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Iready to help lead everyone in warm-ups since I was a TA for the class It didn’t take a whole lot of effort, but it paid for e bonus whenever dance companies were on campus because she always made sure I had the chance to network

I led the class through all the warm-ups before she arrived and then joined theraphy for the day Jazz was one ofto beef up my skills in that area I wanted to be as well-rounded as I could so that I would have raduation time

By the ti She’d really worked us hard today I gulped down my water and tried to catch my breath Aubrey waved when she walked out of class and n by her ear as she mouthed, "Talk to you later"

I toweled off and leaned over to stretch again, needing to stay warhas the studio was open I needed as et, and the room was usually open after our class I hooked my phone into the sound systely sad and made me think of my parents It was a lyrical piece that called for a lot of es this one pulled out of me I hoped it orth it because I always felt coht back the pain ofthat the piece I would dance that h they ith me

I needed to reht mean that I never dance professionally or that I’d be offered a job where I get to dance every day But I couldn’t lose sight that it was also another chance to dance That hat each opportunity was I couldn’t think about as happening next It didn’t matter what the dance was for It didn’t matter how much I doubted myself either

When I first started to dance, I hadn’t known that h After a while, I’d been told that sowith me that all I saere all the io back to the beginning and remember what had made me dance in the first place So I squared ain, and then I lost myself in the dance

About thirty h when I felt so at me He was seated on the floor just inside the door, dressed in workout shorts and a t-shirt A huge grin was spread across his face, but his eyes were burning with desire

"Jackson," I gasped

"Those are so skills you have there," he complimented me

"I certainly hope so I’ve been dancing since I was four years old"

"When Aubrey ether, I pictured you doing the type of stuff I’ve seen her do before," he admitted "But what you just did blows ued

"She’s not a bad dancer, but I can’t picture her doing anything like that" He got to his feet and walked towardson it as I have That’s all"

"No, after watching you, I’d say that you have a natural talent," he disagreed "You looked like you were born to dance"

"Maybe I was," I ad of ht have danced right in this very spot acy too"

"Yeah, both ot accepted and h school sweethearts," I explained

"Mine both attended Blythe also, but they met while they were students here What year were your parents? Maybe they know each other"

"Class of 1991," I whispered, not used to talking verythat it wasn’t the same time that Jackson’s parents had attended That there was no way they could possibly have met while they had been in school My hopes were dashed at Jackson’s next words

"That was only a couple years behind ether when yours come into town next"

I shook my head in response "That won’t be possible"