The Immortal Beloved by D.J. Birch

Author:D.J. Birch [Birch, D.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Leo Anthony Publishing
Published: 2022-11-04T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

I’ve seen too much life to know that a good thing does not last forever. Call me cynical, but I was waiting for something bad to happen. Despite my fears and superstitions, life with Elizabeth was perfect for a brief, sweet moment in time.

The day of Elizabeth’s dance performance finally came. Every other one of Elizabeth’s classes for the first semester was all solid, straight A’s ready to be shipped off to her colleges. All except for one, Ballroom Dancing.

Throughout her entire life, Elizabeth had given up endless Friday and Saturday nights to get her violin pieces just right or study for a few extra hours. She had always nodded her head and smiled while her friends made fun of her for always being “too uptight” about grades. She had forgone the “typical” high school experience her extended family always said she was missing out on by going to Leonard.

Elizabeth did not mind the sacrifices or the teasing. Elizabeth knew she had dreams bigger than what most people could even comprehend.

So, when one stupid dance class stood in the way of dotting all her I’s and crossing all of her T’s, you can understand her anxiety or frustration, or at least sympathize with her.

“Remiel.” Elizabeth froze as she applied blush to her cheeks in the ladies’ room. “It’s step, step, turn, step...”

“Elizabeth, stop,” I interrupted. “You’re going to psych yourself out. You know this.”

Elizabeth looked quite stunning tonight. Her blond hair was pulled back into a sleek, crisp bun. She had on dramatic, smokey eye makeup and cherry lips. Her dress was a shimmery red with a flowing fringe at the bottom.

“Yeah.” Elizabeth put the finishing touches on her cheeks and closed her makeup bag. “But I was reviewing the steps in my head today, and they began to get jumbled up.” She turned around to face me with fear-filled eyes. “Remiel what if I screw up?”

“Then you screw up.”

“There will be consequences.”

“Probably.”

“I might not get an A.”

“There’s a chance.”

“Juilliard will reject me.”

“Or.” I crossed over to her and smiled. “The judges will be so captivated by how beautiful you look that it will not matter what you do out there.”

“Please, don’t patronize me,” Elizabeth pleaded. “I’m scared.”

The competition had a reasonable turnout from the student body. Everybody came to support their friends or watch the clumsier dancers embarrass themselves. Elizabeth feared the latter.

“Lizzy!” Candace popped her head into the bathroom. “The show is about to start. C’mon!”

“I’m coming.” Elizabeth scooped up her things hastily.

“And I am meeting this mysterious boyfriend of yours tonight.” Candace held the door open and the girls headed out.

“He’s only my dance partner, Candace.”

My heart broke just a little.

“Up next is Elizabeth Clark dancing the salsa!” the announcer proclaimed over the microphone.

“Whooo! Go Lizzy!” screamed Candace as Rebecca and Mickey cheered, whistled, and clapped from the crowd surrounding the dance floor. I stole a glimpse at the three, and I swore I saw them crossing their fingers for good luck, wincing for what was about to come.

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