CHAPTER - 2

"Actually..."

Her voice trailed off as she glanced at the students rehearsing in the hall, the rhythmic beats of the music echoed through the room.

"Why don't we sit over there?", she suggested, pointing towards a quiet corner near the window.

I followed her curiously.

As we sat down, she took a moment to gather her thoughts and I could sense that it was something very important. Her expression was warm yet serious and I felt a strange sense of anticipation at that moment.

"Mia", she began.

"I spoke to your mother yesterday."

My stomach dropped.

I looked down, my fingers nervously fiddling with the corner of the envelope in my lap. Hearing all that-I felt all the emotions, that I had been trying to push down were suddenly bubbling back to the surface.

"I know this isn't easy, Mia.", Miss Priyana continued, her tone laced with empathy.

"Moving into a new city, leaving behind everything and joining a co-ed school for the first time, that too at this age...it's a lot to handle."

I nodded, my throat too tight to speak.

"I-I just...I'm scared that, I will make a fool out of myself here.", I swallowed hard.

"I know, you're scared.", she said softly.

"And that's okay Mia. You don't have to have it all figured out right away. The future is always a mist, it's okay to feel like this."

I took a shaky breath, trying to steady myself.

"There's no rush.", she continued.

"But I do think that finding something familiar, something that makes you feel you again, might help."

I looked up at her, confusion flickering in my eyes.

"What do you mean mam?"

She smiled gently.

"I was thinking if you would you like to join the dance group?"

Her words caught me off guard.

For a moment, I wasn't sure I'd heard her right.

"Dance?" I repeated, unsure if I had understood her correctly.

Miss Priyana nodded, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Yes. I've seen your records, Mia. You're a trained dancer, aren't you?"

I blinked, momentarily stunned. How did she know that? The truth was, I hadn't danced in months, not since the move, not since everything changed.

Dancing has always been a part of me-something I did for myself. But here I was, struggling to even get comfortable in my own skin, let alone step into a new group of people who all seemed to have their own way of fitting in.

"They are going to perform in the music festival next month and it's a great opportunity, Mia. It'll help you socialize and make friends.", she said while looking at the group rehearsing.

The thought of dancing again, feeling the rhythm under my feet, sparked something inside me. I missed that feeling.

With a deep breath, I gave her the answer I hadn't expected to give so quickly.

"Yes mam, I'd love to."

Her smile widened.

"I'm glad to hear that, Mia. You'll surely do great. The rehearsal starts tomorrow at 9 a.m., so be ready for that."

"I will.", I said, the excitement bubbling up in my chest, mingling with nervousness. It was a strange feeling, but one that made me feel like maybe, just maybe, I was beginning to find my place in this new life.

As I got home, Annya was sprawled on the couch, her eyes glued to her phone. She barely looked up when I entered.

"Hey", I mumbled, kicking off my shoes.

"Hi", she replied absentmindedly, her fingers scrolling through something on her screen.

I plopped down on the couch beside her, letting out a long sigh.

"Miss Priyana asked me to join the dance group."

That got her attention. She looked up, her eyes narrowing in curiosity. "Wait...dance? Like, at school?"

"Yeah.", I nodded, a small smile creeping on my lips.

Annya raised an eyebrow. "And?"

"And...I agreed.", I replied.

Her eyes lit up, a knowing smile spreading across her face.

"See? I told you, you'd find something here."

"Don't get ahead of yourself.", I mumbled, but the warmth in my chest was undeniable.

As I sat there, I thought to myself, that maybe-Chicago wasn't going to be that bad as I had thought.

And for tomorrow? I was ready to face whatever came.

•••

The next morning, I stood outside the rehearsal hall, my heart pounding as I clutched my sipper. The sound of music drifted through the doors. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach. You can do this, Mia.

But as I stepped in, my nerves spiked up.

The room was filled with students stretching, chatting, and warming up.

Everyone seemed to know what they were doing. They moved with ease and confidence, something that I seemed to have lost since moving here.

I spotted Miss Priyana near the front, organizing the schedule for the day. She caught my eye and gave me a reassuring smile.

"Come in, Mia!", she called out.

As I walked towards her, she had a warm smile on her face.

"Everyone!", she said, addressing the group.

"This is Mia and she'll be a part of the dance team moving forward."

A few polite smiles and murmured hellos echoed around the room but I could feel their eyes on me. I gave a small wave, feeling the weight of their attention.

"Alright, then let's get started." Miss Priyana announced, clapping her hands.

The group moved into formation, and I followed, trying to find my place. But just as I was beginning to settle into the warm-up, Miss Priyana's words froze me in place.

"Mia", she called out, her voice carried across the room, "I've already paired you up."

I blinked, my heart pounding in my ears.

Paired up???

"That's Perceus.", she said, motioning toward a boy standing a few feet away.

I turned and my eyes met his, he was that guy-the one with those mystical eyes.

I felt flushed for a moment.

"Hi", he said, his voice was friendly yet casual.

I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling my palms grow clammy.

Dancing with a boy? Isn't this too fast.

I don't think I'm ready for this.

But before I could say anything, Miss Priyana's voice echoed again.

"Let's begin with the warm up!"

And just like that, I was thrown into the unknown once more.

Okay, just stay calm. This is normal. It's just a rehearsal, nothing more. He's just my dance partner. Nothing more...nothing more.

As we started with the practice, I gradually found my rhythm. My muscles, though a little stiff from months of inactivity, slowly began to loosen. My feet moved with instinct, following the rhythm as if they had been waiting for this moment.

That guy—Perceus—stood a few feet away, maintaining a respectful distance. I was relieved. He wasn't too close, which made it easier for me to focus on what I was doing without constantly being aware of his presence.

I focused on the steps, letting the music guide me. But every now and then, I caught glimpses of him in my peripheral vision. He moved with an effortless grace, his steps fluid and precise. He was obviously experienced and that made me more nervous. I didn't want to mess this up.

Why did I agree to this so quickly? I wondered as I executed a quick spin, my body moving instinctively. Maybe I should've taken more time to get used to everything here.

But then, the music shifted to a different one. My body responded before my mind could catch up and for a moment, I forgot about everything else-the unfamiliarity, the awkwardness and even that guy standing just a few feet away.

I was just dancing.

"Great!" Miss Priyana's voice echoed from across the room.

"Mia, loose your shoulders a bit and let the movement flow through you."

I adjusted, her words helping me sink deeper into the rhythm. I wasn't perfect but I could feel the stiffness starting to dissolve. The initial nervousness was still there, but it was beginning to fade as I lost myself in the music.

After a few minutes of warm up, Miss Priyana clapped her hands to gather everyone's attention.

"Alright.", she called out.

"Now, let's start with the rehearsal."

My pulse quickened. I glanced at Perceus, who was already looking at me. His expression was calm, almost reassuring and for a moment, I envied how confident he seemed.

Relax, Mia. You can do this.

As he stepped toward me, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. He offered a small smile and I forced one in return.

"Ready?", he asked softly.

"Uh.....yeah.", I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper.

We stood facing each other and I could feel the tension in the air. My mind raced with thoughts-What if I mess up? What if I step on his foot? What if I look ridiculous?

"Don't overthink!", he said, as if reading my mind.

"Just follow the rhythm along with me."

Easier said than done.

We started slow. His movements were smooth and precise and I did my best to match them. He was patient, giving me time to adjust. We moved through the steps, and though I stumbled a few times, he never made me feel awkward about it.

"Relax", he murmured softly.

"You're doing fine."

I nodded, though I wasn't entirely convinced. My body was still stiff and I was acutely aware of how close he was now. Closer than I was used to. I could feel the warmth radiating from him and it made my heart pound louder than the music.

But then, as the minutes passed, I stopped focusing on how close he was and worrying about whether I was doing it right or wrong. I just....let go. I focused on the music, on the rhythm that had always been a part of me. And slowly, I started to match his movements more naturally.

We moved in sync, the distance between us narrowing. I could feel the tension ease from my shoulders and for the first time, I allowed myself to enjoy the moment.

"There you go.", he said softly, his voice barely above the beat of the music.

"That's better."

I glanced up and for the first time, I met his eyes. They weren't filled with judgment or impatience. Just.....calm.

I nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

We moved together with the music. Perceus was good-really good-and it was easy to follow his lead. He had a way of making it feel effortless, as if the dance was something we had been practicing for weeks rather than minutes.

But just as I was beginning to feel like I was getting the hang of it, Miss Priyana's voice cut through the music.

"Good, good!!", she said, nodding in approval.

"And Mia, you did really well."

"She's right.", Perceus said softly.

"You're a great dancer. You just have to stop second-guessing yourself."

I opened my mouth to say something, but the words didn't come out. Instead, I nodded and took a deep breath, willing myself to let go of the lingering doubt.

"Thank you.", I whispered.

By the end of the rehearsal, I was breathless but exhilarated. My muscles ached, but it was the kind of ache that came from doing something I loved.

"Nice work, everyone!", Miss Priyana announced, clapping her hands as the music faded.

"We'll continue tomorrow. Be on time."

The group started dispersing, some chatting animatedly about their performance, others packing up their things. I stood there for a moment, catching my breath and processing everything that had just happened.

"You did really well.", said Perceus, breaking the silence between us.

I looked up, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. "Thanks.....I was kind of nervous."

"I could tell.", he said, a small grin tugging at his lips.

"But you got the hang of it pretty quick."

"Yeah", I murmured.

"It's been a while since I've danced like that."

"Well...", he said, slinging his bag over his shoulder,

"I think you're going to fit in just fine here."

I wasn't sure how to respond to that, so I just gave him a small smile in return.

As I gathered my things and headed toward the door, I felt something I hadn't felt in a long time—a sense of belonging. It was faint, just a flicker, but it was there.

As I was leaving the hall, feeling a mix of exhaustion and accomplishment, I bumped into someone.

"Ouch!"

I stumbled back, realizing I had collided with a girl.

"I'm so sorry!", I quickly apologized, bending down to help her up.

"No worries.", she said, her face wincing a little as she held her back.

"Hey, you're the new belle, right?", A voice spoke from behind her.

I looked up to see another girl, her eyes bright with curiosity and warmth.

"I'm Samolia.", she said with a grin.

"You can call me Sam."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Mia.", I said, smiling as I helped the other girl to her feet.

"And I'm Mani!", the girl I bumped into said, brushing off her clothes. "It's fine, really."

I felt an instant sense of warmth around them.

"You were just amazing today!!!", Mani nudged.

"Thanks", I murmured, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks.

"Come on", Mani said.

"We're heading to the cafeteria. You should join us."

I hesitated for a second but then nodded. Maybe it was time I stopped fading into the background.

• • •

The cafeteria was buzzing with activity, and for the first time since I came to Crimonse, I didn't feel out of place.

Sam and Mani were easy to talk to. They filled me in on everything-from the teachers to the best hangout spots around the campus.

"Honestly, being in the dance group is one of the best thing in Crimonse!", Mani said,while chewing her sandwich.

"Yeah", Sam chimed in.

"And Miss Priyana is super cool."

As they spoke, I felt a growing sense of comfort. They weren't just being polite-they genuinely wanted me to be a part of their circle.

"Do you miss Houston?", asked Mani, her eyes filled with understanding.

"Yeah.", I admitted. "A lot."

"Well, Chicago isn't that bad once you get used to it.", Sam said with a wink.

"Especially with us around.", Mani added, flashing a grin.

That day, I laughed. It wasn't forced or out of politeness-it was real.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all, I thought to myself.

As the day ended, I walked back home feeling lighter. Things were slowly falling into place. I wasn't alone anymore.

That night, sleep eluded me. I tossed and turned, staring at the ceiling as my thoughts wandered back to the rehearsal. My mind was a whirlwind, but strangely, it wasn't just the newness of dancing with a guy that kept me awake.

It was Perceus.

His words echoed in my mind.

"You're a great dancer. You just have to stop second-guessing yourself."

Such simple words. But somehow, they had settled my nerves during the practice.

I wasn't sure why, but in that moment, when I was struggling to keep my composure, his calmness balanced my panic. He didn't push or try to make things awkward—he just gave me space while making sure I didn't feel alone.

"How did he manage that?" I mumbled softly to myself, pulling the covers tighter around me.

I barely knew him, yet he'd handled the situation better than I could've imagined.

As I replayed the rehearsal in my head, I realized that although I was hesitant at first, I had started finding my rhythm again. Dance always did that to me. It had this magical way of silencing my chaotic thoughts, grounding me, and setting me free all at once. And Perceus? He matched my pace perfectly.

Even though he was a stranger, he made it easy for me to forget that I was standing on unfamiliar ground.

"Why am I thinking about this so much?" I muttered, rubbing my eyes in frustration.

I tried pushing the thoughts away, but they kept circling back.

Maybe it was because I was still adjusting to everything.

A new city.

A new school.

New people.

And now, the dance group. It was a lot to take in.

But for some reason, that small moment of comfort with Perceus made me feel like I wasn't entirely alone in this unfamiliar journey.