𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 ─── 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 ༄‧₊˚ (EDITING)

・𝟎𝟕

page seven.

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Effulgent

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I WAS AS READY AS I COULD BE IN THAT moment but that wasn't the case. I rested my hand on my chest, seeking to find some serenity for at least a few moments.

I let out a sigh and walked up to the stage, feigning the most credible smile I could muster. Everyone's gaze in the crowd was fixed on me as I walked. Some whispers were passed on to the person next to them, which made me gulp in fear for a brief minute.

I'd been told I couldn't focus my complete concentration on the audience, but my body sensed Alex was staring at me with his lusty eyes and that idiotic smirk he usually had whenever I tried to focus on something other than him.

As a result, I knew he was making it difficult for me to refrain from looking back and end up hosting one of our fierce staring competitions.

And as I turned my body around to walk away I spotted him, sitting flawlessly as it was his specialty. His dark eyes whispered something only my body could capture. Something only I would've understood. With a small smile, I walked away.

''You did amazing'' Riley greeted me with a small hug. Despite my underlying thoughts about recent events that I didn't want to acknowledge at the time, I thanked her a couple of times for being so polite to me.

The aching in my ankles became more obvious with each step I took, but I kept walking. I muttered a curse and crouched down a little, hoping to fix whatever it was that was bothering me so much. My gaze was drawn upward by the sound of many footsteps approaching me. With a chuckle, the gathering of men stared down at me.

''You okay, love?'' Nick asked with a small edge of mockery I decided to ignore.

''Yeah, but my ankles hurt'' I said, rubbing them softly. I watched the green-eyed man crouch beside me and clutch the straps of my black heels. He grabbed them and offered me a hand.

''She can't walk without shoes, she'll trip or step on something'' Matt pointed out and I laughed at how serious his expression got.

''I'll carry her, jeez'' Nick shook his head before crouching again and patting his own back. I giggled and obeyed his commands.

They escorted me to my dressing room, cracking jokes about how Alex had been staring at me the entire time. I bit my lower lip and resisted the impulse to return his stare. He walked silently behind us, periodically checking his watch or uttering an unexpected remark.