The Dancer | Wattys2018 | COMPLETED

20 - Strange Twisted Ways

Tyler was loved by the community, there was no doubt about it.

The local soccer game turnout looked like a premier league final, and Tyler was the name heard on everyones' lips.

"Tyler Ashborne..."

"...The Ashborne boy."

"Yes, him...He's good."

"...Amazing more like it!"

Madison found a seat amongst the crowds and sat down, followed by Sebastian. Madison was beginning to feel more and more awkward around Sebastian, with him not mentioning anything about the kiss or the dance session.

Madison wasn't familiar with soccer terms, just that you had to shoot goals to win. The game began and the crowds started chanting the name of the club, "Midvale! Midvale! Midvale!"

"See them." Sebastian pointed to men standing on the sidelines, and Madison nodded, "They're scouts," He explained, "If they see someone skilled enough, they scout them for the national team."

"Tyler wants to get scouted?"

"Yeah, pretty much. It helps him bypass college and just get straight into the professional league." Sebastian said, "That, and it's free. They pay everything for you."

"Do you think Tyler is good enough?" Madison asked, watching Tyler as he sprinted with the ball towards a set of goals.

Sebastian shrugged, "I hope so. I just want him out of the house and away from us."

"Don't be cruel." Madison said. She too hoped Tyler was good enough, so he could get out of the house, away from Sebastian.

Sebastian looked at her, but she kept her eyes on Tyler, who passed the ball to a team mate, "Madison, Tyler is an asshole. To everyone. Even to you. Which is why I pull most of the girls in."

"That's what he thinks too, that you're the one who pulls all the girls in."

Sebastian laughed, "You're kidding me, right?"

Madison shrugged. The team mate, which Madison recognised as Geoff, passed the ball back to Tyler. He sprinted through the opposition's players, and booted it towards the goals. People jumped off their seats in anticipation, and the ball shot into the goals. Everyone was cheering Tyler's name, and the name of the club, Midvale.

Tyler pumped his fists in the air as he ran along the sidelines, hi-fiving substitute players and the coach. Madison didn't notice she was smiling until Sebastian started talking again.

"I've been with more girls than Tyler. But see, it's because he's an asshole so girls don't like him as much." Sebastian said and Madison really wasn't getting his point, or what he was even trying to say at all.

"Tyler's actually not as bad as you say." Madison said, getting slightly annoyed with Sebastian.

"So what, you like him?"

Madison tried to keep her cool, "I just think you're cruel to him."

Sebastian scoffed, "You know the first, and sadly last, relationship Tyler had, the girl moved state. She was a dancer too. Ballerina. Tyler wants to move state after he finishes school, and get back with her, like they planned." Madison's heart slowly sank, and Sebastian just kept on talking. "Funny thing is, you probably get along with Tyler because you remind him of the girl, Katherine I think her name was. He called her Kate for short."

He called Madison 'Maddy' for short. Her heart sunk even further.

"I really don't know why you're telling me this. It sounds like he's committed to this girl, so he's not really an asshole at all." Madison said, casting her eyes away from Tyler. It was all as if it wasn't bad enough that Tyler had seen Sebastian kissing Madison. Tyler had a girl already, basically. Whether she was in the same state or not, he was taken. 

Sebastian shrugged, "Just so you don't get your hopes up."

Madison exhaled, "I assume you're going to say it's the reason you kissed me."

"Smart girl." He nodded with a wink, "How do I say this? Okay, so, I knew Tyler would get pissed off because he does know that the girls like me better. He doesn't like it when people are better than him. Pissing him off results in him not talking to you, your feelings disappear, and viola, everyone is happy. Also why I tried to tell you he was an asshole, so that might make you dislike him a bit."

Madison was silent. She let the cheers of the crowd drown out her thoughts. Sebastian was annoying as hell. A great dancer, but an asshole too. But an asshole for caring reasons, like helping her not be as heart broken as she possibly could be.

"So you didn't kiss me because you liked me?" Madison said and Sebastian shook his head,

"You're just a dance partner to me. Dance is the only thing we have in common."

"That, and dead parents."

Sebastian nodded slowly, "Yeah, that too."

Madison let out an internal sigh of relief. Sebastian didn't like her - good. But Tyler didn't either - bad.

Sebastian cleared his throat, "Don't get me wrong, Tyler seems happier with you than he ever did with Kate. But love works in strange, twisted ways I guess."

Madison looked away from Sebastian, only to see a pair of green eyes watching her from within the crowd.

*** Author's Note ***

Another chapter closer to the ending and I'm kind of getting excited. I really want to know what you all think of Tyler's girl, Kate. I know, I know, *bombshell*. He never thought to mention it to Madison, which is even stranger, really.

Maybe Sebastian is right, that Tyler still loves Kate. Or maybe he's wrong, and the reason Tyler never brought up Kate to Madison, is because Tyler's had a change of heart with the idea of Kate.

Also, mysterious green eyes watching Madison... The Dancer perhaps?

Remember to vote, and thank you for all the love and support. It means more than the world to me!