In the Air (The City Book 1) - By Crystal Serowka Page 0,7
in sync, which I found to be utterly annoying. Samson was good, and even though that was my hope in a partner, I sort of wanted him to suck.
"By the look on your face, I can see you're happy you got me as partner." Samson's cheeks lifted into an overconfident smile.
I scowled up at him, feeling the bile rise in my throat. "You'll do," I spat out.
"You're bursting at the seams with happiness, doll." His voice was low and seductive, so no one around us could hear.
I rolled my eyes, which was beginning to feel like a permanent thing in his presence. "Stop calling me doll."
My fingers folded into my palm, making a tight fist. I wanted to punch him in the face for being such a cocky asshole, but getting kicked out of Juilliard on my first day would probably ruin my dance career. Samson definitely wasn't worth that, even if it would have made me feel a lot better.
For the remainder of class, I decided that ignoring him was the best way to go, especially when he continually whispered obnoxious comments in my ear. He was a remarkable dancer, but the fact that he knew it and outwardly celebrated it got on my nerves.
Madame Dampier approached us as the other students filed out of the classroom. "Did you two not hear me the first time I said you were dismissed?" She gave us each a stern look and walked away.
Samson pursed his lips together while his bright eyes grew wide. "Looks like we might be on the instructor's bad side already."
"I don't know if it's the pomade that's seeped into your brain, or if it's just a personality defect, but arrogance won't get you anywhere in life," I snapped.
I hated the fact that he got under my skin. I was usually so good at ignoring people like him, but there was something different about Samson. Whatever it was, it wouldn't allow me to brush him off.
I removed his arm from my waist and turned to walk away. "Thanks, Toby."
Before getting far, he grabbed my wrist and turned me around to face him. "It's Samson," he declared.
"Hmm," I said, straight-faced, "I think I like Toby better." I yanked my wrist out of his hold and quickly walked away.
I left the room feeling powerful. I made it through my first class, and I didn't kill my partner. Not to mention, knocking his ego down a few notches was pretty damn exciting, too.
Score: Natalia−1, Samson−0.
Toby, my ass! I was positive Natalia remembered my name, though it was cute that she acted like she hadn't. As I watched her walk out of rehearsal, I thought about why I came here: to steer my life in the direction I wanted and not the direction my father felt it should go.
Being a dancer was never an acceptable career in my household, but it was always the one thing I wanted to do. In my early years, I played baseball because my father insisted. I hated the sport and begged my mother to let me do something else. A few months after I turned eleven, she took me with her to see Alice in Wonderland at the Connecticut Ballet Theater. I remembered watching the strong men dance and how flawless it seemed when they lifted the women in the air. When I left the performance that night, I knew that I wanted to be like the men I had just seen. The next day, without my father's knowledge, my mother signed me up for ballet. Since my very first class, I never looked back.
Walking out of the room, I reached for my Ray Bans and felt the vibration in my pocket alert me of a missed call. Seeing that it was Aubrey and not my father, I exhaled a sigh of relief. Before dialing her number, I watched as the cars passed through the streets. I had to take a few relaxing breaths before talking to Aubrey, knowing the conversation was sure to spoil my mood.
"Hello?" she huffed into the phone.
"Hey. I saw I missed your call; just got out of rehearsal."
"I knew this was going to happen, Sam. You're already moving on and forgetting about me," she whined.
"Aubrey, I'll never forget you." I felt like that statement had left my lips at least a dozen times since I arrived yesterday.
"We've been together every day for most of our lives. Excuse me if I have to get used to this distance you've put between us."