.:*The One Who Protects His Magic*:. || A Bruno Mars Fanfiction

:: 37 ::

Backstage [Dance Studio]
Sportpaleis Antwerp [Antwerp, Belgium.]
March, 29 2017. 4:25 P.M.

ELISE

I slipped my hands within the dampness of my hair and yanked out the two hair pins that kept my braided hair in place. Watching my long hair fall back in place, I jammed to the beat of Bow Wow and Omarion's "Hey Baby (Jump Off)" that resonated in my ears. The music took me to a place of fulfillment as my body moved to the beat, allowing the lyrics to take me to a place far away.

You scared? / Come on / You scared / Come on / You scared? / Jump off, jump off, jump off, jump off

Dancing was freedom to me, to become an opening flower or a bird aloft. To feel the movement was new breath for my body and nourishment for a soul so tired from real world problems. Most people would relax before their work shift, but the extra energy that would generate from my session would do my body good.

You been checkin us all night / A bit confused / About who you gonna leave with / Well, let me help you / If you come through / You gotta do two

This song was one of my favorite parts from the song and it cued me to execute one of my best moves, which was the shuffle, one of the basic dances taught in hip hop. As I glided across the dance floor on one foot, I spun around on the tip of my toe, nailing a perfect pirouette.

You been checkin us all night / A bit confused / About who you gonna leave with / Well, let me help you / If you come through / You gotta do two

After the song entered the chorus, my mind drifted to what Bruno and I discussed in his room. Bruno promised me that he would tell about the other thing that was bothering him and I want to believe him, but then again, I feel that I can't fully trust him if he's holding out this long to tell me. I told him that I loved him and that's true, but I won't be a fool for him, either. He needs to talk to me about this the minute we get settled and head out for the night.

Loud knocking on the door ceased my inner ramblings and I growled under my breath from the less than pleasant noise from the other side. "Come in!" I yelled, wanted the excessive banging to stop. The door slowly opened and I smiled when Dre entered the room.

"I come in peace, Elise," He answered as he ambled inside the room, "Don't hurt me now. Nice dancing, by the way."

"Oh, what's up, Dre?" I paused my mp4 player and took a seat where my duffle bag resided. As I come down from my intense session, I rummaged through my bag to make sure that all of my belongings were there. "I think that's everything. . ."

"Elise, you've been doing a wonderful job lately and I'm glad that you're apart of our team," He began and while I appreciated the kind assessment, I wasn't prepared for what Dre had really came in the room for, "But there are some things that are coming to my attention that needs to be addressed."

"Things?" The word drawled off my tongue and I furrowed a brow at him from the uneasiness I was receiving. Dre was not looking to have any small talk with me for the moment, "What kind of things?"

"Well," This was not easy for Dre to do, but he couldn't necessary beat around the bush about the subject, either. "Larissa had mentioned to me that you and Bruno have some kind of intimate relationship going on. I need to know if this information is true or not."

"Umm," For the first time in a while, words failed me and even I couldn't believe at how speechless I was. "Why are you asking me this?"

"At the moment, other members of the team are starting to become suspicious of your behavior and it doesn't help that Larissa claimed that she saw the two of you kissing yesterday before the show was scheduled to start. If the claims are not true, then I need to put a stop to these rumors before they spread," Dre came up to me and sat down, his eyes solemn with concern. "Elise, is it true or not?"