Author's note: Hello, you're it! Tagged for the avadel Dedication game!

James:

I saw him again. He threatened me and told me he was coming to kill me.

My brother was constantly in my nightmares now and I was  getting worried.

It had been years since I had even seen him and now all of a sudden, I get a string of nightmares about him finding me? Why do I suddenly have a bad feeling about all of this? Why is my life a living nightmare?

Maybe it was just my unconscious mind reminding me of the fact that I had a brother at all. It was hard sometimes to even keep the fact I had an older sister straight in my mind from all the identities I've worn over the years. James, Jim, Jacques, Jack, Jem, Jaime, Jimmy...the list goes on and on from that point. Every school meant a slight first name altercation for me which is something I was fine with. After all, I made sure not to keep in touch with anyone I knew from the past and always fly solo. Friendships were temporary for me and acquaintances short-lived at best.

Until she came into my life and wrecked that plan up. Maria would be the death of me someday.

At the moment, I was currently dancing salsa, which I had not done in 3 years by the way, in order to impress a girl. How ridiculous was I being? As if she would ever like me at all...maybe?

"Alright, Mister..."

"James", I replied when the music had stopped only to look up and see pure hatred on Maria's face.

What had I done now? Would she ever think of me in high regard or was I doomed to be the wolf in lamb's clothing that my mother thought I should emulate?

"Mr. James, that was some of the best salsa dancing I have seen in a long time. Do you belong to a dance organization?", the lady asked earnestly, creeping me out by looking into my eyes strangely.

"I used to be in a dance team", I confessed.

Well there I go, embarrassing myself as always, I thought. At least I didn't say I used to do ballet because I would never live that down if that were the case. Thank God my father never found out about me being captain of the dance team. He would not think favorably about that at all.

"Then, I will take the time here and now to ask you, young James, if you would be willing to join the dance team!", she shrieked.

Ow. My ears hurt.

"Hey, why should he, a well-adjusted fit male participate in dance when he can use his skills in a real sport instead?", the gym teacher commented.

Before the dance teacher could protest, the gym teacher walked over to me and asked, "Have you ever been an athlete kid?"

"I played lacrosse for a bit.", I replied without mentioning the fact that my team won a lot of games and were considered champs. I wanted to underplay that and not cause questions to be raised on how many extracurriculars I had participated in. The answer would be a lot.

Lacrosse, track & field, cross-country...I had even attempted to play basketball 'til I found out I just was not that good at dribbling the ball.

"Would you like to try out this season?"

"I just got here..."

"It'll take away your regular physical education requirement..."

"Mr. Turner! Why must you always do this when I'm trying to get a good dancer on my team? Suggesting dance is not a real sport is like saying your superpower is dumb!"

"Super Dexterity is not...it is a great superpower and you're just envious that you don't have it!"

"The power to always land on my feet. Wow. What a stunning display of muscle coordination and precision you have there!", she guffawed as she said this and struggled to keep from laughing, ending up resorting to covering her face with her hands.

[ Interviewer: "Since when do we need to know what two teachers argued about...How is that relevant to this conversation?"

Maria: "Hush! James is getting to the good part. You'll see the relevance then!"

James:" I can't believe you just defended me... you must be utterly in love with me."

Maria: "Don't push your luck, Warrior. I just started kickboxing lessons and will use them on you if you're not quiet!"]

"Can I think this over?", I yelled at the both of them. The gym teacher cleared his throat while the dance teacher turned to face me.

Great. I had their full attention. Just what I wanted...not.

"Of course,", she answered and elbowed Mr. Turner to confer.

"Take your time", he said as he spit out blood.

Looking at the crowd, I spotted Maria and she seemed shocked. I hoped I would get to talk to her earlier.

Was I thinking right now about if I was going to actually do dance again or play lacrosse? No!

As soon as I could, I was getting out of the GEAR Institute and right now, I was coming up with an escape plan.

If Rush was after me, there was no place safe to hide, but I had to try. Now all I had to do was sneak away without Maria following me.

The bell rang after what seemed like forever and I rushed out of there like a cat was chasing my tails.

No one could stop me...

Maria stepped right in my way and slammed her locker on my foot.

"Yowee!!! What was that for princess?", I was not letting her know how glad I was to see her.

"Where do you think you're going Mr. Bad Boy?", she taunted.

"I was heading to lunch", I lied.

"I have a question for you. Did your mother teach you manners at all or do you like messing with young girl's hearts?"

"What?" I was puzzled to what she was talking about.

"You. Me. Outside. Now."

Author's note: Its off to the races now and y'all readers are in for a bumpy ride!