Dancing With Raven (The Young Shakespeareans Series) (9 page)

“Is that too tight?”

“It’s snug, but I can still feel my fingers.”

“Good.”

He retrieved the smallest pair of boxing gloves he could find in the bin, and slid them over the wrap. “That’ll keep injury at bay.”

As Raven instructed Tori on the proper way to work out on the heavy bag, her eyes kept straying to his handsome face. Despite her height, he had at least five inches on her.
He makes me feel almost petite.
Under his tutelage, she managed to punch the bag with much better technique than before.

“You’re a natural,” he said. “With your dance background and build, you’d make a great martial artist.”

At the mention of her dance background and build, her thin veneer of self-control cracked. With a choked sort of a sob, she sank down on a bench and began to cry.

Raven’s eyes widened. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“It’s not you. I’m just…having a bad day.”

“I’ll get you some tissue.”

He loped off toward the bathroom and rushed back with a wad of toilet paper. “Sorry, but your choice is this or scratchy paper towels.” His gaze fell to her hands. “Let me help you off with those.”

“Thanks.” After Raven removed her gloves and the wrap underneath, she was able to mop her tears and wipe her nose. She stood. “It’s getting late. You go on, and I’ll see you in class.”

“We’ve got a few minutes. I can wait.”

As Tori splashed her face with cold tap water in the bathroom, she was suddenly struck by Raven’s kindness. He’d been extremely aloof since she met him…although that was probably her fault. Nevertheless, why was he warming up to her now? Her humiliation at the audition must be common knowledge around school.
He feels sorry for me.
Perhaps some of her classmates did too, but few had reached out to her. In fact, she’d felt like a pariah all morning. People seemed to be avoiding her, including Jenny and Deborah. When she’d passed them in the halls, they’d flashed her a quick smile, said “hello,” and rushed off. Neither had given her the opportunity to congratulate them, nor were they returning her text messages.
Maybe they just don’t know what to say.
The last straw had been in the cafeteria, when she’d spotted them eating lunch with Kirsten. She’d felt so excluded that she left without eating anything.

When she emerged from the bathroom, Raven was leaning against the wall nearby. As he accompanied her across campus toward the dance studio, she was very glad for his company.

“Thank you for being so nice. I had some bad news this past weekend and I’m still having a hard time dealing with it.”

“I understand a little more than you might think.” He cleared his throat. “Before I left England, my application for admission to The Royal Drama Academy of London was rejected. I had my heart set on it, so I didn’t exactly turn a handspring.” The muscle working in his jaw revealed Raven hadn’t come to grips with his rejection yet.

“I’m really sorry. You’re such an accomplished actor, I can’t imagine why you didn’t get accepted.”

“Apparently, I failed to concentrate on my core subjects enough. Stupid, I know.”

“So now you’re going the Hollywood route?”

Chuckle. “I’m open to the idea, but I don’t think I’m the type to make it as a television or movie actor.”

“I disagree completely.” When his gaze met hers, she flushed. “It’s just my opinion, of course.”

“Thank you. Your opinion means a lot.”

“If you’re not here for Hollywood, why did you come?”

Shrug. “I didn’t have a choice. My father retired and decided to move to L.A. permanently.”

“What does your father do?”

“Er…he was in a branch of law enforcement. I’ll probably do the same thing, eventually.”

She sighed. “I don’t know
what
I’m going to do. Everybody’s being so mean, I don’t even know how I’m going to make it through the rest of the school year.”

“It’s a shame your classmates aren’t more supportive, but I expect they can’t see past their own insecurities. People can be very tiny sometimes.”

“When you put it that way, I could feel almost sorry for them.”

“I
do
feel sorry for them. It must be difficult for kids who are stunted emotionally to be friendly with a girl who is bright, beautiful, and incredibly talented.”

A warm feeling suffused her core. “That might be the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

Now that he and Tori were talking again, Raven found dance class to be much more enjoyable. The class had progressed to the promenade and side samba walks, which Raven and Tori nailed right away. Her smiles were genuine, and he could tell she was enjoying herself too. Unfortunately, he felt a vague sense of guilt for not leveling with her about why he was there. Although he didn’t know Tori well, he wanted to know her better. Her ice princess exterior was a veneer meant to keep anyone from getting too close, he suspected, but the glimpse he’d had of her vulnerable side appealed to his protective nature. Add that to the appeal of Tori’s obvious physical attractions, he was in danger of becoming emotionally involved. When the time came to shine light on the tissue of lies surrounding her birth, however, she would naturally assume his friendship had been a deception too. After the inevitable backlash, he’d be the one to get hurt.
Argh, I’m thinking too much!
He gave himself over to the rhythm of the dance, relishing the feeling of her hand in his.

Mr. Boone clucked his tongue as he sauntered past. “A little more room between you and your partner, if you please.”

Raven suddenly realized he’d drawn Tori in too close. “Sorry.” He relaxed his hold. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I’m letting you lead.” Her glance was almost flirtatious. “You seem to know what you’re doing.”

Heat flared within him, as if she’d lit a match and set him on fire. Boone was watching from a few yards away, so Raven fought the impulse to pull Tori closer again.
I know what I want. Whether or not I know what I’m doing is open to debate.

“I’d like to watch you dance sometime,” he said as the hour came to a close. “Ballet, I mean.”

“Really? Perhaps you’d like to join me in class. There’s always room for a male dancer, whatever his level.”

“Oh…no. I just want to watch.”

“I have pointe class three times a week at Madame Martine’s Dance Studio on Ventura Boulevard. There’s an observation window with chairs where mothers usually wait. If you’re serious, meet me in the parking lot after school. You can follow me over on your motorcycle.”

“How did you know I have a motorcycle?”

Red stains appeared on her cheekbones. “You’re the new guy. Everybody gossips around here.”

Raven was pleased to know she’d paid attention. “Hmm. I’ll keep that in mind.”

During Raven’s final period, the music instructor, Mr. Thresher, passed out sheet music from the Broadway musical,
Oklahoma!
The last time Raven had performed in a musical, he’d been a ten-year-old soprano. Although he’d enjoyed playing The Artful Dodger in
Oliver!
, he’d concentrated on straight acting after that.

Thresher played piano as the boys sang “Oh What a Beautiful Morning.” After the first stanza, the instructor stopped abruptly. “Who’s got the powerful baritone?”

George cocked a thumb toward Raven. “It’s him.”

At Thresher’s direction, Raven sang the first stanza by himself.

“See me after class,” the instructor said.

When the class was over, George caught his arm. “I’m beginning to seriously dislike you.”

“What did I do?”

“You’re a triple threat.”

“A what?”

“Someone who can sing, act, and dance.”

“I can’t dance.”

“That’s not what I hear from the girls in your movement class. They say you and Tori dance a hot samba.”

Raven scoffed. “That’s all her. She could dance with a mannequin and make it look good.”

“Maybe.”

With a curl of his lip, George strode off. Chuckling, Raven stopped by Thresher’s desk on the way out. “You wanted to see me?”

The instructor beckoned him over to the piano and asked him sing a few scales. Afterward, he nodded. “I can use your voice in the showcase.”

Raven stifled the urge to edge toward the door. “I hadn’t planned to audition, actually.”

“Just so you know, our spring musical showcases always attract a lot of media attention and A-list directors. For the last few years, performers have been tapped for several high-profile projects. One kid scored his own television pilot, and several others have been cast in starring movie roles.” He shrugged. “It’s up to you, but I think you would attract attention.”

A flicker of interest followed. The rejection from The Royal Drama Academy of London had bruised Raven’s ego more than he realized, and Fletcher’s acceptance into the school had been salt in the wound. A film role would go a long way toward making him feel better…and prove to the admission committee how wrong they’d been about him.

“All right. I’ll seriously think about it,” Raven said.

“Auditions are in March.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

As soon as Raven left the music room, he remembered he was supposed to meet Tori in the parking lot.
Blazes!
He careened down the hallway, dodging students right and left, and darted from the building. With his backpack pinching the top of his shoulder, he flew across the quad. When he reached his motorcycle, however, he found a note on the instrument panel.

I couldn’t wait any longer.
Maybe some other time.
-Tori

Disappointment mixed with an equal measure of frustration and regret.
I should’ve told Thresher I had an appointment.
After a few moments of stewing, Raven had a flash of inspiration.
I’ll meet Tori at the studio…if only I can remember the name!
He recalled the studio was on Ventura Boulevard, and had the name Madame attached to it. A quick Internet search on his cell phone brought up the address for Madame Martine’s Dance Studio.
That’s the one.