Dancing Away with the Player | Book #3

Dylan is Back

"Hi, Stella," he greeted me with a small smile.

"Hi," was all I could say since I was still in shock by his appearance.

"You're back," Brooklyn interrupted.

Dylan smiled at her. "Yes, only for today."

"How have you been?" I asked him.

"Do you mean, how have I been since you left me heartbroken or how have I been after I graduated Juilliard?" He quizzed me.

"Really, Dylan? You told me I was a prize that you won against James. Don't you remember that too?" I reminded him.

"Well, we're going to get some food. We'll leave you two to talk. Bye!" Sophie waved, dragging Austin and Brooklyn with her.

I turned back to him. "I'm sorry that I left you heartbroken, but I couldn't continue to be with you while I loved James."

He sighed. "I know. I'm sorry for calling you a prize. It was such a shitty move."

"It was," I agreed.

"So, are we good?" Queried Dylan.

"Yes, we are. How's your tour going?"

After I broke up with Dylan, we didn't talk to each other or even seen each other around the city. While I became a professional dancer and went on DWTS, he went on a world tour after we graduated from Juilliard. Even when I would listen to the radio in my car, his songs would play. I was happy for him since it was his dream to sing to people and sell out stadiums. It was insane how he started off singing in a bar to singing to millions of people around the world.

"It's going really good, my favourite place has been Japan," he answered.

I chuckled. "Well, you do have a song about Japan."

He laughed. "That is very true, but I like the culture and everyone over there is nice. It's a great feeling knowing that you have fans. I mean, there's a lot of Stella Johnston fans."

"Touché. Who knew we'd grow up to have fans of our own?" I wondered.

"Personally, I never thought about it, but I'm glad we're both doing what we love."

I smiled. "Me too. So, what part of your tour are you on?"

"I'm on New York. I wasn't suppose to come to the party tonight, but my concert isn't until tomorrow so I thought why not."

"I'm glad you changed your mind," I told him.

"I'm sorry... about you and James. I tried to stop him when he was about to leave for California, but he still left," he apologized.

I shook my head. "It's not your fault, it's my fault. I hurt him and he has every right to want to get away from me. Now he doesn't even remember much about Juilliard."

Dylan grabbed my hand. "Hey, don't beat yourself up about this. Sure you hurt him, but you didn't mean to do it on purpose. You were doing what you thought was right after you saw him with Cynthia."

"I know, but I found out that she came onto him when I thought he wanted her. I was stupid then I dated you and hurt you in the process too. I just wish I could go back in time," I expressed.

"Me too," I heard him whisper.

I looked into his eyes. "Why would you?"

"I can't lie and say I don't still have feelings for you, because I still do. However, I know that you love James. I guess I would go back in time and suppress my feelings for you so that you could've went for James."

"I-I don't know what to say. Y-You still have feelings for me?" I questioned, confused.

He ran his fingers through his hair, a nervous expression casted on his face. "Yes, but I know you don't feel the same way."

I nodded in understanding. "Alright, if you say so. I'm sorry I can't reciprocate the feeling."

"It's okay," he said.

"You know, it's your birthday too. Why aren't you celebrating with James?" I wondered, trying to change the subject at hand.

Dylan shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't really want a party, was never into it. So, usually James gets all the spotlight."

I frowned. "You should still celebrate, you were born on this day too. At least, do something small for your birthday."

"Maybe, I will," he said, smiling a bit.

"Hey, am I interrupting anything?" James chimed in, staring at Dylan and I's interlocked hands.

I let go of Dylan's hand. "Nothing at all."

"Happy birthday," Dylan told James.

"You too. I thought you weren't coming to the party?" James asked him.

"I don't perform until tomorrow so I decided to drive over here," Dylan responded.

"Well, I'm glad you could make it. I'm going to steal Stella for a second," James told him, not bothering to ask if it was okay.

He lifted his hands in surrender. "By all means. It was nice talking to you, Stella."

"You too, goodluck with your performance tomorrow," I said to him.

"Thank you," he finished, walking away from James and I.

James grabbed my arm and began to drag me away from where everyone was. We walked down a hallway then made a right. He opened a white door and when I stepped through, I realized that we were in the movie room. Memories of James and I watching movies in here began to flood my thoughts. The last time I was in here was when James and I fell asleep. Shannon caught us together and assumed we were dating, but we weren't.

He shut the door behind me and I leaned against the wall, watching him take a seat on the red movie room seat. His eyes landed on me and motioned for me to join him. I felt my stomach do back flips as I made my way to sit beside him. I plopped down on the chair then looked at James to him already staring back at me. As I was about to tuck a piece of my hair behind my ear, he did it for me. I looked at him in surprise, feeling his fingers slightly graze my cheek as he moved away from me.

"Sorry, force of habit I guess," he apologized.

"It's fine."

"I really just wanted to thank you again for the cooking supplies," he sincerely said.

I grinned. "It's really nothing."

"It really isn't. How did you know that those cooking supplies were the ones my grandpa used to get me?"

"You told me all about it one night when we were together. You told me all about how your grandpa taught you how to cook. So, I thought why not start cooking again but this time with supplies that reminded you of your memories together. That way, it'll feel like he's there with you just like you were in his restaurant," I explained.

James stared at me, at a loss of words. "I-I can't thank you enough for this gift."

I smiled. "No problem."

"There's actually another reason I wanted to talk to you... alone," he began.

I raised my eyebrow at him. "Which is?"

James sighed. "I want to know who I used to be. I want to know the real side of myself that attended Juilliard, didn't want to take over my dad's company, and... how or why I fell in love with you."

My eye widened at his response. "Can I ask exactly why? You have everything you want in life right now. Why do you want to go back into the past?"

James ran his fingers through his messy hair, something he would usually do when he was stressed. "As much as I enjoy my life, I need to be honest with you."

I sat upright, intrigued. "You can tell me."

"I keep having short visions of who I was really was and most of them... involve you in my life. You're the only one who really knows the real me. I want to know who I was and I need your help. Please," he begged me.

"Okay, I will help you."