Love and Truth (18 page)

I shot out of bed the next morning, excited that the day was finally here. It was the first day of my true path to becoming a professional dancer. I was catching the bus to school instead of taking a cab; I couldn’t afford to take a cab every day. I had the bus route scribbled down and the address for the school, all ready to go before I left.

The bus ride only took twenty minutes and I walked to the school from there. Thankfully, the bus stop was only few buildings down from the school. Naha City looked very different during the day. There were no bright lights and glamour, just lots of people bustling around. Electricity ran through me when I saw the sign for The Ryuku Academy of Dance. It was a large building with big glass doors. I started crossing the parking lot and a car zipped by me, scaring the crap out of me. I turn around to shoot a dirty look only to discover a white Skyline pulling in with music blaring – Jonathan's white Skyline GT. I was stunned. Was he stalking me now?

I glanced at my phone and saw that I was a half hour early. I stood in disbelief and watched has his door swung open and his six-foot gorgeous frame stepped out. He wasn’t looking in my direction, and I wondered if he was trying to be smug. He pulled out a black satchel and slung it over his shoulder. He wore black slacks and a tailored, fitted black button-up, with a black belt that had a sleek, rectangular brushed nickel buckle. His hair was combed perfectly, and I realized he looked so different, almost sophisticated. He more serious, but still sickeningly handsome. Suddenly, he looked up and saw me.

"Nicole? What are you doing here?"

I was wearing black leggings and a white Bolero ballet shrug over my tights and leotard. My hair was pulled back in a tight bun and I had my dance bag slung over my shoulder. I held it up so he could see the block letters that spelled out
DANCE
.

His expression dissolved from confusion to shock. He turned around and placed his hands on the car, pushing against it as if he might just crush it. I stepped closer.

"Jonathan, what are you doing here?"

He stood with his back to me before he turning around, revealing a pained expression.

"I work here.” He sighed heavily. “I started working here last summer. During the summers I do part-time jobs while I'm on break from the music school I teach. Since I’m fluent in English I was hired on here for their exchange student program. I’m the pianist for the summer workshop and I'm gathering that you’re a student in that workshop, right?" My jaw hung near the ground. This had to be a nightmare, because I felt like Alice barreling down rabbit hole.

"Of course. From day one I've felt like I was forcing myself in the wrong direction down a one-way street with you.” He ran his fingers through his hair again. "Nicole, this school has a very strict fraternization rule. Instructors, administrators, choreographers, program directors and assistants are not permitted to fraternize with
any
of the students. No exceptions."

All of this time I'd been pushing him away, telling myself I didn't want him because I couldn't afford the distraction. But here he was and it seemed now that he was going to be a monumental distraction.

He looked down at his watch. "We’re going to have to talk about this later. My head feels like it’s going to explode. Plus I'm going to be late if I don't get in there… Fuck! This so... so… never mind!”

He took a step toward the building and stopped to turn around. “Wait for me at your bus stop after classes today and I'll give you a ride home. We can try to figure all of this out then."

"No it's fine, Jonathan. There's nothing to talk about. We aren't breaking any rules. We're not together, so we don't have anything to figure out."

As the words left my lips, I instantly regretted them. He turned and walked toward me with determination. He stood inches from my face and leaned down.

"If you think that we can sit in the same room every day for the rest of the summer and have no issues, you’re seriously deluded.” He backed up balled his fists at his side. “Just meet me at the damn bus stop, okay?" He turned and rushed inside, leaving me frozen and dumbfounded. I was so shocked that I didn't notice a throng of students passing by. They must have taken a later bus.

"Hey, princess,” one of them said. “You going to stand there or come inside with the rest of us?" I looked to my left; a tall, tan sandy blond-haired guy stood grinning at me. He had adorable dimples and I gawked at him. He cocked his head, his longish hair falling to the side, and looked at me with gleaming blue eyes.

"Hello? You are American, right? You speak English?"

"Um, yeah. I speak English,” I shook my head and felt embarrassed. “Sorry, I'm just a little overwhelmed at the moment. Yes, I'm going inside."

"It’s okay, princess. Let me guess. It’s your first day dancing somewhere other than your hometown studio or venue, right? You’re off on your own for the first time and being in another country starting a workshop at a prestigious dance school has suddenly smacked you upside that pretty little head of yours, right?”

I stood motionless and watched him talk.

“Don't worry about it. You'll be fine. I’ll be your personal guide. This is my second summer here." He stopped and put his hand out eagerly. " I'm Chandler. It’s great to meet you. I can just keep calling you princess or you can tell me your name." I shook his hand.

"I'm Nicole. Nice to meet you, but I don’t need a guide. I’m sure I will catch on. I’m a fast learner.”

He laughed and put his hands up. “Okay, no guide. How about just friends then?”

I couldn’t believe it – a guy with pure intentions. I smiled widely and exhaled.

“Okay, just friends. That sounds good.”

“Fantastic. Now let’s go and get orientated, shall we?” We both laughed and headed inside. He talked non-stop as we found our way to the main studio to sit down for Orientation.

“You’ll like it here. The staff here is great and I improved a great deal last summer. I’m dying to be offered a principal part in a good company and hoping I’ll get that opportunity this year at the workshop. How about you?”

I told him I was hoping to get into a company as well, but I’d be happy with anything. He kept talking as I scanned the room for Jonathan.

“My mom is stationed here at Camp Foster. It’s a Marine Corps base. She’s an officer in the Marines and we’re here for three years.” He talked on about being stationed here and being relieved to find this program while I looked for Jonathan. I knew he was here somewhere.

“Here’s a couple of empty seats,” he said. “After you, princess.”

He laughed and I looked around. There were several other male students. This was odd for me, because at home we had a total of three guys in our entire studio. The girls looked like any other dancers, with long, lean bodies, hair slicked back in twisted buns, and light to no makeup.

The buzzing around the studio quieted as everyone took a seat. There was still no sign of Jonathan and, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. It almost made me feel broken inside to know I wouldn’t be able to try a relationship with him even if I wanted to.
Maybe it was a sign
, I thought. Maybe we really shouldn’t be together at all
.

Chapter Thirteen

We sat quietly as a petitie, middle-aged Japanese woman, her hair in a French twist, stood waiting for everyone to stop talking.

“Here we go,” Chandler said, elbowing me on the arm. “The lecture about rules, behavior and etiquette. Yada, yada, yada.”

“Are they going to go over everything verbally?” I asked. “I figured we’d just get a handbook or something.

“Yeah, we get a handbook,” he whispered, “but we still have to endure the lecture.” Chandler rolled his eyes as we looked at the woman. She was flawless, with an impeccable charcoal suit. She looked like a Japanese Mary Poppins. I figured she was Ms. Murakami, the Program Director.

“Hello, students.
Youkoso irasshai mashita
. Welcome to The Ryuku Academy of Dance, and if you are a newcomer to the island, welcome to Okinawa. It is my honor to welcome all of you from around the world to join us here for our exchange student program. We hope that you will strengthen and further develop your technique and passion for dance during your time with us. Remember to be passionate about your goals and remain steadfast in your dedication to make the invisible become visible.”

Everyone clapped and she bowed slightly. Her words were inspiring and I felt more determined than ever to make the most of my time here. It reminded me of something my Dad might say.

“Thank you very much, everyone. There are handbooks being handed; please turn to page five and we will begin an overview of our expectations while you are attending The Ryuku Academy of Dance.”

She paused, waiting for all handbooks to be passed out. I watched her suddenly motion to the entrance of the room with her hand where several staff members were filing. I craned my neck to see if Jonathan was present and was shocked when I saw him. I couldn’t take my eyes off him as he glided into the room. He never ceased to be a beautiful man. He wasn’t merely cute or sexy; he was beautiful. He stood in front of the room with the rest of the staff and everything faded away, I didn’t hear anything else Ms. Murakawi said. His eyes met mine and I looked away, feeling defenseless. Reality caught me by the throat and I realized Ms. Murakami was going to introduce him

“First, I would like to introduce you to my right hand, our Assistant Program Director, Ms. Yamada. She assists me in all things and will be in charge anytime I’m unavailable.”

Ms. Yamada politely bowed and stepped to the side. “Next, please meet Ms. Takahashi, our Lead Ballet Choreographer. Then we have Ms. Higa, our Lead Jazz Choreographer.” Both women bowed and stepped aside. “Last, but definitely not least, please meet the two musical geniuses that help bring us the palette of music in which you all will paint. Mr. Mori is our program Head Musical Engineer and Mr. Hayes is our Program pianist. In addition to Mr. Mori and Mr. Hayes, we also have an orchestra that we utilize for our summer showcase.” Jonathan and the other gentleman bowed and step aside. My eyes followed his every move. I felt like a possessed voyeur and I couldn’t stop watching him. My gawking was interrupted by Chandler.

“Yeah, there’s Mr. America. He thinks he is so awe-inspiring. He emanates arrogance and thinks he’s God’s gift to women. He can play a piano, but if you want my honest opinion, I think the guy’s just a player.”

“Actually, I didn’t ask for your opinion, soo please keep it to yourself. I’m new here so I would prefer to form my own opinions of the staff if you don’t mind,” I say with a curt smile on my face.

“Oh, let me guess. You’re already in love him with, right?”

“ Did you really just say that to me? Wow, that’s rich.” I turn trying to distance myself from him as much as possible. I probably overreacted, but where Jonathan is concerned I seem to do that a lot.

“Geez, sensitive much? I was only joking. I mean, partly anyway. It’s just that he really irks me. Last year I had to endure watching all of the girls fawn over him like he was some rock star. It got old really fast, so I am just dreading a repeat. That’s all.”

“Whether girls like him or not shouldn’t be your focus. Plus, have you ever considered that the guy can’t control what the girls around him do or say? You shouldn’t fault him for that.” I had no idea why I was defending Jonathan that much. But it is true; he couldn’t help it if the girls around him made fools of themselves. Unfortunately that included me. Chandler was chewing on the end of his pen and flipping through the handbook.

“Trust me, it was rarely one sided.”

“Wait. What?”

“I can’t tell you how many girls I saw him crush last year. It was like heartbreak hotel around here, and the Director let it fly right under her nose. Like right here, you see this entire section in the handbook on fraternization? It’s like that whole section doesn’t apply.”