." The barista named Johnny just nods and makes the drinks.

Once Johnny hands me my coffee, I instantly head for a table in the back, silently praying that James doesn't follow me. Of course, he does, and I sigh and head for a booth in the very back. We both sit down, and I sip my coffee in silence waiting for him to say something.

While waiting on him to speak, I steal a glance at him just to see how he's holding up. His black eye is fading already, and the large gash on his face no longer needs a bandage, but still looks not-so-great, but at the same time it fits the bad boy image he tries to give off, with the black leather jacket and tousled hair.

After a few moments of brooding silence from him, James finally sighs and says in a tired, quiet voice, "So you're my knight in shining armor. Or should I say, 'Princess In Shining Armor'?" He looks me in the eyes with a calm demeanor. "I know it was you, so don't try denying it. While in the video they couldn't see your face, Your hair gave you away. You seem to be the only natural brunette around here," he adds with a chuckle. Then he turns serious. "I don't know why, but everywhere I go, BAM! There you are. It's strange, but at the same time not bad. I mean, I don't understnad why but I'm not complaining because you're kinda pretty and stuff and if you helped me out the way you did you can't be so bad and I'm rambling so I'm just going to shut up now," he says the last part sheepishly, a blush coming to his face.

I smile, and reply, "I've seen you around a lot lately too, in more ways than you think. I helped you because the guy you stupidly decided to pick a fight with is scum and deserved to get his ass kicked. Taking care of you was because you looked like shit and obviously needed help. The princess thing on that note I left was just a snide comment due to your drunkenness."

James looks at me, puzzled, those cobalt orbs staring at me with a sparkle of childlike curiosity. I sigh, and explain, "When I told you my name that night, you said it sounded like the name of a princess."

He chuckles. "Yeah, that sounds like something wasted-me would say." Then his eyes widen and he exclaims, "Oh yeah! I don't know your name! But hopefully we can start over from here and you can forgive me for my jerky and drunken mannerisms." He sticks out his hand from across the table, a boyish grin gracing his handsome features and his blue eyes shining. "Hi, I'm James. Can I please be your friend?"

I feel my face stretch into an expression similar to his as I reach my hand out and take his. "Annalise," I say. "You can only be my friend if you call me Anna, though," I say with mock seriousness.

His eyes sparkle with happiness as he breathes out, "Princess Anna."

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OKAY! Thoughts? Too fast? Too slow? Too much? Too little? PLEASE SEND FEEDBACK!! :D Love you! Have a safe summer! :)