An Artistic Talent

Comments: My first shot a romance and personally I don’t know how well this is going to do. So the more feedback I get, the better I can improve this story. My ballroom dancing is kind of stale since I haven’t danced ballroom style since I was 15. So for four years I haven’t had practice and I’m not good at explaining the moves. But I’ll try. Ok, I write in first person because it’s so much easier for me. I was going to try third person but it failed horribly.

I’ll leave it up to you, would you rather I had both POV’s from the artist and the dancers in the chapter or just had each chapter a different POV, either the dancers or the artists? Like this chapter is just the dancer and I as thinking the next chapter would be the artist. So just tell me in your review.

Disclaimer: What is the point of putting a disclaimer on an original story. Ah well. I own all these characters. I don\'t own the business\'s, dances, songs, Russian and Italian Mafia or the Irish Mob. I\'d be in trouble if I owned them. Big trouble. Anyway, don\'t steal this plot or characters for that matter.

An Artistic Talent

Chapter 1

I brushed my dark amber hair back into pony tail as a loud knock sounded at my door. I sighed and stood up going over to the door to unlock it. I twisted the doorknob and pulled open the door, not ready for the person on the other side. I glared at the person there and made a move to shut the door. He put his foot in the way and pushed back on the door, knocking it into me. I glared at him as he entered the room. He walked past me and sat down on my bed. I grabbed my desk chair and turned it around so I was sitting with my chest against the back of the chair and my legs on either side of the chair.

“Aria…”

“Duncan I’m not going to some stupid party so leave me be.”

“Come on, it’ll be fun, you’ll meet people and maybe make some friends.”

“Have I gone to one stinking party since we moved here? No…I don’t think so…so just leave me the hell alone. I have homework to do.”

“Aria, come on. I’ll drag you if I have to.”

“Duncan, go yourself and leave me alone. That’s an order not a request.” He opened his mouth to say something but I cut him off. “Leave. I have a lot of homework to do including yours, so leave me the hell alone.”

“Fine.” He stood up and went over to the door. “Why are you such an outcast?”

“I made my parents disappointed in me. My younger brother thinks I don’t deserve to live. I never see my older brother and I don’t remember what he looks like or what his voice sounds like. Aislinn hates me and thinks I’m ugly. Tell me wouldn’t you want to not be noticed if you were in my shoes?”

“No, I’d want to make myself be noticed and liked.” Duncan told me and I laughed.

“Go to your party Duncan. You’ll never understand.” I said and turned around in my chair so I could work on my ‘homework’. “Have fun.” I called as an afterthought as I hear my bedroom door shut behind him. “Oh and if your back before two am, I’ll assume something is horribly wrong.” I heard his laughter and his response before the front door shut behind him.

As soon as I heard his car door shut and the engine start I put away the ‘homework’ and stood up. My first stop was the bathroom. I pulled my jeans and peasant top off and jumped into the bath that I already had ready. My hand reached for the cell phone on the ledge above the tub and I picked it up and then set it down again on the marble stand beside the tub. I sighed happily and just soaked there for a few minutes waiting for my cell phone to beep. Once it did I lifted it and dialed a number I knew by heart. I lifted the phone to my hear and smiled at the voice at the other end.

“Eric, pick me up in thirty minutes, will ya?” I laughed and smiled again. “I’ll be ready, don’t worry. Duncan is already on his way to the party. We’ll be fine. I told him to not show up before two. Alright see you in thirty.” I hung up the phone and pulled the plug in the drain.

I got out of the tub and toweled myself off with a fluffy blue towel that had been hanging on the towel warmer. I put the towel around me and walked into my bedroom, straight over to my closet. I opened it and pulled out a long black silk skirt, with a slit up one side. Next came a red silk tank top, that only had one spaghetti strap sleeve. I put on a pair of panties and then put the skirt and shirt on, not bothering with a bra. I slipped into black flats and placed a pair of three inch heeled sandals into a small black duffel bag. Next I threw in a towel and a water bottle from the fridge in my closet. I dropped the bag onto my bed and then grabbed my curling iron and proceeded to curl my amber hair. Once that was finished I took a few strands of my hair on both sides of my face and pinned it together at the back of my head. I sighed and did my makeup as I heard a car turn into the driveway. I finished hurriedly and threw the makeup kit into my duffel bag as I grabbed it and ran for the door. I’d have to do without jewelry, but it would be better. I heard the horn beep just as I reached the bottom of the stairs. I snagged the house keys from the wicker bowl on the hall table and yanked the door open just as Eric started to get out of his car.

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” I said hurriedly as I shut the door and locked it with the key. “Get back in the car, Eric.” I called as I ran towards him, glad I had worn the flats. “Let’s go.”

He laughed and pulled out of the driveway heading towards the city thirty minutes away. I looked at him out of the corner of my eye and slid lower in my seat, hoping Duncan would listen to me for once. I doubt he would listen to the ‘I went for a walk at midnight’ excuse again. I rolled my eyes and reached over to turn on the radio, surprisingly enough it was classical. I raised an eyebrow and looked over at Eric who blushed. This was the same music we would be dancing to tonight.

“I wanted to memorize the rhythm to make sure we were in sync with it when we danced.”

“Right. I totally believe you.”

“Aria, come on…”

“You need to loosen up. I’m not going to dance with you if your tight as a rope.”

“Yea and we both know even if I am tight as a rope you’ll dance with me. Jeez, why did we have to choose the salsa?”

“Because you wanted to big shot. It wasn’t my idea to dance this fast Latin song.”

“You didn’t argue with me.”

“Nor did I agree.”

“Whatever.”

“Can you try to go a tiny bit above the speed limit? The police won’t give you a speeding ticket for going sixty-five.”

“Right, it’s not like you’ve ever driven a car before. I doubt you even have your license.”

“Oh I have my license, three actually. One for America, one for Ireland, and one for having a gun.” I said innocently and he gulped at the third one. “Oh don’t worry, my guns are with my dear father in Ireland.” I said father with disdain.

Fifteen minutes later we pulled up in front of a dancing hall where a competition was being held. I knew Eric and I wouldn’t win it, but we could at least try. Both of us weren’t very experienced but we were still considered experts by the other ballroom dancers we knew. I sighed and opened the car as soon as the car stopped. I grabbed my duffel bag from the floor and hastily stuffed the keys I was still holding into the front pocket. Eric helped me out and closed the door behind me as I started up to the front of the building. Eric caught up to me and the man at the door opened it for both of us, a smile on his face, wishing us good luck. We ran inside and once again I was glad I had worn flats here instead of the heels. We grabbed our ID’s and ran into the room assigned to us so we could get ready. I walked quickly over to the mirror and preceded to fix my makeup. I slipped out of my flats and dug in my duffel bag for the heels. I slid them on and gained three more inches to my five foot eight height. I looked over at Eric who was pinning a red rose to his lapel. A knock sounded at our door and we looked at each other. He held his hand out and I smiled taking it. We walked over to the door in perfect sync and he opened the door.

“Ready?” Asked the attendant.

“Of course.” Eric replied.

“Right this way then.” We left the room leaving the door open and walked down the hall after the attendant.

We walked into the dancing hall and smiled at the other dancing couples there. We moved and stood were the attendant told us while other couples moved into place. My right hand went into Eric’s left, and my left with his right. The music started and quickly I moved my right foot back and my right arm swung downward. My weight was replaced to my left foot and I my eyes closed during this process. The next part was slower. My right foot moved towards my left and my arms went back to normal position. We paused for a brief second and then my left foot moved forward and the palm of my hands went forward connecting my left hand to Eric’s right while his left hand went to my right. We pushed our hands upward and I replaced my weight to my left foot. Everything I did, Eric did the opposite of. My left foot closed to my right foot and I lowered my left hand releasing the connection. My eyes were still closed and I didn’t pay attention to the moves Eric was doing as we danced. My right hand was back in Eric’s left. My right foot when back, and my weight went to my left foot as I took my right hand over Eric’s head. Slowly my right foot closed to my left foot and my right hand ended up on Eric’s right shoulder. I replaced my eight to my right foot and I felt Eric duck under my arm. My left foot closed to my right foot and we my hand ended up on his left shoulder. We did the move again only this time it was I who ducked under his arm, with my hand ending up on his left as the dance ended.

“Great job Eric, you weren’t as tense as I thought you would be.” I commented and he looked at me smiling dryly.

“You didn’t do half bad yourself.” He retorted and I smirked.

“Half bad, so are you saying I was good or that I messed up horribly, cause I remember you stepping on my foot at least once.”

“I did not step on your foot.” He hissed as we held hands and moved forward towards the judges and smiled. “We so didn’t win.”

“Aww, shit.” I muttered as I scanned the crowd and my gaze stopped on one leather jacket clad male. “Duncan, ten o’clock.” I whispered to Eric who stiffened, but not noticeably. “We’re seriously screwed.”

“You can say that again.” Eric whispered back and his grip on my hand tightened. “Think he’ll be angry?”

“Hell yea.”

“Fuck.”

“No shit.”

“Umm think he’ll wait until after they announce the winners?”

“Oh he will.”

I locked gazes with Duncan and sent him a warning glare. He returned it with his own glare and then disappeared back into the crowd. I sighed and then focused my attention back to the judges. They were announcing the winners starting with fifth place. A couple I didn’t know received the plaque. Then it was fourth place. Still another couple we didn’t know went to receive the plaque. Then they announced the winners of third place. Eric dragged me forward to receive our medals and plaque. We stayed up there and waited for second and first place to be called. We congratulated each couple and then left heading through the throng of people to get back to the room. We slid inside and I glared at Duncan who was lounging on the couch. I grabbed my bag and slipped my heels off and put them inside the bag. I slid into my flats and then took a long sip of the water, drinking about half of it before I stopped.

“I didn’t know your homework entailed leaving the house and going to a dance competition.” Duncan said leaning forward.

“You didn’t need to know.” I retorted.

“Really,” He uttered. “Eric leave.” I nodded to Eric and he slipped out after saying a hasty goodbye. “How can I protect you if you if you just up and leave without telling me anything?”

“Did you go to the party?” I asked dismissing his question without an answer.

“Aria!” He hissed angrily.

“Fine. I trust Eric and it’s not like I can’t protect myself. I don’t need you following me wherever I go. I’m not five Duncan. I’m nineteen and a college student.”

“You’re also the daughter of …”

I punched him and hard. He raised his hand to cheek and I turned on my heel and left the room, lifting my duffel bag to my shoulder. I heard him come after me but I didn’t stop as he called after me. I pushed open the front door to the building and left the room. Eric was leaning against his car waiting for me to come out. I smiled at him and yanked open the passenger side door. He walked around and got in himself as I shut the door. He started the car and pressed the lock button, so that Duncan couldn’t open the doors. I looked away from the window and changed the radio station as Eric pulled out onto the road. I didn’t really listen to the songs. I just wanted to get home and into my room before Duncan got there. I didn’t want to deal with him at all. As soon as Eric stopped in the driveway adjacent to my house I pushed open the door and grabbed my duffel bag.

“Thanks Eric. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Bye Aria, don’t let Duncan get to you.”

“I won’t”

I waved to him as he left and then I walked over to the front door and unlocked it just as Duncan pulled into the driveway. I pushed the door open and slipped in, shutting it behind me with a slam. I relocked it and ran up the stairs and down the hall into my bedroom. I slammed the door, locked it, and put a chair under the doorknob for good measure. I flung my bag into my closet and changed into my nightclothes as Duncan ran up the stairs. He banged on my door and shouted for me to open it but I didn’t. I just reached over and turned my radio on and turned the volume up to block out his banging and shouting. I lay down on my bed and stretched out, wishing I had thought to grab an ice pack from the kitchen freezer before coming upstairs. To late now. I wasn’t about to leave the room with Duncan probably across the hall in his own room waiting for me to come out. Finally after about an hour I turned the radio down and slipped under the covers. My lights were of since I hadn’t even put them on when I got in. I yawned and then closed my eyes drifting off to sleep.