Ballet And The Beast

Chapter Nineteen

"So I read the new issue of Vogue last night." Alice gushes as we stretch together. "I love it."

"Yeah it came out quite well, I was really nervous." I tell her sheepishly. "It was difficult answering questions about Mason when I don't even think we're a couple any more." The only communication we've had is one night last week we had incredible sex and attempted to talk things out but it only ended up in more arguments.

"I can't believe he's still not talking to you, he has no right." She growls and glares at the back of his head.

"It is what it is." Truth is, it's completely shattered my heart but I'm back on track and I've never been in better shape.

"Brooke can I see how your solo is coming along please?" Ms Kingston asks once we've finished our warm up.

The dance is to an acoustic cover of Passengers 'Let Her Go'. She starts the music and I put everything I can into the routine, feeling every word. Once I finish my head is pounding and I feel like I'm about to collapse so lean against the wall for support.

"That's incredible, you've done a good job. Ben, I want your solo next. Give Brooke time to recover then I want the duet please guys."

While Ben runs through his solo, I sit with my head between my legs, struggling to catch my breath.

"Brooke are you ok?" Shane asks as he rests a hand on my shoulder.

"Looks like she's fine with you." Mason scoffs from next to him as i slowly lift my head.

"Really Mase?" Shane scoffs.

"Yeah just shattered, I didn't sleep very well last night." I ignore Masons comment, secretly glad that he's at least jealous and stand up. The dizziness hits harder but I just ignore it and smile.

"Great Ben. Brooke, Mason are you ready?" She asks as we make our way to the middle of the floor.

"Are you sure you're ok, you're freezing." Mason tells me and for the first time in weeks, I see emotion in his eyes. I simply nod trying to ignore the fact he looks hazy and carry on.

The music starts and we spring into action, the emotions raw. As we go though the pounding in my head gets worse and as Mason is about to lift me in the air, I stumble over. Luckily he catches me and my vision starts to get blurrier.

"Brooke?" Mason says my name as a question as the whole class stare at me.

"Sorry I just went a bit dizzy." I suddenly feel really cold and heavy. "Let's just.." I manage to say before my vision goes completely black and I fall to the floor.

"Brooke." He yells as he shakes me trying to wake me up.

"Her pulse is weak, someone call an ambulance." I hear someone say as they press a finger to my wrist. My body feels heavy and a piecing light fills my skull as everything goes quiet.

●○●○●○

Masons P.O.V.

"Are you sure you're ok, you're freezing." I ask Brooke as she stands in front of me. She nods but I can tell something isn't right.

I know I've been the world's shittest boyfriend but she had no right. I didn't tell her about my depression because I wanted to put it in the past, now look what's happened. We've tried talking it out but I only end up getting angry at myself and hurting her more.

We start going through the dance and I can't help but notice how much lighter she feels, if that's possible. Dancing with her never gets old. We make our way through the steps in perfect harmony and as I'm about to lift her into the air, she looses her balance and luckily I grab her quickly enough.

"Brooke?" My heart races as I watch her eyes haze over slightly and she looks like she's on another planet.

"Sorry I just went a bit dizzy." She smiles it off but I know she's not ok. I open my mouth to say something but she gets there first. "Let's just.." She starts walking back to the middle of the room then suddenly falls to the floor.

"Brooke." I yell as I run to catch her but it's too late. She lies there limp as I try to shake her awake.

"Her pulse is weak, someone call an ambulance." Ms K shouts as she checks her pulse. Oh shit. I feel my eyes start to glass over as she's moved into the recovery position and Chase pulls me away.

Soon after, the ambulance arrives and she's carted off without me. Ms K goes with her and I'm instructed to stay here.

"She'll be ok Mase, she's in good hands." Shane tries to comfort me. He's got some nerve after being all over her ever since our argument.

The rest of the class leave the room in shock as Shane and I stand there staring at one another.

"This isn't your fault Mason." He tells me as my heart rate quickens. Yes it is.

"I love her Shane and I've just let her starve herself almost to death." I shout back.

"You've been a cunt Mason, but you didn't force her to do anything." He responds, just as angry as I am.

"I should have made it up to her rather than let her run into your arms." I growl with a slightly quieter voice.

"When are you going to understand there's nothing going on between us, she just needed some support." Shane rolls his eyes as we've had this conversation too many times. Deep down I think I know there isn't but I can't help get jealous.

"Look where that got her." I spit out, referring to her lying in hospital. With that, I feel Shane's fist collide with my face.

"Fucking hell mate just get in your bloody car and go and see her. Tell her your sorry and admit you were a cunt." He grumbles out.

I stand there silent for a few minutes, my mind racing. I shouldn't have spoken to Brooke the way I did, or Shane just now but I couldn't help the anger boiling up inside me. She was right. The depression has taken over my emotions so much this time that my best friend hates me and my girlfriend is lying in a hospital bed fighting for her life.

I race out the door, into my car and drive up to the hospital just praying she's ok. I arrive into her room to see her wired up and a large drip going into her lifeless body.

"She's going to be ok Mason, she's just incredibly weak at the moment." Ms K tells me as she hands me a coffee.

"Do they know what happened?" I ask, thinking I already know the answer.

"She's extremely malnourished to the point her vital organs weren't getting the energy they need to function." She looks over at Brooke with nothing but sadness in her eyes. "She's going to need your support when she wakes up Mason."

"I'll be here." I respond as I take a seat next to her bed.