So She Dances (by nightowl1216)

Chapter 4: Potential for Disaster

I felt like I was drowning and nobody could see it. Being the new girl was bad enough, but standing in the cafeteria, frozen, unsure of where I was supposed to sit, was worse.

Yesterday I sat with Marley only because I didn't want to look like a total loner, but I hated her friends and didn't want to be associated with her. I had to find a new place to sit, but everywhere I looked, cliques had already been made. Groups had already been established. I didn't want to be the one to break them up.

"Hey, do you want to sit with us?" I recognized Chloe's voice instantly.

I whirled around and gripped my tray tightly. I just wanted to hug this girl. I shrugged nonchalantly. "Sure."

I let out a sigh of relief as I walked alongside Chloe from the buffet line to her table. The number of people there made my heart quicken slightly, but at least I had a place to sit.

I pulled a chair away from another table and squished in between Chloe and Hannah. We were shoulder to shoulder. There was barely any room for me to put my backpack down below my feet.

The table was busy with chatter and laughter, and I found myself listening to everyone's stories in silence. I didn't really belong here... did I? I couldn't explain why, but I just didn't belong. They were swapping tales of their day, and besides Chloe, I didn't really have anyone to converse with.

I didn't expect to make friends overnight, but it still kind of stung. For a brief, horrid moment, I considered switching tables to sit with Marley. I shook it off. No way was I sitting with Marley. Ever.

I stared down at my plate of food and poked the broccoli with my fork. I wish this was steamed...

"Nick, I'm not doing that!"

My heart stopped at the sound of Jesse's voice, growing louder with each word he said.

He put his tray down on the table and pulled up a seat next to Nick and Ryan.

"Come on, you could totally fit the whole apple in your mouth."

He glared at Nick. "Not happening."

Any power I had to speak was now gone. I wanted to say something. Anything! But I couldn't.

So I just played with my food some more.

Snap out of it, Isabelle! Boys were beyond stupid and not worth my time. All they did was break hearts and give you scars that would never heal.

Literally.

What was it about this boy that made me go crazy? I didn't know him. Not one bit! Besides, there were tons of other attractive boys at the school. Why didn't my heart patter faster than lightning when I looked at them? Why was it just Jesse? This type of thing had never happened to me before and it scared me.

It sounded so cheesy and I was ashamed to even think it, but it was almost like we had a connection. Not a connection like we were soulmates. Nothing weird like that. But it was almost like the second he looked into my eyes, he saw through me. He saw my pain and struggles. He saw something he couldn't figure out or understand, but he wasn't judging. People say eyes are the window to the soul. He somehow unlocked it and got a glimpse into my life, whereas everybody else was oblivious and left that window closed.

Maybe that was it. He saw through me, making me involuntarily vulnerable. Not to mention he was hot.

This made my decision clear; I needed to close the window.

If I wanted to keep my sanity and work towards Julliard, I needed to close the window so he couldn't see what I was thinking or feeling. I needed to break the connection. Then, I wouldn't have anything to worry about but my dancing.