Bad For You

sixteen

"Aurora! Just the person I wanted to talk to!"

I inwardly groan and pause getting dressed, turning to face Noelle. Her ankle is healed and now she's back at practice. I'm back to dealing with both her and Lucy, and honestly it's been taxing as hell. It's like her injury made her even more determined to make my life miserable to make up for her one moment of weakness on the class trip. She's upped her subtle verbal jabs and is constantly finding an excuse to make me feel inferior to her. Once I almost snapped and brought up her ankle, but held myself back. That would just give her more fuel and honestly, I don't have the energy to engage in a catfight with her. Thankfully I have Theo. He makes everything better, and always lets me rant to him.

Speaking of Theo, things have been going great with us. We text everyday and he makes it a point to take me out on these cute little dates. So far we've been to dinner, the zoo, aquarium, and even an art gallery he frequently visits. Hannah and I have also become regulars at pool night with his friends, who have sort of become our friends too. I even won a hundred bucks once. But one of the best things about Theo is that he's not afraid to be affectionate. I live for his kisses and touches. However we haven't gone farther than what happened on my couch, but I'm hoping that will change soon.

I really think I'm falling in love with him.

Of course I haven't told anyone yet, not even Hannah. I barely wanted to admit it to myself. But it's hard to run away from the truth, especially when it's a living, breathing entity existing inside you.

Determined not to let Noelle ruin my mood, I put on my best 'pleasant' face. Theo and I are supposed to hang out after this anyway, so I have something to look forward to. "What can I do for you?"

Noelle smiles sweetly. "I heard you had a boyfriend."

My brows raise. "You heard?"

"Well more like I saw. You two are all lovey dovey around campus. It's cute. Definitely enough to make a girl jealous."

I'm not sure I like where she's going with this, and I'm a little disturbed she pays that much attention to my life beyond dance. "Thanks..."

Noelle taps her chin thoughtfully. "Theo right? He was in our group on the class trip. Very sexy. I never thought I was into guys with tattoos, but I'd definitely make an exception for him."

There's a buzzing noise in my ear and my blood boils. I smile tightly. "Yeah. Anyway I have to go now-"

But Noelle continues on as if I hadn't spoken. "I mean seriously. Those eyes and lips...and oh my gosh his hands. I saw on his Instagram he's an art major-"

What the fuck? She was lurking on his Instagram?

"-i bet he's amazingly talented with his hands," Noelle winks. "If you know what I mean."

One moment I'm staring at her, the next I have her slammed against the locker. I'm not even sure where the strength came from. She squeaks and stares up at me with enlarged eyes, tinged with fear.

"He's mine," I growl. "So don't even be thinking about his tattoos, eyes, lips, or hands. Don't even think about him period. Got it?"

This isn't like me. At all. I'm quiet. Reserved. Passive. Usually I let things roll off my back like water, not wanting to engage. But Noelle unlocked something deep inside me, a feral, possessive part of me that burns with jealousy at the thought of any girl thinking about Theo like that. It's already bad enough I have to deal with Phoebe, but if Noelle thinks she can dig her claws into him, she'll have a lot more than a sprained ankle to worry about.

Noelle stares up at me with wide eyes before laughing and gently pushing me back. "Relax. I was just joking."

I don't share her laughter, staring at her with narrowed eyes. She rolls hers.