Dance Practice!

I stood rooted to my spot as I stared into the eyes of the woman that birthed me. She came here again. All I wanted was space, and she wouldn't even give that to me. She won't stop trying to control me. I mean, what kind of mother comes looking for her child at school after slapping her in the face in an argument?

"I'm so sorry to have disturbed your lunch, Athena, but your parents insisted on seeing you." She looked between the three of us, trying to read into the situation. "I'll leave you three to it then."

"Thank you, Mrs. Walker." Mom said as we watched the principal leave the room.

After she left, there is a dreadful silence that pierced deeply into my soul. I am like the fall leaves under frost. I can feel the chill in my blood, coldness bringing the synapses of my brain to a standstill. Part of it is a pain, a pain that my mom has inflicted on me. Yet one I can endure, and the other I can sleep through night after night without the anesthesia of false hope. The hope that maybe one day, my voice will matter. This season is my winter. I would wait patiently for spring and the happy chatterings of the birds.

"Why didn't you come home last night, Athena?" Mom said quietly, her voice not giving away her emotions. I turned my head to look at her, surprised she was even asking me that question.

"Really, Mom? Do you think I would come home after you slapped me? You fricking slapped me, Mom." I said as the memories of last night started replaying over and over again in my head.

"So? Is that a good enough reason for you to refuse to come home or pick any of my calls?" She scowled at me, her hands clenched her bag tightly.

"Leah! We agreed not to do this. We only came to talk to her." Mom gave him a look, making him shut his mouth at once. She turned back to me, glaring daggers into my soul.

"Listen here, young lady. I'm getting tired of your attitude. It's like nothing I do will ever be enough for you. All I want is your happiness, Athena." I felt my blood boil when she said that.

"You call that happiness, Mom? You are practically living my life for me. You decide what I wear, how I eat, what I eat, when I eat, when I sleep, how I style my hair, every single thing, Ma." Her eyes grew wide as saucers at the way I stood up to her. "I want a future of my own, not yours, Ma."

"You're an ungrateful child, Athena. Other children would kill to be in your shoes, yet you keep taking everything I do for granted." She picked up her bag as she walked to the door. "I'll be waiting for you at home."

I sat in my spot as I stared into nothing. Since I hit puberty, my mom has been the pioneer of my life. Controlling everything I do is her hobby, and she claims it's for my good. She has never asked me about my future ambitions. I'm a fool for thinking that maybe one day she'll stop. I always wish that she'd snap out of it and be a supportive mother. But that's all it'll ever be; a wish.

A tear rolled down my cheeks as the thought came to mind. I felt someone place a hand on my shoulders, making me jump. I turned around to see Levi looking down at me sympathetically.

"I'm sorry about that, Athena. She was pretty worried when you didn't come home last night." I scoffed at his disbelieving words. "Your mother loves you, Athena, and she's trying to show that to you the best way she can. Please, understand that."

I nodded, already drained from the entire conversation. Levi smiled before placing a kiss on my head. "Come on, go to class now."

"Okay!" I said before standing to my feet. I adjusted my skirt before moving to the door.

"Seeing you dressed like that, I'm assuming you have practice today?" His voice stopped me in my tracks. I turned to him.

"Yeah. I forgot to tell mom."

"Don't worry about it. I'll inform her." I smiled before leaving the room.

**_**_**

By the time the final bell rings, my nerves are much better. I've managed to calm down tremendously from this afternoon's series of unfortunate events. I arranged my belongings in the locker, getting ready for practice.

"Do you know who the new quarterback is?" A hushed voice asks. And the locker room gossips begin.

"No, but I heard he's really handsome." I recognize the voice as Ella Mackenzie, one of the big girls in school. Her father is a pretty rich man, and Ella never fails to show the world just how rich daddy is.

"Of course, he is handsome. Every guy on the football team is hot." Now that's Stella.

"My goodness! Are guys the only thing they ever think about?" Ari said as she leaned beside my locker.

The chatters continued as they continued to hatch a plan to seduce the new player. Eleanor Copeland, the head cheerleader, walks into the locker room. "Enough with the chit-chats. I want everyone outside in five minutes, all stretched and ready to go."

I take her appearance as the best opportunity to sneak out of the room unnoticed. Their whispers fading as the distance between us grew bigger.

I took my position as I started stretching. My body was pretty flexible, thanks to the few ballet classes I took as a kid. Mom insisted that those classes were important as they would help carve my future. I didn't understand what that meant then, but it's as clear as day now.

"Thea, is that not Aiden?" Ari said, trying to get my attention as she smacked my arm repeatedly. I stepped away from her to avoid my skin peeling off from her assaults and looked in the direction she was pointing.

I watched Aiden walk to the football field, pads in hand. A small part of me can't help but admit that he looks good in football clothes. He's wearing a skin-tight tank top and pants that accented his muscles. I could hear some girls giggling behind me, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at their obvious behavior. If you like a guy, must the whole world know you do?

I expected him to walk by me since we weren't friends or anything, but he stops. His dark blond hair that usually covered his right eye was now in a ponytail, revealing his emerald green eyes.

"Enjoying the show, Sweetheart?" His deep voice, with the hint of an accent, sent cool shivers down my spine. I looked around to be sure he was talking to me. My eyes gazed back at him to see him looking at me questionably.

"Ohh, sorry. I only wanted to be sure you were talking to me." He rolled his eyes before grabbing my hands. I ignored the tingles that spread through from his touch. Now's not the time.

"Where are you taking me? Let go." I struggled to get my hands out of his hold, but he gripped it with even more force. He finally let go when he was sure we were out of earshot.

"Why'd do that?" I hissed in anger as I massaged my wrist that was now slightly red from his tight grip.

"I heard you are my partner for whatever project we have." He said as he folded his arms to his chest, making his muscles bulge. I tried to keep myself from looking, but the temptation was too much. "Are you even listening?"

"I'm sorry, what?" I have to stop doing that. Zoning out of conversations is like another part of me that I can't seem to understand. He let out a deep, dramatic sigh as he massaged his temples.

"Look, I'd do the stupid project with you, but it'll have to be on my terms." I scoffed. He must really think himself to be God or something. "You have any problem with that?"

"What? Of course not. Do go on, your Majesty." I mockingly bowed in respect. His nose flared as he started breathing rapidly. I'm pretty sure hot steams were coming out of his ears now.

"Are you always this annoying?" He asked.

"Are you always an a**hole?" I retorted, with a sickly smile on my face. Bickering with him is annoying, just as it was fun. Seeing him all riled up puts a smile on my face for some reason.

"How can I have someone like you as a partner for my project?" Ouch!!! Okay, that was a low blow. What an interesting way to remind me of my worthless life, Aiden. But I won't show him that. I'm no longer showing people my weak side.

"Do you think I asked to be your partner? You're the last person I'd want to do anything with." I said.

"Good. Then tomorrow, we'll go and rectify our problem with Mr. Smart." I rolled my eyes before letting out a scoff.

"Good luck with that! It's your problem, not mine," I said as I turned around and went to join the rest of the girls. Some of them were shooting lasers at me with their eyes. Goodness!! You all can have him. He's such a jerk anyway.

"Hey! What was that about?" Ari asked as soon as I took my position beside her. I rolled my eyes as I felt anger course through my system.

"Nothing. Just the Idiot being a jerk." She raised her brows in question just as Lenny summoned us to start our routine.

I took my position in the front beside Ella as I was one of the main dancers. I turned around to see him staring at me with a scowl on his face.

I rolled my eyes before looking away. That's what he gets for being a rude jerk.

"1, 2, 3! Vixens!"