Behind The Spotlight

Chapter 7 --A Fun Afternoon--

It's 6 a.m. and I'm walking towards the studio. I know it's still pretty early, but I don't feel like staying at home any longer. I haven't had the greatest night, but I'm used to it. I'm not a very good sleeper, which isn't really a problem because I don't need that much sleep anyway.

I enter the building and see that Shakes and Ladders is still closed which, now that I think about it, does make sense. I just pass by and walk up the stairs. Either Emily or Michelle always locks down the studio before they leave, but luckily I know where they keep their emergency key. It's in a flowerpot that is standing on the windowsill next to the door. So I take out the key and unlock the door. I walk in and I turn on all the lights. I put my dance bag down by the cubbies in studio A before I walk over to the music box and put some music on. I start stretching and warming up, but it doesn't take me long before I just let my body move the way it wants to move. I really enjoy improving, just moving to the music and getting all of my feelings out. And believe me, I have a lot of them. I almost never show them, but they are there and it feels really nice to let them out once in a while.

"Good morning", I hear someone say to me as I'm working on some ballet. "You're here early", I answer without even looking at the person speaking to me. "Early? Rehearsal starts in 15 minutes", the person tells me. I stop what I'm doing and look over to see Noah. "Ow", I say back to him, giving him a little silly smile, my cheeks turning bright red. "How long have you been here then?", he asks me as he puts down his stuff. "I don't know... two, maybe three hours", I answer him, looking at the clock which says 8:45 a.m. "Why?", he asks as he walks up to me. I just look down at the ground. "And why did you need to leave so sudden yesterday?", he adds as he is now right in front of me. "What's with all the questions?" "I like asking questions." "Why?" "Ahha, now you're doing the same to me", he says as he starts laughing. I join in and before I know it, I'm lifted into the air and tossed around. "You are so cute when you giggle like that", Noah says as I land in his arms like a little child. I give him a smile as our eyes meet. "Why are you staring at me like that?", I ask him, not breaking our eye contact. "Because you're beautiful", he tells me and I look away shyly.

"Wow! Isn't it a little bit too early for romance", we hear someone say. I immediately jump out of Noah's arms and we both look to our left to see both Henry and Finn standing there, kind of laughing at us. Noah walks up to them and gives them both a high-five or a bro-hug or whatever boys do, before Piper, Summer, Kenzie and Richelle walk through the door. "Hi Blakely", they say. I greet them back as I walk over to them. They are talking about their duets and other dances, but I don't really join in.

"Good morning A-Troupe!", Michelle says excitedly as she walks out of her office. We all smile and walk over to her. "Emily is not going to be here today, but don't worry because I am going to start choreographing your team dance", she says and everyone starts cheering excitingly. "So, spread out and let's start", she adds as we all spread out over the floor and start warming up before Michelle starts teaching us choreo.

"Okay A-Troupe, you all did a phenomenal job today", Michelle tells us after four hours of choreographing and rehearsing our team dance. "That's why I have decided to give you the afternoon off. Get some rest, relax and prepare yourself for a few busy weeks because this is just the beginning, the hard work is yet to come. But I truly believe that this is going to be our year", Michelle adds as everyone nods their heads confidently. "Now, bring it in. A-Troupe on three", she says as we all put our hands onto each other's. "One... Two... Three... A-Troupe!", we scream as we all throw our hands up into the air. "Okay, now go and enjoy the rest of your day!" "Thank you", we say to Michelle as everyone takes a separate swing. Michelle walks back over to her office, a few others grab their dance bag and head home, but I really don't want to. Once almost everyone has left, I sit myself down on the bench by the cubbies and look down. "Aren't you going to go home?", I hear Noah ask me. I look up and answer: "No, I don't really feel like it. I'll be alone at home anyway." "Maybe I can help you with that," he says as he grabs his dance bag and guitar case out of his cubby and I raise an eyebrow. "You can help me with what?", I answer as I let out a little giggle. "Maybe I can keep you company?" "At my house?" "Oh come on, you're making it difficult for me on purpose", he answers as we both slightly start laughing. "I'm sorry. I would love to spend the afternoon in your presence", I tell him as I swing my dance bag around my shoulder. "Great, let's go then!", he almost screams as he grabs my arm and drags me out of the studio. "Where are we going?", I ask him as we are now outside, walking beside each other. "You'll see", is all he says back to me and gives me a little smile.

After not even ten minutes of walking, we arrive at a beautiful park. We stop in front of the big, fancy, silver gate. There are so many green trees and colourful flowers, it's mind-blowing. "This is beautiful", I tell him as he looks at me confused. "You've never been here before?" "No", I say back to him as I shake my head. "Come on then!", he screams as he takes my hand and we start walking again. "Where are you taking me?" "Why are you so curious?", he answers my question with his own, starting to laugh. I just let out a little giggle before we arrive at a little pretty place by a river. There is a wooden bench under a beautiful pink blossom tree, looking out over the river. Noah walks up to the bench and sits himself down. I just keep looking at the breath-taking view. "Come, sit down", he says, mentioning for me to sit down next to me. I excitingly sit down as he takes his guitar out of its case. "What do you need that for?", I ask Noah, pointing at the guitar that is now in his lap. "This is my favourite place in the whole entire universe. It's quiet and peaceful, and extremely beautiful. I always come here after a tough day, to make music or write some songs. So I thought I would share it with you because I think that you can use a place like this", he tells me sweetly, looking into my eyes. "Why?" "I think you can use some quietness once in a while. I know you don't like to show it but I can see that you're not only smiles and glitter. There's so much more to you than you let people see", he says, still looking into my eyes before I let my mouth form into a little smile. "Yeah some peace and quiet can be pleasant from time to time. Thank you", I say back to him before his thumb touches the strings of his guitar which makes a wonderful sound. "I wrote a song yesterday evening. You want to hear it?", Noah asks me. I nod my head excitingly before Noah starts playing his guitar. "You came in like a burst in a full of rain; I know if I never see the sun again; it will be too soon 'cause all the light I live in; comes from you and all the love you're giving", he sings. His voice is so incredibly beautiful. I didn't know he could sing like this, or even make music. "You stole my love, my everything; I found you, I'm standing on the rain; If I take a step in any direction; as long as you're there. Throw me a lifeline." He finishes his song by playing a few other notes before putting his guitar back into his lap, looking at me.

"That was beautiful", I tell him, my eyes locked on his and my cheeks already as red as a tomato. "This is just a little piece of the full song. It's about a girl who is pretty special to me", he tells me. "Jacquie?" "No, not Jacquie." "Then, who?" "It's more fun when the inspiration of a song stays unknown. That way, people can wonder and connect with it in their own way", Noah says. "I do like wondering about things. It makes life more interesting", I say as I see him staring at me. "I'm sorry. That must have sounded extremely weird." "I like your weirdness", he tells me sweetly, a smile growing on his face. I let out a little chuckle as I look down shyly. "Don't do that", I hear Noah say as he puts his hand under my chin and lifts up my head, so he can look into my eyes once again. "Do what?", I ask him confused. "Look down like that. There's no need to hide your pretty face. I love your smile. It always makes my day so much better", he tells me and I smile. I don't really know what I'm feeling right now, but I know that it's special. I've never felt this way before, but it can't go anywhere. Noah is such a sweet guy and I don't want to hurt him. And believe me, whenever people are involved with me, they get hurt. "Your cheek looks better", Noah suddenly says, changing the subject and letting go of my chin. "Yeah", is all I say back as I nod my head.

"Look", Noah suddenly says and he points towards the horizon. The sun is slowly moving downwards as the sky turns orange and pink. "I love watching the sunset. It makes me appreciate the wonder of life", he explains me. "I would never have guessed that you are so... uhm... poetic", I tell him, still looking at the breath-taking sight in front of me. He just lets out a little chuckle before saying: "There is a lot that you don't know about me." I turn my head around at look at him. He does the same thing and our eyes meet. His eyes are gorgeous. "It's getting late. Maybe we should go home", Noah says as I quickly look down. "Yeah", I say and nod my head. I wanted to grab Noah's guitar case to give it to him but he makes the same movement, on the exact same moment which makes his hand land on top of mine. I look up at him and we stare into each other's eyes for a while. I can feel a spark like you see in an animated Disney movie. But I immediately remember that I can't act on it. "I'm sorry. Uhm, thank you for the fun afternoon", I say, thanking him. "Yeah, it was fun. We should do it again sometime." "I would like that", I answer him before silence takes over.

"Uhm I'll see you tomorrow at rehearsal", I say as I stand up. "See you tomorrow!", he says before I turn myself around andstart walking home.