Lust

Chapter Two

I laughed at myself, remembering how love drunk I was after the first time I saw him. Bringing the cup to my lips, I take a sip, and remember how intimidated, yet how seduced I was when I first met Zayn. And I was right, that night was not the last time I would see him. In fact, it opened the door to our relationship.

****

"Evelyn! What are you doing? This isn't nap time; your break was over 15 minutes ago! There's a customer out in front wanting to sign up, so please. Go. Help. Him." Startled, my eyes jerked open in response to see my boss, Rosie, giving me a disappointed look.

"I'm sorry Rosie, it won't happen again." I murmured, and walked off to the front of the studio, to help the new customer. I could hear Rosie muttering things under her breath, in which I was way too tired to depict. For a week, I haven't gotten much sleep. All because of the stranger I met a seven nights ago, on that fateful alleyway. I've only seen him once, for about five minutes and he's already making me lose sleep....and nearly making me lose my job from making me stay up all night.

Fixing my name badge, I swing the door to walk into the studio's desk. Plopping on the seat, I look up to see who I had to help.

And my jaw dropped. Don't freak out, Evelyn. The same stranger was here. IN A DANCE STUDIO. I felt my breath hitch in my throat, making it difficult for me to breathe. He looked genuinely surprised to see me here too. His eyes were brighter from the last time I saw him, and he had a bit of stubble growing, but it suited him perfectly. His hair was styled the same way as before, with just the same amount of care previously. He was dressed in a pair of Adidas sweat pants, with a pair of sneakers and a Nike jumper. He had a really nice sense of fashion, I thought to myself.

"Thanks, you do to" He chuckled.

"Pardon me?" I asked, confused about what he was talking about. "Thank you, I'd like to think I have a nice taste in clothes, and you do too, beautiful one." He grinned. Oh my god, I said that out loud. I blushed, I often had a habit of saying things out loud when I get really nervous.

But, my heart swelled as I remembered what he called me a week ago, "beautiful one". He must remember me then.

"Yes, I do tend to remember really beautiful girls." He flashed me a warm smile that reached his eyes. I slapped a hand over my mouth. I did it again. "Thank you. Is there anything I can do for you?" I asked, deciding not to think about anything else that could make me look like a complete idiot if it came out of my mouth.

"Yeah, I uh...don't dance, but I have this masquerade ball thingy to go to in a week and....I'm terrible at it. So....I was wondering if I could get some lessons, before I make a fool out of myself in front of hundreds of people." He explained.

"Of course" I answered, almost immediately. "But, I didn't know 'tough boys' dance at masquerade balls, or even attended them!" I laughed, while pulling up a new customer information card on the register. He looked the ground going slightly red.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Zayn. Zayn Malik." He answered, his voice smouldering. Zayn...the name suits him. It's a pretty name, for a beautiful being. I nod, typing his name in the register.

"How many lessons would you like, as well as the time?" I questioned.

"Erm...I'll only need six lessons, and maybe at six o'clock, because I'm busy at work, if that's alright with you." Zayn answers, his gaze fixated on me. He wasn't looking directly at me, he was looking at....my chest. I looked at him, and raised my eyebrow, feeling violated. "Evelyn...nice name." He smirks, when he realises that I knew what he was looking at.

My palms tingled - I wanted so badly to punch something. I surprised myself, I was usually a nonviolent person. I sighed and continued ringing up his schedule. I proceeded to print his receipt and handed it to him. "Have a nice day." I said in clenched teeth. I turned my back and started to walk away.

"Wait," he called. I kept walking into Studio B, walking angrily, my noise of my jazz shoes echoing off the walls. But he was right behind me, easily keeping pace.

"I'm sorry, that was rude," he said as we walked. I ignored him and started playing Breathe Me for a contemporary duet I had to audition at a Gala audition in two weeks. I looked at him, his sincerity was evident in his facial features. "It's just....I've never met anyone as beautiful as you are" he whispered, the music adding effect to the mood.

"Well...that was highly unnecessary, but it's alright." I sighed, and began to swap my jazz shoes for my pointe shoes.

"I wanted to ask you something....but you sort of got me side tracked." He smirks. His teeth are aligned so perfectly and so white, that they nearly shine in the dim lighting of the studio. "Which was....." I pondered.

"Firstly, how come you're working here?" he questions. "And secondly, my uh...dance partner bailed on me for the masquerade ball, and I thought maybe, if you're going to be my dance instructor, maybe you'd like to attend the ball with me?" He asked moving in closely towards me, and his breath once again, smelled of cigarettes. Looking in his eyes, I knew he was just trouble, that I should be thinking before I act, but I guess when I So I can't bring myself to regret the decision to accept his invitation to be his 'date' to the masquerade.

******

Looking back, I wish I had known how much of a mistake it was. It was all my fault. I should've known.

If only I could turn back time and leave right away as soon as Ethan left me in the alleyway. I wouldn't even see Zayn. If only I could turn back time and decline his invitation. If only I could turn back time, I would've ask Rosie to train Zayn.

If only, if only, if only.....I wouldn't even be in this mess.

If only I could turn back time and not meet Zayn.