WHO: Annie and Rayce WHEN: July 5th. WHERE: Mystic Veil campus dance studios. WHAT: Annie has a bad new partner, but doesn't want to admit it. RATING: Medium for mild violence. Who knows otherwise. (Why the fuck do we even still include this) STATUS: Closed/Incomplete
It had been a long day. That was the single thought running through Anberlin's head as she let out a slow, measured breath. She had to keep her cool, otherwise Mark would get even more upset. They were both covered in a thin sheen of sweat, slightly out of breath, muscles beginning that slow burn that came when practice went just a bit too long. She knew they should call it a day, and in fact she had tried several times, but her words were only met with verbal abuse and shouts of disappointment. At this point, Annie had had enough, knowing the problems with their routine were not in her court. She wasn't the one who kept dropping him during a critical lift.
Pulling back, she held up a hand. "I think we need call it for today. Maybe tomorrow you will actually be able to handle this lift," she said, unable to keep her tone from showing just what she thought of his inability to pull off something that Rayce had been able to do without even thinking. Dancing with him was as natural as breathing, and every step practically came before they had conscious thought of it. With Mark, it was like pulling teeth, and she was beginning to worry that she would never be ready for the next competition. Some winner she'd turned out to be. Maybe rhythmic gymnastics should be her only calling now.
"Oh right. Because this is my fault," he scoffed, teeth clenched as he shook his head. "Your lack of focus and obvious weight gain aren't to blame in any way, right?" Ignoring her look of outrage, he reached out and gripped Annie's arm so hard that she cried out as he pulled her close, before a hand came out and connected with her cheek. Annie's face transformed into one of stunned shock, eyes watering as she felt her cheek welling up while her gaze remained fixed on his. "We're not going anywhere until you get this right and stop blaming me for your incompetence." Pushing her away with such force that she stumbled a bit, his eyes remained fixed and cold as he waited for her to get up.
Annie wasn't sure what to do, but suddenly she was scared. If she told him no, then Mark could hit her again. If she left, he would just bring her back. If she left, she would have to admit she didn't have a partner to dance with anymore.
Once she was in her position, she tried to calm her racing heart, body shaking as the music began. Pushing it all aside, or as best she could, Annie let herself move as her body had done countless times before. It was impossible to forget the way his hand had felt around her wrist as she pretended to wrap around him passionately, seeing as how her grip was diminished by pain every time she turned her hands. Her heart began to pick up as they neared the lift, though she swallowed back the fear and hoped his refusal to fail would mean he could finally get it down right and they could go home.
Instead, as she flew threw the air in a graceful arc, Annie watched as he lowered his hands just before her body could make contact with where they had previously been outstretched. There were a few terrified moments where she felt suspended, hoping and praying that he was just trying to scare her and would catch her at the last second. Mark just watched, however, as she plummeted to the ground like a sack of potatoes hurtled across the sky. She didn't even have time to cry out before she collided with the unforgiving wooden floor of the studio, and then everything was black.