Ballet And The Beast

Chapter Eight

Pain. Pain. More pain. That's how my head feels when I wake up the next morning and attempt to open my eyes.

"There's water and pain killers on the table next to you." Mason laughs, obviously noticing my discomfort. Hearing his voice brings back the memories of me asking him to kiss me yesterday, how embarrassing. I could not have sounded any more desperate if I'd tried. Please earth, just swallow me now!

"Thank you." I mumble, sitting up to take them and then lying back down. "I feel like my head has been run over by a bus." I groan as his arms wrap me up, pulling me onto his warm, muscular body.

"I have to say, you don't handle your alcohol very well." He chuckles, probably laughing at how much of a state I was.

"I'm sorry." I mumble into his neck, sill sprawled out across him in only my bikini.

"Don't be sorry babe, I enjoyed taking your shirt off of you and having your company for the night." He winks as I turn to face him.

"You're such an asshole." I mutter as I nudge his shoulder, sitting up in his bed. "I think we need to have a talk though." I say looking down at my hands.

"We do, but first you need to put some clothes on so I at least have some self control." He throws me one of his jumpers which I slide over my head. "It suits you." He looks me up and down with a smile on his face.

"Thanks, maybe I'll keep it then." I wink, sitting against his headboard. He rolls his eyes, sitting up next to me and the atmosphere goes silent.

"The guys were partly right, I was jealous." He admits and my head snaps towards him.

"Partly?" I ask, realising there must have been something else.

"Partly jealous and partly angry and confused." He tells me causing me to frown in confusion myself.

"You're stunning Brooke, but you have some extremely unhealthy habits." He starts and I know what's coming. My heart sinks, knowing he's going to bring up me eating.

"How long have you suffered with anorexia?" He gets straight to the point, looking straight into my eyes.

"I don't know." I start, trying to think of a way to escape this conversation. No one has ever put it so bluntly before, not even me.

"I heard what Jess said to you when you left my room yesterday. Then I saw your reaction to her in the photoshoot yesterday. Don't think I haven't noticed the number of meals you skip either or the extreme amounts of exercise you do. Then there's also the dizziness which really concerns me." He explains, causing a single tear to roll down my cheek.

"You're beautiful Brooke, surely you can see that." He tries but I don't answer. "Then seeing that photographer guy all over you at the shoot and at the beach, I've never been so jealous in my life. The truth is, I don't want anyone all over you, touching you. I want it to be me." He confesses and I turn to face him.

"But you said it was nothing yesterday, it didn't mean anything." I tell him.

"I just gathered that's what you wanted to hear." I shake my head as our eyes lock and our faces are just inches apart.

"I need you to promise me something though babe." He tells me and I gesture for him to carry on. "I want you start eating properly, and I know it's something that will take time but at the moment you're slowly killing yourself. I can't fall in love with someone that might not be here in years to come."

Tears pour from my eyes at the realisation of what he's just said. "I'm sorry." I mutter into his chest between tears while he strokes the back of my head.

"Why do you do it?" He asks once I've calmed down slightly.

"I want everything to be perfect." I mumble, breaking eye contact with him. Saying it out loud sounds stupid, I'm starving myself because I want everything in life to be perfect. It's rediculous. The truth is, it's the one thing I know I always have control over.

"You're such a melon, life is so much more perfect with nice food in it. Plus you've got me in your life, that makes it pretty darn perfect too." He wipes away my tears and pulls me onto his lap to straddle him.

"It's not that simple Mason. I can't just start eating a ton of food, the thought makes me feel physically sick." I frown at the thought of eating a full meal.

"I know. Don't worry we can get through this together with hard work and patience, but only if you want to?" He asks.

"I do want to, I'm just scared." His lips meet mine, taking me by surprise. I kiss back, wrapping my arms around his neck as his hands tangle in my hair. This moment is something I've waited for since I first laid eyes on the flawless specimen in front of me.

"You're perfect to me." He mutters in my ear, trailing kisses down my neck.

"I'll keep trying Mason, I promise." I breathe out, struggling slightly at the heavenly sensation of his kisses down my neck.

"I know babe, and I'm always here to help you." He smiles and quickly kisses my lips once more.

"So you were jealous of Dean then ey." I mock and nudge his shoulder, attempting to change the subject.

"He had his hands all over my girl, of course I was." He laughs gently as his hands make their way down to my arse.

"So I'm your girl am I?" I roll my eyes in disapproval causing him to burst out laughing.

"You will be one day, and you'll have a ring to prove it. Along with mini Brooke and Masons running around the house." He jokes but it makes me smile that he's thinking like that.

"You've got it all figured out then." I laugh, pressing my forehead against his.

"Well you didn't say no. He smirks, pressing his lips to mine once more. This time it's me who deepens the kiss, pulling his head towards me. His hands run up and down my back, under his jumper, while mine are planted on his neck and in his hair.

"Well I didn't expect this so early in the morning." Shane laughs. I jump back in surprise, almost falling off the bed in the process.

"Dude you've got to start knocking." Mason grumbles, not looking very impressed.

"Mate you need to be locking the door when you're getting down and dirty, it burns my eyes." He trembles in disgust causing us to all laugh.

"Were they just..." Chase starts as he too walks in the room. Shane nods before he can even finish. "You finally grew a pair then." He announces causing Shane to chuckle and Mason to glare.

"Is this a party in here now or something?" He comments, sounding quite annoyed.

"I was going to see if you wanted to head out for breakfast but it looks like you're already having it. He winks and I laugh more whereas Mason glares

"I'm up for breakfast?" I say as a half question. All three boys look at me in shock for my enthusiasm about food and I just shrug.

"Let's go then." He offers me a huge smile as he gets up.