"Really, you don't have to follow me" I say as Jacob catches up with me some way down the lane to the dance studios.
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"You said you weren't a stalker remember" I laugh.
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"Very funny" he says smiling.
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"I'm ugh" he smiles looking down at his hands. Do I detect embarrassment from the most outgoing arrogant man I've ever met ?
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"I've been wanting to dance with you again" he says looking away.
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I'm stumped. Unable to hide it I laugh, out loud.
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"Well don't tell Rachel that" I say.
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"Oh I have to mention too, she is taken" I add smiling.
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"Heads up. His names Nate. I wouldn't want you getting into a fight" I snark.
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"Okay" he smiles.
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"Enough" he blushes and looks down at his hands again.
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We continue walking in relative silence. It's dusk, and I've always loved the walk to the studio. It's set back from the main campus, hidden away down a beaten path surrounded by trees and fields. You can get lost here.
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We enter the building together and I scan the rooms for studio space. It's a rehearsal period, and so long as I can find a studio I will go through all of my prep exercises preferably alone.
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"I'm gonna change" I turn to Jacob.
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"Can't dance in this" I laugh looking at my boots and yearning for ballet shoes.
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"See you in a minute" I sigh when he doesn't leave.
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Once I'm in the changing room I slip on my leotard and shorts. Feeling the relief from my ballet shoes I walk back out into the hall. Jacob has disappeared, thankfully, and I walk into the last free studio space.
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I set up the sound system ready to play music from my phone. I begin stretching forgetting all about Rachel and Jacob, the party later and how I can't let loose and drink. I forget all about Ross and how he watches me still. Forgetting all about feeling sick all the time and not being able to eat. I press play on my phone and my playlist begins. I lay on the floor stretching and just feel the rhythms run through me, how the music makes me want to move.
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The door creaks and Jacob lets himself in. Silently he comes to lay next to me on the floor. He doesn't talk, he just comes in and stretches out next to me. He's much better when he's quiet and when he doesn't open his mouth.
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After stretching I do some barre work and he joins me. It's not all that bad. He doesn't interrupt me, he knows exactly what exercises I'll be doing and he just accompanies.
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After a few pirouettes I turn to face him, my cheeks flush and he looks at me as if to say what's next. I pause the playlist.
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"Okay what's the first dance we need to make for the company" I say stubbornly and he smiles.
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"You wanna choreograph it now" he says.
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"Yeah let's go" I say unable to contain my excitement.
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He connects his phone to the music system and searches for the music. It begins to play and I watch him. He's no longer arrogant, annoying Jacob to me. He's thinking creatively, and I join him.
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"We can start off stage" he begins and I watch him.
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"I think it should be you to begin with" he says and I agree.
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"It's a duet" I half ask him.
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He nods still thinking, picturing in his mind what it's going to all look like.
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I just begin dancing because the music is beautiful. Trying to remember in my head and note down what I'm doing so that I can re-shape it and edit it all in a minute.
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He makes his entrance when the music takes a turn and it's the right moment. We are dancing together, he lifts me with care and spins me when I need it. He moves with grace.
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The music comes to an end and I look at him breathless.
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"You're an improviser, like me" he says and I can see his eyes sparkle.
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"I am" I laugh.
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"Lots of dancers, plan and talk it through. I just like to do" I say.
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"We work, Taylor" he says.
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I smile at him helpless.
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"From the top. Break it down, edit and master it" I say softly. A wide grin comes across his face and he starts the music from the top.
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After going through our routine several times I grab a notepad jot down some lighting and staging ideas. He sits against the mirrors facing me and watching me.
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"Stretch" he says simply, smiling.
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"We've made it in less than an hour, I've been trying and coming up short for weeks" he says.
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We stretch out and his playlist changes to ambient soft music. Lying on the studio floor I turn to him.
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"'This party" I begin.
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"It's going to be rowdy" I laugh. And he just smiles at me, listening.
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"I'm advising you" I say and he laughs. He pushes my hair over my shoulder and his eyes look at my clavicles.
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"Taylor" he whispers.
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"I don't have any plans on getting with Rebecca" he says and I explode into laughter.
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"What!?" He grins.
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"It's Rachel, she told you twice if not three times" I laugh.
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"I was busy" he says watching me.
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"Busy with what, looking at her chest?" I laugh.
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"No" he blushes.
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"You have the best clavicles I've ever seen" he says idly and then watches me.
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"Get your eyes off of my clavicles" I laugh.
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He stares at me transfixed and I get self conscious.
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"Busy with what" I say more seriously.
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"Thinking about you and your clavicles" he laughs after a short pause.
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I turn around and sit up. He continues to lay stretched out. I steal a look at him just briefly, light brown hair all messed up which I prefer to his normal clean cut look. A tight black top which shows his abs. A small smile descends on his lips and he closes his green eyes just knowing that I'm looking.
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"You should not be thinking about me or my clavicles" I say.
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He smiles again and opens his eyes. Sits up suddenly recharged and full of energy.
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"Okay, this works" he says all business.
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"I'll choreograph here each week with you. That limits the time you have to spend with me at least" he sighs.
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"Then we only have to meet up at the company as and when, to teach and check in" he says standing.
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I stand up and pull my hair down, he turns to me with an expression I know all too well. I scoop my hair back feeling self conscious.
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"This is good, Taylor" he smiles and it's infectious.
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"This is great" I say reminding myself of a time when I just wanted to be a part of any dance company. The opportunity is here now and I'm acting like a spoilt baby.
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"Thank you Jacob, for agreeing to come here instead" I say softly.
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"Don't be too grateful I'll annoy the shit out of you and your friends to make up for it" he laughs and he's back to annoying, arrogant Jacob.
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He grasps his phone from the music system and dials a number. He puts the phone on loud and I hear Malaika's faint voice answer.
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"We've sorted it" he says abruptly.
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"Hi Malaika" I add chiming in on the conversation.
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"Wonderful" she says and I can hear her smile.
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"We've choreographed the first duet." He adds and smiles.
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"Already !? See you’re just made to move together. I did say Jacob" she remarks elated and he stifles his embarrassment.
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"We'll choreograph here it works well and then check in regularly" he says all business again.
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"Perfect" she says and he hangs up.
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I pace to the door, ready to change.
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"You're seriously gonna change all in private" I hear him laugh and I swing around ready to shout at him that privacy is important.
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When I face him his top is off and he's changing in front of my eyes. I look away abruptly.
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"I've touched almost every part of your body" he says watching my eyes.
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"You've danced with my body there's a difference" I say stubbornly.
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"What does it even matter to you, you can have any girl Jacob" I say to him sharply.
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"I'm engaged. Hear my words Jacob. Happily engaged to Jay. That's all there is to this- you're my dance partner" I say and he smiles again.
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I walk out infuriated that he managed to get to me. Stomping into the changing rooms I take a shower, a cold one.
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I use the hairdryers afterwards and make my hair nice and bouncy. A pregnancy plus point is that your hair looks thicker, I happen to love this particular symptom. I put my sexy dress and boot combo back on and head back into the studio to use the mirror to put on a touch of makeup.
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Jacob is sitting on the floor and I give him the ultimate silent treatment. I'm just purely looking into the mirror and ignoring that he exists. His breathing annoys me and I turn to face him.
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"Can you just be quiet" I say to him and he looks at me abashed.
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"This is me being quiet" he laughs.
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I huff and carry on with what I'm doing. Winging my eyeliner and putting on some red lipstick. It is a party after all. When I’m done I pack my bag up and head towards the door. He follows me wordlessly. And we leave the dance block together.
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