Making an Exit

[Aligurl828]

Alison stepped forward and bowed as the crowd applauded her dance performance. Even after 2yrs with the NY Dance Acadamy she still got butterflies in front of the crowds. The curtain dropped and she quickly went to get her stuff. It had been a long week of performances and it had finally wrapped up that night. She didn't even bother to change, opting to stay in the corsette top and tights, simply slipping sweats on over the tights. She grabbed her bag and headed out. That's when she saw the crowd at the exit doors. She normally didn't mind staying a little longer to meet fans etc, but tonight she wasn't feeling it. Then she remembered the loading zone exit doors.... She made her way to the doors and pushed them open, then her heard it, "OUCH!" she quickly stepped out the door and looked behind it, she had hit someone, "Oh my gosh! Im so sorry! Are you ok?"

[TwistedNight]

John gingerly touched the back of his head where he and the door had connected. He could already feel a small lump forming, and silently cursed the steel door for being so strong.

He couldn't blame the gorgeous dancer in front of him of course, because he was the one that was standing right outside the door for a smoke. He could hear her anxiety and embarassment in her apology, and automatically John liked this dancer more than the last one who had snuck out the loading bay doors. That woman had been snotty and full of herself, but this girl was different.

He dropped his hand from the back of his head and opened his mouth in a winning smile as he replied "Yea, I'm fine, don't worry about it. It was stupid of me to stand outside the door for a smoke anyway." He laughed, hoping to lighten the mood. "Who are you running from?" John asked, curious to know if someone was harassing her or if she just wanted a silent exit.

[Aligurl828]

Alison smiled, "Well, I am really sorry, I should have been more careful when I pushed the door open." The guy standing in front of her was a really good looking guy and she cursed herself for adding a lump to a gorgeous head. "Im not running from anyone per-say...more like just avoiding the crowded main exit." She pulled the hairtie and pins from her head freeing her long brown hair to fall over her shoulders.... "You're sure you're alright?...I mean, I don't want to have a potential "Hit and run" on my hands...I wouldn't survive jail." she smiled at him.

[TwistedNight]

"I know what you mean about the main doors, there's always a bunch of guys waiting outside to holler and cat-call all of you dancers." He smiled at her insistence to make sure he was fine and said, "It's just a small bump, I'll pull through somehow." he teased. "However, we could figure out some way to settle this without having to go to the authorities," he laughed, slightly nervous about what he was going to say next. "If you would let me walk you to your car, I'd consider us even. What do you say?"

[Aligurl828]

She rolled her eyes and laughed at his comment about the guys waiting for the dancers... "So you've figured out a better system to get close to the dancers, simply stand outside the doors so they hit you....good plan. But you might lose alot of brain cells that way." she laughed as she looked over at him, "It's too bad I walked today....because I would have liked to have walked with you.." she smiled as she shifted her bag to her other shoulder and held out her hand, "I'm Ali."

[TwistedNight]

He smiled broadly and exclaimed, "My plan has been ruined! How'd you figure it out so quickly?" He deflated a bit when she declared that she had walked and that he wouldn't have the chance to escort her to her car, but rebounded quickly as she held out her hand.

"A formal greeting then, hmm? I quite liked the door-to-the-head hello, it was very original." He took her hand in his own and introduced himself. "My name is John, and I'm one of the new bartenders here at the club. I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention to anyone that I cut my shift short a few minutes for a smoke." He smiled broadly again before continuing, "Because then I'd have to tell them all about how you brutally beat me with the door!"

[Aligurl828]

She laughed as the shook his hand, "Your secret is safe with me John. As long as you don't tell anyone I sneak out the loading bay doors." she smiled at him. "It looks like I might just have to start driving to work again huh?"

[TwistedNight]

John replied, "Only if it makes sense to do so. I personally just take the train to and from work, it's only a few blocks of walking. Plus, my motorcycle would be a very, very visible target for some asshole to try to steal or vandalize." He continued, "If you're heading out that way," he pointed west, towards the street where the subway station was, "I'd be happy to walk with you as far as the station, if you need to go that far."

He wished that she didn't notice the hopefulness with which he said the words, it wouldn't do to scare her away before they even had the chance to talk for more than five minutes.

[Aligurl828]

She smiled, "Actually, my place is basically right across from the station." she shuffled her feet, "and I'd feel more comfortable if I had company." she smiled at him, "Motorcycle huh?"

[TwistedNight]

"Great! Well in that case, I think we should start walking, lest someone think we're having a drug deal." He began to walk at a lesiurely pace, one that would give them ample time to talk. He grinned as she inquired after his bike, and he replied with pride clearly evident in his voice, "Oh yeah, my bike is my baby. I've had her since I was 19 and have never once gotten into an accident. I've never cherished anything more in my life. My bike is the only thing I love that hasn't screwed me over somehow." He noticed that he had begun to get a little autobiographical and irritable as he though about his past. He shrugged and said, "Sorry about that. Anyway, what kind of car do you drive? One of them little sporty convertibles I see around here all the time?" He hoped she wouldn't inquire about his past, he didn't like to talk about it much.

[Aligurl828]

She laughed at how excited he got when he spoke about his bike. She also picked up on the change of mood when he spoke of his past. She opted not to go into it. "Well, its good to have something to cherrish I suppose." she matched his pace as they headed down the street, the street lights lighting their way. "Nah, I don't drive any of the convertibles. They don't do so well when you wanna get away from the city and "rough it" She laughed, "I drive the black 4runner."

[TwistedNight]

His eyebrows shot up, impressed that Ali had the presence of mind not to drive a flashy convertible in the city, but even more impressed by her choice of vehicle. Not many women he knew opted for an SUV as their preferred method of transport. "You go offroading then? I used to go dirt biking with a few friends of mine, those were good times. Never been offroading with four wheels though, only two." He scratched his black hair and consciously made the effort to not check on the bump at the back of his head.

[Aligurl828]

She laughed at his reaction, "Yeah..I grew up in the country...just couldn't make the switch to a little car. Off roading is great." she smiled at him, bumping against him playfully, "How's the lump?"

[TwistedNight]

"I'll admit, it's pretty bumpy!" John laughed. "No, it's fine. It's actually alot better than I thought it was going to be. I guess you didn't hit me that hard after all..." He smirked as he revealed the truth behind the bump on his head. It had hurt initially, but after he had checked it the first time, he knew it wouldn't form into a headache-inducing egg. He didn't lie to her, just never dismissed it as a non-issue. He wondered if she would be irritated by his little scheme.

[Aligurl828]

She laughed, "Well I'll be sure to push it open harder next time." she smiled at him. "So how long have you been working there anyway?...Please don't say very long, Id feel horrible not having talked to you before tonight."