A World Of Treason and Tides

Chapter 3: You are Hurting Me

"Venus." I nearly spilled my drink at the sound of the male voice from behind me. Why could not he leave me alone?

"Can you please find someone else to torture? I hate these kinds of events, always buzzing with reporters, and honestly, you are not making it better."

"I am sorry to have caused you inconvenience. But, I believe we should have a proper introduction." He really was a bastard. When I asked him to introduce himself, he took delight in embarrassing me and now he himself was asking for an introduction. I really wanted to excuse myself and go to someplace alone, but I looked up at him and saw a genuine smile on his face instead of a corny expression.

"Fine," I said, "I am Venus Hill, as you already know. I am 17 and I plan to study astronomy at Cambridge."

"Astronomy huh?" He leaned towards me, "You must be intelligent."

"I am," I said. "What about you?"

He smiled. "I am Ryan. 19. I moved here from Southampton a few months ago."

"Oh, you must be in college then?" I realized that it was quite easy to talk to Ryan when he was not being an arse.

"Doing a major on marine biology from Cambridge."

"Nice, I am impressed." I really was.

"My pleasure. But you know you could smile a little." I guessed he could not fathom being nice for much longer.

"I know, but I choose not to."

Ryan took the empty glass from my hand and placed it on the nearby table. "Why?"

"None of your business," I said to Ryan. But actually I did not always like to smile to strangers and I definitely did not like to smile infront of cocky strangers like Ryan. I took another drink. It was not alcohol but it was effective enough.

The music was getting louder and the center was cleared. There were even one or two couples in the dance floor. Ryan might have noticed that as well since his next words were, "Will you dance with me?"

"WHAT?"

"I am asking you to dance with me. And you know what, Spark, you should seriously stop screaming whenever I say something."

"I don't always scream. And don't call me Spark." I wondered if he went out giving nicknames to people he just met.

"I choose to call you Spark," he again had that smirk. I knew he was getting at me for my previous comment. "And you scream most of the time."

"You don't know me well enough to say that."

I turned to get away from him but he caught my wrists and spun me to face him. We were again unnecessarily close to each other. "I don't, but I intend to know you well enough. Dance with me."

We were too close to each other, our faces were too close, and our lips were almost touching. I inched backwards, hoping to make some distance between us. Then, I nodded.

***

Ryan took my hands and led me to the dance floor, all the while looking at me in a way no one had looked at me before. "I... I actually don't like to dance in the public."

"Why? Are u a bad dancer?" he gripped my waist and brought me closer so that we were face to face.

"No, actually I am quite good, but..."

"...but nothing." I could not believe myself when I let out a laugh as he lowered me to the ground. Then he spun me repeatedly, our feet gliding across the floor.

"You dance well, Ryan." I spoke as I gripped his shoulder, maybe a little bit too firmly, to steady myself. Ryan gripped me on the waist and brought me closer so that our bodies were pressing against each other. I could feel the hard muscles beneath his tux. Jesus, he had a body a model would be jealous of. We danced in silence for the next few songs, moving from one corner of the dance floor to the other, so fast and so in sync that it felt as if my feet never touched the ground.

I was feeling breathless and hungry but not quite tired, when he asked, "So...Spark, tell me more about yourself."

"Let's go get something to eat, then I'll." I shot a suggestive glance towards him which he chose to ignore.

"Fine, I am telling you about myself. But we dance till there are no songs left to play and no one else present to dance." And for the hundredth time that evening I wondered if he was really insane.

"That's unlikely to happen."

"We'll see. So... I am quite beautiful and fascinating, as you have noticed." How could someone have so high opinion of themselves?

"And arrogant and a bastard." I pointed out.

"Now, Spark, you are hurting me," he said as he spun me again.

"I am glad to do so."

"I also like theatres and art."

"I would not have guessed so." Honestly, who would have guessed a man like him liked theatres?

"I know. Now, what about you?"

"There's actually nothing to know about me, except things I already told you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go find my parents. And seriously, I need something to eat." He was clearly trying to have a conversation with me and I felt kind of bad to cut him off so abruptly, so instead of muttering an apology which would have been wiser, I asked him to come with me if he wished to. Ryan grinned and took my hands as we went to the dining area.

***

"Venus, You took the spotlight today. Everyone was talking about you at the ball." Lindsey's eyes were gleaming with excitement as she sank into my bed.

"Yeah, I could not stop the talking this year. Ryan basically forced me to dance with me, you know." I said, keeping my expressions blank.

"You could always say no. Admit it already sis. You like him. You know, it's not a sin to like someone."

"I know. And yes, maybe I react in a different way when I am with him, but I can't like him after only a dance. Let's not talk about Ryan anymore. Tell me about yourself. I could see you enjoying the evening very much." I could also see her staring doe-eyed at someone, but refrained from telling her that.

"Oh I did, yes." Good Lord. Lin was blushing.

"So...what happened?" She was silent for a while but when Lin saw me looking at her part questioningly and part patiently, she spilled it.

"You remember that guy from school I told you about? Whom I have had a crush on?"

"The football team captain? Yes, you mentioned him, but crush? It's the first time I am hearing about a crush."

"Well I assure you, it won't be the last time." I threw a pillow at her which she caught, laughing.

" So, I met him today at the ball. We were talking and I guess I made him laugh too. I was hoping he would ask me to dance, but he didn't. So, I myself asked him. He said yes but after one song excused himself. I was kind of embarrassed, you know." It was my turn to laugh. "Ugh! Don't revel in my embarrassment." Lin threw the pillow back at me.

"Okay, okay. I'll not laugh, but it's funny. I think you made him awkward."

"I did not. I actually eased up the conversation by asking him to dance, myself."

"Maybe. Don't stress over it, little sis. Just talk to him if you are that serious. And, now go to sleep. School is reopening tomorrow."

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