Soloist #Wattys2015

Chapter Ten

"Eli, stop it." I protested.

"Aellius, don't-" He cut me off.

"Eli!" I erupted, standing up. Aellius laid back down, the sit-up set completed.

I moved over to another training machine. Slipping my foot into through the ankle strap, I tried my best to raise my leg and fight against the device's resistance.

"Andy, come back! There's still one more set!"

I huffed, crossing my arms as I tried to maintain my balance in this new pose.

"I promise I won't kiss you this time." He held up a hand, as if swearing.

I sighed, "Fine."

Kneeling at his feet once again, I counted as he did the first sit-up.

"Will you stop that?" I shrieked.

"Nope Eli hauls himself back up to kiss my cheek yet again, beaming insufferably as he went back down.

"I swear, I'm going to-"

Aellius presses his lips to mine. In a heartbeat, we had switched positions. I was no longer kneeling at his feet but lying down on the mat. He had my wrists trapped in his strong hold, a precaution to stop my from gorging his eyes out.

My heart stopped, my blood alternating between freezing and boiling. When my eyes fluttered closed, I knew that I had given in, and losing to Eli was not as bad as I thought.

"Sorry, I just had to do that." He breathed, offering me a hand up.

I ignored him, standing up by myself and brushing off my clothes.

"Andy, please-"

"I'm not mad."

"Then?" He frowned, confused.

"I don't know."

Turning, I ran out of the gym, back to my room. I buried myself beneath the sheets, not caring if my shirt was crumpling.

ϗ

There was a knock at my door.

"Andy?" Aellius' voice quivered.

"Andy, its Julia, can I come in?" My roommate was out there too.

I pushed myself up. Unlocking the door where Julia stood with two mugs of hot tea. She stops Eli from entering, swiftly shutting the door with a brief shake of her head.

Stretching her legs out on my rug, she pulled me to sit as well. I took one of the mugs.

"I know you miss Austin," She began, "But Eli loves you."

"I know, but it's not the same without Aussie."

"Yes, but you can't take it out on Aellius just because he isn't Austin." Reasoned Julia.

I sighed heavily, taking a sip of the bland tea.

"Look, I know you and Austin had a thing for each other, but why don't you give Eli a chance?"

"Fine."

I rose, walking over to the door. Placing a trembling hand on the knob, I counted to three and flung it open.

"Eli, I-" I shut my mouth, taking in the empty community room. Guess he must have left for his classes.

ϗ

Deacon let out another ear-splitting howl as his ear phones turned his brain to mush. I groaned, trying to get my work done.

A customer floats up to the cashier. Mckayla does not take her eyes off the overhead menu as she orders, her mouth hanging open with every pause. I try my best to stifle a giggle.

I kicked Deacon, yanking out his ear buds and yelling Mckayla's order. Glaring at me, he sulked off to prepare her drink.

I notice her yoga pants and tank top combination, both of which prompted my question.

"Where are you going?"

"Pilates class." She replied, contemplating whether or not to get a banana.

"Who's teaching today?" I accept her student card yet again.

"Thomas Warren."

Deacon shoves the drink into her hands. I was going to stab him later...

"Enjoy the class." I smiled and Mckayla waved as she headed for the door with her gym mat slung over her shoulders.

Before I could stop him, Deacon plugged in his ear phones and began to sing again. All I wanted to do was crawl into a hole far, far away and die.

ϗ

"You're doing it all wrong!" Richard Kensington bellowed, frustrated.

He takes a long drag of his coffee before stalking over to us.

"You," He snarls, pointing at me. "Just because you cannot balance, doesn't mean you can use your partner! Work on it!" He roared.

I flinched and nodded before scampering off towards the mirror.

Then he turns to Eli, pointing out all of his mistakes as well. As the work on his errors, I rise onto full pointe, holding the pose for a full six counts and sticking the landing.

"Again!" Richard waves his hand and the music starts, Aellius bows as he asks me to dance.

When I grabbed his hand, it was time to do that particular balance. It was make or break time. My heart lodged itself in my throat as I prayed that I would be able to last the entire ten counts.

A burst of applause from the other cast members announced that I had completed the gruelling step and I grin as Eli leads me to where the rest of our duet began.

We glide across the studio, weaving in and out of the other dancers in the scene of the palace ball. Although we were still getting used to the way the other moved, the initial hesitation we had was significantly less than before. It was a great improvement.

Another round of applause poured out from the crowd that had formed outside the studio that we were in. We bowed to each other, then to our audience.

"Alright," Headmaster Richard clapped his hands together. "That shall be all for today. Thank you, class."

ϗ

"Eli!" I called, running to catch up with my Prince.

He turned, shocked at my boldness. Then he remembered what happened and continued walking.

"Eli, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to push you away." I placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

Aellius turns to face me full on. After a moment, he wraps his arms around me. Kissing my forehead, he sighed, "Don't worry, Adrianne. I miss him too."

He cups my jaw line with his long fingers, his other arm still snaked around my waist. Tilting my chin up, he kisses me full on. Around us, the group of students hooted and clapped, but one voice stood out in particular.

"Finally!" Exclaimed Julia, exasperatedly.

I simply grinned into the kiss and wrapped my arms around Eli's strong shoulders.