Splintered Hearts

2

With this dance, I feel his touch. His slow hands that would caress me softly as if he thought i would break under his touch. Then, the next wave of thoughts comes with his pushing, yelling, ignorance, the distance that he put between us for reasons I don't understand.

As I finish, panting and sweating, I stand from my position on the floor and walk over to the iPod. I hear the door open and turn to see my dance teacher, Alyssa Reinhart, step in with a few early and eager classmates in tow behind her. Shit. I forgot dance class was my next period of the day.

"Oh, Aria! I didn't know you would be here this early otherwise I would have come." Her voice was light yet strong.

Sometimes I feel like she is two different people. When she isn't dancing, she is instructing. Her demeanor went from sweet to strict and reserved the first day I joined CAA's dance program. Alyssa changed into a completely different person when she dance though. It is powerful and moving or she is so clean and smooth, you would think a little angel like her couldn't possibly go so far. She is someone I look up to the most.

"Ah, no. It's okay. I just needed a breather is all. I'm good now," I began, "I'm up and ready for class now."

"That's the type of spirit I expect to see on the dance floor today, Aria." A smile played on her lips as she took a seat at the computer to check in emails and take attendence of the kids already present. Charly. Josh. Kendall. Daniel. Britney.

More students poured in like a trickling river after that. The dance program had about 200 students, yet we are all separated by periods, 30 to 50 students per class. It is a lot to teach but Alyssa makes it easy by giving assignments or grouping us in ranks.

Most dance classes begin with a series of stretches. You can't dance on cold muscles. I've heard that many times in the past couple years of dance. I haven't been dancing all my life but when I started, I couldn't get enough. It makes me feel like I can fly or almost be able to get past anything. Dance is my therapy.

"Okay today I'll be pairing you up with a partner. The assignment due by the end of the week is to make an emotional piece.  I know what to expect from all of you and I hope I will not be disappointed." Alyssa said, skimming over the clipboard she held in her hands. A few moments after she finished talking about the assignment the door flew open. There stood the devil himself. 

"Oh come in Mr. Archer, you're late. It's the first day back so I won't count it, but don't make this a daily thing" She said in a voice, attempting to be mad, but sounded more like a mother scolding her child. He simply nodded and made his way over to stand with the rest of the students, including me. 

I chewed on my bottom lip as I felt him staring at me. It make me shudder slightly. I moved further to the other side of the room, clearly trying to avoid him in general. Why couldn't Sophie be in here, ugh! Oh wait she has two left feet... that's right.  I didn't want to acknowledge his entire being, if I'm honest, so I tried to stay as far away from him as possible . I listened as Alyssa started to name off partners for the assignment. 

"Aria and Gage. You two will be working together, as you two are my most skilled dancers in the class. It's only right to put you guys together." If only you knew how wrong you were "I would like you guys to present your piece tomorrow at the start of class" She said and named off the rest of the pairs. I looked over at him for a brief moment and sighed, running my hands over my face.  

I walked towards him, only to brush past him over to an empty space near the corner of the room, expecting him to follow me. "I'm only doing this for my grade and that's it." I simply state to him. 

"Aria...you have to talk to me at some point..." He said, sighing, clearly annoyed that I wanted nothing to do with him.

"I have to talk to the person who hurt me in the worst way possible? Yeah I think not, no thank you." I said and took a seat on the floor, leaning against the glass mirror. I scrolled though my phone looking for a decent song to choreograph to with this asshole. 

"We could do a dance about....you know... What happened between us." He suggested, looking down at the ground with his hand crossed over his chest slightly.

I shifted slightly. I was highly uncomfortable with the topic at hand. He knows what he did to me. He knows how he hurt me. I have to admit it's not a bad topic at all. It's just, too realistic. I know that dance is supposed to have emotion and tell a story, but that story is way too emotional and too true. It would make for a good grade though, honestly. Even if I was dancing with the killer, it would at least make for an A- or an A+. There is also the point where I only have to dance with him once, only for this assignment.

"Not a bad idea, honestly." I scrolled back up through my phone, going back to a previous song I had liked. I stood up and stood next to him, playing the song loud enough only for us to hear.  The song I choose to use was: Weight In Gold (Ekali Remix) by Gallant. 

I set my phone down for a moment and walked over to Alyssa, who was currently watching a pair work. I tapped on her shoulder to get her attention. Without being too rude about it, I spoke.
"Do you think it's okay we use a rope as a prop?"

"Sure, why not? Just don't use the prop in a way where it would be main focus instead of the story-telling in the dance itself. " She explained to me, every once in awhile looking away from the pair to meet my eyes before looking back at the pair. 

I sighed and grabbed the long piece of rope and bought it back over to where Gage was sitting. I tossed one side of the rope beside him. Then, Iwrapped a small piece around my wrist and gripped onto it.  

I laid on the floor and had him press play and put the song on repeat. He grabbed onto the other end and started pulling me across the floor slowly as if he was struggling. I stood up and stood closely behind him. Sharply, I turned and ran away, not getting far because he yanked the rope. I reached my other arm out. Grabbing onto the rope as he pulled on it, causing me to be tugged towards him. I spun around while making my way towards him, the ropes entrapping around my stomach. He  pulled on the rope, spinning me the opposite way, taking most of the rope into his hands.  He stood behind me as he held hands above his head, holding the rope in he hands as he placed it over my stomach once more. He backed up, which allowed me to free myself. I reached out towards the rope,  getting closer to him as he did the same. We ditched the rope and I got closer to him as he backed away from me.  He went around me and grabbed my wrist, pulling me along with him, as I jumped onto his back and dragged the both of us down.  I sighed and pulled away for a moment, taking a breather. I sat down and he somehow got the bright decision to take a seat next to me. 

"Aria?" He said, more in a questioningly way.

"Yes Gage?" I responded, somewhat irritated that he was still trying to talk to me. I didn't really mind on the inside though. Even though he put me through a lot of shit, deep down I still was attracted to him. He was kind and sweet to me before everything started to go downhill. I still had hope that he could change. It was very little hope, but hey it was still there. 

"Can we maybe talk at some point? Look, I get that you don't want to speak with me... but  I know you. Sooner or later you are going to give in and talk to me anyways, yourself. Can we please not take years and act like we don't know each other?" He pleaded.

I  really wanted to forgive him for what he did, but I don't think I'm ready for that just yet. I wouldn't mind small casual talk here and there, but as far as holding intense conversations with him. I'm not anywhere near ready for that. 

"At some point, yes I'll speak to you Gage...you know I will. Just not now."  With that being said I walked out of the room as the bell rang and headed home. 

Tomorrow should be interesting