Page 171 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

Aaron felt like he’d been hit in the stomach. “Do you... wish we’d never dated?” he asked slowly.

“No. I thought about it, but no, I’m glad we met. I’m glad I have a friend.” She looked up with questions in her eyes, as if to confirm he really meant what he’d said earlier.

“I will always be here for you, Anna,” he said firmly. And he meant it. No matter how much it hurt, he would be a good friend. It was the only thing he could do for her now, and he would make sure he didn’t fail her.

“Thank you.”

She glanced over his shoulder and he turned around to see the company dancers he’d come in with watching them. They knew how miserable he’d been yesterday, and he’d told a few of them why. The girls at the table Anna had been sitting were watching them with avid curiosity. They obviously didn’t know what had happened.

“I should let you get back to your lunch,” he said slowly. He didn’t want her to think he was trying to get rid of her.

She nodded. “I think I can eat now.”

His heart lightened. “I’m glad to hear it, hon.” Oh, he shouldn’t use his term of endearment for her. Too painful.

But she beamed at him and he guessed it was worth it. He stood and pulled her into his arms for a brotherly-looking hug, trying not to inhale her scent and enjoy her softness too much. She hugged him back, leaning her head against his chest. Oh, the sweet agony!

He pulled away before the temptation to kiss her grew too great. He held her cheeks in his hands. “Call me anytime you need to, okay? Especially if something like... that... happens again.” She tried to shake her head, but he wouldn’t let her. “I mean it. That’s what friends are for. To be there when you need someone.”

Her eyes welled up with tears, and she nodded. “I’ll have to get used to having friends again.” She gave a watery smile.

He kissed her forehead, then released her. He chuckled at the wide eyes of her fellow dancers. “I think you’re going to have some questions when you get back to your table.”

She turned and looked at her friends, then turned back around and blushed. “What do I tell them?”

Aaron grinned. “The truth. I’m not ashamed that I fell in love with you. We’re adults. We didn’t do anything wrong.”

Anna returned to the table with a much lighter heart. Aaron wanted to be friends with her. She wasn’t abandoned.

“How do you know Aaron?” Nicole asked as Anna sat gingerly down in her chair.

Anna glanced over at Aaron’s table. “Um... We dated for a while.” She took a bite of a cold fry and gave a shy smile.

The girls all gasped. “You’re so lucky!” Isabel, a small redhead, sighed and rested her head on her hand. “He’s so cute!”

Giggles and nods circled the table.

“Did you kiss him?” Jackie asked in a hushed voice.

Anna nodded.

“Is he a good kisser?” another girl asked.

Anna nodded again and smiled. He was a good everything.

No one asked if she’d had sex with him and she didn’t volunteer the information. As they asked innocent questions about what she and Aaron had done together—none of the questions involved sex—she suddenly realized how unusual her childhood had been. Most of these girls hadn’t even kissed a boy, let alone had sex. By the time she was their age, she was already becoming an expert in pleasing a man. She answered their questions as best she could, but as they walked back to the studio for their afternoon classes, a hollowness settled in her heart. She wasn’t normal by any stretch of the imagination.

But was she supposed to be normal? She wasn’t even fully human. And she had duties... to Devin. If she hadn’t been trained as she was, she wouldn’t be able to help Devin.

But what would it have been like to grow up like a normal girl...

Anna shook her head. It was pointless to imagine. She wasn’t. She was Devin’s mistress and he needed her. Be thankful for the good times and forget the bad times...

After another thrilling pointe class, Anna walked downstairs to leave. She spotted Travis in the entryway, reading. “Hi, Travis,” she said softly, not wanting to startle him. She knew how she got when she was really into a book and someone speaking too loudly could be very disturbing.

He looked up and grinned at her. “Hey, Anna. How’s it going? Have a seat.”

She looked around and then sat next to him, leaning against the wall. She liked Travis. Coming from somewhat similar backgrounds made her feel comfortable with him. “Things are going good. I feel stronger than I did yesterday.” She smiled. “I didn’t expect to progress so quickly, but I’m already comfortable back on pointe.”

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