The Boxer And The Dancer (Michael B. Jordan)

Chapter 18

•Drea•

"I Just Want You To Know Drea, In Order For Us To Go Through With All Of This, You Would Have To Move To Los Angeles. The Team Is Here, The Studio Is Here. I'd Be Paying For Your Living Arrangements And For All Of Your Things To Be Moved From Chicago To Here." Ms. Dawnya Told Me As We Were Sitting At A Los Angeles Cafe For Our Meeting. "This Is A Big Step But It Would Build Your Career."

"Wow." I Said Overwhelmed At All The Information. "This Is A Lot To Take It."

"I Know Baby But Look, You Are 24 Years Old. You Said Your Birthday Was In A Couple Of Weeks Right? You Don't Want To Wait All Your Life For An Opportunity That's Now Sitting Right In Front Of You."

"Yeah, Your Right."

She Pulled Out A Stack Of Papers And Handed Them To Me But Kept The Copies Of My Photoshoot That I Gave Her. "Go Over These Papers And If You Decide That This Is What You Want To Do, You Sign Them And Send Them Back To Me."

"Okay, I Can Do That."

After The Meeting I Practically Ran To Michaels Truck In The Parking Lot.

"How'd It Go?" He Asked As Soon As I Hopped In.

"I Am Freaking Out." I Said Almost Unable To Breath.

"Why What's Wrong."

"Nothing, I Mean A Lot. Okay Well She Is Going To Open A Studio For Me To Teach Classes But She Also What's Me To Coach Her Dance Team And Do Competitions Which I'm Totally Fine With But That Means I Have To Move To California Plus She'd Find Me A Place To Stay And Pay."

"And Why's That A Problem."

I Looked Over At Him. "I'm Leaving A Whole Life Behind. Friends,
Family, My Mom And I'm Not Very Good With Change. Michael I'm Scared."

"Okay Calm Down, Listen. This Is Your Big Chance. I Know You Love Your People But Sometimes You Gotta Make Sacrafices. Do You Want To Live In Chicago Working Retail The Rest Of Your Life And Give Up What You Always Wanted Or Do You Move To California And Live Out Your Biggest Dream. I Went From Living In New Jersey To California. If I Can Do It You Can To."

"I Can't-"

"What Did You Tell Me When We First Met. Stop Saying You Can't And Stop Doubting Yourself. That's What You Told Me Right?"

"Yeah."

"Okay Well You Gotta Do The Same. You Can Do Whatever You Put Your Heart And Mind To. What Is Your Gut Telling You To Do? Always Listen To Your Gut."

I Took In What Michael Said And I Thought About It. Music Has Always Been Number One In My Life. Writing It, Singing It, Dancing To It. I Want This So Bad. But I Just Don't Feel Right Leaving Behind The Life I've Built. It May Not Be A Perfect One But I Don't Want To Leave My People Behind. My Head Is Starting To Spin.

The Ride Back To Michaels Place Was Quiet. The Sun Was Far From Going Down. The Day Was Still Fresh But There Was Nothing I Wanted To Do More Than Lay In Bed, Which Is All I Ever Do. There Was Another Party That Michael Wanted Me To Go To With Him. Instead Of Protesting I Just Decided To Go. Not Because He Was Making Me, But Because I Was Curious Of The Party Scene For A Celebrity.

It Was Now 2 O Clock And The Party Wasn't Until 7.

"How Did It Go?" Sterling Asked As We Walked In The House.

I Was So Mentally Drained That I Barely Heard Him. I Was Starting To Struggle To Breath And My Heart Was Beating Very Hard. I Knew This Was All Due To My Illness.

"Imma Go Lay Down For A Minute." I Said Walking Up The Stairs.

•Michael•

"Damn, It Was That Stressful?" Sterling Asked Once She Was Out Of Ear Shot.

"Nah I Think Something Else Is Wrong."

"Like?"

"I Don't Know But I Don't Think It Has Anything To Do With The Whole Dancing Thing."

"What Did The Lady Say?"

"That She Would Have To Move To California But She Would Pay For Her Housing."

"Shit, I Wish Someone Was Paying For My Housing."

"Nigga Me Too But Imma Go Check On Her."

I Ran Upstairs And Before I Knocked On The Door I Could Hear Her Talking.

"I Don't Know, It Just Seems Scary Leaving You Guys. I Have Michael But That's Really It And You Guys Don't Have The Money To Be Flying Out To Cali Like That.....I Cant Tell Keena And Ana That Because Their Gonna Want To Ask Michael And I Don't Want To Do That To Him. He's Already Paid For My Flights, Clothes, Photoshoots. I Just...I Don't Wanna Seem Like I'm Using Him For His Money, Marcus."

I Couldn't Hear What Marcus Was Saying To Her But I Pressed My Ear Up To The Door.

"And Then I Have To Talk To My Mom. She Always Hits Me With That 'You're Grown' Shit And Then Treats Me Like A Child.... I Just Don't Want To Be Alone Out Here."

That Last Part Made Me Feel Bad. She Wants To Dance So Bad But She Doesn't Want To Out Here Alone. I Have No Idea What To Do About That.

"Yeah, I'll Talk To You Later."

I Knocked On The Door But Didn't Get A Response. The Door Opened Up And I Peeped Down At Her Small Frame.

"You Okay?" I Asked.

"Yeah." She Said In A Less Than Enthusiastic Voice.

"Talk To Me." I Said Walking In And Sitting On The Bed.

She Closed The Door And Turned To Me Before Walking To Stand In Front Of Me. I Placed My Hands On Her Hips.

"I Can't Even Wrap My Head Around Anything. Most People Would Jump At The Chance To Build Their Career At Such Short Notice. Most People Wouldn't Even Think Twice But I'm Giving Up A Lot. Even If Things Go Well, I Won't Have Time For Certain Things Anymore, Certain People. My Life Could Change Just Like That."

"You Chose What Happens. You Gotta Build A Strong Mind And Keep It. If You Want Something, Don't Ask, Take It. You Can't Let The Industry Run Over You, You Have To Hold Your Ground. You Want Certain Things To Happen Then Make It Happen And If You Want Certain People Around, Keep Them Around."

She Stared At Me For A Moment And Then Leaned Down To Give Me A Kiss. Her Lips Lingered On Mine For A Moment Before She Pulled Away.

"You Never Cease To Amaze Me." She Said.
_______________

Sorry For Any Errors, I Haven't Been Proof Reading And For Some Reason Wattpad Likes To Changed Words And Stuff.

Anyways, If Anyone Cares, I'm Posting The Prologue And First Chapter To The New Mbj Story So...Yeah. It's...Different. If You Like Sci-Fi And Stuff Like That Then You'll Like It.