The Rebel

I watched that dancer’s flawless technique, taking in her expressionless face as she “floated” across the floor with every judge and pupil watching her with awe. I remember when everyone used to look at me like that before I bailed. Now I am what my mother calls me, a failure and disappointment.

“Sorry, auditions are closed,” The lady at reception said when she noticed me standing there.

“I am not here for auditions. I am here to see my mother,”

The receptionist looked me over, taking in my dark emo hair, cargo pants and top running to my mid-section showing off my abs. I think she would pass out if she saw the skateboard I was hiding behind the counter.

“I don’t think you are—”

“Margeret Wentworth,” I gave her my mother’s name.

She looked me over with more doubt than before. “Look, honey…” She started but shut her mouth as quickly as possible when my mother exited the elevator and paused when she saw me standing at the counter.

“Jaylin?”

I shrugged.

“What are you doing here?” She asked, covering the ground between us instantly. Her expensive heels clicked against the tiles.

“I am a student at UCLA,” I answered, hitching my bag higher over my shoulder as I held an envelope in my hand. “Dad is having issues transferring money to Damian’s account and asked me to give this to you,”

She looked at the envelope, taking it from my hand. I haven’t seen her in twelve years since she walked out on us when she fell in love with someone else. When she thought she couldn’t hurt us more, she took my twin brother with her to her new so-called family.

“Your father tells me that you rejected the dance academy’s offer,”

I jerked my shoulder. My parents believe that I started dancing before I could walk and I almost believed them until my mother abandoned us.

“You are making a mistake, Jaylin,”

“How would you know? You weren’t there,” I kept my voice low even though I wanted to scream it out but neither I nor my mother were fans of drawing unnecessary attention to us.

“I heard from sponsors and dance schools,” She pressed, ignoring that she neglected her responsibilities as a mother.

I picked up my skateboard. “I got tired from looking into the sea of people, expecting to see your face,” The disappointment of the years got too overwhelming for me and I decided to quit.

“You were born to dance, Jaylin,” She urged like I still give a damn.

“Was I? Because it seems you forgot for the last twelve years that you have a daughter. Thanks, by the way for the money you never sent. At least Dad followed through on his child support,”

I pushed the glass door open and stormed out, dropping my board on the ground placing one foot on it, and pushing with the other until I had enough speed to rest both feet on the board. I knew deep down that it was a mistake going to see her when all I had was hate for her but still, there was a slight hope that she would have at least—I don’t know, care?

I let out a frustrated sigh, making my way down the sidewalk until I reached the beach. I kept skating down the sidewalk making sure to avoid pedestrians while taking in the waves and noticing a few surfers in the water that I missed a volleyball flying directly towards me.

My skateboard shot out from under me when the volleyball knocked into my head causing me to lose control. I hit the ground so hard that even my brain had to strap in, to not get knocked around in my head.

“Shit! Are you okay?” A deep voice asked out of nowhere.

In my peripheral vision, I caught some guy jogging over to me but I didn’t pay attention. My brain was still scrambling around in my head while I was still figuring out what the heck just happened.

I stopped the volleyball before it could roll away and raised my gaze when a shadow fell over me. “This must be yours,” I said holding the volleyball out to him. It must have been quite a show and I felt remarkably flustered for being the one who got knocked off my board.

He was barely holding himself together trying not to burst out in laughter. “Yeah, I am sorry about that.” He apologized and accepted the volleyball.

“You don’t look apologetic.” His smile was filled with amusement.

“Are you okay?” He then asked, holding out his hand to me.

I ignored his outstretched hand and pushed to my feet on my own. “I’m fine,” I grumbled, rubbing my butt where I hit the ground.

“You don’t need me to call you a doctor or even perform CPR? I might just get locked up because I don’t know how to do CPR correctly.” I just gave him a bland look. Not impressed with his so-called joke.

This wasn’t the first time I fell off my skateboard. My body is covered in healed scars and scrapes from hitting the ground a few times. I just never had a moment where a volleyball threw me off.

“I’m good,” I bluntly replied when I crouched down to pick up my board.

“You do realize that this is not the skatepark.” He pointed out.

I tilted my head to the side. “And you have a whole beach stretched out before you and somehow you hit me against the head with a volleyball.” I fired back.

His smile caught me by surprise. “I was a bit distracted.” His striking blue eyes were gleaming brightly with humour and holding my gaze captive against their own free will and I couldn’t convince myself to look away from them.

This guy was made up of every girl’s fantasy. He was tall, lean, with tanned bronze skin from spending too much time in the sun, and a face that a girl wouldn’t forget easily. His brown hair was pushed back by sunglasses resting on top of his head. I also noticed a tattoo running up from his arm to his shoulder.

“Is this your way of flirting?” I questioned.

“Is it at least working?” Definitely arrogant.

I snorted at how smug he sounded. “You should work on your people skills.” I turned away from him to walk away but he stopped me.

“What’s a New Orleans girl doing here in Los Angeles?” He asked smiling.

“That obvious?” I muttered, starting to realize people weren’t lying when they said I had an accent.

“The accent pretty much gives it away.” He noted with a smile. He was one of those people who got more handsome even when you thought it wasn’t possible. I noticed the dimples on each of his cheeks and a piece of me was staring at him with awe. I’m such a sucker for a man with dimples.

“Good to know,” I mumbled. I wanted to get away from him. I know too well what guys like him could do to a girl who finds his charms attractive.

I didn’t even notice that we had company until a girl dressed in a very exposed bikini called out to him.

“Travis! Come on.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him and at the same time threw her long silk hair over her shoulder to get his attention or she just wanted me to know that he was already taken.

He didn’t acknowledge her right away as kept looking at me but he must have realized that she wasn’t going to leave anytime soon. So, he handed her the volleyball and whispered something to her that made her smile even though she was burning holes through my face with her eyes but she started to leave eventually.

“Do you want to join us for a few games?” He asked. “We’ve got beer on ice.” He added, motioning to his group of friends and girls I had no desire to hang out with.

I shook my head. “Tempting but I think I’ll pass.” I respectfully declined.

“Look, I’m sorry for what happened. Are you sure I can’t maybe buy you something to drink?” I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes at him. This guy was really something.

“I am fine and as I said. I think I will pass.” I dropped my skateboard, got on, and made my way further down the sidewalk.