Acapella

'You Ruin Me' - The Veronicas

I was leaping across the room but it felt like I was soaring across the world. My dress was worn but made me happy and my shoes never knew when to stop moving. My hair is floating and jumping as I leap. I stop and do a twirl, pointing my toes. The music fills me up with happiness and passion. I hear my cue and leap into the centre of the room and gracefully flail my arms along with my feet across the floor. Full of adrenaline I cannot be stopped. My ruffled tutu brushes against my partner as she steps into the middle to do her solo. I step out and do a pose and hear the music stop.

"Amazing! That was truly amazing! Good effort, everyone!" the dance teacher announces. I smile at him, puffing, and grab my water bottle.

Our dance teacher Stephen is seventeen, only a year older than all the girls in the ballet class. Most people before class talk about how cute he is and I can't disagree. If he asked me out I would never say no!

"Mia, could you stay back just for a minute?" he says out loud. I furrow my eyebrows but agree to it anyway. After everyone has left I walk over to him with all my stuff packed but still clutching my drink bottle.

"Yes?" I say curiously.

"Just wanted to let you know that you have really made an improvement over the year. I wanted to congratulate you. Here, take this appreciation for your effort" he says, handing me a folded slip of paper. I am about to open it but he stops me.

"Open it at home. Oh, and don't show your parents. Make sure you read it before anyone else does" he says. I nod.

"Alright. See you next week!" he winks at me. I grin and walk out, still holding the piece of paper.

***

I lay down on my bed after changing into casual clothes. I open up the paper and see a phone number, as well as the words 'Call me whenever'

I am confused. Maybe he wants to talk more about dancing? I dial the number into my phone.

After one ring I hear a deep voice on the other side of the phone.

"Hey, Mia" Stephen says.

"Hey. What did you want me for?"

"Oh, just to talk"

"About?"

"Anything"

"So this isn't about class?" I ask.

"No! Actually, I wanted to ask you something"

"Yeah?" I ask, still confused.

"Do you want to do something? Maybe dinner tonight?"

I smile. Okay, so I might have a bit of a crush on him.

"Yeah, okay! What were you thinking?"

He tells me a time and place and we agree to meet there. We hang up and I can't help but smile.

***

I am stretching in dance class and Stephen isn't here yet. No one is talking to me which is good because it gives me time to think about last night.

The date was...amazing. We had dinner and he complimented me nonstop. We then slow danced on the dance floor in the restaurant and it was pretty magical. I have never had such a great time. He definitely knows how to treat a lady.

The door opens and we fall silent as Stephen walks in with a red face. He is grumbling something that no one other than himself can understand. I want to go up to him and give him a hug of sympathy but that would be weird in front of all the people who imagine him as a teacher.

He faces the wall, putting his back to us and wipes his face with his hand. All the girls give each other looks of confusion. I am even more confused, too confused to let everyone else know I am confused.

He faces the class, plastering a fake smile across his face. Everyone sees it as real but I can see he is in pain.

"Okay, class. Let's-" he says in an upbeat tone but is suddenly interrupted. The door wrenches open and in comes a vaguely familiar teen who looks only a couple years older than us in tears who she goes up to Stephen and shoves him.

"Don't you dare walk away from me!" she screams at him, totally ignoring us.

"I have to teach a class!" he yells back.

"Why don't you teach them how to not cheat on a girl, huh? How dare you treat me like this and date someone behind my back!" she turns her head to glare to me. The silent students that sit around me stare at me but Stephen keeps his eyes on her.

"I'm sorry, Anna. I'm really sorry" he says sincerely.

"How can I forgive you for what you have done?"

"It was only one date last night!" he shouts.

"I don't care!" she yells and tears flood down her face.

All of a sudden he pulls her up to her and kisses her and she doesn't pull back. I look in horror.

I can't believe that guy who just took me on a date last night is making out with the girl he cheated on right in front of me. How is she accepting this? How am I accepting this? I feel like bursting into tears but I just can't.

I stand up worthlessly and walk out the room. Stephen is too busy to even notice me walking out.

I lean against the wall next to the door and sob into my hands. That guy is disgusting and never deserves a partner.

I'm not mad at the girl he is kissing in there. She was played just like I was. We are both in the same position.

All I can think now is that I can never trust another guy again. How can I?

Have you ever been so mad at someone you wanted to give them a pointless mental message?

This is what I am trying to say to Stephen;

You Ruin Me.