Breaking The Rules

Chapter 16

The night out with my new housemates had flipped some sort of switch in my brain. There was no way of being able to pinpoint exactly what it was. Perhaps it was the copious amounts of tequila, or that I finally had people to go out with again, but I was feeling like things were turning around for me.

It had been the first time in a long time that I had danced for fun. No grades or expectations––simply moving to the music with freedom I hadn't experienced since I was a kid.

I tried bringing that same energy into the studio.

My feet moved in time with the beat as I flowed through the routine we had been working on for the last few weeks. A ballet drill that was much more formal than shaking my ass in a club, but I tried to enjoy it regardless. My body was warm, muscles loose, and for a moment, everything was alright. My body and mind were in sync. In time with the gentle melody coming from the studio's surround sound. I didn't even have to think about what I was doing. Muscle memory had kicked in.

Until I made eye contact with the last person I wanted to see.

Mid-spin, I caught sight of movement across the wall of windows. That particular side of the studio faced a quaint courtyard outside of the dance building. It was rare to see people out there. From time to time the odd student could be seen walking by on their way to class. On occasion there may have been a couple of people sitting on one of the benches.

My heart skipped a beat. There, just beyond the glass, was a face I knew all too well.

Miles was staring back at me, standing just beyond the bushes that lined the building.

I stumbled, the sudden panic washing over me like ice water. My foot hit the floor wrong, and before I could even process what was happening, my ankle twisted beneath me. Pain shot through my leg, sharp and immediate, and I crumpled to the ground.

The music came to a halt as a few gasps echoed around the room. I pressed my hands to the floor, trying to catch my breath as the pain throbbed through my ankle. Juliette and Elodie, who had been dancing on the opposite side of the studio, were the first to rush over, their faces full of concern.

"Celeste, are you okay?" Juliette asked, crouching beside me. Her hands hovered above my own as I gripped onto the source of pain.

"What happened?" Elodie added, her eyes wide.

"I—" I started, but the words got stuck in my throat. I glanced back toward the window, but Miles was gone. It must have just been my imagination. "I'm fine," I muttered, wincing as I tried to move my ankle. "I just... I landed wrong."

Professor Calloway had made her way over by that point. Eyebrows were raised high as she assessed the situation. "Celeste, are you hurt?"

I bit my lip, trying to play it off like it wasn't a big deal, but the pain was still radiating through my leg, making it impossible to hide. "It's just my ankle. I think I just twisted it."

"Let's see," she said, kneeling down and gently touching the swollen area. "You should go get this checked out. Can you stand?"

I hesitated, then nodded, even though I wasn't sure. Juliette and Elodie were already moving to help me up, each of them grabbing an arm and lifting me to my feet. I tried to put weight on my ankle, but the sharp pain made me wince, and I quickly shifted my balance to my other foot.

"I'm okay," I insisted, but even I wasn't convinced by my own words.

Professor Calloway pursed her lips at my attempt to keep going. "You're done for today. Girls," she said, regarding Juliette and Elodie. "Could you help her to the infirmary?"