... more.
It was like a dance she just couldn’t master. She missed her turns, overstepped, and couldn’t find the rhythm to save her life. Her body wouldn’t obey and her mind was elsewhere. She was left to tough it out on her own.
Because aside from practicing and performing, he essentially ignored her.
There were no sweet extras anymore. The meaningful gestures that came so naturally and often had disappeared. She was abandoned to keep her own hands occupied, her own nerves under control, and any celebration to a minimum during show night.
He smiled at her, not for her. He looked at her and didn’t see her. Going through the motions for the sake of the show and their partnership. He’d become a stranger in a matter of mere days.
A stranger?
She had gotten to know him in the most intimate ways. Over time, he had let her in. To his passion, his humor, and the kindness that would so often be overpowered by rightful confidence. Beyond his rough exterior, behind his walls, and underneath his clothes. Maksim had granted her access to the deepest parts of him. Now she was banished.
Had he wanted her to accept fault for that night? Had she seduced him? These were questions she should have asked but couldn’t verbalize. All that she could recollect from their confrontation was how heavy and burdening his eyes were. He waited for her move, to hear her side of this intricate story. He listened for the answer to his unspoken question of, ‘Where do we go from here?’
She let him down with silence.
“You ok, Mel?”
Melanie hadn’t realized she had been staring into the cloudy liquid of her drink for so long. The Cheetah Girl had been trying to capture her attention.
“Tip top, girlfriend.” She had to almost yell to the younger woman beside her, the thumping bass of the deafening music almost relocating their booth.
Sabrina Bryan pouted a cute little pout, hoping to collect a smile from her date. “I don’t believe you.”
She and Mark had scored the first perfect grade for their dance tonight. All of the celebrities and their professional counterparts were invited out to Hyde, a favorite haunt. Almost everyone readily agreed, but to her surprise, Mel B. was the one who ended up declining. Thinking it was because her husband was away, leaving her without an outing companion, Sabrina insisted that they go together. Ten minutes of constant begging and a promise to buy the first round of drinks, the Spice Girl gave into the Cheetah’s persistence.
“That’s like your third mimosa.” The blonde dancer observed with amusement. “I didn’t know you were going to party so hard!”
Mel smiled as her friend erupted into a fit of giggles, chuckling a little as Sabrina threw her head back dramatically.
“Clearly not as hard as you, Brina.”
“Eh, it’s a good night.” A shrug was thrown in with her response and she readied to leave. “The floor’s calling me again.”
“And a certain Marky B., ya?” Mel teased, raising her watered down glass to toast the sweetest couple that’s not really a couple. Or so they claimed.
She received a playful swat from the blushing blonde. “Just because you and Stefan couldn’t compete.’
With that said, Mel’s smile fell. Thankfully, Sabrina had already slipped out of her seat to rejoin the mass of gyrating bodies. She shouldn’t be out here tonight without her husband, one of the reasons why she balked at the invitation. Fortunately, Dani was kind enough to watch over the girls for tonight, and here she was, drowning her anguish with liquor. Her sister was only in town for a few days and instead of spending some time with the younger Brown, Melanie coaxed the woman into babysitting duty. Mum would be so proud.
Although she shouldn’t have, Mel exited the club without bidding Sabrina goodbye. It was late, her blood was thinned to a considerable buzz, and Brina looked like she was having a blast. This minor act of inconsideration could be made up for with flowers tomorrow, she was sure. She just didn’t want to dampen anyone’s mood.
And it looked like he wasn’t going to show after all.
It was almost two in the morning and there were still a few photographers loitering outside hoping to snap at a paycheck. She shielded the flashing light bulbs with her hands and muttered a few unattached hellos to the numerous questions coming at her. Are you going to win, Melanie? Where are the rest of the Spice Girls? Where’s Maksim?
The doorman cleared a path for her to the street side. “You need a cab, Ms. Brown?”
‘No, I, Mrs. Belafonte, will be calling for the car.’ But she didn’t say it aloud. Just needed a quick reminder because being referred to as a single woman felt almost too good. God, she was really out of sorts.
“I’m fine, thank you.”
He returned to the club entrance with a smile and demanded the eager paparazzi to ‘Take it easy and let the lady alone. It’s late.’ Amazingly, they listened.
And just like that, she was standing alone on the curb. Bracing herself against the chilly night, Mel groaned. Her coat was in Sabrina’s car. Tiny, her bodyguard and driver, would be at least twenty minutes from arriving and she really didn’t want to be out here freezing her ass off. But the nauseating pulse of the club music was enough to make her grit her teeth and fumble around in her clutch for the cell. Damn the cold and damn this dress. Maybe she should just hail a cab, she’d already been inconsiderate enough to Dani and Sabrina. There was no need to pester Tiny at…
“Maks, seriously.”
… this time of night.
It was the only name she hadn’t wanted to hear tonight. And after having heard it, Mel realized that she definitely didn’t want to hear it in a woman’s voice.
She gave up the search for a moment and looked to her left, where the interruption had originated. At the sight of a leggy brunette stuffing a wobbly Maksim into his Mustang, her heart plummeted down to her gut.
He gargled out a few words to the visibly annoyed woman. She continued to lift his disobedient legs into the vehicle and either ignored him or didn’t understand what he had said. Mel guessed it was both.
“I’m not driving you home. You better hope one of your dancing buddies are still in there.” She barked, slamming the door shut as soon as she managed all of his limbs inside.
Mel wasn’t quite sure what possessed her to stop the seething stranger, but she found herself reacting automatically. She walked towards them.
“Is he alright?”
The brunette stopped mid-stride and surveyed her cautiously. Like a girlfriend would do to a rabid fan of her celebrity boyfriend.
Melanie mentally shook that nasty thought away, berating herself. Was she that drunk? Silly git.
“Yea, he’s okay. Excuse me.”
Mel stopped her again when she made move to proceed. Once again, not quite knowing why. It wasn’t really any of her business was it? Maks would think it sure as hell wasn’t.
“I’ll see him home, if you want. I’m his dance partner.”
The woman in front of her cocked her head to the side, annoying Mel. Was it wrong for her to assume that this slag should have known who she was from the beginning?
Mel offered a smile, hoping to reassure the lady that she was sane and telling the truth. “Mel B. Of the Spice Girls.”
“Oh yea!!! Oh my God! You look so different on T.V.” said the slag.
Melanie blinked at the shrill of this creature’s voice and tried not to be offended by her offhanded comment. Bloody Hell.
“Well, if you don’t mind. I’ll owe you big.” She motioned to the convertible behind her. “He should be passed out by now.”
Mel nodded, looking over to the unmoving body in the car that she would have to wrestle with.
She was handed the light set of keys.
“What’s your name?”
The brunette had a pretty smile, Mel had to admit. Begrudgingly, of course.
‘Bambi.’ Mel laughed to herself.
“Stephanie.”
And in a blur of brown hair and sequins, Mel was left with a chore she had earlier talked herself out of.
Babysitting.
Because aside from practicing and performing, he essentially ignored her.
There were no sweet extras anymore. The meaningful gestures that came so naturally and often had disappeared. She was abandoned to keep her own hands occupied, her own nerves under control, and any celebration to a minimum during show night.
He smiled at her, not for her. He looked at her and didn’t see her. Going through the motions for the sake of the show and their partnership. He’d become a stranger in a matter of mere days.
A stranger?
She had gotten to know him in the most intimate ways. Over time, he had let her in. To his passion, his humor, and the kindness that would so often be overpowered by rightful confidence. Beyond his rough exterior, behind his walls, and underneath his clothes. Maksim had granted her access to the deepest parts of him. Now she was banished.
Had he wanted her to accept fault for that night? Had she seduced him? These were questions she should have asked but couldn’t verbalize. All that she could recollect from their confrontation was how heavy and burdening his eyes were. He waited for her move, to hear her side of this intricate story. He listened for the answer to his unspoken question of, ‘Where do we go from here?’
She let him down with silence.
“You ok, Mel?”
Melanie hadn’t realized she had been staring into the cloudy liquid of her drink for so long. The Cheetah Girl had been trying to capture her attention.
“Tip top, girlfriend.” She had to almost yell to the younger woman beside her, the thumping bass of the deafening music almost relocating their booth.
Sabrina Bryan pouted a cute little pout, hoping to collect a smile from her date. “I don’t believe you.”
She and Mark had scored the first perfect grade for their dance tonight. All of the celebrities and their professional counterparts were invited out to Hyde, a favorite haunt. Almost everyone readily agreed, but to her surprise, Mel B. was the one who ended up declining. Thinking it was because her husband was away, leaving her without an outing companion, Sabrina insisted that they go together. Ten minutes of constant begging and a promise to buy the first round of drinks, the Spice Girl gave into the Cheetah’s persistence.
“That’s like your third mimosa.” The blonde dancer observed with amusement. “I didn’t know you were going to party so hard!”
Mel smiled as her friend erupted into a fit of giggles, chuckling a little as Sabrina threw her head back dramatically.
“Clearly not as hard as you, Brina.”
“Eh, it’s a good night.” A shrug was thrown in with her response and she readied to leave. “The floor’s calling me again.”
“And a certain Marky B., ya?” Mel teased, raising her watered down glass to toast the sweetest couple that’s not really a couple. Or so they claimed.
She received a playful swat from the blushing blonde. “Just because you and Stefan couldn’t compete.’
With that said, Mel’s smile fell. Thankfully, Sabrina had already slipped out of her seat to rejoin the mass of gyrating bodies. She shouldn’t be out here tonight without her husband, one of the reasons why she balked at the invitation. Fortunately, Dani was kind enough to watch over the girls for tonight, and here she was, drowning her anguish with liquor. Her sister was only in town for a few days and instead of spending some time with the younger Brown, Melanie coaxed the woman into babysitting duty. Mum would be so proud.
Although she shouldn’t have, Mel exited the club without bidding Sabrina goodbye. It was late, her blood was thinned to a considerable buzz, and Brina looked like she was having a blast. This minor act of inconsideration could be made up for with flowers tomorrow, she was sure. She just didn’t want to dampen anyone’s mood.
And it looked like he wasn’t going to show after all.
It was almost two in the morning and there were still a few photographers loitering outside hoping to snap at a paycheck. She shielded the flashing light bulbs with her hands and muttered a few unattached hellos to the numerous questions coming at her. Are you going to win, Melanie? Where are the rest of the Spice Girls? Where’s Maksim?
The doorman cleared a path for her to the street side. “You need a cab, Ms. Brown?”
‘No, I, Mrs. Belafonte, will be calling for the car.’ But she didn’t say it aloud. Just needed a quick reminder because being referred to as a single woman felt almost too good. God, she was really out of sorts.
“I’m fine, thank you.”
He returned to the club entrance with a smile and demanded the eager paparazzi to ‘Take it easy and let the lady alone. It’s late.’ Amazingly, they listened.
And just like that, she was standing alone on the curb. Bracing herself against the chilly night, Mel groaned. Her coat was in Sabrina’s car. Tiny, her bodyguard and driver, would be at least twenty minutes from arriving and she really didn’t want to be out here freezing her ass off. But the nauseating pulse of the club music was enough to make her grit her teeth and fumble around in her clutch for the cell. Damn the cold and damn this dress. Maybe she should just hail a cab, she’d already been inconsiderate enough to Dani and Sabrina. There was no need to pester Tiny at…
“Maks, seriously.”
… this time of night.
It was the only name she hadn’t wanted to hear tonight. And after having heard it, Mel realized that she definitely didn’t want to hear it in a woman’s voice.
She gave up the search for a moment and looked to her left, where the interruption had originated. At the sight of a leggy brunette stuffing a wobbly Maksim into his Mustang, her heart plummeted down to her gut.
He gargled out a few words to the visibly annoyed woman. She continued to lift his disobedient legs into the vehicle and either ignored him or didn’t understand what he had said. Mel guessed it was both.
“I’m not driving you home. You better hope one of your dancing buddies are still in there.” She barked, slamming the door shut as soon as she managed all of his limbs inside.
Mel wasn’t quite sure what possessed her to stop the seething stranger, but she found herself reacting automatically. She walked towards them.
“Is he alright?”
The brunette stopped mid-stride and surveyed her cautiously. Like a girlfriend would do to a rabid fan of her celebrity boyfriend.
Melanie mentally shook that nasty thought away, berating herself. Was she that drunk? Silly git.
“Yea, he’s okay. Excuse me.”
Mel stopped her again when she made move to proceed. Once again, not quite knowing why. It wasn’t really any of her business was it? Maks would think it sure as hell wasn’t.
“I’ll see him home, if you want. I’m his dance partner.”
The woman in front of her cocked her head to the side, annoying Mel. Was it wrong for her to assume that this slag should have known who she was from the beginning?
Mel offered a smile, hoping to reassure the lady that she was sane and telling the truth. “Mel B. Of the Spice Girls.”
“Oh yea!!! Oh my God! You look so different on T.V.” said the slag.
Melanie blinked at the shrill of this creature’s voice and tried not to be offended by her offhanded comment. Bloody Hell.
“Well, if you don’t mind. I’ll owe you big.” She motioned to the convertible behind her. “He should be passed out by now.”
Mel nodded, looking over to the unmoving body in the car that she would have to wrestle with.
She was handed the light set of keys.
“What’s your name?”
The brunette had a pretty smile, Mel had to admit. Begrudgingly, of course.
‘Bambi.’ Mel laughed to herself.
“Stephanie.”
And in a blur of brown hair and sequins, Mel was left with a chore she had earlier talked herself out of.
Babysitting.