Sequins and Somersaults: A Conan Gray Fic

You're The Leo to My Tard

I glance at myself in the mirror. Raven, you may be seventeen, but you have still got it, I think to myself, winking at my perfect reflection. My long hair is in a bun on the top of my head, my lips are perfectly glossed. I am wearing a brand-new leotard that I begged my mom to buy for me; red and sparkly, just like Conan's. I imagine us dating, posting a picture of us in our matching leotards on Instagram. We would be the cutest couple. As I am trying to decide if I would caption the photo, "#CoupleGoals!" or, "You're the leo to my tard," my mom calls my name from downstairs. I glance at myself one more time, decide I would caption it, "Couples that do gymnastics together, stay together," and then head downstairs to eat a quick dinner of chicken nuggets.

Today is Tuesday, which means I had to go all day yesterday and all day today waiting for my lesson tonight. School felt like it went impossibly slow, and I only saw Conan one time, yesterday afternoon during study hall. The only available seat was at the front of the classroom and Conan was at the back, so I didn't have the opportunity to talk to him. When class had finished and I turned around to make my way over to him, he was already gone. It was strange; the only way he could have gotten out of the classroom without me seeing was if he climbed out the window behind him.

Pulling my mind back to the present, I load my plate up with chicken nuggies. I wonder if Conan likes nuggets. I debate putting some in my leotard to bring for him, but decide against it when I realize that they would probably be cold by the time that I got to the gymnasium. Eating quickly, I don't bother with a dipping sauce. I finish all ten of them in record speed, practically inhaling them.

"Raven, slow down!" My mom looks at me with wide eyes. "Don't they feed you at this new school?"

"Yeah, sorry. Just don't want to be late." I cough and an entire nugget shoots up from my throat, hitting my mom in the forehead. "Sorry," I say. "Must've forgotten to chew that one."

My mom gets up from the table and gets her jacket and purse from the door. She gestures for me to come with her, and we both head out to the car together. My stomach tickles uncontrollably at the thought of seeing Conan again. I can't help but wonder what he'll think of my leotard, if he'll compliment me. The entire ride to the gymnasium, I create scenarios in my head of how Conan will react when he sees me. Before I know it we are in front of the building, the red sign shining light down into the dark November night. I excitedly jump from the car, waving over my shoulder as my mom leaves to head back home.

I walk quickly to the door. I pause for a second outside and take a breath, mostly for dramatic affect but also because I walked so fast that now I am out of breath. I push open the door and immediately see Conan by the far wall, spinning around in circles repeatedly. I can't see his face, but I can already tell that he looks good.

I make my way over to him, careful not to approach while his back is to me. I quietly say his name to get his attention, but the wind from his spinning is too loud.

I take a step closer. "Conan!" I basically yell his name, feeling my face heat up when other students glance in my direction. I look back to him, realizing that the slight embarrassment was worth it. He is now facing me, hair messy and all over his face from his wild spinning.

"Raven," He smiles and steps towards me. "What's up?"

I never know how to answer that question, so I just ignore it and ask my own. "How are you doing?" I slide my hand down my leotard, hoping he will notice it.

"I'm great. Just finished spinning. That's a real snazzy leotard, I think I have one just like it." Conan glances down at his own leotard after complimenting mine, picking at the sparkly sequins. "Well," He looks back up. "We should probably practice now."

After fifteen minutes of punching a dummy and touching my toes, Conan tells me that he is tired from watching my exercises. He gets down on all fours, barks, and runs over to a bowl that he has laid on the ground. Licking the water up with his tongue, he drinks until the bowl is empty. Walking over to him, I think, I do not want to be this attracted to you right now.

I sit on one of the benches near Conan's bowl. He dries his mouth with his hand before joining me.

"Oh, sorry. Did you want a drink?" He asks as he slides next to me. Remembering that he gets his water from the "bathroom fountains", I politely decline. As he situates himself his arm rubs against mine, goosebumps rising on my skin.

Conan tilts his pretty little face towards me. "You need to work on your toe clenches," He glances down at my bare feet. He had had me clenching and unclenching my toes for about ten minutes, because apparently, it's good for "leg strength and balance". He continues, "You're my student, and I want you to succeed. You will have the strongest toes in this room if I can help it."

I can hear Conan's voice, but my brain stops processing any words after he says "student". Red-hot rage fills every part of my body, blurring my vision. Student? If I am just his student, then why are we hanging out so much? Are we friends or not? I don't normally invite my school teachers over for dinner with my parents. Why can he not make up his mind??

"I'm gonna stop you right there," I place my fingers over Conan's perfect lips, even though he has already finished talking. His eyes cross, looking at my fingers on his mouth. Suddenly shy, I pull away.

Conan swallows. "That was hot." Shaking his head and running a hand through his hair, he says, "But what are you talking about? Did I say something wrong?"

My brain is stuck on the "that was hot", so it takes me a few seconds to find words. "Conan," I begin, my voice cracking. "I need you to make up your mind. One second you are at my house eating lasagna and pie, having a good time, and then the next second, you're calling me your 'student', as if that is the only relation we have. Do you want to be friends or not? Why are you so hesitant to let me in??" I am out of breath by the time I finish. Conan's eyes are wide as he stares up at me.

"Raven, there's something you need to know about me."