Nice To Meet You
Ten more minutes. School will be over in ten more minutes. I sit in my chair beginning to get anxious. Staring at the clock watching the seconds pass by I wait for the final bell to ring. My teacher has been rambling on about the history of art and paintings that are way too complex for me even to imagine painting. Any other day I would listen intently to Mr. Hart, as he talks about the painting I can only hope to paint one day.
"The painting...," "painted by..." "complexed..." I attempt to listen while watching the clock only catching a couple of words. That's fine I'll listen to the recording of class on my phone later. I recorded all my classes today because I knew I would be very distracted.
"Ms...." I hear Mr.Hart say faintly. "Ms. Contreras," He says this time louder. I snap my eyes to meet his.
"Yes, sir?" I ask confused.
"Would you like to join the class?" he asked in a matter-of-fact tone. I focus on the board and what he's writing but my eyes slowly drift to the clock again—four more minutes. I once again attempt to pay attention to Mr. Hart but I simply can't.
The bell rings startling me out of the trance that the clock has on me. I packed my bag and rushed toward the door hoping to make it out before Mr. Hart realized.
"Ms. Contreras, please come here," he said just as I stepped out the door. I turn on my heel and return to my seat in class. Front and center.
"What was going on with you today?" he asks after the rest of the class leaves.
"I'm in a bit of a rush. I need to get home" I say rushing the words out. The quicker this conversation is over the sooner I get home.
"Well do me a favor, please pay attention in my class from now on." he says as I glance at the clock again. "okay you can go" I got out of my seat and ran for the door.
As soon as I got home I walked into my room sat at my desk and began to write my essay for my creative writing class. We were told to write about something we do and why we do it. It's a simple one-paragraph essay nothing compared to the rest of the stuff we've written in that class.
I was told to write about something I love to do. I decided to tell you about my dance. I'm a dancer, I have been trained in ballet and contemporary. Most kids who make it through the elementary dance levels leave when middle school hits. They find new friends new hobbies new joys. I wasn't one of those kids. I've always been the quiet girl, the outsider except when I dance. When I dance I have a voice, I belong somewhere. Dance has become a part of me that no one can take away. I put everything into my dance. Every emotion. Every step. Every twirl. Dance is who I am. It's how I express myself.
Once the document is turned in I get up and head to my closet to change into my blue-grey leotard and a black dance skirt along with some tights, a blue pullover sweater, and of course my point shoes.
"VALERIA," he shouted over the music making me skip a beat. "Open this door now" I stopped the music and slowly walked to the door. I twisted the lock with my shaky hands darting to the other side of the room before the door opened.
"How many times have I told you to stop playing that music in this house," he said strangely calm.
"I'm sorry Dad" I quickly apologized.
"I don't care how sorry you are I told you not to do it and you still do," he said taking steps closer as I took steps back, "let's go, you need to be punished."
"No, please Dad. I'm sorry" I pleaded and begged but he only grabbed me by my hair pulling me toward the basement door. Yanking open the basement door and pushing me down the stairs. I bruised a few ribs. He stalked down the steps making me crawl away in an attempt to get away. His steps getting faster he made it to me in no time. Gripping my hair harder than last time making me cry out. Pulling on my hair he made me get up onto my feet the pain in my ribs getting stronger than before. He ties my hands together above my hand hooking them above me to a hook that was added to the ceiling a few days after my mom died.
"You wanted to dance, right? now dance," he says much calmer than before. I point my feet the tips of my point shoes barely touching the ground. My arms stretched to the max so close to ripping out of my socket if I slipped off my toe. He reached into a bin of tools. Pulling out the taser first. With a sinister look on his face, he walked toward me and placed the taxer on my ribs. My body jerks away from the pain but can't go far. I nearly slip off my toe and when he sees that his face becomes angry. He then began delivering punch after punch to my abdomen.
Thirty minutes later he seemed to be done and began to release my hands from the hook. I collapsed to the floor drain from the pain I was suffering. I let the darkness overtake me.
When I woke up I was still on the floor of the basement nothing had changed except my father was gone. Probably drinking again. I slowly got up making my way over to the stair that led to the kitchen. Taking one step at a time I made it to the door. Opening it slowly I stepped into the kitchen and then carefully and quietly made my way to my room on the second floor. The sun looked to be just rising. The clock on the stove read 2:00 am. I quickly and quietly got clothes and headed for the bathroom to assess the damage.
After getting ready it was around 6:30 am. I tip-toed down the stairs and carefully made my way out the door. As soon as I reached my car I got in and began the drive to school. I made it to school at 7 am on the dot. In 20 minutes the first period starts. I drop my books off at my locker only taking what I need. My first four periods fly by in a blur. Finally, it's time to dance. I make my way to the locker room as soon as the bell rings dismissing me from 4th period. I change into my normal school leotard putting my hoodie over to hide the bruises on my arms. Then walk into the dance studio. I walk up to the bar preparing for warm-up. Mrs. DeLuca began teaching, telling us what to do to warm up with quiet classical music in the background. Mid-warm up the doors randomly opened I continued to dance assuming it was someone who was later.
"Ares?" I heard Mrs. DeLuca say, I continued to ignore it knowing she had a son. "Ares Andrea Deluca?" I began to tune her out. and continue dancing.
XXX time skip XXX
The bell rings snapping me out of my dance, and reminding me of the hunger in my stomach. I quickly change my shoes and walk toward the door. Seeing who Ares is. He looks to be around my age and is built like a Greek god, with inky black hair with loose curls sitting on the tip of his head that look like silk. He has a leather jacket and black jeans on. I quickly rush by him and out the door glancing at him once more.
XXX Time skip XXX
The bell dismisses me from the last period of the day and I flee the scene before Mr. Heart can lecture me again. I walk back to Mrs. DeLuca's class.
"Hey, Mrs?" I ask entering the room.
"Hello darling, what can I help you with?" she says in a motherly tone.
"I was just wondering if I could stay after school today and practice my dance for the finals. " I asked quickly hoping she would say yes.
"Of course darling, I'll stay with you and bring you home after," she said making me release a breath I did realize I was holding in. She begins to play the music as I move the bars against the wall. As the sounds of the music enter my ears I lose control of my body. My arms, hands, feet, and legs have minds of their own. I float around the room on my point shoes. I feel as though nothing can hurt me. The stress of the day is gone. The pain in my ribs disappeared with every step. I danced my heart out till all too soon the music stopped and so did my body along with it.
"Wow darling, that was amazing. if you dance like that during finals there is no way they would take your scholarship from you." She says with a smile that seems to be contagious. she then gets a sly look on her face and says "Hey Valeria, wanna come to my son's birthday party with me?" I'm instantly reminded of the Greek god that was in class earlier today.
"I have nothing to wear to a party," I reply instantly feeling disappointed.
"Nonsense, you can borrow one of mine or my daughters. you guys are around the same size," she said grabbing my hand and dragging me to the car with our bags on her shoulder. We sit in a comfortable silence and before I know it we are outside a gorgeous mansion. Honestly, "mansion" is an understatement. It's practically a castle. It has Tan cement walls outside with a black roof. Some walls are made of straight windows. A circle driveway with a fountain in the middle. we continue to drive off to a side road attached to the driveway and into a separate building. Once in I realize that it isn't a house but a garage. The most expensive cars you could imagine in every color. Honestly, I'm not a big fan of the cars what caught my attention was the set of Motorcycles against one of the walls in every color possible. The floors are made of grey marble. We walked up to a wooden door which I thought would leave us outside but instead left us in a hallway which we walked through to another door. Walking in I saw that the marble floors continued into a gorgeous kitchen. the cabinets and stove are black, with countertops of white stone. I followed Mrs. Deluca to a staircase which led us to another hall.
"Wait in here" opening the door to a room and leading me in; before leaving. Alone with my thoughts, I begin to think about the Greek god I would soon be seeing.
Ares' POV: XXX Back To The Morning Of His Birthday XXX
18 finally, I've been waiting for this day. On my 14th birthday, my father said he would hand over his gang to me along with our businesses. The businesses don't go as far back as our gang though. My father opened a dance academy for my mother because it has always been her dream to teach dance. On the day he proposed he gave her the keys to the dance school. She didn't want to own it though she only wanted to teach it so my father ran it for her; now I will. I was practically raised in the school. Before I was old enough to go to school I used to go with my mom or dad while they worked then I graduated from there. My mom and dad are the reason I believe in love. anyways enough with the sappiness. Today in less than 24 hours I will be the leader of the strongest mafia in the world. our mafia was created in Italy. but slowly it spread from country to country and is now in every bit of the world.
"Son, Happy birthday," My father said snapping me out of my thoughts. "Has your sister arrived yet? I know she said that she should be getting in sometime this morning"
"No, not yet, although I miss my pesty twin can't wait to see her."
"Well, today is a big day for the both of you. your both turning 18 and tonight you will gain an empire." my father said changing the topic knowing being away from my twin for the first time since we were born was hard on me "I have trained you over the last 4 years, I've taught you to fight, Ive taught you to take care of finance, Ive even taught you what it's like to run a business; you took it well and didn't give up when things were too hard to understand. Ares my son you are ready to be the leader I've always known you would be."
"Thank you, Dad, I'm Honestly so happy for this day and am ready to take over," I said hugging my father.
"Okay son I must go prepare," he said leaving for his office. I put on my leather jacket and grabbed my helmet heading for our garage. I got on my motorcycle heading to the dance school I hadn't seen in almost a year. You see the dance school isn't only for dance it also has normal core classes. When I get there I park my bike and walk inside with my helmet in hand. I head to my mother's classroom on the 3rd floor. I walk into her senior class in full swing. I look around her class seeing some familiar faces and some new ones as well.
There is a girl by the bar in a hoodie but you can see her leotard under from the hips down she is in perfect uniform. Her hair is a gorgeous chocolate brown that falls to her mid back in perfect waves. She's not facing me so I can't see her face. she stands on a straight point perfectly.
"Ares?" I heard faintly but was too focused on the beauty in front of me to care. "Ares Andres DeLuca," My mothers think Italian accent broke me out of the trance.
"Hello Mom," I said turning toward her.
"what brings you here?"
"Just came to visit, with me turning 18...."
"Oh Okay, well are you staying for lunch honey," she said with a hopeful glint in her eyes making me nod. I sat in the back of the class waiting for it to be over when the beauty from earlier turned to face me. Her eyes mesmerized me even when she wasn't looking at me. They are a gorgeous teal blue color that pops against her caramel skin tone. She has a cute button nose and plump lips that are made perfectly for her face. She smiles while dancing as if life is amazing.
The bell rings and I linger by the door waiting for my mother. The beauty walks by me only sparing me a glance. Although just a glance it made my heart skip a beat.
“Come on son, I was thinking we go to Bella’s, ” she said reminding me of yet another company I would be taking over. Thankfully my twin sister would be running it from college and taking over in about 3 years once she graduates from college.
“Okay let’s go” I reply as we walk toward my mom’s car. She drives us to Bella’s, and when we get there we sit at our regular table.
“Mom, who was the girl in the hoodie?” I ask feeling my face heat up.
“That’s Valeria, one of my best dancers”
“She’s gorgeous,” I state “ I want to introduce myself to her”
“Maybe one day honey,” she said with a smile. We continue to eat in a comfortable silence. After eating we drove back to Dance En Pointe and bid our goodbyes. I got on my bike and drove home.
When I got home I went through the list of students at Dance En Pointe. I scrolled through the alphabet finally landing on “V” names. Around 20 names in I found hers. The only Valeria in the school. She’s a straight-A student, in AP classes, and a senior. 18 years old as of January 20th.
“Valeria Contreras, I can't wait to meet you,” I whispered to myself before getting up and heading to my room to prepare for my party.
XXXTime Jump (about two hours)XXX
It’s officially 6 pm. I look in the mirror to make sure my suit fits right. I fix my hair so that my curls are perfectly on top of my head.
“ARES, the guests -” My twin walks in to tell me something but I cut her off running toward her and hugging her.
“I missed you, Bella, why did you have to pick a college so far?”
“I’m sorry Ares I know it's been hard, we’ve never been apart.” My sister replies with tears in her eyes.
“Happy birthday little sis,” I say with a smile
“Only by 4 minutes, Happy birthday to you too, ready?”
“Yes, let’s do this,” I say as she holds my arm walking down the stairs.
As we walked down the stairs into the ballroom we were greeted by friends and family. I mingle for a while before needing a drink. I walk towards the bar, glancing around the room. In the far corner of the room close to my mother is Valeria. I begin to walk toward her. She’s in a red long-sleeve satin dress that hugs her curves perfectly. A slit up to her thigh here her leg is on perfect display. The “V” neck of the dress leaves little to the imagination.
Her arctic blue eyes met my grey ones as I walked through the crowd toward her.
“Hello,” I say as I reach her.
“Hi,” she said shyly
“You look gorgeous, but then again you also looked gorgeous at school. Would you like to dance?”
“Yes,” she replied taking my hand. As I led her to the dance floor I continued to glance at her. As we reach the center of the floor I place my left hand on her waist and hold her right hand with mine. We waltzed around the dance floor. Dancing in perfect sync. When the tempo changed to tango the floor was clear. Not many people knew how to dance tango.
“Do you want to continue?” I asked unsure if she knew how to tango.
“Yes, I love tango,” she replied and began to tango perfectly with me. People began to watch and circle as we danced in perfect sync.
“Well, darling aren’t you full of surprises?” I say with a smirk.
“I guess you’ll just have to find out,” she says slyly. We continue to dance till we can’t anymore.
“Let’s get something to drink then we can dance some more okay?” I say breaking the silence.
“I want a whiskey on the rocks and…” I say looking at her.
“Cherry coke,” she finishes my sentence. We finish our drinks talking in between sips before returning to the dance floor. We dance the night away enjoying each other’s presence.
“Ares?... I have to go,” she says.
“Oh… well can I have your number?”
“Yes, let me see your phone.” I hand her my phone and she adds her number before giving it back.
“Bye darling,” I say kissing her forehead
“ Bye Ares,” she says before turning away and leaving to find my mother. By now it was 10 pm. Her gorgeous eyes are stuck in my mind. I begin to mingle again.
“Ladies and gentlemen, may I please have your attention?” my father said I'm assuming my mother is back because he wouldn't do this without her. “Ares, make your way to the front of the room.”
I begin forcing myself the the crowd, meeting my father in front of the room. Next to my father, my mother stood.
“Happy 18th birthday, my son. Now you have become an adult, it is time to transfer the mafia over to you.” As he finishes his sentence some men bring out a bowl, towel, and knife. My father takes the knife in his hand cutting the palm of his right hand. Handing the knife over to me I do the same. He takes some of the blood from the bowl applying it in a “U” to my forehead.
“YOUR MAFIA KING HAS ARRIVED,” He said raising my right hand into the air. The crowd erupts in cheer and clapping.
“Now let’s party!” my mother yells from beside my father. Everyone begins to mingle and party. I calmly make my way toward my sister.
“Hey sis”
“Hey, Ares.”
“You okay bell?”
“Yeah, great actually. I’m so happy for you and can't wait to take over Bella’s”
“Let's dance?”
“Yes,” she says as we make our way to the dance floor. We dance the night away. By 2 am the party has winded down and I make my way to my room. As I'm getting ready for bed my phone buzzes. When I look at my phone I see it's Valeria and quickly open it.
Valeria: Hey
