Splintered Hearts

3

One step. Two steps. Three.

I had beginning counting things since yesterday. Almost how you count music, yet my nervous habit had been counting almost everything: how long it took me to brush my teeth, my articles of clothing, how many steps it took from class to class. I really wasn't looking forward to class today, knowing we had to perform our piece at the start of class. I really couldn't focus on a lot of other things ever since he came back. All my thoughts have been directed towards him, and it was starting to slowly piss me off. I didn't wanna think about him at all. 

"Hellooooooo!!~ Earth to Aria~" Sophie interrupted my chain of thoughts, "Are you even listening? You've been out of it since yesterday. What's gotten into you?"

I gave her a deadpan look and sighed heavily, rubbing my face in my hands. I really wanted today to be over with already. "Well, GageandIhavetobepartnersindanceclassandwehavetoperformtodayandheannoyinglychosetodanceaboutyouknowwhat." I said completely in one breath, sighing at the end. 

"Okay Ari I love you a lot, but could you speak actual English for me?" She said laughing slightly, with a confused look etched onto her face.

"Alyssa paired me and Gage together to choreograph a piece with emotion in it. So he stupidly decided to choose the topic...of y'know...Abuse." I explained, getting progressively more upset by the moment. I really would've been fine with anybody else, ANYONE ELSE, but no. Alyssa just had to pair us together. 

I felt someone tapping my shoulder and I turned around to come face to face with lover boy himself. "Hey Sebastian, did you need something?" I questioned, trying to sound slightly happy or something of the sorts.  I glanced back at Sophie, who was staring at the floor like it was the most interesting thing in the world.

"Well...uh, Gage told me to ask you if you would like to hang out after school. It wouldn't be just him. You can also bring your friend as well." He said, scratching the back of his neck nervously. I really didn't want to. Then I thought about the chances Sophie might have of talking to Sebastian. I wouldn't want to just throw away a chance for them to be closer at least. 

"I mean... Sure, I guess. Text me after school about where you wanna hang." I replied, scrolling through my phone and sending Sophie a text since she was clearly frozen. She wasn't paying attention to anything, besides Sebastian's voice. 

Me:  Hey!! Earth to Sophie~ 

Her:  Huh? 

Me: Since you can't seem to focus on anything but his voice- You're hanging out with me, him and Gage later. 

Her: typing...

Me: NO BUTS

Her: Fine.

I sighed as the bell rang which meant it was time for another hour of torture with the devil. Hugging Sophie, I make my way to class, which wasn't too far from my locker. I walked inside the class and smiled softly at Alyssa. She was busy taking attendance. I looked around the room for Gage, who was in the corner reviewing the steps a couple of times. I took a huge breath and made my way over to him, setting my bag down next to his. He saw me and smiled softly, which I returned because it would be rude to not. Though, I hate him. 

"Alright class, let's get started with the routines for the day. Gage and Aria, like I announced yesterday, you two will be going first. Just let me know when you guys are ready to present." She announced, running her pen down her clipboard. She stared at it while calling out the other pairs who would go after us. The rest of the class had time to work on their routines while the others presented if they didn't want to watch or weren't finished. 

"You ready?" I asked him, picking up the rope and heading to the front of the class. Once more, I laid down onto the floor and gripped onto the rope.

"Sure am." He responded as he went over to the speakers and hooked his phone up to it. Getting the song ready to play, he walked over to me and picked up the other half of the rope. Alyssa hit play on his phone.

As the song ended, I tossed the rope at him and walked away. I heard clapping and looked over to see the entire class applauding our routine. I walked back over to Gage and helped him back up. I grabbed the rope from the floor and picked it up, pulling it into a ball and tossing it back into the prop box. 

"So how was it?" I asked placing my hands on my hips, regaining normal control over my breathing. Gage, who was standing next to me, was fixing his hair in the mirror. 

"That...was extraordinary.... I am so breath-taken at how powerful that dance was. That is a beautiful piece and seemed so real. What inspired you to dance this piece?" Alyssa was talking slow yet my mind was taking an unnecessarily long time to process her praise and questioning. 

Gage cut in quickly for the both of us, "Uh... It was about an abusive relationship. It basically showed the emotions that both people go through. The male was a bastard abuser and always would do something to damage the female, yet he would always play with her to make it seem like he was still loving and caring for her. The cycle always repeated and he was controlling and had control over everything she did. Almost as if he was nothing without her. Until one day she walked away from everything that was happening and left him there to deal with the aftermath of what he had done. Sometimes in an abusive relationship, the abuser may have a reason for doing what he does and only uses what he knows as a way to speak. Sometimes it's all they know, and it backlashes onto the ones they love most. So... uh. Yeah." He said. I looked over at him, as he bought his eyes down to the floor and looked around. He seemed like he didn't really want to talk about what had happened. I didn't either.

"Wow... well then. Both of you, amazing job. A+. " She said with a wide grin on her face as she marked our grades onto her clipboard.  I walked away with Gage following closely behind me. Not liking the way his presence felt behind me, I turned around. 

"Yes?"

"We are gonna have to talk... sooner or later. Can you at least try today?... Aria please. I'm really really fucking sorry for what happened between us. I'll do anything to fix it..." Gage pleaded.

"You have one chance. I shouldn't be giving you any honestly... The only reason I'm hanging out with you guys is for Sophie's benefit. Don't think this will be a daily thing, because it won't, and it might not be, ever again." I said and grabbed my book bag before walking out the door as the bell rang for the end of the day. 

I hope I'm making the right choice...