Winter Hearts

Making Friends with Blurred Lines

"Why do you say that?" N asked, curious.

"Well, how heartless is she to be tempted just because her guy was thoughtless? I mean, that's his flaw, but she could confront him about it instead of turning to the next guy. Her flaw is in letting someone else into the picture. If she didn't like him in the first place she should have left long ago. Or if she now wants something better, she should cut it off before cheating. She's worse than he is, to be honest. I mean, he was just lazy or thoughtless. She's selfish in a worse way."

N and Ravi looked at each other, surprised that they had to agree with her observation.

"Even if the bad guy gets her, she will ruin him too." Siana said. "I mean, that's what I think."

"You mean in the end she's the temptress?" Ravi asked.

"She's a femme fatale disguised as a sweet little thing," murmured N.

"So maybe it really is her voice - since she is the one doing the seducing?" Ravi asked.

"It makes better sense that way," N said, looking pleased. Siana smiled at him, happy that she had taken a chance by saying something. As they continued with the steps, all the various gestures and actions began to make sense, and the intentions behind each move became clear. It was as if everything that was hanging up in the air began to fall clearly into place.

They ended the session after a couple of hours, having gotten most of the choreography down.

Although N had obviously put in some risqué moves involving some touching and grabbing, their rehearsal was fairly dry, just about learning steps. She knew that after this would be the working on details, the capturing of a vibe or a feeling - and endless, monotonous repetition.

She couldn't wait.

Siana bent down to get her sweater and put it on. She realised that for a good part of the time she had spent here, she had kept her mind off Leo, although there was that lingering feeling that felt like a tightening in her gut that never went away.

She saw N and Ravi were standing close together by the door leading back into the lift lobby, talking quietly to each other. She turned off the speakers, gathered her phone and keys and walked up to them. As she approached, N looked her in the eyes, still speaking to Ravi. She smiled, meaning to usher them out so she could lock up.

"Can we go get a drink?" N asked. She found it a little worrisome that he wasn't really smiling back.

Ravi shook his head. "I'm going to go to the studio, you go on without me."

N looked at Siana, impassively waiting for her response.

"Sure," she said. She waited for them to go up the stairs, turning off the lights and locking up.

At the lobby, Ravi disappeared up the stairs after a quick goodbye.

Siana zipped up her jacket, feeling a little sticky under her leotard and sweater. N was still just in his tank top, heading towards the door with her.

"Aren't you cold?" she asked.

"I have a hot body," he smiled, watching her amusedly as she rolled her eyes at him.

"No, I really do. You can ask the boys," he said, pulling on his cardigan and folding up his jacket over one arm as he crossed both arms in front of his chest. N looked at her seriously, seeming to wait for a different reaction.

"I like how you don't ask me how the boys would know that."

Siana looked surprised, then laughed.