That Girl (A Derek Hale Love Story)

Chapter 32

EDITED

The others girls had left the studio two hours ago. But still, Haylie took the time before Dan would arrive to stand alone in the ballet studio that she considered a second home and dance. She practiced her form, she recorded herself and watched it back every few minutes to see where she could improve.

She spun and held her position more times than she could count and she even practiced her favourite dance from swan lake which she never quite got right. But it didn't matter because everything was gone while she did this. Her messages remained unchecked. Time meant nothing and even her mind had emptied out everything but the movement of her body. The only reason she even came to a stop eventually was her alarm rang out telling her it was 10 and it was time to remove the pointe shoes and pick up some boxing gloves.

Dana would seriously kill her if she saw her perfect ballerina swap out her leotard for a pair of black shorts and sports bra.

"I'm here." Haylie announced as she dropped her gym bag by the weights that Dan was using for his arms. She knew she was 15 minutes late but he didn't seem phased by it as he looked at her through the large mirrors in front of him.

He nodded. "How was ballet?"

There was no teasing in his tone but she was always defensive if anyone tried to tease her about it so it came naturally. "Did you know that a single ballerina performance is equivalent to running 18 miles?"

Dan dropped his weight back on the rack and turned to face her. "I didn't."

"Some people might even argue that ballerinas are just as strong as football players."

Dan cocked his head. "I asked how your session was."

She nodded. "But I know what you're thinking. It's hilarious right? That someone like me is training to fight while jumping around it a leotard."

This time he laughed. "I don't think that at all. I think 'someone like you' is the perfect person to learn how to fight." She went for her bag but he moved forward stopping her. "Why do you always think I'm digging at you? All I've ever done is try and help you but you look at me like a bad guy." She wouldn't be able to explain why without giving away too much. So instead she pulled her arm out of his grip.

"Because why do you even care?" Thankfully there was nobody else in the gym to watch their exchange. "Why are you doing any of it, helping me?"

"Because you are strong. You want this I can see it in your eyes. Because you've been a target for no reason other than you're a pretty girl."

She had no idea if that sentence referred to the mark behind her ear or just a fact of life. But there was an honesty in his eyes. And when she remembered the class he had been teaching. Teaching women other than her to defend themselves against normal men in the street she loosened her shoulders a little. "But why does that matter to you?"

"I was once a kid that was afraid. I remember that feeling and I remember never wanting to feel that way again and I had someone who showed me how to be brave."

He had moved closer to her but she held her ground. Letting the guard she had up show through her straight face. "I'm not brave. Just because we started doing this doesn't suddenly mean I'm brave. It just means I want to feel better about the fact I am completely useless to all the bad shit happening." That guard came down just enough when she recalled the fear spreading through her body in the school. "I'm afraid all the time."

Dan nodded, maybe understanding how much it took for her to admit that to him. "Afraid of Derek?" She couldn't bring herself to confirm or deny so she just held his deep blue eyes. "You're scared of what could happen right? Being brave just means that you'll do anything to make sure that bad thing doesn't happen."