Face The Music Read online

  Emily followed my stare. “What?”

  “Nothing,” I lied, dropping my eyes to the floor. The last thing I wanted to do was talk about Chris Knots.

  “You look like you saw a ghost. What was it?” She scanned the club. It didn’t take long for her to spot them. “Oh my God!” she gasped, her eyes round. “The Stars are here! Allie, you have to introduce me.”

  “No.” I shook my head. “I actually don’t know them.” Besides the kids, Chris was the only one I’d ever spoken to. And it wasn’t like we’d had any kind of real conversation.

  “You do work there, with them, right? You see them every day.”

  “I see them sometimes, but that doesn’t mean I talk to them. I teach the younger ones, you know, who aren’t old enough to be in a place like this.” I rattled the ice in my glass and looked back over at the Stars. “The others all keep to themselves.”

  Emily glared at me, her lips pulled into a pout of disapproval. “Gosh, Allie. If I worked there, they would all know me.”

  I didn’t argue with that. Emily had no problem talking to people she didn’t know- another thing that made us so different.

  “You’re too shy!” she complained. “How do you expect to meet new people if you never talk to anyone?”

  “I talk,” I said defensively.

  “The kids don’t count, Allie.” She sat back down, leaned towards me, and examined my face. “You’re not telling me something.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I sucked in my lips, the way I always did when I wasn’t being entirely truthful.

  “Don’t hold out on me. It’s my birthday; you have to tell.”

  I looked at her for a minute, surprised at how well she could read me. “Okay, fine. I talked to Chris Knots,” I admitted, looking back over at his group. “I dropped my stuff in the hall, and he helped me pick it up. We chatted for a minute. No big deal.” I took a long swallow from Emily’s wine cooler.

  “Hey! Get your own.” She snatched the bottle out of my hand and looked over at him. “What was he like?”

  “Aside from being really hot?”

  She nodded eagerly.

  “Kind of a jerk.”

  “Really? What makes you think so?”

  I told her about how he interrupted my class. “Tuesday he practically laughed in my face, and Thursday he completely ignored me.” I watched him for a minute. He was performing a dance move that resembled a lawn sprinkler. He held one hand behind his head, his elbow sticking out to the side, and his other arm was extended out in front of him. His torso twisted around in a jerky, circular motion, and everyone, including him, rolled with laughter.

  Emily frowned. “Oh come on; that doesn’t make him a jerk.” She got up and pushed her stool aside. “Come on, let’s go talk to him.”

  “Absolutely not!” I remained firmly planted in my seat. “I have to work with these people, and I refuse to make an idiot out of myself. He already has plenty of people to talk to.”

  Emily groaned. “You are so boring, Allie! You promised to have fun tonight.” She stuck out her lower lip.

  “That only works with Molly,” I laughed, picturing my niece’s pouty face. No doubt who she learned it from. “I did promise you a good time, so let’s forget about them and go dance.”

  “Fine,” she huffed, “let’s go.”

  Cher’s electronically enhanced voice filled the room.

  “I love this song!” Emily said, thrusting her hips from side to side and throwing her hands up over her head.

  I enjoyed watching her dance. She was so free and alive, like she didn’t have a care in the world. Wanting to be more like her, I closed my eyes and danced too, relaxing as the alcohol worked its warmth throughout my body. It felt good to let loose- it had been way too long.

  We danced straight through three songs. By the time the next one came on I was overheated and sticky with sweat. Emily had found another partner, so I made my way to the bar for another drink.

  It was busy. The three bartenders couldn’t keep up. The man to my left ordered something called a Painkiller, and I curiously watched as the bartender mixed together a dark colored rum, coconut cream, and pineapple-orange juice. It looked good, despite the gruesome name, and I was about to get one for myself when someone behind me called out an order. “Two Captain and Cokes, please.”

  Fully intending to educate this rude person about taking turns, I turned around to find Chris. The blood drained from my face as he clapped me on the shoulder. “Hey!” His eyes were wide as they ran down and then back up my frame. “Wow, you look amazing.” He paid for the drinks and handed one to me. “I don’t know what you like, hopefully this is okay.”

  “Oh! Thanks.” I decided against giving him the lecture on manners and instead took a sip from the tumbler.

  Amusement touched the corners of his lips. “A teacher who drinks. Isn’t that illegal or something? I thought you all were supposed to be hermits who live in your classrooms.”

  “Ha, ha. So funny.”

  He said something else, but the music was too loud. I pointed to my ear and shook my head, signaling that I couldn’t hear.

  “Do you wanna dance?” he asked, a bit louder than before.

  I thought about it for an entire second but decided it was probably better if I just steered clear of this guy. I didn’t trust myself to keep my head, especially with the alcohol in my system. Getting involved with him was the last thing I needed. Even though he was sexy as hell.

  “No. Sorry, I’m here with my sister.”

  He looked taken aback, as if I’d caught him off guard. Poor baby, I thought, trying to stifle a laugh. He wasn’t used to rejection.

  “Oh, come on, one won’t hurt. I won’t tell anyone.” His dark eyes burned into mine, daring me to refuse again.

  All my willpower melted away. It wasn’t fair.

  He had all kinds of wild moves I couldn’t keep up with. I mostly just stood there, bending my knees and swinging my hips while he danced circles around me. At one point, he pulled my arms up over my head and spun me around. I twirled like a stiff board, nearly toppling to one side. “Loosen up!” he laughed.

  I was relieved when a slower song came on. Taking one of my hands into his own, he pushed the other against the small of my back and pulled me close. He was at least six inches taller than me; the top of my head didn’t even reach the bottom of his chin. The combination of dancing, alcohol, and being pressed up against his hard body had me sizzling. Streams of sweat trickled down my back.

  He rested the side of his chin against my sweaty temple. “Are you having fun?”

  “Yes,” I said, feeling dazed. It felt like warm, smooth honey was circulating through my veins.

  “Good.” He tilted his head down and focused on me and me alone, despite all the other people around us. Moving slowly and purposefully, as if he were looking for some excuse to touch me, he reached up and swept a damp curl off my forehead.

  I was speechless, rendered in a dreamlike state, when, out of nowhere, a crowd of people- adoring fans, most likely- advanced towards him and pushed me off to the side.

  And just like that, I was released from whatever trance he had put me in. Leaving him to his fans, I went back to my table and thought about what had just happened. It was like he’d taken complete control of my mind, put me under some sort of spell. Never before had I felt so powerless.

  Chris Knots wasn’t just some random cute guy off the street. He knew exactly what he was doing. I wondered how many women had fallen victim to his charms, found themselves defenseless against that smile. I was really going to have to keep my guard up with this one.

  Emily was by my side in no time. “Please tell me you were just dancing with Chris Knots. I thought I saw it, but I just can’t believe it.”

  “Yes, Emily, I was just dancing with Chris Knots.” I was struggling to wrap my mind around it myself.

  She squealed. “That calls for another round. I’ll be right back
.”

  Within minutes she returned, juggling a couple of wine coolers and two shot glasses filled with a red liquid.

  We downed the shots, and I grimaced as the sharp alcohol burned my insides. “Who were you dancing with?”

  She shrugged and glanced in his direction. “I have no idea. Although he is kind of cute.”

  About an hour and who knows how many drinks later, Emily and I went back out onto the dance floor. Somehow we ended up next to Chris’s group. I glared at Emily, but she just gave me an innocent smile.

  “Where did you go?” Chris shouted over the music, looking genuinely surprised to see me. “I’ve been looking all over for you. I thought you’d left!”

  “Nope, just hangin’ out.” I nodded towards the corner where we had been sitting. “This is my sister, Emily. Emily, Chris Knots.”

  “Chris! It’s so nice to meet you in person! We’re all big fans!” She covered his hand with both of hers and shook it forcefully.

  “Sisters, huh?” He looked at me and then back at Emily. “I never would have guessed.”

  The leggy blonde from earlier wrapped a possessive arm around Chris’s waist. “Hi, I’m Cynthia,” she said in a sing-song voice. “But you probably already knew that.”

  I nodded and held out my hand. “Allison Banks.” She squeezed my fingers and then put her hand on Chris’s chest.

  I’d seen Cynthia’s performances on the show and always thought her to be extremely pretty, but she was even more striking in person. She was tall and athletic and looked like a supermodel in her short skirt and sequined, scoop-necked top. Her blonde hair was piled on top of her head, but a few strands had fallen loose and hung in her face, giving her a sexy, tousled look.

  She was like a goddess, Aphrodite herself sent down from the heavens above to humble the rest of us ordinary people. Her complexion was flawless, and there wasn’t an ounce of flab on her toned and slender figure. I wasn’t overweight by anyone’s standards, but my soft and curvy body seemed plump compared to hers.

  “How do you two know each other?” She looked at Chris and then back at me.

  “Allie works for the show. She tutors the kids.”

  Cynthia didn’t seem too interested. The way she glared at me from under her long mascara-coated lashes told me that she wanted his attention all to herself. I was more than happy to oblige.

  “I need another drink. You want anything, Em?”

  “We should probably get going, actually.” She turned to Chris. “We’ve been hitting it hard all night, and she’s a lightweight.”

  Cynthia laughed. It was a hollow, fake sound; a belittling sneer that someone would make at another, lesser person’s expense. I decided I didn’t like her.

  But Chris’s smile only widened. “Maybe we should get you some water.” He took my arm and led me away from the dance floor. “Wouldn’t want that pretty little head of yours to hurt too much in the morning.”

  “I’m fine. Really,” I added when he gave me a sideways glance. “Don’t worry about…” I tripped over my own foot and nearly ran into a table.

  “Whoa, careful,” he said, helping me to regain my balance. He raised an eyebrow and flashed me a shameless grin. “What was that you were saying?”

  I pressed my palms firmly against his chest. It was solid beneath my hands, and I stood on my tiptoes and tipped my head back to look up into his face. “I think you’re trouble.”

  His lips curved into a playful smile. “You say it like it’s a bad thing.”

  “I bet you don’t get told ‘no’ very often.” The alcohol must have really taken over because there is no way I would have been so bold had I been sober.

  He stepped forward, closing the gap between us. Our bodies were so close that I could feel the heat radiating off him. He cocked his head when he spoke. “You did. You thought you could get out of dancing with me.”

  I gawked, not knowing what to say. My thoughts were getting fuzzy.

  His grin widened. “It wasn’t hard to get you to change your mind. I bet I could do it again.”

  I swallowed hard, feeling that sense of powerlessness, like I was under some kind of spell. The strange thing was that I didn’t mind. I kind of liked it. “I’ll have no problem sticking to it next time.” The words came out with more confidence than I felt.

  He asked the bartender for a bottle of water and then turned to me. “How are you and your sister getting home tonight?”

  I stared at him awhile before answering. The gears were spinning slowly. “I don’t know. A taxi, I guess.”

  “Good. I don’t think either of you need to be driving. I’ve got a rental; I could give you a ride. Where do you live?”

  I blinked hard a few times, trying to regain my center of balance as the room started to spin. “Emily and I share an apartment in the West End Complex. A few blocks from the studio.”

  “Yeah, I know that place.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s almost two. Are you ready to go?”

  “It’s that late? Really?” I reached for his wrist and tried to focus on the hands of his watch, but I couldn’t decide which of the four hands I should be focusing on.

  He put his arm around my shoulders. “So? How about a ride?”

  “You’re sweet, but no need to trouble yourself. I don’t mind catching a cab.”

  “I wouldn’t offer if I thought it was trouble. It would give me peace of mind knowing you get home safely. There are a lot of crazies out this time of night, you know? What would the kids say if you were a no-show on Monday?”

  The thought made me laugh. “They would probably throw a party.” I held up my water bottle and pretended to preach. “Miss Banks is allowed to live a life outside the classroom too, you know.”

  “Touché!” He waved his hand in salute as he took a few steps back, bowed, and walked away.

  I wondered what Cynthia would have said about him taking Emily and me home. The thought was quickly replaced with a sense of panic as the room took on a violent whirl. I plopped down on a stool and, feeling sick, leaned forward and rested a cheek on the bar.

  Chapter 4

  When I woke up my head was pounding. My mouth tasted like something that had been pulled from a clogged drain. I was in my bed wearing my old White Sox shirt. Odd. I had no memory of coming home or changing my clothes.

  Emily was still asleep, so after washing my face and brushing my teeth, twice, I went across the hall to gather Molly from Mrs. Johnson. As usual, she refused to take any money. I think she enjoyed her time with Molly just as much as Emily and I had enjoyed our night out.

  It wasn’t too much longer before Emily stumbled into the kitchen. She put a slice of bread in the toaster. “Morning,” she said, propping her elbows on the counter. “I had fun last night. Thanks.”

  I poured a glass of orange juice and popped a couple Advil in my mouth. “Yeah, me too. I sure am paying for it this morning though.”

  “Ah, well, what’s the fun without the morning after? It was worth it.”

  “Do you think so?” I wasn’t sure I agreed. The way my pulse was pounding in my temples made me think my whole head might just explode.

  “Chris sure seemed to enjoy your company.” She raised her eyebrows. “Much more than he did Cynthia’s. Did you notice how she was hanging all over him? It was so obvious he wanted nothing to do with her.”

  Cynthia. I had a vague recollection of her on the dance floor but couldn’t quite put all the pieces together. “Yeah, was she amazing or what?”

  Emily’s face pulled into a grimace. “I’ll go with the ‘or what.’ She looked like a hooker.”

  I nodded as fragmented memories came to surface. “She was a total bitch, wasn’t she?”

  “It’s true,” Emily said, spreading butter across her hot toast.

  I swallowed the last of my juice and sat down at the table. “I don’t remember coming home.” Or getting undressed.

  She laughed and then groaned. “Oh, you’re killing me.” She closed her eye
s and rubbed a spot in the middle of her forehead. She then looked at me with a grin that would rival that of the Cheshire cat. “That doesn’t surprise me. You passed out in his car.”

  His? “What car?”

  I didn’t think it was possible, but her grin got even bigger. “Chris’s. He carried you up here and put you in bed.”

  Holy shit.

  I studied her expression, hoping to find some trace of ridicule, but her cheesy ass smile gave nothing away. “Oh my God! Are you kidding me?”

  She bit into her toast and chewed. “’Fraid not, sister!”

  I picked at a thread on the hem of my shirt. She seemed to read my mind. “Don’t worry. He was a total gentleman. He put you in bed and left. I undressed you.”

  I dropped my forehead to the tabletop, partly from relief. If only I could remember. “Oh, Em!” I whined, turning to look at her. “How could you let me do that?”

  She covered her smile with a napkin. “Don’t worry about it. I think he enjoyed himself. I think he kind of enjoyed you, too.”

  Her eyes followed me as I got up and headed for the bathroom. A wave of nausea had my insides doing somersaults. “You’re insane,” I called over my shoulder.

  A few minutes later she came in and found me lying on the soft grey rug next to the toilet. “You gonna be okay?”

  “I’m fine,” I groaned without opening my eyes. I was afraid if I moved something else might find its way back up.

  “Are you sure?”

  With much effort, I eased up to a sitting position and leaned against the tub. The porcelain was cool through the thin material of my shirt. “Yes. Go. I have a lot of work to do.”

  She twisted the cap off a bottle of Listerine. “I’m taking Molly with me, so the place should be quiet for you.”

  “Okay.” I took a swig of mouthwash. It burned against the inside of my mouth, and I spit it in the toilet.

  Emily dampened a washcloth and tossed it to me. “I’ll see you later. Get some rest.”