Elliot

12 - A bottle of water

Elliot stood in the bright, echoing dance studio, sunlight streaming through the tall windows and casting patterns across the polished floor. He and Aaron were supposed to be perfecting their routine for the upcoming class, but Elliot's mind was elsewhere. The rhythmic thumping of their feet on the floor seemed to blend into a dull background noise, overshadowed by the whirlwind of thoughts swirling in his head.

He watched as Aaron executed the moves with precision, his lean frame flowing effortlessly through the choreography. Elliot admired his dedication, but today, he struggled to focus. Instead of counting beats, he found himself replaying the events of the weekend, particularly the moment with Nate that had left him feeling both exhilarated and confused. The warmth of Nate's presence lingered in his thoughts, the way his gaze had held a mixture of longing and fear, and the weight of Nate's words hung in the air like an unfinished sentence.

"Elliot!" Aaron's voice cut through the haze, sharp and clear. "Can you focus for once? We've gone over this section three times already!"

Elliot blinked, snapping back to the present. "Sorry, I—"

"Are you even here right now?" Aaron huffed, running a hand through his tousled hair in frustration. "You've got to get your head in the game if we're going to pull this off."

"I know, I know," Elliot replied, forcing a smile as he tried to shake off the lingering thoughts of Nate. "I'll do better, I promise."

"Let's take a break," Aaron suggested, his voice softer now as he stepped back, crossing his arms over his chest. He studied Elliot with a mixture of concern and annoyance. "Seriously, what's going on with you? You've been out of it all morning."

Elliot hesitated, glancing around the studio as if the walls could offer him some kind of refuge. "I just... have a lot on my mind," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Like what?" Aaron pressed, his brows knitting together. "Is it about the dance? You know we can work on it together."

Elliot bit his lip, torn between the urge to confide in Aaron and the desire to keep his feelings to himself. He could feel the familiar flutter of anxiety in his chest. "It's not the dance. It's just... things with this guy..."

Aaron's expression shifted from irritation to curiosity, his stance relaxing slightly. "A guy, huh?" he said, raising an eyebrow. "Are you two dating?"

Elliot shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "No. I just thought maybe we had a moment, but then he just... pushed me away. And now I can't stop thinking about it."

Aaron sighed, stepping closer and placing a hand on Elliot's shoulder. "Look, I get it. You like him. But you need to focus on the dance, I need good grades to keep this scholarship."

Elliot felt a pang of guilt. "I know. I'm sorry. It just feels so complicated. One minute, it's like there's this connection, and the next, it feels like he's putting up walls. I just... I don't know how to handle it."

"Maybe you should talk to him," Aaron suggested, his tone more supportive now. "If he's worth it, you have to figure out what's really going on with him. Just don't lose yourself in the process, okay?"

Elliot took a deep breath, the weight of Aaron's advice settling over him like a comforting blanket. "Yeah, you're right. I just... I don't want to push him away even more."

"Then don't," Aaron said with a reassuring grin. "Just be honest. That's all you can do. And in the meantime, let's try to get this routine down before we drive each other crazy."

Elliot chuckled softly, grateful for Aaron's presence. "Thanks, Aaron. I really appreciate it."

As the music began to play again, Elliot tried to focus on the movements. The studio was alive with energy, the sound of their feet tapping against the floor punctuating the air. As the music swelled, Aaron and Elliot stood facing each other, their bodies a mere breath apart, a palpable tension hanging between them. The sunlight filtering through the windows illuminated the dust particles that floated lazily, adding a warm glow to the vibrant atmosphere.