I snapped out of it at her laughter. She kept tipping over as if she’d never done a lunge before in her life, which is basically the formation for the bow step. Each time she did, she’d laugh like a five-year-old—that laugh, like tinkling bells and fairy lights. I caught myself rubbing my chest where I felt…something.
On the screen, she threw her head back and fell into the twins taking them down to the floor with her in a tumble of teenage girl hilarity. “You’re hopeless; if you don’t get it right this time, we’ll let Gabriel teach you.”
“Ah, a threat to get me moving. I’ll get it this time for sure.” What the hell does she mean by that? I’ve only ever been kind to her.
“Okay, concentrate. Maybe we should’ve started with meditation Rosa, what do you think?”
“Maybe you’re right; she seems tense. Form your channel like we showed you, Gia. Now breathe in, hold it.” Why are they showing her the empty step when she can’t even do the bow? Amateurs. Maybe I’m wrong, perhaps they do know that I can see them, and they’re doing this shit to draw me in.
Before I could make up my mind whether or not to intervene, they changed course. “Come on, you two, we’ve been down here for an hour. Let’s go do our homework.” Anna pulled her up from the floor where she’d landed once again.
“Yeah, and I need a snack.” That’s Rosa for you, always hungry. The three of them disappeared behind the changing room door and returned minutes later dressed in their street clothes.
I watched until they disappeared from the screen before turning it off. I had my own homework to take care of. I shut down for the next hour while I got my work done, and I know the only reason I wasn’t thinking about her was because she was down the hall with my sisters where she was safe. “Shit!” I forgot he was here.
I heard Lance in the hallway making his way to the study room, then his soft drawl monotone coming through the walls. I couldn’t make out what he was saying, but I did recognize her laugh. I got up from my seat and told myself I was just curious as I opened the door and walked out. This fuck!
He looked down the hallway at the sound of my door opening, smirked, and walked into the room as if he was just waiting for me to make an appearance. I told myself to stay put but still found my feet moving in that direction. By the time I got there, the jackass had turned a chair backward and was munching on what looked like a red velvet cookie. Greedy ass!
“Hey, Gabe, what’s up. Why don’t you join us?” He patted the seat next to him with a sly grin. You’re not obvious or anything. I tried conveying my thoughts with my eyes which he ignored, and went back to chatting up the girls. Why is he sitting so close to her? And why isn’t she trying to disappear behind her hair when talking to him like she does with me?
“I think I will join you.” I wasn’t obvious either when I pushed a chair between the two of them and knew I’d been had when he and the twins exchanged a look. “You finish your homework?” Her face went up in flames like I’d asked what color bra she was wearing.
Then she looked up at me! No, go back to hiding. I almost jumped out of my seat, but years of self-control kept me seated. It was like the laugh, the same reaction. There was a strange tingling feeling in my chest, a sudden heat around my neck, and my pulse was abnormal. I used my training technique to even out my breathing while holding her eyes with mine.
“I did. I didn’t have a lot because I usually start it at school.” How are her lips so pink? I know she’s not wearing anything because the women in my family have bought out Sephora ten times over. I know what lip tint and foundation look like from ten paces. She was bare of any enhancements. That innocence was more potent than the over-made-up girls and women who’ve thrown themselves at me over time.
I could almost fall into her eyes, those bluer than blue orbs that had a light in them just begging to shine forth. She was trying to be brave, but she had no idea I could see the strain in her. She held out for about half a minute before ducking her head again. I realized after we broke eye contact that the rest of the room had gone deathly quiet. I twisted my head around with a glare that only brought snickers from the three coconspirators.