Page 59 of The Sky Between Us

Even the night we laid on my bed in silence, she didn’t offer any explanation. She had a startled look on her face, with her eyes wide and hollow when I touched her, so I pulled her closer to my chest and we cuddled. That was the first time we didn’t have sex when sharing a bed, since we started having it. Unease clenched my stomach, but I didn’t want to speak. I couldn't let the day emotionally drain me, from practice to classes, then the drive here, and Camilla. I just closed my eyes and let sleep take me, hoping the night will bring her mind peace.

“Wake up!” Camilla’s demanding voice beamed from the other side of the door as she banged on it the following morning. “Come on!”

Rubbing my eyes, I glanced at the sleeping girl cuddled up on my side and I smoothed a loose strand of hair back from her peaceful face. God, I could look at her forever. Lowering my lips, I placed a small kiss on her parted ones, and I watched a smile unfold.

“Good morning,” she muttered with eyes shut and snuggled closer to me.

“Good morning, beautiful,” I grinned, wrapping my arms around her and attacking her lips with kisses. Hazel opened up and met my tongue halfway, before they collided in a passionate battle.

The banging on the door continued. “Aiden!”

Hazel giggled when I groaned and rolled off of her to take a T-shirt and open the door to my annoying little sister. I loved her to death, but times like this reminded me that I just wanted to kill her.

“Good morning, Cami,” I opened the door with an annoyed sight. “Can I help you at eight forty in the morning?”

My sister beamed at me, already wearing her black leotard and pink tights, and pushing me aside, she stepped into the room. Hazel sat up a bit alarmed, sleep still lingering in her eyes as she watched my sister.

“Mom said I can dance if Hazel doesn’t mind dancing with me,” she said in a demanding way, which translated to her wanting to dance with Hazel. My worry grew as I didn’t understand why my mom even allowed her to dance.

Hazel blinked, shock crossing her face, but she quickly smiled. “Sure, I can teach you a combo if you want,” she offered, getting out of bed in plain pajama shorts and a t-shirt. “Give me a few minutes?”

Camilla danced in one place and nodded. “Good, I’m going to eat breakfast then!”

With narrow eyes, I glanced at her. “You are never allowed to skip breakfast! Especially if you are dancing!”

She made a face at me, mockingly, not grasping the gravity of the situation. “Okay, dad!”

Camilla bounced out of the room just as Hazel yawned and dropped back onto the bed. Slamming the door, I straddled her and grinned.

“Can I watch you dance?”

“Yeah,” she nodded, the clouds returning to her eyes. Lifting a questioning brow, she sighed. “I don’t think she should dance. I know it helps her, but Aiden, she needs therapy. It won’t be good for her. She needs to lose this to realize if she doesn’t take action, she will for real lose everything.”

I nodded. “I agree…. What do you suggest?”

Hazel fixed her gaze on the wall behind me and chewed on her lower lip. “I do know a therapist. I’ve never seen one, since I’m the type who bottles things up and doesn’t deal with them, but Camilla seems to want to talk. Why don’t you try calling her and see if she can see her or refer someone?”

“That would be great, thank you,” I kissed the tip of her nose and her lips tipped up. “Are you okay with everything happening here?”

She shook her head with a sad smile. “I just feel bad for her. Wish I could do more, but I'll text you the number and you can give the doc a call while I teach her a short and easy combo? Then you and your parents can talk to her.”

“Thank you, baby,” I kissed her lips this time, grateful to have her by my side and helpful. This was already more than any of us could do for a long time.

With one last kiss, I let her get dressed and send me the contact details. I watched her exit the room in yesterday’s workout clothes and my hoodie, and heard her make her way down the stairs.

Collapsing on my bed, I took the phone in my hands and called the doctor. My parents could wait, but I needed to take this step because if it was up to them, they’d wait until it was too late. After all, I was always the fixer in our family, and I had to stick to that.

I let myself loose in the melody and lyrics of ‘You Broke Me Frist’. Jake’s reappearance in my life really messed with my head. I was confused and hurt. Dancing was a way to finally be able to let go of all that anger that piled up. I needed to move on and leave him and the pain he caused, behind. I had to be able to grow to have a future with Aiden. We both deserved that.

Camilla has been pulled out of our little dance session to talk with her parents and Aiden, so I had some time for myself in the studio. It felt good being back in a familiar room, and it reminded me of the studio I used to have at home. In our new house, dad still installed the same one, but we quickly changed it to a gym, after one of my breakdowns when I told them I never wanted to dance again.

The lyrics spoke to me, so no wonder it was one of my favorite songs and the hard-hitting rhythm was something I enjoyed more than predictable, flowy lyrics. I liked contemporary dances filled with jumps, turns and tricks. It allowed more freedom in movement and space, using the floor and incorporating elements on the floor as well as standing, gave my improvisation a refreshing change, breaking up the dance.

Pain spread through my body. A hand squeezed my heart tight and my breath hitched as the song restarted. How many months did I spend staring at my phone wishing he would call me or contact me? And he did it now? Now when I finally moved on? Why was life playing such a cruel joke on me once again? Karma already did this job, there was no need for further punishment to be thrust upon me.

The realization hit me that I promised Aiden I’d watch his game. They were playing Harvard next and panic impeded my body, making my limbs feel heavy. Tears rolled down my cheek and taking a deep breath, I pushed with all the strength left in me to keep on dancing, before collapsing on the floor.

Unplugging my phone, I opened Instagram and without thinking I moved to Direct Messages and accepted Jake’s.

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