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definitely different from the dancing world I grew up in, but it was still dancing and that’s what I loved. It was beautiful and told a story, especially when Vanessa was up there; she put on a show. Her body and the way it moved were insane. I had never seen anything like it, even after years spent studying professionals and amateurs alike. Vanessa was a born dancer and most definitely needed to put her talents to better use. But I was trying not to judge. From the brief times that we got to talk to each other during breaks, I learned that she was in fact a single mom and her daughter was her world. Anyone could tell that by the way her face lit up whenever she talked about her.
    A knock at the door stopped me from overthinking the situation, and I yelled down the hall that it was open, knowing it was Amelia.
    “Roe, Roe,” she called from the living room, her voice coming closer as she walked down the short hallway leading to my bedroom. “There you are.” She smiled brightly, pushing a plate full of cookies into my hands.
    “Another one of your creations?” I cautiously pulled back the plastic wrap, uncovering at least two-dozen cookies. Amelia loved to bake, it was her biggest passion in life; she said it was the southern girl in her. I think she was the only one to ever use the oven at the sorority house, and she didn’t even live there. I knew that her dream was to go to a culinary school, but her mom wasn’t having it, being a chef was not a respectable career, according to her. So, Amelia did as her mom said and instead enrolled in college, choosing secondary education as her major, even though she hated it. In a way, I was glad that she came here because we wouldn’t have met otherwise, but at the same time, I was sad for her. She was old enough to decide how to live her life.
    “I think you’re going to love these. I made them especially with you in mind.” Sometimes Amelia got a little too creative when it came to her recipes, but I was always her guinea pig, and smiled whenever I tried something new—even if it was the craziest combination.
    I took a bite and closed my eyes, savoring the taste, letting the still warm and gooey concoction melt in my mouth. It was like pure heaven all rolled up into one little cookie. I was going to gain at least five pounds by the time I was done because I had to eat every last one. They were that good. “Amelia, you’re the best friend ever. Did you seriously make me cookies with Milk Duds in them?” I asked in between bites of my second one.
    “Yup. I guess that means you like them?” She grinned as I snatched the plate out of her hands as she tried to pull away from me. I glared at her and took another one, placing the plate on the bed next to me so I could keep guard. “I know you’ve been stressed lately and that those are like your crutch. So, they’re good?”
    “Better than good.” I licked some chocolate off my fingers. “Brilliant. Is this the only reason why you came over?”
    “Well, that and I miss my best friend. Your new job’s been keeping you busy. I might just have to come stalk you at work so I can see you.”
    “Yeah, that’s probably not a good idea.” I shook my head and got up, heading for my closet so I didn’t have to look her in the eyes. I wasn’t sure if I would ever tell Amelia where I worked, and I most definitely didn’t think she would like to come “hang out” there. “My boss is kind of an asshole, so I don’t think he would like visitors randomly showing up.” That was kind of true. According to everyone, but Vanessa, Mr. Buchanan barely looked at, let alone spoke to the employees. Sounded like an asshole to me.
    “Oh, whatever. If I was a paying customer what could he really say? What did you say the name of the place was?”
    “I didn’t.” I grabbed a tank top and turned toward my dresser to pull out a pair of yoga pants. Amelia was eyeballing me, waiting for me to tell her the name, but I wouldn’t.