Dancing with Fire (John Pearce/Justice Crew Fanfic)

Chapter 19

This was the second time I walked out from Mr. Pearce. The first at the workshop when she brought that girl, and the second was now.

Whenever something was wrong with me, he could feel it and would ask me non-stop about it. But ever since that day he invited me to dance for him, he hasn’t talked to me. He avoided me these past weeks, not showing any concern, or even an explanation, but come to think of it, I’m just his regular student.

So how dare he show anger towards me? Why was he hurt? Because we were disturbing his class. Right.

But it felt like he was directing his hurt and anger towards me, just me. I may have been a part of that group, but it doesn’t mean I was all alone, and I was the one who came up with the plan. Why was he pointing the blame at me?

The classes have just started 20 minutes ago, so the hallway was empty. My feet led me to gym class, Mr. L. Pearce’s office.

Hesitant at first, but I had nowhere to go. I’m not going back in there after what happened. Not today. After three knocks, Lenny opened it.

“Hey Kayla, don’t you have class?”

“Remember when we had that deal, if I accepted to dance with you, and you told me I can have a day off from English class?” He nodded. “Can I stay here?”

“Sure. What happened?” Then it hit me. I was with Lenny alone, and I remembered what had started this mess. We were watching the video, and then headed off to English class when the bell rang. We continued our little discussion and disturbed the whole class.

But the thing is, I am not that affected with Lenny after seeing that video, thinking it would be awkward seeing him now, and the boys at the workshop.

“Left in the middle of class.”

“What? Why?” His expression showed concern, the same expression I was waiting for John, and not some deep anger his eyes were showing. There was fire in it, and maybe deep inside he wanted to ball his fist up but couldn’t because he is in front of class.

“My friends and I were kind of having our own little discussion at the back and he got angry, like totally mad, and I couldn’t take it anymore so I decided to leave.”

“Are you the only one who left?”

“No idea. I’m the first one though, not sure if anyone else left after me.”

“What discussion?” And I was hoping he wouldn’t ask this.

“Um… something,” I mumbled lowly.

“Tell me.” Pushing his chair behind, he stood up and walked over at the front of his desk, arms folded in chest, and legs crossed, posing like a model with that smirk.

Well… remember the time when I said that Lenny doesn’t affect me after watching that video? A few minutes back? Yeah, well I didn’t expect him to pose like that, and the visuals in my head started playing the video, and I’m sweating, my throat is dry, the room is heating up, and Lenny isn’t helping at all.

Panicking, I stood up from the leather couch that was situated on the left side of the room, pacing back and forth, and thinking hard if I should tell him what was going on. Now the awkward is finally settling in.

Tapping his foot on the floor, raising up his eyebrows, and his smirking made me stutter.“Um… well… so you see…” He then asked me to sit down and he’ll listen whatever that is.

“Okay.” I sighed, ”so I saw my friends at our usual table and they were watching some video on Caitlin’s iPad, and when I asked, Tiffany said that they were watching a….” I stopped, omg, how will I say this?

He nudged me to continue my story, and so I did, my palms were starting to sweat from nervousness.

“They were watching a Justice Crew video, it was one of your live performances, and you guys were dancing to Mr. Boombastic, and so they showed me it and we watched it the whole time until the bell rang and some of us went to English class and it was so awkward seeing him as a teacher, and imagining things on our head. Hanna was even humming the song, and leaving out comments, and…” I blurted out so fast I needed some water or air to regain my energy.

Lenny being silent after hearing the whole story made me so scary. “This is the time you should say something?” I uttered lowly to a high pitched one when I reached the last word.

And he didn’t say anything, instead his facial expression became serious I thought he was going to eat me alive and then maybe he would probably tease me and take off his coat and then dance like in the video. Wait what. No Lenny, don’t do that! I kept saying on my mind like he could read it and I have no idea how my face looks like right now but then he…

He laughed. Out loud. He couldn’t stop laughing. His laugh was contagious, and ended up laughing with him at how shallow my story was.

“You gained new fans.” I nodded, assuring him that it was one of the best outcomes from it.

“We did.” He laughed again.

“But please don’t dance that in gym if you don’t want massive girls fainting.” I laughed and he nodded like a cute little boy. Omg.

“So wait, why did you leave the class? I don’t get it.”

“Amy and I have this thing, when we look at each other, we clicked and we both couldn’t contain our laughter of what had just happened, so I look away, and as I was wandering around, I saw him staring at me angrily. It felt like he was blaming me for the interruption in his class.”

“I’m sure he didn’t mean it that way. I know John, he’s my twin after all.”

“Then can you tell me, did I do anything wrong? You told me before it was just his time of the month, but it has been weeks, months, and he’s different. Not the John I know.” I blurted out accidentally. I wasn’t planning on asking him, and seeing his shocked face, I’m pretty sure he can’t think of anything to say right now.

“Never mind. Don’t worry about it.” I uttered and changed the subject.

We enjoyed talking about different things which then led to dance and music. I mentioned my sister who was making music and he said he can teach her a thing or two, in mixing music. Apparently, he also enjoyed those things. I stayed in his office till the bell rang, luckily for me, he didn’t have class, else I wouldn’t know where to hide.

As I was about to head out to my next class, the door opened, and he was standing there, having the same expression of hurt, anger, and now even jealousy. His fist was balled up to his sides, gazing back and forth between Lenny and I.

“John, what can I do for you?” Lenny asked, but he didn’t answer, instead focused on me. I felt I was intruding.

“Lenny, thanks for everything.” I uttered, and he smiled. John was seriously mad right now. Can you just tell me what I did, and probably I could make it up to you?

“Sure, no problem. You’re welcome here anytime.”

“Great! Thanks. Don’t forget my tips!” I smiled, and he did too.

“Promise I will keep an eye for that!”

 “I’m going to class now. Bye Lenny.” I waved at him, as soon as I gathered my things.

John walked inside the room, as I went to the opposite way, about to open the door and leave. At the back of my head, I could feel him gazing at me, waiting for me to talk for him, and acknowledge his presence, the same way, I was waiting for him to stop me, tell me something, anything. I wanted to know what I did wrong for him to treat me this way, but he didn’t. A tear fell on my cheek, I had to leave now.

“Bye Mr. Pearce.”