Page 15 of Lessons in Sin

Letting out a gasp, I relax and wobble over to my water bottle, my legs almost giving out from under me. Grabbing my towel, I wipe away the salty droplets of sweat that cling to my skin, dampening the hair on my neck.

After my conversation with Tristan, I needed something to get rid of all the hurt and frustration - There’s no point holding onto it, there’s nothing either of us could do we’re both in an impossible situation. Dancing just happens to be the best form of medicine when it comes to things I can’t control.

Well, usually it is. Usually, I can spin and twirl and sweat until only the memory of whatever inconvenience was bugging me remained.

Today is going a little differently.

Even now, after three hours of gruelling practice, I still can’t rid my thoughts of him.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

I’ve never believed in fate, usually I’d scoff at the idea but what I’d felt with Tristan? What I still feel - it isn’t normal desire or lust, it’s something more.

Staring out of the window, I sigh. Slowly, the world is growing darker, the impending night already beginning to cloak everything in shadows. Soon I’ll have to leave and face the fact that no matter how badly I want Tristan, and no matter how strong the connection is, it cannot under no circumstances happen.

I rub my aching legs, massaging away the pain when I hear Andre behind me. ‘You did well today.’

I raise my brows at him, sending him a teasing grin despite the warmth that settles in my stomach at his words. ‘A compliment? I wasn’t expecting that from you.’

He rolls his eyes. ‘Don’t get used to it. We still have lots to do.’

In the few days since my interview, I’ve found myself becoming more and more comfortable around Andre, and he’s even started entertaining my bullshit.

I wince as I stand, my bag in hand. ‘You’re going to kill me at this rate.’

‘Death is only a pitstop for a dancer.’ He crosses his arms over his chest, those lithe muscles trembling.

Andre is stunning … but he isn’t Tristan.

‘Yea? Well, where’s the destination then? Hell?’

‘Guess you’ll have to find out.’ He tilted his head to the side, a look of contemplation clear in his honey-brown eyes. ‘Usually, the lessons would be … less intense. But you’re good Scarlett, better than good and I want you performing at my end-of-year ballet production. There’ll be producers and other life-changing connections in the crowd. This could very well be the start of your career, so the lessons will be intense, but the pay-out will, hopefully, be worth it.’

Heat flared in my already red cheeks at the praise, but I ignore it and wink at him. ‘Does this mean I’m your favourite student?’

A slow smile spread across his face. ‘You’re impossible.’

‘That’s my middle name.’

The thought that a man such as Andre, with so much talent and fame, could see potential in me was … well it was enough to make me want to throw up and never return — but it was also an honour, an honour that I would do anything to prove that I deserve and hopefully gain a career along the way.

After throwing my bag over my shoulder, I head towards the door, saying goodbye to Andre as I go, the dread of another class with Tristan still fresh in my mind.

Chapter 10

It’s been two weeks.

Two painfully long weeks of awkward classes where I do just about everything to avoid looking at Tristan - something which is kind of impossible when the man in question is your teacher.

’Scarlett!’ Lily shouts, bouncing up beside me as I walk through campus. Noah appears at my other side, swinging his arm around my shoulder. Sipping from my Styrofoam coffee cup, I look between the two.

‘Ignore her.’ He says, steering me away from a grinning Lily.

‘Okay guys, what is going on?’ I laugh, confused.

‘Lily has a seriously perverted mind.’

Lily rolls her eyes. ‘I do not, I just have taste - something which you clearly don’t have.’

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