The Dancer and Her Bad Boy

4. Greg's POV

Everyone thought I had the perfect life. I have my dream car, a dark cherry red Charger, nice clothes, lots of money, and I could have been popular if I cared or tried a little harder. The truth was my home life sucked. My parents fought all the time, my sister was the center of their world, and I was ignored. Despite what everyone believes money doesn't buy you happiness. It only provides you with the illusion of it. I was the oldest so I was expected to just handle my business and raise myself. I was also expected to help raise my little sister who was just a year younger than me.

I didn't mind the part where I had to take Nik and pick her up from dance because it gave me a chance to see Sydney every day outside of school. Yeah, I know, I sound like a creeper, but it gave me a small glimpse into what her life was like outside of school. One of the things I noticed was that her mother very rarely dropped her off and almost never picked her up.

I remembered that Nik had told me that Sydney was dancing on scholarship. She also swore me to secrecy because Sydney didn't know and couldn't find out. I still hadn't figured out how my sister found out, but if Amber had told her, that wasn't right. It wasn't anyone's business. Chances were better it was mom. That woman couldn't keep her nose out of anyone else's business.

The other thing I discovered was that her mother's 2nd job was for my father. So, I found it odd that she always seemed to have to work late and miss picking Sydney up when my father knew Sydney needed to be picked up at dance and when since she and Nikki were in the same classes. I started to suspect that my father was making her mother late intentionally, but I couldn't figure out why. I may have to get to the bottom of that.

After dropping Nikki off at home, Brad and I decided just to cruise around town and to see what kind of trouble we could get into, but nothing seemed like fun. I knew Sydney got done with dance around 9 o'clock because Nikki never shut up about it, so I decided to see if she had a ride home. Not that I was going to offer her a ride with Brad in the car. I would never hear the end of it.

I didn't want to be obvious to her or Brad as to what I was doing and seeing as how I have a conspicuous car, I decided to stick to the side streets and peak to see if she was sitting on the bench outside the studio. As Brad and I drove by I saw her getting up to start walking home.

We stayed to the side roads so it wasn't obvious that I was keeping an eye on her. We live in a small town where nothing happens, but I still felt a strong need to watch over her.

"What has you so dazed and confused? I thought we were gonna drive out here and find some trouble to get into?" Brad asked while giving me a funny look. I realized at that point we stopped moving.

"Uh, sorry, thought I forgot to do something for my mom. Anyway, let's head over to the South side I think I have a job for us to do." And with that we drove off toward the warehouse district.

What Brad didn't realize at first was that I was taking the really long way around. I wanted to make sure that Sydney got home ok. I saw that she was talking on her phone, probably to Margie, but I wanted to keep an eye on her.

Once Brad realized what we were doing he started whining, "Are you serious right now? Why are we following Syd home? Let's go do something. I thought you had work for us to do? I need to make some bank so I can ask your sister out." He says the last sentence with a smile on his face and a sideways glance at me.

"You can forget about that idea right now. I will take your a$$ home and go make bank myself. I am following Syd home because it is the right thing to do. I want to make sure she is safe. It's not like she lives on the best side of town like we do."

"It's creepy you mean," he scoffs under his breath repeating "the right thing to do my a$$." Then he looks right at me "you have a thing for her. Just admit it and do something about it so you will be too busy to stop me from dating your sister!"

"Really, you would give me so much sh!t if I dated Syd. Plus, I can just see it now, me and Syd, you and Nikki, headed to dinner and a movie. Just one happy group. Can you see it?" I ask sarcastically while rolling my eyes.

"You get with Syd and let me worry about Nik!" Brad smiles realizing what I just said, basically giving him permission to date my sister.

It has been about 30 minutes now and Sydney is finally walking up her driveway. If we don't get to the warehouse soon, there won't be any work left. So despite knowing Syd will see me drive past her house, I take off like a bat out hell down her street knowing she is home safe.

Like I said my family is loaded. But I'll be damned if I was gonna follow in my father's footsteps and take over for him in the family business. My family made their money in the hotel business. Though I didn't believe for one second that that's the only thing my dad had his claws in. Rumor has it my mother's family had ties to the mafia and that's how my dad got his money to start his hotels. And once you're in there's only one way out.

I found a job that paid cash unloading trucks down at the docks in the warehouse district. As long as you didn't ask questions and you kept your eyes, ears, and mouth shut, you could keep coming back for work. My plan was to save up all the cash I earned and leave this town when I turned 18. Find a new life and my own way through it. Maybe I would follow Sydney and watch her become a star.

I parked my car and Brad and I headed inside. "Hey Donnie, you still have work for me tonight? I brought Brad too, I can split the take if there isn't enough," I shout over the noise of the forklifts moving around.

"Kid, I always have work for you. You know the rules. You get enough done, I will pay both of you your own share. You still keepin' your nose clean at school and takin' care of your ma?" Donnie was big on education and family. He didn't want to see me end up where he was. He had no idea I had seen both sides of life and preferred working hard for what I had. I wasn't spoiled like Nikki.

"Yes, sir. Where do you want us?" Donnie pointed us to a truck and we quickly got it unloaded. It was a quick $500 for an hour's worth of work. I had no idea what was in those trucks and I didn't care. I just liked the money.

******

The next morning at school I was standing at my locker watching Sydney at hers from the corner of my eye. 'Maybe I should ask her out.' I thought to myself. 'Would be nice to have someone to hang out with besides Brad. I wonder if she would even say yes?'

While I was having a conversation with myself I didn't see Brad walk up to me. "Dude, you really need to stop zoning out. It is starting to scare me," he chuckles as he waves his hand in my face.

"Just contemplating what we talked about last night. What would we even do?" I haven't taken a girl out on a real date. I've hooked up at parties, but never actually dated.

"I don't know. Take her to dinner? Take her to the movies? Oh, wait, isn't there a party at Pearly's house next weekend after the game? Invite her there." Sometimes Brad has good ideas.

I grab the couple of books I need out of my locker and shove them in my book bag and then slam my locker closed. As I turn around Sydney and I lock eyes and a blush fills her cheeks. She is so cute.

I walk towards her and she looks down at the ground. Thank goodness Margie isn't there. That girl is not fond of me, though I have never figured out why. "Hey Syd, you got a minute?" I ask as she starts to turn and leave.

"Uh, oh, s..sure," She stutters, not expecting me to talk to her I guess.

"I was wondering if you would like to go with me to Pearly's after game party next Friday?" As I am waiting for an answer she is fidgeting with her fingers trying to decide how to answer me.

"I don't know. It's not that I don't want to hang out with you, I am just not the party type of girl." Now she is biting her bottom lip and driving me crazy.

"Well, let's walk to class and talk," I hold my hand out to guide her down the hall. "Have you actually ever been to a high school party? How do you know you aren't a party type of girl?" I smile at her waiting for her answer.

I can tell she is once again deciding how to answer me. "I can say that I have never been to a high school party. However, I have heard plenty of rumors of what happens at those parties, especially with you, and I know I am not that type of girl." Her face blushes again as she realizes what she just accused me of and what she admitted to.

"Well, I am sure some of the stories are true, but what if I promise to be a perfect gentleman and protect you from anything that will ruin your reputation? Would you go with me then?"

"Won't that be boring for you? Wouldn't you rather do something we will both enjoy another night so you can enjoy the party without worrying about me?" I never thought I would have to work so hard to spend some time with this girl.

"I'll tell you what, you go with me to the party and let me worry about you and you can pick where we go on the next date?" Shock crossed her face. We hadn't even made it through a whole conversation and I was already asking her out on a second date.

"Deal!" Before I could think, she reached up on her tip toes and kissed my cheek and ran off to class. I stood there in awe for a moment before I realized I needed to get to my class or I was going to be late and I did not want a detention.

As I got to class something else dawned on me, I was going to have to wait a whole week to spend any time with Sydney. That will not work for me. Now that I knew she was interested, I was hooked.

That is when a new plan hit me. I would offer her a ride home from dance next week. I will get Brad to take Nik home so I don't have to listen to her whine and I can spend quality time with Syd.

I get my phone out and hide it under my desk to text Brad:

Greg: I can't believe I am saying this but I have a plan 2 get U in good w my sister

Brad...

Greg: U ok?

Brad...

Brad: Yeah, just had to read it a couple of times to make sure I wasn't dreaming. I want details at lunch.

Greg: Duh

*******

At lunch, I filled Brad in on my plan. He was all for it. It would force Nikki to give him the time of day and give me more time with Syd. It would also give me piece of mind that she had a safer way home.

Brad and I made plans for the weekend including more work at the warehouse. We also wanted to make sure our cars were clean, inside and out so we could impress the girls.

Brad decided he would just spend the weekend at my house. I am sure he was secretly hoping Nik would notice him and give him the time of day. So after school I dropped him off at home so he could grab his car and some clothes and head to my house.