"No, just offering," I shrugged and stood up. "Didn't know if you preferred to cover up before walking home."
"How do you know I walk?"
My eyes widened because I didn't want to tell her I watched her actually run, but I had a back up plan. "You and Coach live in the same building, and it’s across the park, so I just assumed."
She acknowledged my words and nodded, "I am fine."
I held my hands up in surrender, "Sure thing."
But I was aggravated, probably more than I should be. Her tights and her short skirt may have covered her skin, but it didn't leave much to the imagination. If something or someone spooked her, walking around like that was not a good idea.
We walked out of the front door and I hung around as she locked up. I could see her hands starting to shake and she was having trouble getting the key into the hole. I pretended not to notice because she prided herself on her poise, but tonight, more than ever, I saw it slipping and it was killing me.
I thought it would be fun to see her break, but only if I was the one that broke her. I didn't like the fact that she was shaken up by something or someone else.
After she got the lock turned, she started walking across the street and toward the sidewalk next to the park. I could tell she wanted to start running but she wouldn't as long as I was in sight. Instead of veering down the alley toward my car, I got instep beside her and walked.
"What are you doing?" she asked, but didn't stop.
"Gotta go see Coach," I lied.
I walked into that place ready to bring her down a notch the way she did me, but I was leaving feeling a tad protective and worried. I knew she wouldn't let me walk her home so I told her I had to see Coach. Truth was, Coach was at the complex because he only went home on the weekends, if that. But Giselle didn't need to know that I felt better about seeing that she got home ok.
I could have settled on watching her like I did the week before, but I wanted her to feel safe. I may not have liked being in ballet. I may not have even liked Miss Priss that much. But I wasn’t a complete jerk and in a matter of an hour, she had grown on me a bit.
She didn't acknowledge what I said, just let me keep walking beside her. When we got to the lobby, I faked an incoming phone call and told her I would see her Thursday, that I had to take the call before I went up.
Instead, I waited for the elevator to close her in and I walked back to my car—the last few steps being a classical walk.
I was fucked.