Tarantism

5

Sang-

This guy can dance. I don't know how I didn't know about him already. Especially if he's been competing. He's also good with kids. I hold in the sigh that so desperately wants to escape. He's gorgeous and is good with kids. Why. My life. Ugh. I must have zoned out staring at him because now all the kids are watching me, and he has a knowing smirk on his face. I snap out of it as a few girls giggle. Oh yes laugh now. Wait til you have a hot as sin man standing in front of you that you can't touch. Yea...

"Ok are we ready?"

"Yep just waiting on your daydream to be over." He chuckles and looks to the guy he introduced as Luke. "She's just as bad as you dude."

Luke grins and looks at me. "That's ok cupcake we can daydream together anytime. Don't let him pick on you."

I shake my head while trying to hide my smile. "Let's go over it one more time from the top before the kids leave. I think we've got it."

The kids get to their spots and perform flawlessly. I'm so proud of them. They get dealt such crap in life but they are the best kids. I turn my head to hide my tear filled eyes. Victor catches my eye in the mirror and silently asks if I'm ok. I give him a shaky smile and wipe my eyes. I have to me strong for these kids. Once I'm composed I spin around to find Gabe sitting with the kids talking.

"Ok guys sessions over for the day. You guys were perfect. Your families are going to be so proud. I know I am. Can you all say thank you to Gabe for helping out today?"

The tiny chorus of "Thank you" came instantly. Gabe grins and looks genuinely happy to be here. His deep voice vibrates through me. "You are very welcome squirts. I'll be here a while so you'll be seeing me a lot."

Eli comes out of his office and watches. He generally has to take at least one of two of the kids home. "Ok who needs a ride? It looks like Eli is ready to get out of here." Three little hands shoot up as Eli motions with his hands to the kids for them to follow. The others scramble to get their stuff to go meet their parents. Once the studio is empty of all the kids I glance up. I had forgotten the guys were all still here.

"You guys can go on if you want. I have to sweep the studio and close up. It was nice meeting you all." As I turned to walk to the closet, Gabe's voice stopped me. "Trouble we can help that way it's done faster, and we can all get out of here. I'm starving."

As I'm shaking my head ready to refuse, Luke already has the broom and is cleaning the floors. I can already tell these guys are going to be a handful if they stick around.

"Hey Trouble. What are your dinner plans tonight?" This gets the other guys attention as they all turn to look at me. "I have a date with some Ramen and Netflix." I don't look at them as I go about cleaning. I don't have a lot of money working here so I live relatively cheap.

"We're gonna order pizza. What do you say to coming with us? It'll be fun. Save the Ramen for tomorrow. And I've got Netflix."

"Oh no. I don't want to intrude you guys have fun."

"Come on Cupcake. We don't want you eating alone." Luke says with a slight puppy dog pout. Dagummit I can't say no when he looks like that. Ugh.

"Ok I guess but I need to be home at a decent time. I have to be up to open this place in the morning."

The guys all move toward the doors to leave. Gabe puts his hand on the middle of my back and I flinch not catching myself in time. A look crosses his face but he masks his features just as quick. He drops his hand and gestures for me to go ahead. I grab my duffle and follow after others. Gabe comes through the doors as I pull out the key and lock up. Victor is leaning against a new sparkling gray BMW. I must have gone slack jawed because the guys just chuckle and hop in. This car is worth more than everything I own. I climb in the back next to Luke and keep my hands clasped in my lap. I don't want to touch more than I have to. We start to drive into the more upper class part of Charleston. I don't really come into this part of town much as I don't have a need. Victor and Kota are quietly talking in the front. Gabe is humming next to me and I feel Luke playing with a strand of my hair. I'm glad their comfortable.

"So where exactly are we going?"

Kota turns in his seat to look at me. "We all live in the same apartment complex. We actually moved in today. We came with Gabe while the others finished moving." That statement gives me pause. Others? There's more.

"How many of there are you?"

"9. We own a floor of the apartment complex. There are 5 apartments on our floor. Owen wanted to make it more secure so we just bought them all."

"Oh...alright then." Victor catches my eye in the rearview mirror and gives me a small smile. "They are loud and protective but great friends. You'll be fine. You'll like them." He says as if sensing my unease. We pull up outside a building and get out as a valet comes for Victor's keys. The guys move as one around me into the building and to the elevators. They press the 18th floor and up we go. When we get off the elevator I can hear commotion coming from one of the rooms. Lots of yelling and a few F bombs. I tense at the voice. It's almost like a growl. Whoever that belongs to is not happy. The guys are still hearding me towards the open door. I'm starting to rethink my decision to come here. As we breach the doorway, I see a man who can only be described as a giant standing with his arms crossed listening and watching the other man, who is equally as large only he looks a lot scarier, rant and scream about something I can't quite make out with how loud and growly he is. The scary looking guy spots Gabe and directs that anger at him.

"Where the fuck have you all been? Does anyone answer their fucking phones anymore? Why the hell do we have them if you don't answer."

I think these are all rhetorical questions as none of the guys are answering him. They are all just standing there with their hands in their pockets as if this is completely normal. I'm hiding behind Gabe as I feel the air shift behind me.

"Well what do we have here? Come out here Pookie don't hide. Mr. Grumpy over there won't hurt you he's more bark than bite."

The yelling stops as I step out from my hiding spot. I hear an intake of air but I don't dare look up. All eyes are on me now. Great.