Did You Forget?

So close yet so far

Violetta's POV
I never imagined starting the day by eyes catching the sight of Leon shirtless.
I had walked into the dance studio, ready to start choreographing something for the second half of our assignment. Leon was already there stretching, his bare back exposed. Before I could control myself, I squealed loudly, sounding like an inexperienced six year old.
He turned to face me.
Let's just say that his face definitely was not the only thing that had matured over the years.
"Oh hey" he said, grabbing a shirt and pulling it over his face.
Hey? HEY?
How was he standing there so calm while my face resembled an overly ripe tomato.
He chuckled slightly, sensing my discomfort.
"Do you want to stretch first?"
"Um..n..no I good. I'm warm enough" I stammered quickly.
He walked to the middle and faced the mirror.
"I was thinking that we could pas de bourrée to opposite sides, then you could do a jete while I do a somersault?" He asked, while demonstrating a bunch of complicated moves.
I blinked at him blankly.
"I have no idea what you just said..."
He grinned and moved closer, grabbing my hand.
"I'll show you"
-----------------------------
After a whole hour of practicing, I just about managed to figure everything out. Turns out that a 'pas de chat' (step of the cat) is not a weird feline like pose but is instead a rather graceful jump like thing. Huh...I guess I've been doing that one wrong for the last couple of years. We decided to try a lift that Leon had seen done on TV. Apparently it got the pair a standing ovation but personally I think he just wants to show off how strong he is. He stepped closer to me and put his hands on my waist. I instantly stiffened, unprepared for the sudden contact.
"Relax" he said, his face dangerously close. His breath felt hot against my neck as he gradually moved behind me and lifted me up. Still flustered, I didn't realize what was happening and found myself staring down at the ground. Now, if there's anything I'm afraid of it's heights. When he said 'lift' I assumed it would be an amateur one that only went off a tiny bit off the ground. I did not expect to be soaring over his head. I let out a tiny scream of fright and he put me back down gently.
"What's wrong"
"I'm scared of heights. Really scared of heights"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Why didn't you say anything when I suggested the lift?"
"I was um...distracted?" I said, which was partially true.
He had an amused twinkle in his eye but said nothing about it.
"I'm not going to let you fall. Do you trust me?"
I trust him more than he knows. More than he'll ever know.

Flashback - 3rd person POV
8years ago...
9yr old Violetta Castillo stared up at the tree looming in front of her.
"Go on then. You're the one that chose dare." Brandon said, smirking at the fear on the young girl's face.
She gulped. Everyone told her that it was safer to choose dare in a game or truth or dare but nobody mentioned that it would lead to her fact her biggest fear.
"Guys, she's not going to do it. Let's just go back." Said a girl from the group.
They all began to walk away annoyed. "She's such a coward"
"That tree isn't even that big"
"I managed to climb it when I was 7"
Violetta stayed behind, her face red. She wasn't going to let them think that about her. Taking a deep breath, she placed her hands on the rough bark and found a ledge for her foot. She started to make her way up.
"Don't look down. Don't look" She repeated under her breath.
Unable to control herself, she looked down and froze.
"Vilu? Vilu, what are you doing?" A voice said
Turning her head slightly, she saw her best friend looking at her incredulously.
She stared shaking with fear, tears streaming down. Clinging to the bark, she noticed that a crowd had gathered. 
"Vilu, just let go and push yourself back. It's not a big fall, I'll catch you"
He was right. It wasn't a big fall at all, in fact she was only about one and a half meters above the ground. But she just couldn't persuade herself to let go.
"Vilu, I promise I'll catch you." Leon said soothingly, moving closer to the tree.
"I...I can't"
"Vilu...trust me"
He locked eyes with her and she found herself releasing the bark. Pushing her body back, she fell into Leon's arms. Admittedly, the fall lasted a second but to her, the world was spinning in slow motion. Jumping out of his arms she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him.
"You caught me" she said between sobs, the shock of the situation still in her mind.
A quiet laugh was heard.
"You weren't even up that high. Gosh, Violetta, you're such a scaredy-cat."
A boy said, his friends sniggering behind him.
Leon glared at him and walked towards him.
"Don't. Call. Her. That"
He towered a few inches above the boy, who was clearly intimidated. He and his friends walked off uncomfortably and Leon turned to face me.
"Are you okay"
I nodded and hugged him again, burying my face in his chest.

(End of flashback)

I nodded slowly and moved back towards him. Placing his hands around my waist once more, he slowly lifted me up again and guided me through the movements.
After a few tries we finally managed to get it. 
I laughed as he put me down.
"We did it. We actually did it!" I exclaimed
He laughed at my excitement and I suddenly hugged him.  Realizing what I was doing, I pulled away quickly.
"Sorry" I said quickly
"It's fine"
We were still standing pretty close. So close that I could actually count the eyelashes on his eyes. His eyes found mine and out of a sudden, he started leaning in. Forgetting about everything that had happened, I copied and leaned in towards him. His lips were a few centimeters away from mine when everything came crashing down on me and I stopped myself from going any further. He's Gery's boyfriend. Not mine.
Quickly pulling away I backed away from him.
"I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me. I didn't mean to..." Leon said, a shocked expression on his face as he realized what had just happened.
I grabbed my bag and rushed out before he could finish.
Tears streamed down my face as I walked down the hallway. I wanted to kiss him, of course I did. But no matter what I feel for Leon, Gery is my friend. I can't do this to her. I can't hurt her.

Leon's POV
I stood there, watching Violetta run away. I don't know what came over me. All I could think about was wanting to kiss her and I don't even know why. There's just something about her. Something that's so....familiar?
I just hope this isn't going to ruin things between us or between Gery and I.

Hope you liked it. I've realized how slow stuff is progressing in this book so hopefully I'll actually be able to move the plot along now. Thanks for reading xx