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

47

I went into school remember how my mom took in all of Dominic's words last night. She didn't cry, she seemed to have turned into stone before getting angry. Not at me but with him. When I got to my locker I noticed that people were staring and talking and I could only imagine that our break up had gotten around the school as well as the many reasons we did break up.

I ignored the looks and whispering and stuck with Megan until first period. I was asked in each class why I wasn't here yesterday but was seen in the parking lot after school. Each time I shrugged sniffled and looked away. It worked like a charm and each one of them told me to forget about the excuse and to be aware and ask any questions I might have today.

Mrs. Jenkins even hugged and pushed my hair out of my face.

Now my mom told me it was my job to tell the kids about the competition being over. For us anyways. I had forgot to tell her about the call so I waited until we got home so she could hear the message.

I was down stairs setting up when Maddie came down with a huge smile. I guess she didn't know what happened between her brother and me yet.

"Hey." She came over and hugged me tight and I smiled down at her before gulping.

"I'm surprised to see you here." I said truthfully. I would think Dominic would do anything necessary to get her out of my class.

"Mom brought me. Dom said he was too busy." She said with a shake of her head and a roll of her eyes. "Did you two get into a fight?" She asked looking up at me innocently.

"Something like that." I said wondering how she will take this news. I hope she doesn't take all the blame on herself.

"He needs to get over it." She said shaking her head as she started helping me set up for class.

It was only 15 minutes later when my entire class stood in front of me talking and sounding so happy about the progress they made so far.

"I know this is going to be very upsetting news not to mention a major let down but we're out of the competition." I heard the protests and the questions and the objections and I just bit my lip waiting for them to quiet down.

"Why?" Was shouted loudly and I saw Johnathan with tears forming in his eyes and I took in a deep breath.

"We're out because my partner quit. One of the majors rules is that you have to have the same lead dancers throughout the entire competition and since we cant do that we can't be in it." I tried my best to keep from looking at Maddie and I knew she was already blaming her brother by the small angry look on her face.

"But we all worked so hard." Jenny said looking out at all the other kids who seemed to nod and deflate at the realization.

"We can always see if you all can dance in a big talent show or something. You all do go to the same school." I said happily and they all started shouting how great that idea was and I just smiled as they all wanted it to happen.

I made a mental note to talk to my mom about talking to their principle about making it happen. I didn't want to disappoint any of them.

"Do you all want to still rehearse?" I asked loudly making all the kids agree in some way. I played the song and they all practiced nonstop until class was over only getting free time at the end.

When everyone was gone I was left cleaning up. Maddie had stayed behind again. I was a little shocked but I guess her mom never took her here because she was busy. I just hope it was her mom that came to pick her up.

"It's because of me isn't it?" Her small broken voice had me snap my eyes up to meet hers.

"No honey. He just misunderstood you and the way he took it wasn't in a good way. He took out his anger on me and well, things didn't end well. It is in no way your fault." I said getting on my knees so I was looking up into her face. I rubbed up and down her arms comfortingly.

"I'm sorry." She said hugging me close and I just held her for a bit.

"Maddie!" I heard Dominic's voice and pulled away quickly but was happy that he hadn't come down.

"I'll tell him everything... I'm sorry again." She said running to get her bag before running up the stairs.

I continued putting up the mats before grabbing my bag and backpack and heading upstairs. I saw my mom was still here and smiled.

"I yelled at him." She said not looking up from her desk as I approached. I just smiled as I let my bags fall as I sat in the chair and started resting my hands on the counter. "Pizza tonight?" She asked looking up from her paperwork.

"That sounds good. Hey mom... can you do me a favor?" I asked thinking about the promise I made to the kids at the beginning of class."

"As long as I am not killing him I am good. Shoot." She said looking up briefly showing me she meant the first part.

"I wanted to ask you if it was at all possible to talk to the kid's principal about letting them preform at some talent show. They were all bummed out so bad when I said that they weren't going to get the chance to actually dance in the competition." I said and sent her a smile as she looked up speechless. "You have to admit they have come a long way... just think of all the practice hours they have done... shouldn't they get to perform for someone?" I laid it on thick even batting my eyes at her as I finished.

"I'll see what I can do." She said shaking her head at me but I saw her smile she was trying to suppress.

"Thank you mom, they really will love it." I said and she nodded going ahead and finishing off the paper work. I knew I was going to wait on her to finish before we stopped to get pizza.

I put my head on the desk and let my eyes drift shut. I had taken a small nap but jumped awake as I heard pounding on the front door. I stood from my chair wiping my face and looked at my mom. I waved her down wondering if it was her boyfriend coming to find her. I smiled as I rushed to look around the corner but stopped dead seeing Dominic on the other side. He spotted me and I saw he was begging me to open the door but I didn't.

I turned and walked back to my mom's office ignoring the banging. "Who is it?" She asked standing as she saw me coming back in.

"Him... what is he even doing here?" I asked and I knew she didn't need more information.

"Get home... take the back door. I will stop on the way home to get pizza." She said kissing my forehead. "I will also handle him." She had a wicked gleam in her eye and I just smiled a bit at her as she pushed us both out of her office. "Go down stairs now." She said pushing me as we past the front doors.

I walked past not sending him another glance as I started my way down stairs.

"Ms. Lucas, I just need to talk to her." Dominic's frantic voice had me stop just in case something else happened. "Please I just need to apologize." His words had me shaking my head as I continued down the stairs.

"She'll be back in just a moment. You can sit in front of the door if you like." She didn't say the second part too nicely but I just kept walking.

I smiled at my mom's words because as she told him to wait I would already be gone. I walked to the back door and opened it carefully and as I walked out let it close as soft as possible.

I got to my car, seeing his truck right next to it. I shook my head and started it up and made my way to the driveway. There were too many cars and I heard a few beeps and just as I was about to have a small break I heard someone shout my name.

I looked knowing that it was Dominic and lost the chance. He started running to my car and I started panicking. But just like in all those romance movies he was just too late at getting to my car as another break appeared.

I got to the house and just waited for my mom. She said that as soon as Dominic was out she hurried to grab our things and locked the door up before getting into her van and coming home. He didn't follow and I think she felt a bit sorry for him.

She told me how he was sitting where he had been when I finally drove off as she left. As soon as I got full I told her I was taking a shower and then going to bed. As I laid in bed I realized that I would have to see Dominic sometime tomorrow.

Not to mention my birthday was next week.