Bad Luck with Love

Chapter 32: Seven Minutes

“Ben why didn’t you tell me you and Jo were dating?” I asked him as we danced in our corner of the studio, practicing the routine for 'Dirty Dancing' while the Tango class practiced their routine for 'Moulin Rouge'.

He shrugged, “I hadn’t seen you since then. Besides, I figured Jo would have told you…which she did.”

“Do you like her? Like…a lot?” I asked as he twirled me quickly, my skirt spinning around my legs.

He stopped me in front of him and grinned. “I do actually. I think I might be over my crush on you.”

I sighed in relief. “Good. You had me worried there.”

“Trust me, I don’t date girls I don’t like. And I really do like Jo.” He grinned hugely. “She’s amazing.”

“I’m really happy for you guys,” I said sincerely. It was comforting to know that not everyone had so many issues with their love life.

“Hey guys! I need your help,” Anthony called to us.

I smiled wryly. “Well you heard him. Let’s go.”

We walked over to the group and Anthony informed us we were to learn our beginning piece of the dance. That basically involved me going from guy to guy and being all over them. And considering I knew these guys, I thought it’d be very awkward. It turned out being a lot of fun. Until Nate spun me around and I spotted a familiar figure watching from the sideline.

I was so shocked, not to mention absolutely horrified, that I stumbled and fell, taking Nate down with me.

“Ouch! Nate!” I huffed from under him, “Your fat ass is squishing me!”

“Sorry! But you’re the one who fell,” he whined, scrambling off of me. He helped me back to my feet and I gripped his hand tightly. “You okay?” he asked, frowning at me.

“I’m fine,” I forced a smile. “I just…I just need something to drink. I’ll be right  back,” I said, scurrying off to the otherside of the room. I picked up my bottle of water and downed half of it.

“That was a pretty awesome fall,” Ben cracked, coming up behind me.

I turned to him, letting out a nervous laugh. “Yeah, except Nate’s really heavy.”

He wagged his finger at me, “Never discuss a man’s weight. It’s rude.”

“Psh, like I care,” I said, looking in the long mirror of the room, seeing him still standing in the doorway.

Ben peered around me, finally noticing our audience. “I wonder who that is. He looks familiar…what’s he even doing here?”

“I don’t know, but I’d love to find out,” I muttered darkly. Stupid Chad. It had been a few days since the big fight with Jake and since then he’d been with me at every possible moment. It was driving me up the wall. I needed space, but he didn’t want to give it to me. We went out every night, despite how much I tried to say no, he wouldn’t give up so I ended up giving in just to shut him up. Every time a guy even looked at me he freaked out. I had expected that when he wasn't around I could get a break, but no. He texted me and called me excessively, almost as if he wanted to make sure I was never given the opportunity to cheat on him again or something.

“You want to ask or me?” Ben asked, looking like he wanted to cause some trouble.

“You go. I’ll watch,” I waved him off. I didn’t want to talk to Chad. And for him to come to my dance lesson was crossing the line even further. I was ready to kill the guy. I had never been with a boy who was so…clingy. And jealous. I needed to talk to him. Preferably when I wasn’t wearing heels because frankly, the way he was bugging me, he might just get a foot or two impaled by my heel.