Page 167 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

“I thought you two were good together.”

Aaron sighed. “Me too. God, I love her.”

“You fell in love?”

“I did. I couldn’t help it.”

“Well, maybe she’ll make the company soon. Then you guys can date again.”

He hadn’t thought about that. “That’s a real good point, Jen. It’s only a few months away. We can handle a few months apart.”

Alex stared at his best friend as he sat talking to Jenna. He felt terrible. Had he known about the rule, he never would have encouraged the relationship. The rule made sense, he supposed, but... shit. Another fuck-up with Anna.

And why was she suddenly afraid of him again? When Devin had told him after the pain incident, he’d sounded too pleased about it. Had the Elder done something to her to make her afraid of him?

Devin had admitted he could make Anna do anything. Did that include making her afraid of her other Master? Was that even possible?

He sighed. If Devin could mess with Anna’s mind, how the hell was Alex supposed to win her over and build a relationship with her?

Chapter 70

Anna stared at the sandwich she’d bought for lunch and realized she had no appetite. Her stomach twisted into knots, and burning tears threatened to escape. She had briefly contemplated quitting the Summer Intensives so she and Aaron could continue to date, but she couldn’t. Not after being back in a real dancing environment. The part of her that Jack and Devin had tried so hard to kill had reawakened and she couldn’t let it die away again. Not by her choice, anyway. She’d felt more alive that morning than she had in ages. Of course, part of her joy had been being in love with Aaron, too.

She squeezed her eyes shut. She hated the idea of sleeping without his arms around her.

Maybe she should quit. Who else would accept her for what she really was? On the other hand, did it matter if she didn’t date? Devin had wanted her to go out and experiment. She had, and it had been wonderful, but of course it had to end. Now she could slip back into her small world of being Devin’s slave. Dancing would be the only bright spot in her life, but at least it couldn’t break her heart. She’d rather be lashed with Jack’s bullwhip than feel the way she felt right now.

Ballet, sex, and Devin. That would be her life. Her safe, predictable, insignificant life.

Anna’s phone rang as she was walking back to the studio. She pulled it out of her pocket. “Hi, Jenna.”

“I heard what happened. Are you okay?”

Anna shrugged, then remembered Jenna couldn’t see her. “I don’t know.”

“Want me to come over after rehearsal and we can drown our sorrows in ice cream and cookies?”

Anna let out a choked cough as a memory unlocked of offering the same thing to Jenna after her cat had died when they were eight. A sob, cough, and laugh escaped her lips all at the same time. “Yeah, that would be great.”

“I’ll be there at six with everything we need.”

Anna shoved her phone back into her pocket after saying goodbye and walked into the dance studio, determined to put her heartbreak aside and focus on the one thing that couldn’t hurt her. Ballet.

The first class after lunch was pointe, and it was exhilarating. She hadn’t lost as much strength as she’d thought, though she was exhausted by the end. But it was doable. She could dance en pointe again. Even Patty had been impressed.

As she walked home later that evening, alone, she did her best to ignore the knife in her heart and remember the thrill of being at the Summer Intensives. But when she walked into her apartment, Aaron’s absence was palpable. She glanced into her room and bathroom. As she’d offered, he’d taken his things and left.

Tears filled her eyes and loneliness fell over her shoulders like a weighted jacket. She stared at her unmade bed and backed against the wall, sliding down until she hit the floor. The dam broke and the tears spilled forth. She sobbed. And sobbed. And sobbed.

About everything and about nothing. Aaron. Kurt. Wilhelm. Alex. Her parents. Things Devin did to her. All the hurt and pain that had been bottled up for years came rushing out in the torrent of tears. She screamed. She kicked her feet. She hit the floor with balled-up fists.

Finally, she lay on her back and stared at the ceiling. The catharsis complete, she had a semblance of quiet. Not peace. Her life was not meant to be peaceful. But she was quiet and calm. The storm had run its course and was done.

She glanced at the clock on her nightstand. Jenna would be there soon. She smiled and sat up. Cookies and ice cream sounded really good.

Chapter 71

Much later that night, after Jenna had gone home, Anna lay on the couch in her pajamas watching TV, coming down from her sugar and friend high. Someone knocked on her door. Was it Aaron? She didn’t want to face him right now. Devin? That could be okay.

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