CHAPTER 23
Danica
I woke up in Remy's bed and felt amazing. He had already gone to work, and for the first time in I don't know how long, I had been able to sleep in. Today I was going to hand in my notice at the restaurant – well, I knew that, but nobody else did. I couldn't wait to see the look on my manager's face, though. That jerk thought he owned me. Finally, things had started to look up in my life, and I no longer had to work myself to death just to scrape by.
I had accepted Remy's help on the condition that I be allowed to work and pay him a portion of my earnings every month. He and I had both agreed that what he was doing wasn't charity, and that was especially important to me. I didn't ever want to be seen as a moocher, as someone who got lucky and hitched a ride off of someone else's success. Still, Remy had made a good point when he and I had talked things over in depth: it was all well and good to want to pay my own way in life, but considering that I’d had almost everything I owned stolen from me by that bald tattooed thug, it was okay to accept a little financial generosity from someone who cared about me. And besides, if I kept working two jobs from early morning until late at night six days a week, there was no way I would ever get good enough at dancing to go pro one day. Remy had said that I shouldn't look at his offer of financial help as a donation, but as an investment; when I was a successful dancer one day, then I could pay him back for what he had done for me – if I wanted to.
I did want to, of course. I knew that he would probably refuse to take any money from me, even if I did one day make it as a successful professional dancer, but I didn't care. I would give it to him anyway, and if he refused to accept it, we could donate it to charity. So, either I would pay him back, or I would pay it forward, but whatever happened, I was determined to pay my dues for the opportunity that had been handed to me.
After I finished up my final week at the restaurant, I would only be working at the dance studio, and I would have plenty of free time to practice my routines and to learn new moves. It was a terrible pity that I no longer had access to those classes I had won, but hey, you couldn't have everything, could you? And this situation was so much better than the one I had just been in a day ago. It was almost like I had died and been reborn in a new and wonderful life. Losing out on a couple of dance lessons was a fair enough price to pay for something like that.
I got out of bed, had a shower, sent Remy a message telling him I missed him already and then got dressed for work.
I still had a long way to go before I got used to living in this beautiful penthouse. Being so used to keeping my stuff in a locker, I kept on panicking and searching for a lock that wasn't there every time I closed the closet that I now kept my clothes in. And it was so weird being in a place that was this quiet all the time! I was so used to having noise around me, people talking and making noise and moving around. Here the only sounds were those that I made. It was actually pretty disconcerting, but I figured that I would eventually get used to it.
I left the building and took the subway to the restaurant, a great big smile on my face. Tessa saw me coming in and grinned as she saw my smile. I greeted the other waiters and the kitchen staff more cheerfully than I had in a very long time.
“Wow, Dani, what's gotten into you?” asked Tessa with a warm smile and a laugh. “You look like you've just won the freakin' lottery!”
“I feel like I did win the lottery, actually!” I said to her. “I'll tell you all about it later though.”
“Hey!” the manager snapped as he stormed into the kitchen, silencing everyone in there with his foul mood and cantankerous attitude. “You just walked in five minutes late, Danica! If you think I won't just kick your useless ass outta here and get me a new waitress who's actually reliable, then think again! I know how badly you need this job, so I think I'm gonna give you a creative assignment today.” He smiled evilly. “Hmm, how about you go and scrub the bathrooms and the toilets down, huh? Make sure those urinals in the men's room are so clean you could eat off 'em. In fact, maybe I'll make you eat something off 'em just to make sure you do a good job!”
I laughed. “Hmm, um... no. No, I don't think I feel like doing that.”
“What?!” he roared, his eyes bulging with anger. “You don't get to pick and choose what you do around here! You do whatever the hell I freakin' tell you to do!”
“Not for much longer,” I said, still smiling. “I'm handing in my one week notice as of now. I'm quitting this job.”
“You... you can't quit!”
“Oh, yes, I can. I'm not your slave. Here's my notice – and I've already mailed a copy to the owner, so he knows – one week from today. That's my legal obligation taken care of. And you can't make me scrub the toilets, because that isn't in my job description. You know it, and I know it, and if you try to force me to do it, I'll take you to court.”
“She's got a multi-millionaire boyfriend now,” Tessa added with a cheeky grin, “so she can afford a really good lawyer.”
The manager stared at me with anger ablaze in his eyes but he snatched my resignation out of my hand and stormed off without another word. He was beaten and he knew it, as did everyone else. The instant he left the room, they all smiled. It felt great... really great.
THAT EVENING
I had just finished sweeping the dance studio, and since I was alone, I figured I'd get some dance practice. I put on the music for my main routine – the one I'd been doing all these years – and started to dance. I didn't have to think about the moves, I didn't have to try to concentrate, because the music was flowing through me, vibrating every particle in my body with its glorious, energetic waves. My muscles were moving in perfect time to the beat, which felt as if it was fusing with my very soul.
I danced with more passion and intensity and raw fire than I had in... well, a very long time. I danced for the pain I'd been through, I danced for the sadness and the sorrow and the despair – but also for the joy, for redemption, for new hope... and it was glorious. I lost track of time, and forgot where I was, and all that mattered was the music and how I was moving to it.
Eventually the song faded out, and I finished my dance and stood in the soft half-light just panting and sweating, frozen in the last position of dance.
“That was even better than the first time I saw it.”
I opened my eyes and saw Gwen standing there.
“Oh, Gwen,” I said. “I didn't know you were here.”
She held up her phone. “Forgot this damn thing again and had to come back for it. I'm always leaving it lying around. But I'm glad I forgot it, because if I hadn't have forgotten it, I wouldn't have gotten to see that magnificent performance. You know, you really should reconsider the refund on those classes... Have you already used the cash? Because you're such a talented dancer. I would love to see you here in our classes. We could really help you to unlock your full potential.”
I sighed and shook my head. “I've already used the money, Gwen. I had to... it was a serious emergency.”
“I know, I know... It just seems like such a waste. You really do have tremendous raw talent. You're a true natural, the rhythm just flows so beautifully through you. I hope, though, that the money will help your father. How is he?”
I blushed, remembering the lie. “Um, he's doing much better actually. The treatment, it was... well, it seems to have had a really favorable effect.”
“I'm happy to hear that. You must be very relieved.”
“I am... I am.”
Gwen nodded. “Well, I must get going now. Remember to lock everything up properly before you leave. And... if you do somehow manage to get hold of 7500 dollars sometime soon... please, please sign up for classes. You owe it to yourself.”
“I'll do it as soon as I have enough money, Gwen. It's my dream, you know... to be a real dancer one day.”
“A dream that's well within your reach. Believe me, you're one of the best dancers I've ever seen. Good night then, see you in the morning.”
I smiled at her. “Good night, see you tomorrow.”
She walked out, and I prepared to dance again, because I definitely wasn't done tonight, even though it was late. No, I was only just getting started...