Backstage: Third Time's the Charm

Vanessa Morita

Vanessa Morita
Grade 11
Dance Program

Beckett leaned over the table. "So, you wanna skip with me?"

I looked back where Cee and Sasha were already disappearing back into Keaton.

"I don't know, Beckett."

"It'll be fun." He flicked some shaggy blond hair out of his face

He really needed a haircut.

"Your mom will kill us."

"What's life without a little risk?"

Beckett had me beat. I had no more arguments or excuses.

I reached up and pulled my hair tie out, letting the long hair fall over my face. "Fine. But I want to be back by sixth period."

Beckett raised an eyebrow.

"Look, you didn't spend the first two years of dance school injured. I want to dance."

"So, serious." Beckett licked his lips before sliding off the bench. I stood and followed him, leaving my school bag in my locker.

Beckett never carried a bag to school.

"So, where are we going?"

Beckett chuckled. "Leave that to me." He slung an arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer to him.
***
"A car show? Seriously?" I wrinkled my nose at the testosterone laden cars in front of me.

"Look at this Dodge Hellcat." Beckett gestured to the cherry red car sitting in front of us.

"It's pretty." I raised one eyebrow.

"Did you just call this monster 'pretty'?"

"Beckett, I'm glad you like cars, but I'm not spending a whole school day looking at them."

"Then what do you want to do?"
***
"You've got to be kidding me." Beckett rolled his eyes as we watched the first grade ballet class through the glass window of the dance studio.

"Cee and I used to come all the time," I squealed. "Look how cute their tutus are!"

"Vanessa, they're six."

"They could be future ballerinas!"

"I repeat: they're six!"

"You're just jaded."

"Vanessa." Beckett pulled me aside from the studio. People continued to pass us on the sidewalk, some of them giving us weird looks. "I'm not ditching school to watch six year olds in tutus."

I crossed my arms. "Well, I don't want to look at cars."

"You're being ridiculous!" Fear flickered through Beckett's eyes for a moment.

He pulled me into the alley next to the studio.

"What's wrong?"

"I saw some cops."

"They'd just take us back to school."

"My mom will kill me if she finds me skipping again. Carly and I skipped to work on our duet for the CAMDAS. She threatened to send me back to my dad."

I softened slightly, leaning against the wall. "You never talk about him."

"Yeah well, we get along fine. I mean he was never around enough for us to get into a fight." Beckett's eyes watched the cop car slowly peel down the street. Once it had passed, he let out a sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry. I mean since we're a couple, we should compromise and I wasn't very nice about the cars," I said.

"I didn't mean to make fun of you and Carly's hobby," he said. "Let's get out of here. You have to be back at school for sixth."

"Or, I have a better idea. One worth skipping sixth period."

Beckett gave me a skeptical look. "Okay goody-two shoes."

"Okay, freshman year I locked Carly in the girl's locker room. I'm not that nice."

"That's a story I'd like to hear." He smiled, a mischievous look flashing through his eyes.

"Later." I grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the alley.
***
"You win!" Beckett yelled. "This was totally worth skipping."

I yanked my steering wheel to the left, veering the bumper car into Beckett's the two vehicles rubbed up against each other. Electric sparks flew through the air as our cars pulled apart, and the line connecting them to the ceiling buzzed, sending a shiver down my back. 

Lights above us flashed, the colors whirling into a kaleidoscope. The annoying carnival music blared through speakers. Other amusement park rides played the same catchy tune.

Beckett laughed, ramming his bumper car back into mine. Our shoulders brushed against one another. I giggled and pushed his arm playfully.

"Hands to yourselves!" The ride attendant yelled.

I blushed, but Beckett only rolled his eyes. After a few more minutes, the ride began to slow.

Beckett and I exited the ride. His hand brushed against mine, enveloping it. He pulled me closer. "All right, Morita. That was fun."

I smiled as Beckett leaned down the kiss me.

My phone buzzed.

Cee: did you and Beckett skip??? Helsweel's mad.

"We should probably get back," I said. "Maybe we can convince your mom you didn't leave."

"One more kiss." Beckett kissed me again.

Just for you @valeriebanda13
Next chapter will be Kax/Becknessa/Casha fluff!