*~Two Days Later~*
Mark pulled in the parking lot and shut off the engine to his rental car. He was excited about seeing Aprille again. She constantly talked about working for STEPPIN' OUT. He could hear the excitement in her voice everytime she mentioned the place. Coming to see her wasn't completely for fun though. He wanted to see if this small studio had any dancers with potential. He figured that, living in a small town, they wouldn't have the same style as those who were trained in the bigger cities, but you never knew when you'd find something special. Grabbing his keys and cell phone, Mark hopped out of the car and headed toward the front door. As soon as he entered the small building, loud music engulfed him. He saw that there was a class in session and he turned to watch them, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms.
Most of the dancers were passable, but nothing really spectacular. When his eyes moved to the woman instructing them though, his eyebrow raised. He watched her, fascinated by the way she moved. Every step was flawless. Her movements were graceful, yet strong, seemingly like one fluid motion that never ended. When the music stopped, he had to restrain himself to keep from clapping. The students stretched for a few minutes and she joked around with them as they gathered their things to leave. It seemed like they all really liked her and a few of them even hugged her before leaving.
"Mark!!!!"
The happy squeal coming from his sister made him chuckle. She was always so cheerful and upbeat. Nothing ever got her down and sometimes he really missed that. He turned and a red headed fireball launched herself into his arms, nearly knocking him over. He hugged her back tightly.
"Well hello to you too."
"I can't believe you're actually here. I've missed you so much."
Aprille's greenish brown eyes stared up at him, sparkling and Mark had to laugh. He hugged her again and set her back away from him.
"I do believe you've grown up some since I last saw you."
"Well, I'm twenty-three, why shouldn't I be?"
"Honey, you know it's hard for me to see you as anything but the scruffy, pig-tailed little girl that used to follow me around."
Aprille rolled her eyes and grinned. Grabbing his hand, she tugged him toward the dance area.
"You've gotta meet Ash, she's the owner."
Mark was a little surprised to see her pulling him toward the instructor he'd just watched. He guessed though that it should have been obvious that a woman that talented would own and run a dance studio. She turned towards them as they approached and smiled. She was a small woman, kind of petite, but not model thin. She had a nice figure. Curvy, but not fat. Her long, brown hair was tied back and her features were elfin. As soon as he approached, Ash stuck out her hand and shook his firmly.
"Hi. It's good to finally meet you. Aprille here hasn't shut up about you since you told her you were coming."
"That sounds like her," Mark said, chuckling. Aprille smacked him on the arm, trying to look annoyed. Mark just laughed again and put his arm around her. They turned and headed toward the office, Mark asking questions about the studio. Ash answered them, proudly listing everything she and Aprille had accomplished. She had started dancing almost twenty years ago, when she was nine. By the time she was fifteen, she was instructing a beginner's class. She loved it so much that she went to night classes after high school and got a business degree so she would be able to open her own studio. Aprille had started taking classes there three years ago and they'd immediately become friends. He asked about her son and gave the proper condolences when she told him her husband had been killed by a drunk driver while driving home from work one night. When they were finished talking about that, Ash got up to excuse herself for the next class. Mark asked her if he could take them to dinner that night so he could explain about the new studio in LA and Ash reluctantly agreed. She still hadn't made up her mind if she wanted to try for it or not. After she left, Aprille grilled her brother.
"Well, what do you think of her?"
"I like her. She's dedicated, hard-working, and seems to love what she does."
"I told you all that on the phone. I mean, what do you think of her."
"You mean her dancing?"
"No, her shoe size," Aprill rolled her eyes at him, "Of course, I mean her dancing."
"Well, from what little I saw, she's got talent. I'm reserving judgement until I can really see her go all out."
Aprille and Mark talked a little more about the studio and Ash. Mark didn't let on how impressed he'd been. He wanted to wait until he talked more with her that evening to see if she would be the type of person who would be dedicated and serious enough about it to run his studio. Many of the people who he had seen so far only wanted the job to get close to the celebrities that they would be working with. Mark had to find a head choreographer, and quickly. Time was getting short and he still hadn't found anyone he felt comfortable with. Ash was pretty much his last hope. Kissing Aprille on the cheek, he told her he'd see her later and he left the studio, heading for the hotel.
~*~
"Does this look okay?" Ash was wearing a long, flowing skirt. It was a grayish-blue with dark blue designs adorning it. Her gypsy style blouse was white and the sleeves flared as they neared her wrists. Ash's hair was pulled loosely up, errant strands framing her face. She had slipped her bare feet into tan sandels and twirled once for Aprille, who was sitting on the bed.
"Wow, you look gorgeous."
Ash blushed and took one last quick look in the mirror before telling Aprille she was ready. Ash's mind was racing, still trying to figure out what to do about all this. Her life was normal right now. Safe. Did she really need to screw all of that up by following some silly dream? And what about Chaz? Did she want to take him away from a life he was accustomed to and throw him into uncertainty and chaos? Taking him away from all of his friends and his grandparents. Would that price be something she'd be willing to make him pay for her hopes? She just didn't know and it was making her crazy. Grabbing her purse, she followed Aprille downstairs. She told Chaz she'd be back in a couple of hours and shook her head when he and his friend, Nick barely even acknowledged her. They were deeply engrossed in a new video game, shouting at the tv and at each other. Ash and Aprille got into Ash's car and backed out of the driveway. Well, here we go, thought Ash. She just hoped that between now and the end of the evening she'd be able to figure out what the hell to do.