When I looked into his eyes, I couldn't not keep from crying. It had been so long since I felt this way. Mia, what is wrong? He asked.
I cast my eyes down to the ground and bit my lip. I blocked his voice and did not want to hear what he had to say. His was not Leo and he would never be like him. Where are you, Leo?
Come back to me. I love grabbing my purse. I had it to the door. I'm sorry, Henry, but I have to go now.
You're leaving now? He asked uneasily. I nodded. Yes, I have to go now.
Mia, please don't go. He pleaded. His tormented face broke my heart, but I felt entrapped and the need to escape suffocated me. Chapter one, part one.
My name is Mia Girard and dancing had always been a part of my life for as long as I could remember. I don't think there was ever, there has ever been a time I didn't love it. When I was five years old, my mother enrolled me in my first ballet in jazz class. They're working so hard for so many years and putting countless hours into it.
I was thrilled when I began to win so many competitions. However, nothing came close to winning the heart of Leo dancing. In my seventh grade English class, I started to feel a connection between us. I cannot explain it.
I mean, how can a 12 year old know when she's in love, right? Well, although I did not have concrete proof, I knew what I felt. It was a feeling like my mother. My heart raised and my hands got sweaty.
Every time I was near him. I know it may sound cheesy, but I literally felt like he and I were the only ones in the room. We were meant to be together. Oh, when I think about it now, I can't help but let out a chuckle.
I can still seal, uh, see, sorry. I can still see Leo coming in with his blondish hair and green eyes looking right at me. I hadn't seen him for a while. We went to the same elementary school, but his parents went to Chicago for a while and we lost touch.
I was just glad to see him back in that Arbor, Michigan. He was always such a comedian. Like the time of sixth grade, when he made a joke about the Wolverines being in the Ohio Buckeyes, the love of football was something that we had in common. I was never social due to my hectic dance schedule.
Most of the girls except for Courtney Deegan and Kayla West who were in the same dance class as me were the few that I got along with. We grew up together so they understood me more than the rest of the girls at school. I know dancers are supposed to be graceful. Not to say I'm not, but it doesn't hurt to be one of the guys to be like two.
It's okay for us to wear two twos and play in the mud. That's why Leo and I became close. Leo loved that I danced. He was very supportive, never missing a recital.
Many times after dance practice, we would hang out by the lake or do bonfires surrounded by family and friends. No matter how busy we were, we were, we always helped support each other. Boy, I miss those football games. I can still see him on the 50-yard line making passes as the band played our school song.
He was very popular and everyone liked him. Even the school bullies were respectful toward him. Now there is a story. One time Chad Pearson was picking on Samantha Green who was a new girl at the school.
She wore a neck brace due to a medical condition. I never saw Leo so angry. Instead of using his fist and resort to violence, he was there for Samantha and invited her to our lunch table. Once word got out to the football team, everyone protected her and eventually Chad was expelled.
During seventh grade, I got the lead in Swan Lake. He was so proud of me and he bought a ticket for front row seats. After dancing the last piece, Leo was the first to give me a standing ovation. Then the crowd followed, but not before I heard him shout.
Way to go Mia. They all smiled at me. And then the crowd applauded even louder. Well, I can go back and replay that forever.
That was the moment I knew I had feelings for Leo. It was the same sort of thing I felt when he first came into English class only deeper. And we'll be having more excerpts of Chasing Clarity and my other books soon on The Daily with Silverstein on Anchor. I hope you enjoyed this reading.
And if you have not gotten your copy, it's available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, New Press, and iTunes. Hope you'll check it out on the Kindle version and the paperback. Again, this is so be signed from The Daily on Anchor. And this was an excerpt of Chasing Clarity.
Thank you. Have a happy Tuesday.