It All Started with a Lie

Chapter 8

If they don't like you
for being yourself,
be yourself even more.
~Taylor Swift

A/N
Klaus is definitely a Swiftie.

Chapter 8
Her POV
"Emma!" I cheered as I watched her walk back into the studio for practice. It had been over a week since I last saw her. Whatever bug she had really took her out. I was beginning to worry.

I ran over to her, tackling her into a hug. I didn't notice her response, because I was so used to greeting her that way I didn't realize I needed to. I released her from the hug, keeping my hands on her shoulders as I beamed, "I have so much to catch you up on!" Things with the team, things with the handsome stranger. And I wanted to know about her, how she was feeling, how behind she was in school. Maybe I could help catch her up in the new parts of the routine she missed.

But she didn't smile at me, or meet my eyes. In fact, she was just staring at the wall behind me. "Emma?" I questioned, releasing her and taking a step back. "Are you okay?"

She mumbled something that I couldn't quite make out. "What?"

Her gaze flickered to mine, just for a moment. "I can't be speaking to you, Alexandria."

I stiffened at the use of my name, suddenly coming up with a variety of new words to refer to my so-called 'best friend'. She knows how much I hate my first name, it has only ever been used in vain. How could she ever call me that? "I don't understand." My voice fell cold.

"You disgraced the Beta Sigma Xi name." She practically read off a script taught to her by my teammates—by her teammates; they were not mine. "As a BSX girl, I cannot be speaking to you. You have offended my home and my sisters."

I took a breath, a step back, and nodded. I would not beg for her love. "I see. Have a nice life, Emma." Perhaps she expected me to beg, to get down on my knees and apologize for what I'd done—what he did—because when I said it, her eyes flickered with a kind of pain I had never seen her wear. I didn't need her. I didn't need anyone. I have Richard and that is enough.

Emma wouldn't even be a BSX girl if it weren't for me. I saved her ass. She'd still be hanging onto that damn chimney if I hadn't helped her.

She left me to meet up with her teammates, her sisters, and warmed up with them. I warmed up alone, in the center of the floor while the rest of my teammates cowered in the corners. When rehearsal started, Coach offered me a spot in one of the studios, alone, so that I could focus on choreographing the ballad. The other girls scowled at me, and asked why I got my own studio. They did not know I was choreographing a dance for the showcase, and I would not tell them. They could see it opening night, and see exactly why I'd been the one offered the chance to do this. I'll put all my focus on it, as much as I'd given to Beta Sigma Xi. I may not be able to be in their sorority, but I will always have this. I will always be a dancer, it runs through my veins, it is a part of me that they can never ruin.

I spent the entirety of the two hours choreographing the first quarter of the dance. Peter joined me halfway through, pitching a few of his excellent ideas, but letting me take the lead for the most part. For him, this was an excellent opportunity to make his family proud, but he did not plan to dance after college. I, however, did. And this opportunity brought me one step closer.

By the time we finished, it was already dark, and the rest of my teammates had called it a day, except for one, president of Beta Sigma Xi. After shamelessly flirting with Peter and scowling at me, she asked Peter to walk her to her car, 'for safety'. He chose to continue to walk with me, like he does every practice that ends late. And like the graceful, polite, woman that I am, I stuck my tongue out at her as we walked out the door.