Butterfly and Flame - Alina and Evan

Watcher

Alina was packed and ready to leave. She decided to go to the the studio and put in an hour of warm ups and another of dance before heading out. Her ankle had been feeling much better and she was sure it was due to her more consistent work outs. Once in the studio she made her way to the back where the private room was that she preferred to practice in. She chose her favorite music from her playlist and listened through her air pods. She didn't want any distractions and the cocoon she felt around her when the pods were in gave her a feeling of serenity that she craved. She approached the bar and began her warm up by gently stretching side to side sweeping her arms over her head gracefully in tune with the music. Next she did two pliés followed by one grande plié and then rising onto her toes to do a stretch and held it. She mentally reminded herself to take her time and allow for her ankle something she wouldn't have done before the accident. She continued by bringing her feet together pointing towards the bar. In this position, she rose onto her toes moving one foot forward slightly while folding her toes toward the floor and the bottoms of her feet and pressing them into the floor and at the same time lowering her other heel down and pressing it into the floor. She repeated the motion again and again before continuing on. While in first position she turned her hips in and swept her leg in while dragging her toes across the floor before sweeping her leg back out and rotating her hips back again. She continued over and over on both sides until she felt she loosened up. Rising onto her toes she continued through her series until she was ready to move to the floor. The music playing through the pods slowly came to an end as it transitioned to her selections for floor. She felt good and loose and moved to chalk her feet when she heard a noise coming from down the hall. It was loud enough for her to hear through the pods. She removed them and walked toward the door listening intently as she entered the hallway. "Hello...Is anyone here? Luis? Miranda?"...there was no reply. She entered onto the main floor and looked around. She walked across the floor headed toward the back windows thinking that maybe one of her friends had decided to come in early. "Ms. Alina, I didn't mean to disturb you. Will you be using the floor?" She nearly jumped out of her skin and turned to see Miguel standing behind her to the left of the stairs."Miguel you scarred me! Oh my gosh.....I didn't think there was anyone here but me!"....She smiled and relaxed. Miguel was Luis's uncle and he had taken over cleaning and servicing the needs of the studio after Luis's dad died. "I'm sorry. I saw your car out front when I drove up. I made a lot of noise thinking you would here me when I came in. I came to change the lights up in the balcony and I figured you were in the private room and didn't want to disturb you during your practice". Alina laughed and touched his shoulder "No problem at all and no I won't be using the main floor ill just be in the back room".....Alina smiled at Miguel. He was very supportive of his niece and nephew and Natalya. His own children had moved away after college and he and his wife eagerly awaited the news that one day they would have grand kids to fawn over. " I'm almost finished and then I'll be leaving. Will you be hear much longer or should I lock up?"he asked. "I've got it Miguel I still have another hour or so." He smiled at her... "Ok. Have a good weekend then. Oh, and please say hello to your family for me. Tell your mamá that I will be waiting for those Christmas Tamales again this year". Alina laughed and said she would be sure to tell her and waved at him as he grabbed his box of tools and turned to leave. Alina made her way back to the private room and put her pods in again. She glided across the floor effortlessly and leapt without any soreness or weakness in her ankle. She smiled to herself thinking about how her weekend might go and felt herself float through her warm up.

She was beautiful. Just as he remembered her. Her legs were long and lean. He knew how strong she was as her muscles flexed to lift her off the ground and contracted to keep her steady and in a fixed position once she landed. She was so graceful as her arms swept over her head and her hands delicately moved inward and then out as she interpreted the music she heard. He noticed her hair was longer than before as it swung from side to side in her pony tail. The leotard she wore accentuated her body in such a way that he couldn't help but imagine what she looked like underneath it. She was never a girl who showed off her figure in a vulgar way. Always choosing clothing that was not too revealing. He liked that about her, but that didn't prevent him from imagining her in all sorts of attire. He had seen her at the beach with her friends and although she wore a simple black one piece suit she might as well have been naked. It showed off her curves, shoulders and long legs to perfection. To him she was the most beautiful woman he had ever met. He felt a little bit of sadness at the thought that he had provoked her accident but she reacted to him in such a startling way that his anger flared up before he had a chance to control it and it scared her. He stopped and closed his eyes and slowly breathed until he regained his composure. He couldn't think about that now. He was back and he intended to make things right. She wouldn't like it if she knew he was here, watching her. He had promised that she would never see him again. Actually it wasn't really him that promised,but never the less that's what had been agreed upon. However he felt that enough time had passed and that she was healed as he could tell by her dancing. It was time for her to forgive him and he just needed to find the right time to let her know he was back. But not now. Right now was his opportunity to watch and take in her beauty by himself.

Miguel had come in early to the studio to take care of the lighting in the balcony. He had seen Alina's car parked on the side and figured she was practicing as he knew the studio was closed on Friday mornings with no classes until the evening. He removed the ladder from his truck and walked to the side door to unlock it. As he put the key in the lock he realized the door was open because it moved inwards with just the force of the key going into the lock. He was surprised as he knew that Alina was especially careful and responsible with locking up. He checked the lock once inside wondering if perhaps the latch was loose and she had locked it but it didn't catch. After inspecting it he couldn't find anything wrong with it. He imagined that she was busy or talking on the phone and had not noticed that she hadn't locked the door. After locking it he put it out of his mind and headed in the direction of the balcony. Since she wasn't in the main room he figured that she was in the private room. He didn't want to disturb her so he went about his business.

He didn't realize she was on her way to the studio. It was early and he had been up since five in the morning. He had gone for a run and it took him around her neighborhood. Actually, he drove to her neighborhood and the run was just part of the plan in case he needed an excuse as to why he was in the area. It was dark out and he was dressed in all black sweats and a black hoodie. Not smart for a runner in the dark but Ash was quiet in the early morning hours and her neighborhood was asleep. He stood by the tree outside her neighbors house. It was hidden by the bushes on one side and the side of the house on the other. He could see the light was off in her room. He imagined that she was asleep
peacefully under the covers wearing the nightgown she had worn some nights before. He had been watching then too. He had not expected to see her that night but he hoped that he might and suddenly she was there. The moonlight allowed him to see more than he could have imagined. His binoculars were focused on the window when she came into view. He breathed in heavily as he noticed how the light shone on and through her gown. He had been standing on the balcony of the neighbors house slightly behind the beam that supported the awning. In the dark he would have been hard to see. He saw her pick up her cat and he grimaced. He hated cats. He made every attempt to run them over if he had the chance. Her cat was especially vicious. He had attempted to pick it up once after dropping her off from their first date. The cat was sitting in the front step as he had walked her to the door. He had waited until she had gone in. He wanted to get over his fear of them and please her by pretending that he also liked cats. The damn beast swiped at his face and neck and he dropped it like a hot poker. Once they were together again he would get rid of it. She would never know.

After about an hour of watching he saw her slide open the window like she always did allowing the cool morning breeze in. He decided he had to leave before he was noticed as the suns light began to shine on the shadow that he had been in minutes before. He ran to his car that was parked three blocks away. Once in it he thought about going home or going by her house once more. He drove toward her home. He had a new car so he knew she would not notice him. As he turned the corner he saw her pulling out of her driveway. She too had a new car. He had made sure that the insurance would give her the maximum to be able to afford another. He followed her as she made her way through town. When she turned the corner from the library he knew she was headed to the studio. He decided then that he would see her up close. He hung back long enough to watch her go in. He drove his car around the back of the studio and parked his car at the library. He walked up to the studio and saw that the lights were on only in the private room. He walked up to the side door but it was locked. He pulled out his tool kit and opened the lock easily. He made his way quietly through the studio listening for music but heard none. He could hear her steps on the wooden floor as she was exercising. He walked behind the private room to the office adjacent to it. He opened the closet door and stepped in closing the door behind him. He didn't switch on the light but remained in the dark. He removed the knot of wood in the paneling and looked through the peephole he had made over a year ago and looked into the room. There she was. Beautiful as ever. His Alina. He would have no one else. He had waited patiently while she had recovered. He hadn't dated or even left his rooms much. He had honored the silly agreement to never contact her again. Until now. He felt it was time to move forward and come back to Ash. He was so lucky that she had waited too. He would go home and freshen up which would give her time to go home and change too. He would then go by her home and surprise her. He couldn't wait.