Tomorrow Never Dies

Chapter 7 - "We're not naked, just topless"

I was snuggled into Michael's side when my phone went off. I shifted my weight to check it.
Kiriii: Lorna says she wants to meet with you and G, get back to the studio asap
I swore and got up.

"Michael, Lorna wants to meet with me and Georgina," I said softly, running my hand through my hair. "Come with me or I might cry." He looked at me sadly.

"Of course I'll come with you," he said, taking me into a hug quickly. He grabbed my hand and we walked back to the studio. He rubbed his thumb on the back of my hand the whole way there, calming me down immensely. We arrived, and I knocked on the door of Lorna's office.

"Come in," she called, and I looked at Michael, panic flooding my eyes, as I walked in without him. "Flora!" Lorna was an older woman in the dance community, about forty, and she was always immaculately presented. Her hair was severely scraped back and her makeup was done very professionally.

"Miss Lorna," I said, trying to smile brightly. "I understand you wanted to meet with me?" Out of the corner of my eye I saw Georgina sat in one of the chairs at Lorna's desk, a smug look plastered over her face.

"Yes," she said simply. "Sit down." As I took a seat, she looked between me and Georgina and shook her head. "Miss Lighthawk, why do you not want to work with Miss Beecham?"

"I feel like she was deliberately trying to hurt me in today's rehearsal. She pushed me over, and pinched me hard enough to leave a bruise as we were duetting."

"You're accusing her of abuse, Flora. This is a big deal, it could get her thrown off the course." I nodded.

"I don't wish for her to lose this opportunity, she's an incredible dancer. I just don't particularly want to work with someone who injures me intentionally." Lorna nodded.

"Please go and sit outside, Flora." I stood up and walked out, into Michael's arms, and suddenly I couldn't breathe.

"Flora, look at me," Michael said, but his words were quiet and didn't affect me. "Please breathe." I shook my head.

"Can't," I gasped, tears pouring down my cheeks. I looked into his eyes, my mouth open, but no air going into my lungs. I tried to say "I can't breathe," but no noise came out of my mouth. I grabbed his arm as my legs became weak beneath me, and he guided me to a seat. I tried to ignore the part of my brain telling me I was going to die, and remember what my therapist had told me five years before. She'd told me to find something square, and breathe as I looked along the edges. I looked at the door frame, and tried desperately to breathe in and out, and finally my breath returned.

"Flora what was that?" Michael sounded terrified.

"Panic attack," I muttered. "I've not had one in so long."

"It's going to be okay," he murmured, and I was reassured by his words. He didn't say it's okay, or I'm here, or anything that other people said. He told me it was going to be okay, not necessarily now, but at some point. I looked into his eyes and kissed him briefly. I wiped my eyes and gathered myself, and soon Lorna called me back in. Georgina left, and Lorna shook my head.

"Can I see this bruise that Georgina gave you?" I nodded.

"It's on my side," I pulled my leotard down under my tshirt and pulled the top up slightly so the bruise was visible but I was still decent.

"That's bad," Lorna said. "She pinched you and gave you that?"

"When she was liftimg me in Proud Mary," I told her.

"I have had previous complaints of Georgina harrassing or bullying other dancers, but never to this extent. I'll remove her from the dance and suspend her for a while. Can you dance with..." she paused, flicking through a list of dancers. "Lucy Hughes?" I nodded. Lucy was lovely, she was a great person to be backstage with. "Wonderful. You can go, send Georgina in when you leave."

"Thank you Miss Lorna," I curtseyed, as she expected when we were leaving her, and walked out. "Georgina, you can go back in." I didn't meet her eye, instead going straight to hold Michael's hand, who had been sat in a corner on his phone. He took my hand and he walked me back to my dorm.

"Flora," he said quietly as I stood in my door frame. "I've been thinking."

"That's dangerous," I laughed weakly.

"Shh," he smiled. "I was wondering, will you be my girlfriend?" I looked at him, a small smile on his face and a hopeful look in his eyes, and all my worries seemed to dissipate.

"Fuck yes," I whispered, and he kissed me. We moved into the dorm room, he closed the door behind us, and suddenly I was on my bed, our lips still together. We broke apart momentarily so I could get his top over his head, and he did the same for me. His chest was now bare, but I was still wearing my leotard. He pulled the straps over my shoulders and begain kissing down my body, but he stopped when he reached the bruise on my side.

"I can't believe she did that to you," he whispered. "How cruel do you have to be to want to hurt someone you're dancing with?"

"I don't know," my voice cracked.

"She'll just be jealous of how amazing you are," Michael said quickly. "Trust me babe." I nodded.

"You've ruined the mood now, Clifford," I laughed. "Damn you!" He smiled, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. Suddenly, the door opened and Grace walked in, hand in hand with Ashton.

"They are naked!" Grace yelled. "Get a room!"

"We're in one!" I pointed out. "And we're not naked, just topless."

"And that makes it better?" She hit me with a pillow.

"Oh, it is on," I said, pulling on my top, and suddenly the four of us were locked in the most competitive pillow fight I'd ever taken part in.

*****
i have had a shit evening so i wrote this to make me feel better
its great having homophobic relatives when youre pretty damn gay :))))
anyway Fallon2000 was being cute and trying to help (but i was in the pit of hell so i was determined to be mopey for the night) so go read high hopes its well good
καληνυχτα
^thats goodnight in greek