Ascending Paradise (Book 1)***Published now on Amazon!!***

44

After two weeks of basically nothing else but school and practice I was standing in the middle of the dance floor with Maddie setting up for class when she said, "I don't think I can dance Jesy." She said it as if she was ashamed.

"Why not?" I asked kneeling and pulling her chin up to look me in the eye.

"I'm scared." She whispered and suddenly I was hit with memories.

First one was when she was acting funny the first time I told her she was going to be the lead in the show. Then it was when she seemed defeated when I promised her the slot as lead in the second round. And finally when Dom told me about how she was shy about dancing in front of her parents.

She has stage fright just like Dom did.

"Maddie?" I called making her head come back up on its own and her eyes meet mine.

"I'm sorry." She sobbed and let her hand come up and wipe just under her eye as a couple tears came down.

"Oh don't cry... you don't have to dance if you really don't want to. It's not a punishment." I promised and pulled her into a hug when she tried to calm herself.

"Promise I am not ruining things and I'm not letting you down." She demanded pulling away and I wiped her face as she talked and I just nodded.

"You could never let me down Maddie, and we will be fine without you. Remember that." I said and pulled her in for another large hug and this time I picked her up a bit and she laughed as I told her she was heavy.

We did the dance without Maddie as the lead, I was letting Jenny have a turn. She was great, she hit it in all the right places and added something to it that made me see that she was perfect as a replacement for Maddie.

We had given the kids the dance that Johnny and Baby first dance to in front of a crowd. Mostly because it was without the lift.

Johnathan was again the lead role guy because sadly none of the other guys wanted the spot.

After a long couple of practices I let them go into freestyle and I made sure the two leads had water before letting them go off and dance with their friends.

I looked for Maddie and saw her dancing with her friends and she just looked so carefree. Dom was going to pick her up and drive her home picking up some food for the two of us. He told me his dad was making the lasagna Maddie insisted I have and he promised to bring me some when he came back so we could eat together before practicing our own number.

"Alright, let's go through it one more time!" I shouted cutting off the freestyle music and having all the kids turn to me. The got in their places and it started.

I watched as the parents started strolling in and when the final move was done I clapped signaling the parents and the kids all looked behind them shocked and I just laughed and observed all the kids running to their parents and asking how they did. Maddie come towards me though with a sad expression.

I tried to ask her what was wrong but she just shook her head and once the room was cleared out we started the clean-up. She was quiet and I couldn't take it anymore.

"What's wrong?" I asked stopping her and getting on my knees so I was face to face with her.

"Life's not fair." She said and I just looked over her face wondering where that came from.

"What's not fair about it?" I asked but I heard someone coming down and soon enough Dom was in view.

"Come on Maddie. Hey sweets." He said smiling as he made his way over to me. I stood and smiled into his kiss but we broke away when I heard Maddie stomping up the stairs. "What's wrong?" Dom asked looking over at me with a worried expression.

"I asked her the same question and all she told me was that life wasn't fair." I said biting my lip wondering if I should tell him about her stage freight now or when he got back.

"I'll talk to her. See you here in 25 to 30 minutes." He said pecking my lips quickly and then running after his little sister.

I guess I will tell him about her when he gets back.

I finished cleaning and made my way upstairs. Seeing my mom on the phone asking about her guy made me smile. She didn't see me but she was laughing and telling the guy repeated no's and she just reminded me of a love struck teen.

Isn't that what I was supposed to be? Dom and I aren't that kind of couple. We text more than talk on the phone and we have a lot more dates than other kids at our school, but then again those others at our school are mostly jocks and cheerleaders who don't have time to date, and most of them are involved with other people anyway.

I shook my head of those thoughts and walked to the door locking it for now and then turning to the desk.

I pulled out my work and started with all the homework I needed to get done by tomorrow. Which was a lot.

After I was done with Chem I looked at my phone and was shocked to see that Dom was supposed to be here 45 minutes ago. I didn't have any missed calls or awaiting texts so I texted him a quick: Where are you?

I started on with History and half way through my third answer I checked my phone seeing it was now an hour since he was supposed to be here and he still hadn't texted back.

He must have fallen asleep. He did look really tired when he came down the stairs. He would never admit it and will probably feel guilty tomorrow but I just shook it off and would wave it off.

He had to work early mornings on Saturday and Sunday this past weekend so he wasn't able to sleep in. I had told him to just go home and sleep but he wouldn't budge.

Saturday we took Maddie and one of her friends to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and we all had a ton of fun and since Maddie wanted to stay and see the fireworks Dom made us stay just to make her happy. We weren't on the Ferris wheel, in fact we were on the sand and the two girls were playing in the water and cheering as the fireworks boomed and lit up the sky.

Dom told me as he dropped me off that he would be by tomorrow after work and that I better be up. I had done as he asked and he took me to my spot, that he now insists on calling our spot, and he had a whole picnic set up. I of course had to bring my nice fuzzy warm blanket and we just stayed up there until early evening doing homework and talking about nothing really.

With that I knew he was asleep. He was tired and needed it and if he tried to apologize tomorrow for it I would just wave him off.

I looked down with a sigh and finished all my work knowing that even if I did go home now I would be alone.

I was right. When I got home I was the only one there. I fixed myself something small to eat and then made my way to the shower. I took a steamy hot one and then crashed in bed.