Chapter 4

Unlike the previous day, Cameron was prepared to run into Marissa. In fact, he hoped for the same but unfortunately, when he left his apartment he could not see her anywhere.

However, she did not leave his mind. He knew that life was giving him second chance to make things right with her and ask her for his forgiveness and he had every intention to do so.

At present, Cameron was working in the office when his phone rang. Without looking at the caller ID, he accepted the call.

“Hello, baby brother.” His sister spoke from another line.

“What do I owe the pleasure of you calling me?” He asked her teasingly.

“Well, it will be great if you could pick Brooklyn from her class.” She told him, hoping that he would agree.

“Olivia, your daughter is eighteen. Why can’t you just buy her a goddamn car?”

“Cameron, we are planning to get it for her next birthday.” His sister defended herself.

“You said the same thing last time.” He rolled his eyes.

“Don’t roll your eyes on me.” She knew her brother well enough to imagine his reaction.

“She is an adult. Stop treating her like a kid.”

“Tell that to Caleb.” Olivia huffed. “Anyway, will you please pick her up? I have got to meet the deadline, and Caleb is stuck in the meeting.”

 “Ok, fine, what time?” He asked her grumpily.

“Five. And don’t be grumpy. Who knows, you might fall in love with one of the dance instructors.” Olivia teased her baby brother.

“Olivia, you know what happened last time and...”

“Cammy, I very well know that. But you shouldn’t let your past interfere with your present. You should be glad that you finally got to know the truth about Daphne.”

“Okay, as you say. But I am not ready for any kind of relationship, so please don’t pester me about it.” He beseeched her.

“As you say, brother. Don’t forget to pick up my little daughter.”

“She is not so little anymore.” With that, Cameron hung up the phone.

As much as Olivia tries to set him up with girls, he wouldn’t trade her for anything. After so much effort, he was able to mend his relationship with both his sisters.

His relationship with each of them is completely different. Olivia, in particular. She is not just his biological sister, but also a friend and a mother figure when he needed it the most. He would not be standing on his own two feet and being raised by his loving parents if it weren't for her and the sacrifice she made.

He could never understand her position of what Olivia and their elder brother Jason had been through. Somewhere he was fortuDevon that he was too young to even remember. But thinking about the truth of his life and the history of his family always made his heartache.

However, his eighteen-year-old niece was something else. She might be grown up now, but still with her baby face; she can wrap anyone around her little finger. No wonder Caleb and Olivia still treat her like a kid, and Brooklyn takes good advantage of it.

She is eighteen, and yet she lives with her parents. And the worst part is, she doesn’t even care about it. Most girls her age would be desperate to leave their parents’ place, but not her. If it were in her hands, she would forever stay with Olivia and Caleb, not that they would mind.

Where Cameron was rescheduling his agenda in order to pick his niece, Marissa was busy practising a new routine with her class.

Dancing was something that she always loved to do. It was her passion. Being one of the best choreographers has always been her dream. She may not be in the top position, but she was content with the post she was presently in.

She is one of the instructors and co-owners of one of the best dance institutes, ‘Live to Dance,’ along with her best friend, Ronny.

“Come on, guys. Let us take it from the top.” She said to her current class. This was one of the best classes and a personal favorite of hers.

Their institute was not like other dancing institutes where the sole purpose of students was to become dancers. Yes, some do have a dream of becoming one, but others merely come here as a hobby or for fun. Nonetheless, it doesn’t matter as she enjoys teaching them.

It’s been two years since this institute was opened, and, in much less time, they have earned goodwill. They have won couple of competitions for their dancing skills.

Ronny and Marissa are both professional dancers. They might not have been trained in well-known institutes, but they are as good as any other, if not better.

“Let’s do it again from the top.”

As she was about to play the music from the beginning, she was interrupted by one of her students, Brooklyn.

Brooklyn has always been a kid at heart. Sure, she acts mature when she needs to be, but it’s very difficult to take her seriously because of her baby’s face. Olivia and Caleb treat her like five years old. Some might call her a brat, but she is anything but that.

Knowing her personally, she has a heart of gold.

Her age, kids are usually rebelling, but not her friend’s kid. She is an angel. She will do anything that her parents would tell her to do.

As for Olivia and Caleb, they are far from strict. In fact, they are very much laid back, unlike other parents, and have given her full liberty, which Brooklyn doesn’t take much advantage of.

But the name called out by Brook was what caught Marissa’s attention.

“Uncle Cameron!” She exclaimed loudly and ran towards him.

It would be an understatement to say that Marissa was stunned. She was not expecting Cameron to be here. In her personal heaven.

However, Cameron would have never guessed that Marissa was a dancer, let alone one of the best he had ever seen. Not that he had a chance to come across many. Her flexibility, her stance, her attitude, it was mind-blowing. It mesmerized him.

He had never seen her this happy. His eyes were transfixed on Marissa the entire time making him stand still on his feet, and it was only broken when his niece came to hug him and dragged him towards her dance instructor.

“Marissa, this is my favorite Uncle Cameron, and Uncle Cameron, this is one of the best dancers, Marissa.”

“I am your only Uncle Brook.” He rolled his eyes and ruffled his niece’s hair.

“Only for a few months until Aunt Jenny marries.” She murmured, hoping that her uncle wouldn’t hear, but much to her dismay, he heard each and every word.

“What do you mean to marry?” He asked her in astonishment, with wide eyes.

“Oops! I should go back to my group.” With that, Brook ran off. She forgot that her aunt had not yet revealed to her uncle about her fiancé.

“Brook, come back. Brook...” ‘Damn this girl,’ Cameron thought.

“I think Olivia forgot to tell you that today, the class hours have been extended. You are an hour early.” Marissa spoke directly to him for the first time in three years.

“Well, I cannot say I am surprised. She tends to forget this kind of information unintentionally or intentionally.” To which she gave him a slight but hesitant smile.

“If you want, you can take her early. Brooklyn won’t miss much.” Marissa told him, hoping that he would leave soon. She really didn’t want him here in her personal paradise.

“No, no. It’s okay. Do you mind if I sit here until the class is over? I really don’t want her to miss class, plus Olivia would have my head if she heard that I took her early, although that would be her own fault, and I also don’t want to travel back and forth again.” Cameron asked her hesitantly.

Both of them had a past, and Cameron was not proud of how he had handled things back then. So it wasn’t easy to talk to Marissa. It is a miracle she hasn’t punched him. But he was glad that they were able to have a civil conversation.

“Sure. If that’s what you want.”

Marissa was about to go back to continue her class when Cameron called her name, “Marissa.”

“Yeah?”

“You are definitely one of the best dancers I have seen.” The compliment took her aback, but that didn’t stop her cheeks from turning a shade of red.

This was the first compliment that Cameron had ever given her since he had known her.

“Um... Thank you.” She smiled and sincerely acknowledged his compliment.

Marissa closed her eyes and murmured, ‘He is not here. He is just a shadow. Marissa, you can do it. Cameron is no one to you. He is past. The past cannot affect the future.’

She took a deep breath and continued her routine with the class, trying to forget that Cameron watched each and every move of her with intent.