Broken Charms

Torn In Paris: Part Three

I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.

Mother Teresa  

---Astrid---

“Don’t worry about him. He was probably bluffing.” Anne said decisively, as she helped pick something to wear for the club.

“But what if he is right? What if they fired me after that? Imagine what that would mean for the reputation of the academy. Let alone, think of Harry. I don’t want to destroy his career.” I said, lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Throughout the show all that I could think of was how to tell him that we should stay away from each other without hurting his feelings. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t realize how soon the show ended and everyone was preparing to go the hotel, until Harry came from behind me and kissed my neck. I was about to tell him then but when I looked into his eyes I couldn’t bring myself to do that. 

“Oh! What am I going to do?” I said desperately to Anne.

“Wear this dress and forget about Paul. He is an idiot, who believes that he can break you and Harry apart. Forget about him. Go party hard and have the time of your life with Harry. You deserve it. You love him so much.” She said reassuringly. I smiled and looked at the dress she had thrown at me. It was a long, orange dress with a bare back. No, there was no way I would wear that.

“I can’t possibly wear that. What about my tattoo?” I said complaining. I had a tattoo that covered my entire back from my neck to my locker back. A pair of wings.  I had done it on my eighteenth birthday, as a tribute to my brother who always reminded me to spread my wings and fly. But it was kind of a secret. No one knew about that except Anne of course, who had held my hand as I nearly screamed because of the pain that day. I wanted to remain that way. Eventually Harry would see it. That thought made me blush. But I wasn’t ready to show it to everyone else.

“It is going to be so dark in the club that no one would notice.” she said. She wore a little black dress and made her look irresistible. It curved around her body perfectly.

“What do you think about that?” she said.

“It’s great. It suits you.”

“Thank you. Niall gave it to me as present on our one-month anniversary. Along with these shoes.” She pointed to her shoes.

“Well, he has a great taste.” I said surprised of how well Niall knew Anne and her style of clothes.

“Come on now. Go put it on, we don’t have all night. John and the other dancers are already in the club but the boys would be a little late since they are stuck in traffic.” She said encouragingly.

The club was amazing, filled with people dancing around. I was already intoxicated by the atmosphere. When we went to where the other dancers were sitting, John had Elena sitting on his lap. When he saw me, he immediately rose to his feet and brought me a shot.  We did the shot together and before I could even feel the fire at my throat he pulled me to the dance floor. The song that started playing right then, was one of our favorites. I had my back pressed to his front as it echoed through the speakers. John’s hands were at my hips as we danced together, intoxicated by the atmosphere. He turned me to face him and we really started dancing then. He took my hand and he pressed his other hand to my waist. I could feel his touch burning my naked skin as he led me to a passionate, tango-like dance that only John could do in such crowded space. As we danced, the only thing I could think of was that I was finally dancing. All this time watching the others dance every night had taken its toll on me. I had regretted my decision to not dance at the tour. But now I finally was in the arms of my partner and we were dancing exactly like we danced in London and at the academy, like we had never stopped dancing together. He knew my body and I responded to his movements exactly as he wanted me to. We had a connection. We didn’t need to speak to know what he was going to do next. I just knew him and he just knew me. The song ended with John lifting me to his arms and then immediately putting me down, holding me only by my waist as I fell backwards, extending my arms as the last note of the song was being played.