Page 13

13

ANYA

I’VE BEEN AVOIDING MASON like the plague – I’m still furious with him. I’ve been doing anything I can to fill my afternoons and nights to reduce the chances of us being home at the same time. He requested to follow me on all my social media last night – since I removed him from everything in anger after the party – but I didn’t accept him. His obsession with me makes my pulse race, of course it does; it’s all I’ve ever wanted. But I’m not giving in. He hasn’t earned it.

Mason spent so much time promising me things he didn’t deliver on, and as much as I do care for him, I can’t let him in. I can’t be hurt like that again.

Nerves bubble in my stomach as I walk into Dance Academy. The room is dim, lit only by neon purple stripes that line the skirting boards. A crowd of girls is gathered in the centre of the room, clad in classy, sexy lingerie. I glance down at my oversized off-the-shoulder jumper and faded booty shorts, feeling like I didn’t get the dress-code memo. We drop our things on the bench where everyone else’s belongings are and meet the other girls in the middle of the room. Cami introduces us to everyone, and Nora and I follow her stretching routine.

I used to dance and do gymnastics as a kid, but stopped when I started high school. I got too embarrassed to perform at the concerts, fearing someone from my class would happen to be there. It’s ridiculous to think that now. I wish I’d stuck with it. Watching the girls around me bend and twist so flexibly and elegantly has me regretting my decision to stop.

The instructor, Amelia, is a tall, beautiful woman with raven-black hair and long, slender limbs. She is a ball of energy, hyping everyone up as we warm up and stretch. I feel myself relaxing the more I move. Everyone is happy doing their own thing, no one is paying attention to me half as much as I thought they would, and if they do look my way, they offer me enthusiastic smiles and thumbs-ups.

‘Okay, new girls – allow us to show you the most recent routine we’ve been learning. Once you’ve seen it, we’ll go over the steps.’ Amelia beams, gesturing for Nora, me and two other girls to stand by the mirror in the corner.

‘Sex’ by JVLA starts playing, and the girls strut to their positions. The lights change to a deep red, and the dancers start moving in sync. I’m completely mesmerised.

‘Oh my God,’ Nora breathes beside me. ‘They’re incredible.’

‘I am not going to look like that.’ I blink, watching them glide around the room in heels I can barely walk in.

When the routine is finished, us girls who were watching join in. We spend the next thirty minutes learning the steps. By the end of it, I’m exhausted. I’m glad we didn’t do any pole training today – I want to start with baby steps. Everywhere hurts already, and I’m sure I’ll wake up feeling even worse.

Even still, when we spill outside after class, I feel amazing. Sweat sheens across my skin, I’m breathless, but I feel fucking good . I needed this.

Cami convinces us to go to The Illusion for a drink.

‘That was so much fun,’ Nora gushes as she pushes the door open. It’s packed inside, much busier than when we were here the other day.

‘Right?’ Cami smiles encouragingly. ‘Told you.’

Loud hollering snaps me back to reality. I look over to see a few familiar faces by the bar. Kai Adams and some of the other football boys have spread out across two booths that back up against each other.

‘Ugh,’ Nora mutters under her breath, glancing down at her exercise clothes. We’re all sweaty and flushed.

I force a friendly smile onto my face and follow the girls to the last empty booth. The tabletop is scattered with empty bottles; the people who were seated here must have only just left.

Kai finishes his drink and pushes off the bar, beelining for me. I hope I’m not grimacing as much as I think I am. He slides easily between me and the booth, preventing me from taking a seat. He smirks at me, eyes dipping over my outfit. I straighten, feeling extremely self-conscious in my oversized clothes.

‘Hi, gorgeous.’

‘Hi, Kai.’

‘How are you?’ he asks.

My skin feels prickly where his eyes walk over my shoulder, lingering on the exposed skin there. ‘Fine, thanks.’

‘You never texted me,’ he says.

I knew that was coming. ‘I accidentally put the piece of paper through the wash,’ I lie, feeling my cheeks heat under his scrutinising gaze. ‘I ... er ... wanted to message you.’

‘Oh,’ he says, looking a little relieved that I didn’t intentionally blow him off. ‘That’s cool. Give me yours and we can start over.’

I feel torn. I don’t particularly want to give Kai my number; he seems a little sleazy and arrogant. But on the other hand, why not? I’m single. I’m entitled to some fun. Besides, I won’t be committing to anything. He may not even text me, and even if he does it probably won’t lead to anything.

I rattle off my number and he punches it into his phone, then sends me a message so that I have his. I’m instantly relieved I didn’t give him a fake one, since he stares down at my phone and waits for it to light up with his text.

‘I’ll be in touch,’ he says. ‘Let’s hang soon.’

‘Sure.’ I smile. ‘Sounds great.’

He winks at me, and I bite the inside of my cheek to stop the laugh threatening to escape. I’m not sure if he truly thinks that was smooth. He probably does.

He returns to his friends, and I do the same, my heartbeat loud in my ears. Guilt gnaws at my insides. I feel I’m betraying Mason somehow, even though I’m not. He has no claim to me, and I don’t owe him a single thing. I shake off the feeling and sit down opposite Nora and Cami.

‘Did you just agree to go out with Kai?’ Cami asks, her eyebrows so high they almost disappear into her hair.

‘Yeah.’

‘What about Mason?’ Nora asks, exchanging a look with Cami.

‘Wait.’ I narrow my eyes, pointing between them. ‘What was that?’

‘What was what?’ Cami asks in mock innocence.

‘That little ...’ I move my hands to emphasise the look between them. ‘Whatever you just did. As if you’ve been talking about me.’

‘I like him,’ Nora admits, casting me a sheepish look. ‘He seems sweet and really into you.’

‘Sweet!?’ I protest, eyes widening. Then I realise I never told them what happened all those years ago. ‘Sweet’ is a fair evaluation, I suppose, since they’ve only ever seen him as he is now. If they knew how he made me feel – repeatedly – they would have different opinions. Especially if they knew what happened after. But that’s in the past, and maybe the chapter needs to end. We are both different people now. Maybe I need to move on from it.

‘He didn’t look at anyone else the entire night,’ Cami agrees. ‘There’s something there, girl. Whether you’re ready to face it yet or not.’

‘Going out with Kai is going to be more confusing,’ Nora adds, leaning forward and tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear. ‘Unless you’re into him. Are you?’

‘My head hurts,’ I mutter. ‘I don’t know what I want.’

My mind flashes back to Mason crumpling up the piece of paper Kai gave me. The audacity of that man. It is definitely not hot when he’s so possessive of me.

It’s not.

It’s not.

It’s not .

Nora’s hand rests lightly on top of mine. ‘It will work out how it’s meant to.’

‘Sure,’ I agree weakly. ‘Let’s hope so.’