Love is Never Blind

Chapter Ten

"Do you have the steps memorized?" Naomi asks avoiding his gaze. She feels disgusted by him, the mere sight of him reminding her of what she went through all those years ago when her trust was stabbed at. He nods at her question.

"Did you practice with the tips and advice I gave you l-last night?" Somehow, the words 'last' and 'night' are harder for her to say together now.

Theo nods trying his best to make her look him in the eye. "Naomi," he says caressing her cheek softly. "Look at me. I need you to know that I'm sorry for whatever happened—"

"We're on," she says firmly cutting him off. 

She's furious at him, and she has the right to be. She placed herself in his arms the night before, hoping that he would make her feel better. She considered him a friend, and he did what? He took advantage of her vulnerability.

"Naomi," he says softly gazing into her chocolate eyes; they look so affronted. "I'm sorry for what I did last night. I really am, and I need you to know that I stopped because I can't do to you what I've done to other women. So please, stop reminiscing over what happened yesterday. Don't throw your dreams away because of something I did."

His words must've had some effect on her because she takes a deep breath and grabs his hand. "Don't think I'm doing this because I trust you," she whispers angrily as they present themselves in front of the judges. 

They bow and form the commencing position, proceeding onto the routine Theo learned the night before. In the end, they finish big with him dipping her down, him remembering everything she told him to do and not to do for that step. 

Time stops when he looks into her eyes. Those eyes looking so and free and unburdened, like there's nothing in this world that can stop her from being who she really is...a dancer. So this is what she feels like when she dances. 

"Bravo!" yells one of the judges. "Bravo! That was so beautiful! I've never seen such a simple routine done so marvelously!" The judge stares at Naomi for a while, analyzing and scrutinizing her closely. "My, oh my!" the judge says with a clap. "So this is the famous blind dancer. It's a pleasure to finally meet you," he says holding his hand out for Naomi to shake. She's completely oblivious as to what's going on, and jolts when Levi takes hold of her hand and places it in the judge's.

"Same here sir," she says with a grin on her face. "It's been a dream of mine since I was a teenager to compete in this competition. I'm lucky I got a chance to at least audition."

"No, no, no," the judge says with a chuckle. "It's me who's lucky. I've heard about you from all the dancers that I've taught. It's amazing that I've actually gotten the chance to meet you." He looks over at the judge who was previously seated next to him. "Monica!" he thunders. "I want this brilliant young lady in the competition."

Theo looks over at Naomi. Her eyes are gleaming with passion and joy, and her teeth are flashing white, contrasting with the brilliant red lip gloss Cassandra helped her apply. 

Those lips.

So freaking soft and beautiful.

They tasted like Mocha Cappuccino the night before.

What do they taste like now?

He looks away in an attempt to hide his intentions. Control,  he says to himself. He knows his libido is high because of the stawberries he had earlier that morning with his pancakes. Damn those freaking strawberries.

Naomi takes no notice of him, as she is busy basking in the compliments given by the judge. She swears, if there's any day in her life where she's smiled the most, it's this one. Her hopes and dreams all shatter when she hears what he says next.

"She'll be great publicity," he says. "I mean, I don't think the world's ever seen a blind girl dancing so well." Her eyes grow wide as she hears that statement and tears sting her eyes, threatening to fall out any second. 

"I'll be back," she says in an affronted voice. Theo takes notice of this and follows behind her as she walks backstage towards the dressing rooms.

"Naomi," he calls after her. "Naomi! What's wrong?!" he asks louder.

"Not now Theodore," she says facing her back to him. "I don't have time to fight with you. I want to be alone."

"No you don't," he retorts. "I know you don't want to be alone Naomi, and I know why you're so offended. You hate what he said, right? How you were just publicity for the competition and the show?"

"Isn't that what I've always been?" she asks between sobs. "A use and throw item? You need me when you do and when you're done with me, you throw me away? Is that what I'm like to everyone?"

Without another thought, he grabs her wrist and yanks her towards him. "Listen to me," he says tangling his hand in her hair. "As a friend, I'm telling you right now that you are not useless. Do you hear me? You are not useless."

"You're just saying that," she counters. "You don't know what it's like to be—"

"Blind?" he asks cutting her off. "Yeah? You think I don't know what it's like to be blind? Well, you guessed wrong Hanji."

What's he doing?

Should he tell her about who he really is?

...

No, he can't tell her. 

Not now at least.

She stares in his direction, confused by what he's implying to. "What are you trying to say?" she asks irritatedly. 

"What I'm trying to say is that I may not be physically blind, but I'm blind when it comes to a lot of things. I don't know who I'm hurting and when I'm hurting them. I've been trying my best to realize when I'm hurting people, which is why I stopped myself last night. With all those other girls I was with five years ago, I left them when I was done with them. I couldn't afford doing that to you."

He says it. "I couldn't afford breaking you because believe it or not, I need a friend. I need someone other than myself to look after. I need someone to make me feel like I'm not—"

"Selfish," she finishes for him. "I know what you feel like, and I'm sorry. I was an idiot last night too, so quit blaming yourself." She smiles. Somehow, the words 'last' and 'night' don't sound as uncomfortable together as they did earlier that day. "Cassandra told you what happened all those years ago, right? I just got so freaking mad when you left. I thought that..."

"You don't need to continue," he says pulling her in for a hug. "I know what your trying to say." He runs his fingers through her greasy chocolate hair and she nuzzles her face into his shoulder. "Do you want to maybe go get a coffee?" he asks looking at her face.

She giggles lifting her head off him. "Yeah," she replies. "But that's not all I want from you." She encases his hand in hers. "I want to be friends again. I want stuff to go back to how they were before last night. Can we do that?"

He lets out a rare smile. "Yeah, sure." He takes her hand and guides her out of the building. Friends, he says to himself. Finally, we can go back to being that. 

Deep down, he and Naomi both know that things are never going to revert back to how they were before last night.