God, she didn’t want to do this dinner. It’d been a week since their awkward exchange at the gallery and there had been a small number of awkward
exchanges in classes now that they knew of one another. The most awkward being the senior duo they were paired together for. It was the equivalent of
their senior thesis for dance so it was something they were both kind of avoiding getting together to discuss. Partly because she knew their ideas
would differ, mostly because she had no desire to be in his presence. He was just so...ugh. Mr. Overrated was an annoyance she did not wish to endure
in her home, but...here they were. Dinner. With her family and his.
Siobhan tried to keep her eyes to her plate as conversation happened between the adults around her. She had eaten as much as she probably would and
had begun spreading the food around her plate to make it look as if more was gone. Her father would be pleased and she was just thankful that she had
something to busy her hands with so that she wasn’t left idle and looking as if she needed attention. She wanted nothing more than to blend into the
cushions of the dining room chair and disappear. Hell, she wanted to disappear for real. There was supposed to be an impromptu paint party going on in
Weimai and she really wanted to go...after a quick change of clothes, of course. Alyssa had invited her as soon as she heard and if she could convince her father to let her spend the night at the Colemans’
for the third time that week (something that shouldn’t be too difficult), they were going...but first there was this...
Siobhan’s eyes rose from her plate, looking over to her sister, Nikita, who seemed just as eager to get away from the table as well. Her foot tapped
impatiently as she kind of stared off, her plate clean for the most part and already forgotten. And then there was Dhruv. He sat with the
same flat look on his face, completely bored with everything, looking between his watch and his mother for a signal to leave. His impatience was clear
on his face and it was...rude, to say the least. At least it was almost over. She was sure dessert was something they’d be excused from (that’s
how these little dinner parties usually went) and neither of them would have to...what?
“Huh?” She’d heard her name, her father’s voice calling out to her breaking her train of thought to ask about...Their senior duo? “Um,
yeah...We uh...we haven’t really gotten together about it yet but I’m sure with Dhonny’s creativity and my technique, it won’t take too
long.” She smiled, hoping she gave the answer they wanted to hear as an idea came to her...Maybe they could get out of here sooner than they
thought...if he was willing to play ball.
If there was anyone who wasn't present at the "lovely dinner" in front of him, it was Dhonny. For the past hour, he'd blanked out. Conversation
completely passing over his head without the slightest head nod to even make it seem like he was participating. Not like the conversation involved the
"under 18"s at the table anyway. His parents had been in back and forth banter with the Van Fallons from the moment they'd taken their name placed
seats at the long, mahogany dinner table. He didn't know what was being discussed, but he had an idea. Eve's pieces. The meal. And the intoxicating
Bordeaux they were serving that he thought it best not to ask for, lest he be anymore judged than he already was. He could feel her glaring at
him... By her, he meant Siobhan. She'd been watching him on and off. And she'd probably noticed that he'd tuned out from the moment he'd
sat down to the table. He wasn't trying to be a jerk (although he was oddly sure she'd say he was) with all of his silence. He just...had a lot on his
mind. Like the song he'd heard on the XM radio earlier that week and it wouldn't stop playing in his head. It was on repeat. And so was the routine
he'd seen from the second he'd heard the song. And then there was Koi's party that he was still going to try and make even if he had to fake illness
to do it. And then...there was...anything BUT the dinner party. Maybe he was being a jerk because the last thing he wanted to do was rub elbows and
chum it up with someone who didn't want to know he was alive.
Blinking slowly, he shifted in the tall back chair, exhaling as his eyes finally looked away from his plate. He hadn't really...tasted the food, he'd
inhaled it so fast. Anything to keep the night short...which didn't seem like it was happening as his parents broke into another round of laughter at
something else witty from Mrs. Van Fallon's mouth. He was sure it was truly entertaining as he couldn't resist admitting that she was quite insightful
and...eclectic...which was opposite of anyone sitting at the table with the van Fallon last name. The rest of the family seemed...void of anything,
actually...now that Dhonny had gotten out of his head long enough to pay attention. As he looked around, he noticed Siobhan shifting the food on her
plate, her expression as full of boredom as his was. And then the little sister. Nikita? Dhonny recalled her name from earlier introductions...and
that had been the last he'd heard from little Nikita as she was just as quiet and just as ready to escape. And then there was the dad...who Dhonny
didn't even WANT to try and read as there were enough bricks there to build a brand new Berlin Wall with. There always was. He walked the halls of
Bonnaire with the same reservation, his face as stone walled as his demeanor...that is until he watched Dhonny do anything. Dance, walk...breathe. But
with a daughter like Siobhan, Dhonny didn't have to wonder if the apple fell far from the...
He heard his name. What? Looking at his watch quickly, he looked back to the table and forced a smile as he tuned into the conversation that had just
included him...and Siobhan. Senior duo. Great. The one thing he'd been avoiding from the second they'd met and subsequently were assigned to
each other as duo partners the very next week. There was certainly fate. And there was certainly karma. And from what Dhonny could see, he'd pissed
off the Fates and he'd done some fucked up shit in his past life because being paired with Siobhan van Fallon for ANYTHING outside of a round of "the
quiet game" was like a fucking fire iron up the...
"Oh yeah. I couldn't agree more. We haven't had much time to collaborate, but I'm pretty sure that we can pull something...interesting together."
Bullshit. The only thing Dhonny was sure of was that anything that he thought of, Siobhan would probably do her best to reject.
your body's like art i ain't even thought up yet...
Good. He was being agreeable tonight. Not that there was any reason for him not to be. It wasn’t as if they were feeding him a prisoner's dinner and
the company was excellent...It just wasn’t...age appropriate for the people in the room under thirty-five. Sadly both he, she, and Nikita
were stuck here. At least until the food portion of the dinner was over, which it was, for the most part. The adults at the table had simply been too
engrossed in conversation to have noticed. Luckily, Siobhan had come back into focus for her father to ask about she and Dhruv’s senior duo. A duo
the two of them obviously hadn’t started on and probably wouldn’t start on until both of them found it absolutely necessary. Neither wanted to
spend any more time than necessary with the other...but perhaps that was a fact that could be overlooked for the sake of getting away from this table.
“Actually-,” Siobhan spoke just after Dhruv, turning to him completely and almost cutting him off to be sure no one would say or ask anything that
might keep them here longer. “If it’s okay with everyone, and Dhruv if you want to, we could maybe listen to some stuff and see what moves us in
the studio?” Siobhan held eye contact with him even after her words stopped. She didn’t know him well enough and he sure as hell didn’t know her
but she was hoping he’d somehow get the message that that was not at all what the two of them would be doing in the studio. In fact, Siobhan’s
plan more so included leaving from the studio. Like she said. She had plans and things to do that did not involve spending time with Dhruv Ross.
So she needed him to say “Yes, Siobhan, I’d love to head to the studio and work on this with you.” Honestly, at this point he could say
anything that remotely resembled a yes and she would whisk him away from this table and set into motion a plan to get them away from her house and
away from each other. Fast. Especially as her father spoke up, “That’s a wonderful idea, Siobhan. I’m sure you two and poor Nikita have had
enough of our jabber for the night anyway,” the table gave a polite laugh and the question no longer really rested with Dhruv. They were excused.
Free to go. Released. Why would he say no?
One thing that Dhonny would freely admit? Siobhan thought on her toes...which wasn't a surprise since she was always deadly anal about being on them.
But he gave her much credit, especially as her quick thinking would help both of them get what they wanted...and it seemed that for once in their
quick acquaintance, their wants aligned. He needed. To get. The HELL. Out of this house. Not that he wasn't completely grateful. Her
parents...well her parent, more specifically her mother, was welcoming and warm. Her father, on the other hand, was more than versed to who and what
Dhonny decided to make his past time. That being said, Dhonny was sure that the firm, judgmental look was as close to "friendly" as he was going to
get that night from Dad Von Fallon. Either way, Dhonny wasn't ungrateful. Even though his parents had pretty much let him raise himself, he was sure
somewhere in there they'd taught him to manners and a certain level of respect. That was the point. He wasn't trying to be rude about it. He just...he
needed to not be doing this. And with Siobhan, too? Nah, it was definitely time for an intervention and wasn't it damn ironic that Siobhan
just happened to be the one giving him an excuse to leave?
Holding the stare that Siobhan's eyes held on his, the one that said "take the fucking bait, Dhruv", Dhonny didn't have to think about his
next answer. It was simple. Fuck Yes. If it meant getting out of the house and heading a couple of houses down to the Kidd's place, he'd do
just about whatever Siobhan could think up as a diversion.
"Uh, yeah...sure." He started, looking to his mother before he rose from his seat. "That's if it's okay with you guys...?" Right. He didn't
even need to ask if anything that he did was okay with Eve and Divyesh. His parents had a very hands off approach which honestly just meant "let the
child do and pray we don't scar him more than we already have". That was often a plus for Dhonny because they didn't question him and they didn't
limit him. At the moment it was just a way for him to get over Koi's house and get a couple of shots in his system.
There wasn't any hesitation on his parent's part as they nodded pleasantly at him, his mother shooing him from the table. As her father gave the "go
ahead", Dhonny put his napkin in the plate and smiled, more at Mrs. Van Fallon than at her husband, a quiet "thanks..." leaving his lips as he pushed
his chair in and followed behind Siobhan.
your body's like art i ain't even thought up yet...
God, finally! As the simple yes that she required feel out of Dhruv’s mouth Siobhan had the impulse to shoot out of her seat. She refrained
of course, nodding to the adults at the table before dropping her napkin on top of the food she’d barely eaten. They were basically free. She had
a plan that involved the two of them going their separate ways as soon as they got the hell away from that table and for once in their time together,
Dhruv and Siobhan were working toward a common goal. She stood just as Dhruv’s parents gave the go ahead, kissing her father on the cheek as she
passed his chair and made a swift exit through the kitchen and down the hallway toward the rear of the house. Just steps away... Siobhan said
nothing as they walked down the hall, passing her father’s office and the downstairs spare bedroom before coming to the door at the end of the hall.
The studio.
If she had to guess, Siobhan would say she’d spent at least 10 of her 16 years on earth in this room. It was where she worked, where she got
creative, and where she escaped...tonight that escape was going to be a little different. “Listen, you have things to do and I have things to
do-,” she spoke as she came to the wardrobe on the other side of the room. She knew she had a change of clothes in this thing that she could make
work for this paint party. “I’m going to change and then you and I are just going to leave,” she paused, maneuvering a pair of leggings over her
thighs under the skirt she was wearing, before taking the skirt off and going back to the wardrobe. “If busted, I’ll tell them we’re going to
talk a walk, clear our heads and get ideas, some other BS story that gets us out of this house and then I’m going to go my way and you can go
yours.” Good plan she thought to herself, as she found the tank top she was looking for.
“Can you um-,” she paused again, gesturing for him to turn around so she could take her shirt off and put the other on to complete her outfit so
they could get the hell out of here. “Okay. We’re gonna give them a few minutes to fall back into conversation and then we can go.” She smirked,
patting his shoulder as she passed him headed to the stereo. Needed music for it to sound real right? She didn’t do any adjusting as she just let
the music play. Shuffle was going through her Wiz Khalifa mix and that was fine with her...It was good music to start her night out.
There wasn't much talking as he followed Siobhan down a random hallway, passing nondescript doors. It wasn't a tour, though. No talking was necessary.
There was one goal in mind and it was getting out the Van Fallon home and getting to the Kidd's place. That was it. Dhonny had already whipped out his
cellphone and fired a quick text to the crew that he was on his way. Not like anyone besides Miyu got it. It was late enough for people to be close to
be passed "getting right" and closer to "drunk" but Miyu took it slower than the rest and she'd pass the message on as soon as...where the hell were
they going? As they descended a stair way and passed yet another door, Dhonny got the feeling that they weren't even NEAR the front door of Siobhan's
house. Wasn't that the point? To get out and do what they'd really wanted to be doing the entire night...which was NOT spending any more time with
each other? There wasn't a lot of trust to give in the situation considering he knew Siobhan...well, not at all but he thought it wise to keep his
mouth closed and let her do what she was going to do...which he couldn't help but hope would end in him yards away from her home.
Finally, the crossed the threshold of a door and...her studio? Wait. She was serious? Dhonny chuckled dryly as he entered the room, his hands meeting
the pocket of his jeans. She'd been serious, huh? They were going to sit the night away, listening to music that Dhonny was probably not the least bit
interested in talking about a routine that he definitely wasn't interested in discussing. At least not tonight. And not NOW when the idea of them
leaving the table was to leave each other's company. Guess Siobhan was the good girl that Koi made her out to be. Nothing was wrong with that, Dhonny
guessed...it just put a HUGE crutch in his night...and kind of bored the shit out of him on a regular basis. Rules weren't made to be followed, they
were made to be broken. But girls like Siobhan hadn't gotten the memo...
I'm going to change and then you and I are going to leave... Or maybe she HAD gotten the memo. Dhonny watched her walk towards a wardrobe on
the other side of the room as he went to lean against one of the free walls that wasn't covered by ceiling-to-floor mirror and barre. He couldn't help
but look around the place, leaving the earlier idea to hold the wall. It was a pretty sizable room and it definitely put his to shame as money hadn't
been spared. Dhonny wasn't about the price. He just needed a place to work his craft.
"Nice..." He said simply, his compliment probably missed by the fact that Siobhan was still giving out commands like a general reporting to her squad.
Tuning back in, he received instructions for escape and even a Plan B just in case they were intercepted. It took everything to not salute her when
she finished giving him instructions...which included the need from him to turn around as she was undressing. That...he wouldn't necessarily complain
about. What was she getting dressed for? A study group?
"So..." He spoke over his shoulder, his voice raising as she started playing music from the stereo. The speakers thudded with the bass, familiar
lyrics starting. "Where are you escaping to this eve- wait...is that Kudi?"
your body's like art i ain't even thought up yet...
Ha! He thought they were staying? God no. They were going to be here long enough for their parents to fall back into conversation and then they were
getting the hell out of dodge. That senior duo was the furthest thing from Siobhan’s mind and hopefully Dhruv’s too. She had a party to get to and
he...well who knew what the hell Dhonny did with his...group. She knew his story for the most part. He was friends with Koi Kidd and was
dating or...entertaining Carter Nixon’s cousin, who was nothing like Carter at all. Yeah...who knew what the hell they would get into
tonight. More importantly, who cared? She was responsible for getting them out, not anything that happened to him afterwards...she was barely
interested in what was going on with him now, taking out her phone to send Alyssa a text saying she’d be over in 15 minutes, max.
Siobhan caught herself mid-bob as Dhruv spoke again, a simple so inviting her to conversation. Not really interested...but she guessed they had to
fill the time with something. He began a question, what sounded like where was she going tonight, but he never finished before the topic changed to
her song selection. Kudi? Uh, no. “It’s Wiz,” she answered simply, setting her phone on the small stand holding her speakers before
leaning on the nearby wall of mirrors, facing Dhruv. Yeah...this was a good time to build the chemistry she was sure didn’t exist between them for
their duo...This was good...
“Most of his mixtapes are pretty good.” she finished watching the surprise wash over his face. Yes. She liked hip hop. Was it a crime? “What? Do
you prefer Tchaikovsky because I have him on here too-,” her voice oozed sarcasm and she had no intention of changing the song, she was sure this
was more his speed anyway, right?
Kudi, Wiz...whatever. Who Siobhan was listening to wasn't the point. What she was listening to was what had Dhonny...eh, intrigued wasn't the
word. Surprised? Thrown? That was more like it. And he could add "a little stuck" to the descriptions of how he was feeling seeing the irony of
someone like Siobhan Van Fallon listening to anything that even mentioned the lifestyle that Wiz Khalifa rapped about. A good girl who hung with
other good girls who, Dhonny was sure, looked down their noses at people like Koi and Devyn...but bumped Wiz? Hm. Maybe Dhonny was thinking about it
too deeply. Wiz was good enough music, he guessed. And you didn't exactly need a brain or a conscience to listen to music.
It's Wiz. Great. Dhonny shrugged at her reply, his eyes never settling on her to even see the look she was casting at him. He didn't sweat
not knowing artists these days. "Wiz" and "Kudi" were Koi and Devyn's thing, anyway and when they were around, he listened to what they bumped. Plain
and simple. He was hooked on the old school. He always had been. Mr. Cheeks. Biggie. The Fugees. That was more his style. Dhonny tuned back into
Siobhan as she talked about how Wiz's mixtapes were "pretty good", the look of surprise still on his face. It was just...weird, he guessed. Hearing
anything about a mix tape come out of Siobhan's mouth was like hearing Koi say something about church on Sunday. The two things just didn't...mix? But
Dhonny rolled with it. He wasn't one to judge her music taste. Actually, he kind of respected that she got down to something besides the shit awful
music she did most of her routines to. No offense, but it was like watching a four-year-old's recital. The eclectic side he just found out she had? He
dug that. The snarkiness that he knew she had and was freely throwing at him, though? That...he did not dig. Why the attitude anyway?
"Wow. Yeah, whatever you wanna play is fine with me. It's your studio..." He said simply, digging his phone out of his pocket as it vibrated, Miyu's
message on the screen. "Was just surprised that you even owned rap...you know, considering I never hear any of it in your routines..." Absentmindedly,
he returned Miyu's text, telling her that he would be at Koi's in fifteen.
"You should do that...incorporate something you like in your dance, I mean. Because just to be honest, when you're performing...you look bored as
hell." Along with the rest of the class while we're watching you. That's what he wanted to add, but being Dhonny, he thought before he
said...most things. Not all. Most.
your body's like art i ain't even thought up yet...
She really didn’t like him. She wasn’t even sure why her distaste for him was so intense, but she found herself completely turned off by
Dhruv Ross, which was a shame because he might have been cute if he toned down the hippie-free love style he had going on....He was just
so...annoying. Even as he simply stared at her, judging her choice in music and probably thinking about how much it didn’t fit her
personality, she didn’t like it. He did know her personality! He didn’t know her at all, yet here he was, all sure he had her figured out. She
knew his type. He looked at her, knew she was a ballet major, knew who her dad was, and just assumed she never did anything outside the box. Well she
did. And excuse her for choosing to let a rap song play rather than changing it to make Dhruv more comfortable with his idea of her.
Her phone vibrated pulling her attention from the music and from Dhruv to let Alyssa know she would probably need shoes for the party. No sneakers in
the studio. It was her father’s only rule in this room...which was obviously being broken tonight as she’d told Dhruv nothing of it. It was fine.
Sonne enough the two of them would be gone anyway. Just another minute or two...and it seemed they were going to spend it talking about how surprised
he was she owned rap. Ugh. She opened her mouth to tell him just how well he didn’t know her, but he finished his thought first, making the
suggestion of using “something she liked” in her routines.
Ha. Ha! For the first time, literally ever, her smile at him was genuine. He was joking. He had to be joking. She could see it now: dancing lead in a
‘Cabin Fever’ ballet about her life a a thugged out rapper. She laughed a little, but that stopped because he’d kept talking and he was...was he
insulting her performance. “Excuse you-,” she spoke before even fully comprehending. She didn’t have to comprehend, she heard his disrespectful
ass. She leaned off the mirror coming to stand squarely on her feet facing him. “I’m sorry. I’d had no idea I could bore with flawless technique
and beautiful execution. I’ll try to be more like you; leave my audience wondering if I’ll snap an ankle or dislocate a shoulder.”
No. Really. Excuse her. Dhonny knew what he said and he'd repeat it again. Maybe it didn't come out the best way, but it was truth. The look
on her face whenever she performed was the same. Uninterested. Going through the motions.Bored as fuck. And she was way too good for that.
Dhonny knew it and didn't mind admitting it. Even through the "boring", he could see the talent. But that's where it stopped. All of the technique and
the safe shit that she fell into blotted out anything that could've been perceived as anything "pure". She was...robotic. Recycled. It was all
routine. There wasn't any of her left when she replaced it all with the technical bullshit. It was unrealistic. It wasn't her. Dhonny could see it
whenever she moved. Rehearsed steps and counts. It was like she rented her routine and returned the to their rightful owners when she was through. And
Dhonny couldn't help feeling the tiniest bit...sorry for her. Tired for her. It must've been exhausting to dance a lie. He couldn't imagine how it
felt to live one and defend it like it was truth, which was apparently what Siobhan couldn't help but do as she left her place on the mirrored wall
and stood facing him.
"Execution. Technique." Dhonny repeated the choice words that made her sound just like their instructors...just like her father. Without an
explanation of his words he scoffed and rolled his eyes, preferring to look anywhere but at the anger in his eyes over something that wasn't meant to
offend her...just to challenge her. Sure, her basic movements were impeccable and the carry out of said movements was beyond acceptable but come
on...was that all she had? No, apparently she had insults. Someone had hurt feelings...and it wasn't him.
"Look, I apologize if I offended you...but I'm only being real." He said quietly, still avoiding her harsh glare. "A little freedom of creativity
wouldn't kill you...much less snap ankles or dislocate shoulders." Low blows, huh? They were kind of uncalled for but he understood. She was
threatened. And when people feel threatened, they lash out. He got it. But it didn't excuse her. Not by a fucking longshot.
"Calm your tits on the insults though. I'm just speaking my mind..."
your body's like art i ain't even thought up yet...
Yes. Execution. Technique. Two things that she had been perfecting basically since birth. Siobhan knew she made it look easy, but it sure as hell
wasn’t. He had to know from experience because his technique was...erratic, at best. Siobhan wouldn’t lie if asked, Dhruv was entertaining to
watch, but what she’d said earlier hadn’t been a lie either. She often found herself wondering if he was going to break anything with the way he
carried on waywardly about the stage. If he was allowed to offer his unsolicited brand of “constructive” criticism, then so was she, right? Who
the hell did he think he was anyway? She’d been dancing all of her life and she’d never had any complaints before...Okay, so maybe there had been
a few, but there were very few and far between critics of her work. Most people saw it for what it was. Art.
But apparently, he was just being “real”. It was his personal opinion and in the future, he’d do better to keep those to himself. She still
couldn’t believe she’d been paired with him for her senior duo. What they were going to do was BEYOND her. She’d asked her instructor for a
different partner, but he’d been very adamant about the two of them working together. You have some of the skills he does not and he has a
natural talent that you are in desperate need of. The man had the nerve to tell her that she should learn from
Dhruv...Ugh. The thought of it annoyed her to no end! And now here he was telling her the things she was supposedly meant to learn from him? Ugh! And
really?! Calm her tits?! What was he, twelve? Did he use lol unironically and pride himself on being “from the internet” too? Dear GOD, he was
infuriating!
“And what a sexist mind it is. Calm my tits? Really? Congrats on that; crapping on women is always the fun way to tell someone that’s already calm
to relax. Maybe next you’ll ask me if I’m PMSing.” She rolled her eyes and began towards the door. They hadn’t been in here long enough. She
knew her parents, her father especially, would notice if they tried to get out now. But GOD! Dhruv was about to drive her insane and if they didn’t
get out of here soon she was going to lose it.
Wow. Sexist? Dhonny wa-...really? He'd given up hiding the blank stare that had settled on his face as he propped his chin on his open palm. He
was sexist? Out of everything he'd said to her about not meaning to offend her, she'd taken that one comment...and come to the conclusion that he
was sexist? It was incredible to him how this girl could take the simplest of statements and turn it into a glorified rant! Dhonny tried...he really
had! He'd tried to keep the comments that Koi had made about Siobhan and her squad of replicas out of his head. He'd tried to give her the benefit of
the doubt. But damn if Koi hadn't been dead on. Siobhan Van Fallon was a pretentious, angry, self righteous little she-bitch. And if Dhonny
didn't get the hell out of that room with her, he was going to lose his shit.
"Okay...?" Dhonny cleared his throat before he fell silent, not really knowing what to say after the spill that Siobhan had just given him. One thing
that he was realizing about her? She give a fuck. He respected that...even if her not caring was conflicting with his desire to not be annoyed that
night. She said what she wanted, when she wanted and how she wanted...and he understood that as someone who never held his tongue. But her mouth? Her
mouth was busy letting go of a lot of things that seemed like truth but didn't quite make it from being "opinion". And that was cool too. But the more
she did it, the less Dhonny could understand why he'd even decided to leave the table with her parents and her little sister in the first place...
"Yeah...I'm gonna just..." Pointing towards the door of the studio that he'd only entered moments before, he signaled to his exit...stage fucking
left. He wasn't going to do...this. The arguing with her because, for some reason, he was the enemy before he'd really opened his mouth. The going
back and forth that he kind of knew would happen when she didn't like what came out of his mouth. The ugly ass glares because...shit, he didn't know.
Just the ugly glares coming from her. The ones at the art studio. The ones at the table. All of them...hitting him whenever he looked in her direction
and she looked in his. Why all that hate for no reason? Because the shit went way deeper than him not knowing her out of her uniform and his ignorance
of her taste in music.
your body's like art i ain't even thought up yet...