"No, no, Genesis, that is not what I want." Miss Reneta clapped her hands in annoyance. Jaden set me down, and I immediately pulled away from his grip, moving a few steps away from him.
My heart pounded against my ribs, too loud, too fast. I could feel his eyes on me—no, not just his. Everyone's. We'd been repeating the same movement over and over because of me.
I kept my gaze locked on the wooden floorboards, as if they were the most fascinating thing in the world.
"What is wrong with your girl?" Nikolai Petrov, the instructor in charge of Jaden's class, asked. His voice was smooth but sharp enough to cut, and a shiver rippled through me.
"Someone else could take her place," he pressed on. "There is Melanie, or Maya. Or, if you don't want people from my class, then from yours. Surely there are other girls here who can do this."
The frustration in his voice was impossible to miss, but I didn't look up. It wasn't that I didn't want to dance, or that I couldn't. It was him. Jaden. I didn't want him near me. His life was already hanging by a thread—if Knight discovered whatever foolish idea he had about me, Jaden wouldn't survive it. I'd already saved him once, when he kissed me, but now? If he tried something again, I wouldn't be able to save him.
"No, no," Miss Reneta cut in firmly. "Genesis can do this. You saw it yourself—she's good."
"She's good," Nikolai interrupted, his accent grinding each word into me, "but she's stiff. She is not putting any passion, any emotion. She's flighty—"
"…like she wants to run away from the music, from her partner, instead of letting it pull her in, ja?" His tone made every word bite, sharp and heavy. "Every step, every leap—it is empty. No fire. No truth."
Miss Reneta's brow furrowed, frustration mixed with concern. "Genesis, listen," she said, her voice softer now, though firm. "We don't have all day to wait for you to find it on your own. You can't let your mind wander while you're on that stage."
Nikolai tapped his cane lightly on the floor, emphasizing his point. "They don't have all the time. You must show what you feel now, or…." His voice cracked slightly, the impatience in him unmistakable.
Miss Reneta stepped closer to Genesis, pulling her gently to the side. "Genesis… you know what's happening between you and Jaden. I see it, everyone sees it," she said quietly, keeping her voice low so only Genesis could hear. "But this is your last chance. I chose you for this, not because you are the best ballerina in the room, but because you have what I'm looking for. The fire, the emotion… the life that can make this dance real."
Genesis kept her eyes on the floor, biting her lip. She didn't say anything, just nodded slightly, though her chest tightened.
Miss Reneta continued, softer now, almost a whisper: "Whatever is between you and Jaden, you put it aside for this. Isn't this what you've always wanted? To be on that stage? To feel the music inside you, to live it? Then do it. Don't think about him. Don't imagine the man behind the steps. Don't imagine anyone. Not Jaden… not anyone… just you. Just the dance. Do you understand me?"
Genesis swallowed hard, her pulse racing. The room felt impossibly silent for a moment, the noise of other dancers, footsteps, and music fading into nothing. She lifted her head slowly, letting her gaze meet Miss Reneta's. There was fear there, yes, but also determination, a flicker of the fire the teacher had been speaking about.
Miss Reneta gave a small, approving nod. "Good. Now go back. Let your body remember what you know. Feel the music. Let it take you—let it be only yours. No distractions. Ja?"
Genesis took a deep breath, stepping back toward the floor. She felt Jaden's eyes on her again, but this time, she didn't see him. She only saw the music, only felt the rhythm, only heard the stage calling her name.
Genesis stepped forward, letting the music fill her senses. She felt the wooden floor beneath her feet, the rhythm pulsing through her legs and up into her chest. She lifted her arms slowly, letting them float like ribbons, and felt Jaden mirror her movement without trying to rush her.
"Begin," Nikolai barked, but his voice felt distant now, like it didn't reach her.
They moved together, one step at a time. The music swelled, and Genesis let herself be carried by it. Jaden extended his hand, and she placed hers in his. Their bodies aligned, the tension easing as she felt his strength supporting her.
He spun her once, her skirts fluttering, and she landed perfectly on the balls of her feet. She looked up for a brief moment, only to see the calm focus in his eyes. No distractions, just the dance.
Then came the lift. Jaden bent his knees slightly, anchoring himself, and Genesis jumped lightly into his arms. She felt the air around her, weightless, as he held her steady. Her arms arched above her head, fingers stretched toward the ceiling, and for the first time, she let herself feel the music in her entire body.
Down they went together, flowing into a series of turns. She tucked her leg, he held her close, and the world narrowed to just the movement, the rhythm, the space between them.
Miss Reneta's eyes glimmered from the side. "There! That fire, ja! That is what I wanted!" she called, clapping softly.
Genesis took a deep breath and spun into the next combination, her feet gliding, toes pointed, arms reaching, back arching. Jaden lifted her again, this time higher, and she felt a thrill of weightlessness and control all at once.
Each lift, each turn, each step, she let the music dictate her body. No thoughts of fear, no worries about Jaden, just the dance. She leapt, he caught her, and the balance, the rhythm, the partnership, they moved as one.
By the end, she landed softly, her chest heaving, heart pounding with exhilaration. Jaden lowered her, hand still lightly touching her waist, and she didn't pull away. She had done it. For herself, for the dance.
Miss Reneta stepped forward, smiling but serious. "You see, Genesis? That… that is yours. That is the fire. Always remember, the dance comes first. Ja?"
Genesis nodded, finally letting herself breathe, letting the fear and tension melt into triumph.
****
"Ah that was so amazing," Calista said, bouncing on the balls of her feet. Stacy nodded, glancing at Genesis as they slowly made their way out of the studio, Genesis in the middle.
"You were made for ballet. You and Jaden were amazing."
Genesis gave a small smile and nodded. "Thank you…" she began, but a voice called from behind her.
"Genesis."
She didn't need to turn to know who it was. Stacy and Calista looked back, but Genesis kept walking and even picked up her pace. Just as she reached for the door handle and the cold air outside, a hand grabbed her elbow and spun her around.
"Please," Jaden said, urgent. The door swung open and another voice cut through the hall.
"Take your hands off my wife now," the new voice snapped. "Or I'll be very glad to teach you exactly how much you can bleed."