Page 12 of Love and War

“What's up, beautiful?” Bending down so I could change out my own shoes, my hip ached, causing me to wince a little.

“I still don’t have a song for the recital.”

In two weeks, the girls who wanted to do a recital had to pick a personal dance and song. Most of them had already come to me, either asking for help or because they already had it. Amy was the last girl who wasn’t sure if she even wanted to do a personal one.

“Well, I can help if you would like,” I said, smiling at her. Most of these girls reminded me a lot of myself at this age. The love for dancing, to feel the beat of a song, to have it flow through you. It’s why even though I don’t dance, couldn’t dance, I wanted to share my love for it with others.

“I would like that.” She jumped, wrapping her arms around my neck, squeezing me. I tried not to flinch from the sudden contact. It was something I had to get used to while teaching young girls ballet. Most of them were huggers.

“Amy, you keep squeezing her like that, you won’t have a teacher.” Looking up, her older brother strolled in. Mark has always given me the creeps. I couldn’t explain why, but it was as though my sixth sense would go off whenever he was around. When he picked her up, he stared at me for far too long. Something about his eyes, there was no soul in there. My skin prickled when he stepped closer, my gut telling me to get away. To shut him down and to just run. But he wouldn’t do anything, not with his sister standing right there.

Would he?

“It’s okay,” I mumbled, holding onto her, like this young girl was my anchor. I shouldn’t be hoping she could hold her brother off from giving me the creeps. But one had to hope.

“Mom’s waiting outside, why don’t you go ahead.” His smile made me want to bolt. “I need to talk toMiss. Sinclair.” Why did he have to say my name like that? Bile rose in my throat. Maybe if I threw chunks he’d go away.

Amy pulled back, giving me a tight smile before grabbing her backpack off the floor. “Bye,” she said a little too happily for the way my gut clenched at being left alone with him. I watched as she skipped out of my studio. I couldn’t see outside the windows because it was too dark. And no one could see in, and now I was mentally kicking myself for getting those types of windows.

“What can I do for you Mark?” My voice was firmer than I felt. Thankfully, I knew how to fake it till I made it.

“A date,” he said, taking a step towards me. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I ignored the gut wrenching feeling to literally book it out of here. To just run to my car and flee like this was a crime scene.

“I don’t think that would be a good idea.” Of course I had to say no to the creepy guy. It was what always set them off, the girl they wanted denying them.

“Why?” Mark asked sweetly.

“Your sister is in my ballet class.” That was not the real reason. It never was. No matter how many men asked me on a date, to even just hang out, I always said no. They were never him.

“I don’t think that’s a good reason, beautiful.” God could men just take a no and leave it at that? Did they always need a damn reason?

“Well, either way,Mark,I don’t think going on a date with you would be a good idea.” Sometimes I truly hated that I couldn’t just shut my damn mouth. I’ve never been able to, no matter the situation. If I had a thought, I usually said it out loud. It’s what always got me into trouble.

“What can I do for you to change your mind?” He reached for me. Backing away I crossed my arms over my chest. Refusing to back down.

“I said no.” The moment the words left my mouth everything changed. Mark's demeanor shifted from a nice creep to an angry one. He widened his stance, hands clenched at his sides. He frowned at me, his upper lip curling up.

“I think I can change your mind,” he snarled.Unlikely.

“You need to leave,” I continued backing up, calculating how fast I could run to the office or outside. If I got to the office I could call Salem. She would drop everything and come take care of him. I could call the police, but I don’t know if they would even take him away.

“I don’t think that’s going to happen,” he growled. I was still trying to figure out how to get out of here without him getting hold of me. I was so caught up in trying to come up with a plan to get away that I didn’t realize he was stepping towards me, his hand wrapping around my wrist.

“Let go of me!” I hissed, trying to break contact with him.

“Not going to happen,” he growled.

“Mark, stop,” I tried reasoning. “Let me go.”

“I tried this the nice way, bitch,” he hissed. “Always flaunting your body around here, teasing me. You want me, no need to pretend that you don’t.” He yanked my wrist towards him, my body flung into his chest. Fighting against his hold, I tried twisting myself around. Trying to get out of his hold. Surely, Amy’s mom was still waiting outside for him. She would come looking in here soon. Right?

“Stop fucking fighting!” he yelled. My body tensed as his grip tightened around my arms. “Just admit it.”

“I told you to let me go!” My damn mouth was seriously going to get me in trouble. Case in point.

“Don’t fight this. You want it, baby.” Bile threatened to spill from my mouth as he squeezed my midsection. “Just ace—”

“I think she said no.” I knew that voice anywhere. I could have cried, knowing he was here. That he would save me from Mark.

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