Choose Me- the second novel

Chapter 64- jane

Taylors POV

Trying to get my breath back I almost barge my way down the corridor, realising that I've lost Joseph Quinn to the crowd. I wipe my eyes, lightly dabbing at them and remind myself that it's pathetic to cry over somebody who isn't even yours.

I push my sadness away as the cold air bites at my skin all the way to the dance block. Deciding that this is a life lesson, I tell myself that Jay has every single right to pursue other girls, even if he did kiss me yesterday. I've shoved my relationship with Matthew in his face continually and I should expect this kind of behaviour from him. We are friends, and he isn't a very good friend to girls I remind myself thinking of Rachel, why should I be any different?

The warm air hits me as I enter the gym and dance block. Stripping down in the changing rooms to my leotard and tights, I place my lace up ballet shoes on and lock up my belongings in a spare locker before heading out to the foyer feeling severely underdressed waiting for the studio to be free. I look through the windows and watch the senior dancers cool down briefly as I wait for the space to be free.

The electric doors at the entrance open and the cold air rushes in, just as the studio is vacated and my teacher engages me in a conversation about what I need to focus on with my studio time. She glances down at my pointe shoes and nods. Looking up briefly at the entrance, I see Jay entering with his gym bag and hide my red eyes. Placing my back to him I practically hide my mushy face from view not wanting him to be able to tell that he made me cry.

Dancers filter out as my teacher leaves me and I wait with my head down for the space to be free. Striding into the studio deciding that I will not waste more time thinking about Gilbert Scott, I turn the music on and warm up alone.

The door clicks as I'm mid pirouette, and I face the mirror steadying myself. Watching Jay walk through the door and stride directly over to me, I brace myself for more mixed messages.

"Taylor" he says surprised by himself, looking down at my leotard and then up to my face again, he gulps and then recovers.

"What's up Jay" I ask him as he grabs my hands in his own.

"I just" he begins and then stops releasing my hands before continuing. I wipe my eyes and look away from him, clearly my emotions are running exceptionally high today. Perhaps I'm about to come on my menstrual cycle I think idly, we still haven't performed the tests and it's bugging me that I'm still not on. I push the thought away and look at him.

"Look we're friends right" he says softly.

"Is that really true though" I ask him and his emotions flare again, a look of annoyance suddenly crosses his face.

"Yeah well I thought so, okay? I don't follow my friends around like a lovesick puppy. If that's what you mean" he snarls, we are truly reading off of different scripts today. Rubbing each other up the wrong way.

"Ok so right why are you here then? You followed me into the dance studio not the other way around" I say defensively.

"Because you looked like you had been crying" he says exasperated, concern shadows his face but he masks it quickly. I wipe my eyes and he curses pushing his hair back.

"How the fuck am I supposed to leave you alone" he says to himself turning around and sighing.

"I thought you were doing just that with this blonde girl you're pursuing" I say to him and he eyes me cautiously when he faces me again. His steely grey eyes washing over me.