Elliot

8 - The neighbors

Elliot twirled around his apartment, setting a batch of cookies on the coffee table where his friends, Zoe and Josephine, were lounging. The room was alive with laughter and chatter, the cozy atmosphere enhanced by the faint scent of vanilla wafting from the freshly baked treats.

Zoe, her vibrant green hair as bold as her personality, inspected one of the cookies suspiciously. "You've been baking a lot lately. Is it some stress-coping thing?"

Elliot rolled his eyes dramatically, plopping down onto the armrest of the couch. "Not everything I do is about stress. Maybe I just enjoy baking!" He paused for effect before adding with a smirk, "But yes, it's also because I'm stressed. New school, new apartment... you get the idea."

Josephine, ever the voice of reason, brushed a stray ginger strand from her face as she reached for a cookie. "You're going to kill it at the academy, Elliot. They'd be fools not to love you."

"So will you," Elliot added and smiled at her. "I saw your moves, you are both amazing. 

"So," Josephine began casually, leaning forward as Elliot rearranged some mugs on the table. "Tell me about that dance partner of yours. Aaron, right?"

Elliot paused, his hands hovering over a mug. "What about him?" he asked, feigning nonchalance.

Josephine arched an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Oh, come on, don't play coy. I saw you two hangin out at the party, and you've barely talked about him. Is he good?"

Elliot sighed, setting the mug down before turning to face her. "He's... talented, for sure. Great technique, very precise."

Zoe tilted her head, studying his expression. "But?"

"But," Elliot admitted, "he's also... intense. Like, really intense. He takes everything seriously—every step, every lift, every second of practice. Don't get me wrong, I respect the dedication, but it can be a bit... much sometimes."

Josephine hummed in understanding. "Intense can be good, though, right? Keeps you sharp."

Elliot shrugged, leaning back. "Yeah, but it also makes things... complicated. He can be a little too focused on me. Not just in dance, but... personally."

"Ah," Zoe said, catching the shift in his tone. "So, he's into you."

Elliot rolled his eyes, a faint blush creeping into his cheeks. "It's not like that. We're just partners. He's probably just passionate about the performance, you know?"

Zoe crossed her arms, giving him a pointed look. "Elliot, I haven't known you long, but enough to know when you're downplaying something. Is he making you uncomfortable?"

Elliot hesitated, his fingers fiddling with the hem of his shirt. "It's not that. I mean, Aaron's not a bad guy. He's just... a lot. Sometimes I feel like he's expecting something more from me, and I don't know how to handle that without making things awkward."

Josephine placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "Listen, if he's crossing any boundaries, you have every right to set him straight."

Elliot nodded, offering her a small smile. "Thanks, Jo. I'll figure it out. I just want to focus on dancing and getting through this program, you know?"

"Fair enough," Zoe added, "But for the record, if Aaron doesn't shape up, you've got two fierce friends out there ready to set him straight."

Elliot laughed, the tension easing from his shoulders. "I'll keep that in mind."

Before he could change the subject, a sharp knock at the door echoed through the room. He frowned, glancing at the clock on the wall. "I'm not expecting anyone. Did one of you invite someone?"