Chapter eight

            I told my dad I was heading down to the dance studio and didn’t wait to hear his response. I hopped into the car and drove through town. It was about eight at night and the roads were pretty empty, so I was able to make it to the studio in record time. As I pulled into the parking lot I spotted Theo leaning against his car. Parking next to him, I got out and ran to him.

            “Is everything alright? I came as soon as I could.” From the looks of it he seemed to be fine psychically but emotionally not so much.

            “Yeah I’m fine, but Ashley won’t come out of the studio. I went in, but she locked me out and refused to come out.” Theo’s blue eyes shown with worry. My shoulders relaxed and I took a deep breath.

            “I’m sure it’s nothing. She may just be practicing late.” I said trying to reassure him.

            “Aurora, I could tell she was upset and she refused to talk to me. Can you go see what’s wrong?” I knew what Ashley meant to Theo. Sighing, I nodded my head and headed into the studio. The lights were still on but no one was at the receptionist desk. I turned down the hall and found a studio with light streaming through the window. I walked up and looked in to find Ashley still in her pink tutu and ballet shoes hugging her knees. I knew there was no point in knocking because she wouldn’t answer. Instead I took the sophisticated approach; I undid the lock with a hair pin. Once I heard a click, I turned the knob and walked in. Ashley lifted her head from her knees and looked at me with surprise.

            “Aurora? What are you doing here?” I walked over to her and sat down next to her.

            “I am here because your brother didn’t know how to use a bobby pin to open the door.” She chuckled as she wiped her tears from her face.

            “Now you want to tell me what’s wrong?” Ashley fiddled with her hands trying to stretch out the time she had to answer the question.

            “It’s ballet. I… I can’t dance anymore.” She sighed as a way of trying to hold her tears back, but it didn’t help. I grabbed her and pulled her into a tight hug as she buried her head into my shoulder. Her body shook with each sob. I didn’t understand what the big deal was, so I decided to ask.

            “Hey, hey Ashley. Everything is going to be fine.” I say as I placed my hand under chin and lifted her eyes to mine. Angrily, she got up and looked down at me.

            “Aurora what do you mean ‘everything is going to be fine’? Nothing is going to be fine!”

            “Ashley calm down. I’m sure you will be able to do something else other than ballet.”

           “No! I don’t want to do anything else! I want to do ballet. Aurora, you don’t get it. I’m in love with dancing. I love the feeling of everyone watching you, of them clapping for as I make that leap and land perfectly. I love the way my blood pumps as I put on my pointe shoes.” Her shoulder slumped as she got her feelings out.

            “If you love it so much why can’t you do ballet anymore?” I ask, getting up from the floor. Ashley took a deep breath and spoke.

            “I have tendonitis in my ankle and if I continued to dance with it I would injure myself in the long run and never be able to dance again.” And at that moment my heart sank. Ashley was in love with dancing like someone in love, but now she had to be separated from it, the thing she loved most. I let a moment of silence to pass by as Ashley recovered from her recent tears and that’s when she asked me the question I had just thought about.

            “Aurora, have you ever loved something so much, but had to give it up or not do it?” I paused and thought about it. There were a lot of times where I wish I didn’t have to give something up because I liked, but only a few where the things I loved had to be given up.

            “Yeah, especially when my parents got divorced. I loved being in a family. I loved coming home to a complete family that was happy and loving. Once I heard the divorce I really couldn’t take it. The day I found out about it, I ran away from home and by ‘ran away’ I mean to the treehouse in your family’s backyard.” Ashley chuckled softly as I continued. “My parents had no idea where I was and went frantically looking for me, even telling your parents, but one person only knew where I was.”

            “Guessing that was Theo?” I smiled and responded.

            “Yeah. He climbed up the ladder and sat down with me and didn’t say a word. He knew how much family meant to me. I used to go around telling everyone how perfect of a family I had. And you know what? For a 11-year-old Theo said one of the most symbolic things. He told me that the things we love most are the easiest to gain, but the hardest to lose.” Ashley stood there playing with the folds in her tutu. She then looked up.

            “First, I can’t believe my brother said that because that is way beyond his thought process and second I get what you’re saying. It’s going to be hard to let go of dancing, but if I take rest, maybe I’ll get back to dancing soon.”

            “Most definitely. You’re passionate abo-“ I stopped mid-sentence. I realized why Theo had sent me in here, why you wanted me to talk to Ashley.

            ‘”Aurora? You were saying something?”

            “Oh yeah. Sorry I had just realized something. But yes, you should take a little rest and I’m sure you’ll be back still a pro.”

            “Aurora, thanks.” Smiling, I told her I would be waiting with Theo in the parking lot. She would need sometime. As I walked out into the night, I began to shiver and goosebumps formed on my skin. Rubbing my arms up and down to gain some heat, I approached Theo, who was leaning against his car looking at his feet. When I was next to him he looked up and saw me slightly shivering. Quickly, he took of his jacket and wrapped it around me.

            “So how did it go? Is she alright?” He asked as he adjusted the jacket around my shoulder. I was a little stunned by his gesture, but I composed myself quickly.

            “Yeah. She was upset that she can’t do ballet anymore. She’s injured.” I avoid Theo’s eyes as I say that as though her sorrow was my fault. Theo runs a hand through his hair and sighs.

            “What did you tell her?”

            “I told her about the night my parents told me they were getting a divorce. I also told her something you said to me that night.” Theo looked at me confused.

            “What did I tell you?”

            “Little 11 year old Theo told me the that the things we love most are the easiest to gain, but the hardest to lose.”

            “I was a pretty philosophical child. Is she going to come out?”

            “Yeah, I talked her into giving ballet a break and Theo, did you purposefully bring me out here?” I ask with a sly smile.

            “Yes and no. I knew about Ashley’s injury and I knew she would have to stop dancing soon, but I didn’t think it would be this soon. I did bring you down here because I couldn’t get her out, but I’m guessing you caught along with the hint.” He bumped his shoulder with mine and gave me a smile.

            “Yeah that love doesn’t have to be an attraction between someone, but it can be a passionate feeling towards something. Not bad Theo. Didn’t think of it like that.”

            “Well I’m glad my ‘adventures of love’ are coming in handy. Have you come up with any ideas for your romance novel?” Theo asked curiously.

            “No, not really, but I feel like there I something missing, something big. I’ll see if I get any romance novel ideas on the double date with Sammie and Josh next Friday. Oh, wait I was supposed to ask you about that. Theo, can you please come with me to this double date thing with Sammie next Friday? I don’t want to be a loner and plus you can give me a full analysis of how they are in love.” I say with a little sarcasm at the end.

          “I heard that sarcasm and I should definitely not come because of that, but since I’m a nice guy I’ll join you.” We continued a little banter until Ashley came outside. Without a word she hugged her brother and he hugged her back tightly. She turned and smiled at me and once again thanked me and got in the car. Just as Theo was getting into the car I called him.

            “Hey, Theo?”

            “Yes?”

            “Thanks.”

            “For what?”

            “For being there when the thing I loved most was lost.” 

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Hey guys,

I updated like twice this week I need like some sort of certificate for this. Anyways I really hoped you guys liked this chapter, might have seemed bland, but I hope you caught onto the subtle interactions between Aurora and Theo. Please give this book a chance its going to be so good once I get to some specific parts. 

This chapter is dedicated to Jennie because GOD DAMN IT THIS CHICK WOULD NOT GET OFF MY BACK AND ALWAYS TELLING ME TO UPDATE SO JENNIE HERE YOU GO. ENJOY 

vote, comment, fan

love,

Alex :)