Sidelined 2: Intercepted

Chapter 1

DALLAS

Morning sunlight poured into the dance studio, casting long shadows over the sprung floors. Gazing up at the high windows, all I saw was blue sky. The colors reminded me of home, the endless Colorado sky. Except beyond these walls, it was Valencia, then the wide cityscape of Los Angeles in the near distance. I often wondered how high I would need to go to see the Pacific Ocean. I still couldn't quite believe that I'd made it here and was living some version of the California dream.

We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto. Or not in Archwood, I guessed.

There had definitely been some culture shock when I'd arrived at CalArts. It felt like a big leap to go from small-town Colorado with one dance studio and a cheer squad to one of the most prestigious dance schools in the country. Everything felt bigger, faster, more demanding. It wasn't terrible so much as different. We were only a week into classes, but it already felt intense. Dancers were vying for the spotlight, and, fair enough, I was also competitive. Classes were ramping up, and I needed to get my head around assignments and figure out how the college library worked. It sometimes felt like everything was coming at me all at once, which was why I'd gotten to dance class early. I needed those extra few minutes to breathe and soak it all in.

This was my favorite room at CalArts. I loved how the barre along the mirrored wall had been worn smooth by years of hands holding on. The floor scuffed by dancers' feet. The room held the stories of everyone who had come before me and the promise of whatever came next. Drayton called me a surprise romantic whenever I got in this mood, and he was probably right. I liked this connection to the past and to a dream for the future.

"I didn't even hear you leave." Miley pulled her dance slippers from her bag before dropping it on the floor. "You're so stealth. You missed your calling as an assassin."

There were a few students drifting in now. Mostly in groups of three or four, carrying water bottles or coffees. I recognized some from our dorm but didn't really know them beyond a few names; I usually relied on Miley to remind me who was who. Scattered around the room, conversations continued as my classmates stretched.

"You don't know what I do with my spare time." I lifted my leg to rest on the barre, feeling the familiar pull and stretch of muscles.

"As far as I can see, any spare time is occupied." Miley pulled her dark, curly hair up into a messy bun, looking as casually stylish as ever. She was a California girl through and through. Grew up in the Valley. Sounded like she only ate granola and wheat germ but lived off coffee, vodka, and tacos. The first question she asked me when we met was my star sign, then she proceeded to tell me why it was fate that we were matched as roommates. "Unless this is where you reveal the QB boyfriend is a front?"

"What are you talking about? You've met Drayton."

"If that even is his name."

"He's the starting quarterback for USC. You've seen him interviewed on sports shows." I switched legs and leaned into the stretch. I'd stayed in the studio late last night to work on a routine, and my body was feeling it. "Do you think I went to all that trouble to trick you?"

"I don't understand all of your spy game ways." She took the spot beside me at the barre. "Who knows what you got up to before I arrived on campus."

"We got up to plenty," I joked and arched an eyebrow. "But we're being more discreet since you moved in."

"Not that discreet. I've seen the snaps."

I was that go-getter who arrived on campus before everyone else. I'd thought it would be a great way to ease into this new life. Nathan, my brother, had wanted to drop me off, but I'd insisted on doing it all myself. The start of the school year was busy for him too, and he didn't need to escort his little sister to college. He finally had time to focus on himself, his job as the high school football coach, and his relationship. I was officially an adult, and he no longer needed to act as my legal guardian. So I set up my half of the dorm room, doing my best to ignore its institutional–slash–prison cell vibe, and wandered around campus.