CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Josie McMillan
JOSIE PREPARED A LOT for that special presentation...
For her it was all or nothing.
He had to negotiate with his teacher who immediately denied his request for the most obvious thing of all...
She wasn't the best, and there in front of everyone could only be the best.
But he asked Mark to make a special request, for Josie to do the solo, otherwise they couldn't come with the Company.
The answer was logical and full of reprimands:
— I don't know how you managed that feat, Miss McMillan, but know that you just got on my blacklist, no one is the best taking shortcuts and what you did is unacceptable from my point of view.
— Mark is my childhood friend, I would do anything in my power to make him see that I'm on the right track.
— I gladly hope you'll step up on that stage and earn it, for if I see you're not ready yet, I'd rather not present my company to utter ridicule, as you did in the entrance exam for last year's play, than see — there throwing our good name in the mud.
— I promise I'll be the best.
Josie didn't want to embarrass herself in front of her best friend, and especially her rival — who made her feel like the ugly duckling in the conversation.
He wasn't 'just' a friend and nothing else, never was and never will be.
THE MEETING LEFT JOSIE ecstatic with emotion, she couldn't even sleep that night, and another, that actress... Josie found her so beautiful, smart and elegant, that she felt like a commoner by her side, the girl radiated beauty and culture.
She was Mark's better half, without a doubt.
— This time it will be a tough match for you, the girl is simply fantastic.
— And yes...
Suddenly, for the first time in his life, he felt jealous of someone, because she had something more than beauty and talent.
In Josie's eyes, Mark seemed very happy and fulfilled, he was so attentive that she even felt embarrassed, he has changed a lot since he left America, he was mature, he was a grown man, she would say complete. Suddenly, she wanted Mark like man in her bed, kissing her and making her have the most diverse spasms of pleasure with his member penetrating her both in her body and in her soul.
Josie imagined herself being Mrs. Conely, following him around the world like Camille was doing, she was silly. He would certainly give up dancing if that were the case, and if he wanted to, or who knows, he would dance in the shows.
At the Dance Company, Josie was now the second best, fiercely competing with her best friend, roommate and club, Nadja Komanenkko.
— blue eyes, milk — white skin and a body sculpted by tireless training since she was three years old.
Her parents put her in dance after a car accident with her grandparents, where only she had survived, the doctors said she might never walk again, but with physical therapy and dance classes that made her lose almost thirty kilos, Nadja stood out for his movements almost perfect and full of emotion.
Josie and Nadja were rivals in everything, even in their lonely moments, when they decided to pleasure each other, but only when they were completely drunk or desperate for a cuddle.
Nadja didn't see much in Mark Conely, she admitted that he was a fantastic musician, extremely talented, when he was well— groomed he was at most cute and elegant, but he lacked "feel" the most accurate word would be, — without salt — without a doubt, she got along better with Anthony.
Every time Anthony went to visit Josie, the three of them slept together, and had fun at the best events in Moscow, for her, this was an alpha male, close to him, Mark would always be the last option in a desperate situation.
ANTHONY WAS CONSIDERED the new American heartthrob, he was on the covers of the main fashion magazines and went out with the most coveted actresses, models and celebrities of the moment, everyone wanted to appear alongside Anthony Melthow.
Josie knew it was a shot in the foot to go out with Anthony and dream about Mark, but in a way, she loved them both, mainly for their grotesque differences they both had with each other and against each other, they were two universes that fascinated her.
Like Nadja, Josie loved to dance for crowds and both dreamed of performing in New York someday in a world famous musical, they knew that there would be the heavy money they dreamed of earning and they also knew that every effort they put into the endless rehearsals, would one day place them at the center of the world.
Despite being a little vulgar at times, Josie didn't consider herself an easy woman to conquer, the minimum required was that the person was either more talented than Mark, or smarter than Tony. She loved that people surprised her with something new every time they met and only the two of them could do that, she didn't know if this was a blessing or a curse, as she could never let go of them.
Josie spent weeks on end thinking exclusively about Mark, and everything that could have lived with him, but she realized that it was too much peace for her infinite restlessness.
— DID MARK EVER TELL YOU how we met? — Josie asked, needling Camille during dinner after the show.
— Said you were sad and started playing some music.
The way he said it hurt Josie, it was a total disregard for someone who was so excited.
— That was almost it.
— I suppose so, I'd love to hear your version of that fantastical event.
Suddenly, Josie realized that she had fallen into a trap, after all, she was suffering from having problems with her poor and troubled family.
— I was going through a very delicate moment and Mark helped me a lot.
— He's the best at it — she said as she took his hand.
— And when will you go to the United States to perform? — Mark said trying to change the direction of the conversation.
— I don't know yet, our teacher thinks it's still early.
— It will always be early if you don't risk it — Camille said without looking at Josie as she ate.
— On that point, she's right.
— I know...
Nadja entered the restaurant accompanied by one of Mark's band musicians and went to their table.
— Are you okay, Kevin? — Greeted Mark — sit with us, please.
— Do not want to disrupt.
Nadja wasted no time and sat down next to Camille.
— You're more beautiful in person, you know that?
— Thanks.
— Josie always watches your movies, she's a big fan of yours, she was very happy when she found out she was dating her Mark.
Camille wiped her mouth in the most graceful way possible, Josie was embarrassed, but nothing shook the euphoric Nadja.
— And you would be?
—Nadja Komanenkko, number one dancer in the company and Josie's roommate.
Mark and Kelvin felt excluded from the conversation, they looked at each other and tried to hide it.
— Nice resume, Miss Komanenkko.
— You can call me Nadja.
The rest of the night was Nadja trying to get everyone 's attention and Camille elegantly dodging the advances until Nadja fell asleep completely drunk at the table.
— I beg your pardon — Josie said — she spills out sometimes.
— It was fun — countered Camille — maybe we'll repeat it when we get back, won't we, dear?
— Of course — agreed Mark awkwardly.
— Let's go then? I'm a little tired, I want to sleep with you so we can get some rest.
Josie twitched her hand holding the cutlery and everyone at the table saw it, including Camille's smile when she saw Mark's friend's jealousy scene.
JOSIE WAS LOOKING at the plane Mark and Camille were on and thought it must be the same feeling Anthony and Mark felt when she left them.
Josie realized that it was a very bad thing to leave the people she loved.
— Relax, friend — Nadja said — he'll come back to you, it's clear he doesn't like that sour white one at all.
— Said the brunette.
— But my red hair brings my white skin to life.
Josie smiled at the joke.
— Only you to make me laugh at a time like this.