[ Mark's POV ]
"Elera Wait..." I pleaded, watching as she quickly moved down the stairs a few feet ahead of me. I could still feel the eyes of my peers on my back as I had followed her out towards the front door of the building. My heartbeat was in my ears and it felt like someone had knocked the wind from my lungs as I watched her hair whip in my direction as she flew in front of me.
"Elera!" I hollered again as she made it to the passenger side door. She reached for the handle but stopped as her hand sat on it. I slowed my steps as I carefully made my way closer.
"I'm not upset." She said slowly, turning her head over her shoulder and looking at me. "It's just a lot to think about...I mean..I have school and Lucas..." she said softly.
Another hit to the stomach.
I wanted her to come with me, but I wasn't going to ask her to give up everything for my own selfish dreams. She was a part of them and always would be...but time was needed for all of these future plans.
"I-I want you to stay here." I said seriously, watching as her eyes widened and filled with emotion. I couldn't tell if she was surprised or hurt and that scared me.
"I'm not going to force you through a culture change. A school change and an entire lifestyle change. Moving to Korea is huge, but you heard what he said. Temporary." I started, reaching up and running my hands through my hair.
"I want you there with me. I want to come home to you...to cuddle after long days and talk everything out over dinner. But we're both in different parts of our lives..I can't just yank you from everything you have here because I have only you."
Her eyes filled with a different emotion at this point. Fear or insecurity...I couldn't quite tell.
"Are you wanting to break up?" She said in just above a whisper. I glanced down at her hands which were now slightly shaking at her sides. I quickly stepped forward and intertwined my fingers with hers, squeezing reassuringly.
"No no...absolutely not." I whispered, letting one hand go and pulling her into a hug, my hand gently resting on the back of her head. "I'm not letting you go that easily." I smiled lightly, pulling away after a moment and looking into her eyes.
"You're mine and I'm not going to ruin that. I'll only be gone for a month or so at first...enough for me to get a feel for the life and some time for us to think about what we want to do, yeah?" I said, watching her nod slowly before burying her head back in my chest and wrapping her arms around my waist.
"I don't want you to go...but I know damn well you're going to be the best dancer in that group." She mumbled, making me chuckle softly.
"We'll see...they're all very good at what they do. It's going to be a learning curve but I think we'll get it down." I admitted, my eyes glancing back up at the temporary dance studio.
"I want to come eventually...you guys are going to be successful with everything...I just need to finish out the rest of this year and I'll be good to go." She whispered. "It'll just take time for me to really process everything."
I nodded, knowing we still had time to go over everything.
"So are you okay if I sign to go? They need to know that I am at least interested and available to try Korea out for a little bit before they can give numbers to the main base back in Korea..." I said softly, my eyes looking down at the pavement under our feet. She reached forward and took my hand once more, giving it a squeeze.
"Sign the papers Mark. This is what you want...I can tell. We've got nothing but time and I'm not going to let you waste it."
"Come back inside. Be with me when I sign them, then we have another forty-five minutes before practice is over. We can swing somewhere and get a bite to eat before heading home.." I suggested, taking her hand firmly and walking towards the front doors of the building we were just in.
