Sway with Me

Chapter Fifteen: Don't Wanna Be Torn

Cristiano frowned as he looked over at Isabelle, since the last live show the red head; she had been a little off with him and not as friendly as she had been.

The Portuguese waited until the camera crew left before he approached Isabelle, who hadn’t noticed that he was trying to understand her sudden coldness.

“Isa, is everything okay?” Cristiano asked making the red head pause as she realised how close he was to her, she licked her lips nervously before she turned to face him; she knew that she had to put an end to this, she couldn't make things worse between him and Irina.

“Everything’s fine,” the red head said as she tried to ignore the look that he gave her, they bother knew that it was a lie and Cristiano wasn’t going to drop this.

The Portuguese stared at her for another moment before Isabelle sighed and shook her head.

“We can’t do this Cristiano, you have a girlfriend, how do you think Irina would feel if she knew that you were attempting to start something with me while she is still your girlfriend,” Isabelle said something in her voice making Cristiano look at her worried.

He had a horrible feeling where this was going and after all the work he had put into getting a first kiss from her, he wasn’t about to let her slip away now.

“Isa, I want this to work… I want you,” Cristiano said as he cupped her face, the red head stared up into his brown eyes before she shook her head as tears filled her eyes.

Cristiano had never seen her like this, she seemed so fragile, so broken; the Portuguese licked his lips wondered who had done this to her, this was more than about them.

“I can’t… I won’t do this to Irina, Cris. I’ve been in this position before, except I was in Irina’s place; I’d never wish that sort of pain on anyone Cristiano, not even my worst enemy,” Isabelle said as she pulled away from him.

The footballer stared at her, he remembered what she had said about not dating; she had told him during the lunch with Pepe and Marcelo that she hadn’t dated for a long time, he hadn’t thought anything of it until now.

“Who hurt you?” Cristiano asked as he stepped towards Isabelle, he couldn't stand the thought of someone hurting her; that someone could hurt her as if it was nothing. Isabelle stared at him for a moment before someone walked into the dance studio.

“Is everything okay?” Daniel Garcia said as he walked into the studio, he looked between the two concerned as he realised that something was wrong.

Taking a deep breath, Isabelle smiled at her professional dance partner who looked concerned as he looked between her and Cristiano.

“Everything’s fine Gracias Daniel, I’m just not feeling that well,” Isabelle lied making Cristiano frown as he watched her, he wasn’t going to let this go; he needed to find out where this left them.

***

After apologising to Daniel and telling him that she’d see him tomorrow to rehearse their professional dance for that weekend; Isabelle had headed home without another word to Cristiano.

The red head knew that she was doing the right thing; she could honestly understand why Irina had threatened her to leave Cristiano alone, if she’d have gotten the chance with Damien; Isabelle closed her eyes as she thought about him; it was something that she tried not to do.

Pouring herself another glass of Bollinger Grande Année Rosé 1999, which had been a gift from her parents for her last birthday and she thought that maybe now would be a good time to drink it.

Licking her lips, Isabelle sighed as she pressed play on the remote for her i-pod which was plugged into her stereo system.

The red head groaned as ‘how will I live without you’ started to play, she wondered why on earth she’d put it on her i-pod and why it had chosen this moment to start playing.

Biting her lip, Isabelle glared at her i-pod as she continuously hit a love song every time that she hit the skip button; she wondered briefly if the world was trying to tell her something.

Shaking her head, Isabelle sighed relieved as finally landed on a song that she liked that made her feel a bit better about what had happened with Cristiano; the room was only lit by candles and she was dressed in pink frill cami and stripe PJ pants.

After she had apologized to Daniel and told him that she’d see him tomorrow, Isabelle had come straight home; she was pleased that it had gotten dark quick and now with only scented candles lighting the room she felt relaxed as she listened to her calming music and the rain pattering against her windows.

Running a hand through her hair, she briefly thought about dying her hair again to a darker red colour; she was slowly starting to fade to her natural colour and she didn't like it.

Glancing at the clock on her living room wall, the red head furrowed her brow wondering how her dinner had gotten deliver so quick; she had ordered pizza since she didn't feel like cooking and wanted to pig out slightly after the last stressful week.

However when she answered the door, the red head was shocked to see a drenched Cristiano standing outside her apartment; he looked tired and it worried her why he had come to see her.

“Cris?” Isabelle asked unsurely as she stepped aside and allowed him inside, the red head watched as water ran down his face and some of it landed on her tiled floor.

“What are you doing here?” Isabelle asked making the Portuguese lick his lips, before he cupped her face and kissed her; his wet body pressing her up against the hallway wall of her apartment.

***

Irina pursed her lips as she looked at Nuno, she didn't believe that he didn't know where Cristiano was; she had arrived home from her photo shoot to find no sign of her boyfriend and he still hadn’t returned home from training with Isabelle.

“Where is he, Noenoe?” Irina asked as Tatiana watched her sister stalk towards Cristiano’s cousin, who didn't even batter an eyelid but he smirked at the Russian model.

“What’s the matter Irina… can’t get your talons into him now that Isabelle is around,” Nuno teased making the Russian model pout as she stared at him; she didn't like what he was implying, she truly thought she’d dealt with the Swanson problem after last week’s show.

“Maybe he sees what a gold-digger you are… what we all know you are,” Nuno said loving that he was getting under the Russian’s skin; he truly hoped that his cousin would chose the dancer over the model, it was clear that Cristiano liked Isabelle and she was making him into the man he once was.

Irina sucked on her teeth before her hand snapped forward and slapped Nuno, whose head swung to the side at the impact of her attack.

Tatiana quickly stepped forward to stop her younger sister from doing more damage as Nuno cupped his cheek and smirked at the seething model.

“I would pack up your things Irina… you’re finished here,” Nuno said before he walked away.