Chapter 49 You dance like a dying chicken
Uriel's POV
Ryder had been absent for 3 days.
My eyes darted to his empty chair that had been colonized by dust.
Sighing, I trailed my fingers on it. My hands were feeble and my eyes lost into empty space.
I hoped in my heart that nothing bad had happened to him.
A thud sound had me flinching back as I stared at the bag that rested on my hand.
My lips lifted up in a smile once my eyes connected with that of Ryders'.
"H...hey. You're back." My voice came out breathless.
His eyes bore into mine, then his eyebrows furrowed.
"So?"
Oh
I snatched my hands away, frowning slightly, "the teacher was worried about you, that's why."
He placed his hand on the desk, leaning down until his face were inches away from mine, "and you?"
My eyes fluttered, "and me, what?"
"Were you worried?" He asked, his voice raspy.
I swallowed hard, looking away.
"Cat got your tongue, Kinky?" He placed his hand under my chin, raising my face up. Slowly, my eyes crawled to meet his.
My ears perked up at the not-so-subtle whispers.
Chuckling nervously, I pushed him away from me. "You wish, Ryder."
He smirked and scoffed simultaneously, dusting his seat before assuming his position on it.
I let my hair pour down, covering my heating cheeks.
No! I was not blushing.
My eyes widened when a small crumbled piece landed on my desk. My head did a 180 spin, eyes staring into those dark green ones. He nodded to the paper.
Biting my lips, I turned to my front, gently opening the paper.
Those who tell lies end up in hell. You're only but a step closer to hell, Kinky.
I scoffed.
Me?
A step closer?
Has he met himself?
So I turned around again, flipping him off.
I heard him chuckled darkly and lowly, making my face light up.
"Didn't know you knew that term, nerd?" I heard him rumble from behind me, his hot breath fanning my neck.
I bit my lips, ignoring the heat that crawled up my skin and the smile that threatened to break out.
Ryder had bipolar issues, Uriel. I reminded myself.
One minute, he was cold and next minute he was blowing hot.
I wasn't going to fall for this side of him. At all.
Classes ended very fast. I didn't know if it was the time that flew fast or if it was because I was just too happy.
"Rehearsals?" Cain stopped by my table to ask me.
"Meet you in 10 minutes." I nodded at him. He smiled, leaving with his friends.
"You trust that guy as your dance partner?" Ryder asked from behind me as I packed my bags after bringing out my dancing suit.
"Why?" I turned in my chair, my eyes roaming his face until it stopped on the purple spot on his forehead. "Did you get into another fight?"
"Does the teacher want to know that one too?" Ryder raised his eyebrow at me, folding his arms.
"I mean, she'd love details." I shrugged, my eyes scrutinizing the injury.
It was healing though but didn't look too deep.
"It was a mild accident. Tell the teacher not to bother too much about me." He stood up, a sly smirk on his lips. "Also, tell the teacher that she's to resume soon as my assistant as I'm back on track."
"Huh?" My eyebrow furrowed.
"Think about it, Kennedy." He turned away, walking slowly to the door.
Then it sparked.
"I am not the teacher!!" I yelled after him, hurriedly zipping up my bag. I didn't think he heard me as he had stuck his earpod in his ears.
\-•-
After our last encounter at the class, we were back to square one.
I told you the boy was freaking bipolar.
Though I heard he was actually in an accident but luckily, the trailer was able to dodge causing a major crash.
The chances were very slim.
"From the top. It's lacking connection." Dora scribbled something on her notepad.
I sighed, falling to the ground.
"I know it's me." Cain muttered from beside me, his hands on his waist.
Or it was me?
My eyes darted to the spot he always sat but he hadn't come.
For days, Ryder had been watching me practice but always gave me the same repeated lines of how he was just relaxing and passing time.
He even called our dance 'mid'.
The effontry!
We were creating Travis Stancil's Choreography on Love in the dark!
What does he know anyway.
"One more time?" Cain stretched his hand. A long sigh left my lips, my hands stiff. Then I caught a tall brooding figure approaching from the door and my back straightened.
When he stepped into the light, his green eyes settling on me, a small smile appeared on my lips.
"Let's do this." I said to Cain, my eyes narrowed at Ryder.
I was going to convince him that our dance wasn't mid.
The song started playing and we began to dance, our bodies pressed against each others. Every step was correct but still, it lacked depth.
When the song died down, we held onto each other, breathing.
"This was better than the last." Cain smiled brightly, his hands not leaving my waist.
I forced a tight lipped smile, "yeah. Let's take 5. I need to talk to -"
"Yeah. You should go meet him." Cain looked at Ryder who had resumed his seat, his face showing how unimpressed he was.
Typical.
"I... I just need to ask him something. It's nothing serious." I cleared. Cain nodded, tucking his hands in his pocket. "I'll be back."
I ran down the little stair, walking afterwards until I got to Ryder.
"You really don't believe in us, do you?" I asked, taking a seat next to his.
"I don't care about what you both do, Kennedy." His tone was hard. "If I wanted to seduce a girl, I'd be forward."
His eyes narrowed down to Cain, glaring daggers at him.
"It's a sensual dance. We need to win." I didn't know why I was explaining to him but I felt like.
"Whatever." He rolled his eyes. "I'm just passing time. Act like I'm not here."
"Actually, I have something to tell you." I sighed, hugging myself. "Something that has been disturbing me lately."
I sucked in my breath, waiting for him to tell me how that wasn't his concern.
But instead...
"I'm listening."
My eyes snapped open, my lips stretching for a split second.
God, why was I smiling too much?
"Oh."
"Is that it?" He raised his eyebrow at me, his eyes bland.
"No! Of course not. It's about Chase."
His eyes blazed with fury, his shoulder tensed. "What happened to him? Is he threatening you? Look, you have to tell me every single -"
"No! Jeez, chill." Chuckling, I placed my hand on his. His eyes dropped down to our hands, sighing heavily.
"Tell me, Kennedy."
"E...Emma was behind Chase's doing." My hand subconsciously squeezed around his.
His jaw ticked, his hand curling around mine. His eyes looked straight ahead.
"She told him to do everything he did. My own sister." My voice cracked at the last part. "She said she was only trying to help me. Can you imagine that?"
I turned to face him. He held onto my gaze for a while, his green pupils dilated.
"People like Emma always get a taste of their own medicine. Nemesis will catch up with her, I promise." His voice was thick and laced with ...anger? "Don't worry about it. Hopefully she learns from Chase's downfall now that it's still early."
"I hope so."
Silence enveloped us, the sound of our breathing being the only thing that echoed in the air between us.
His fingers softly caressed my palm, making my heart beat fast. I wondered if his did same as I held onto his hand tight, not willing to let go anytime.
Impulsively, we turned to each other at the same time, our eyes entangled, holding words we couldn't express.
"Are...are we good?" I asked, trying to kill the awkward silence.
He squeezed my hand once more, taking his warmth with him as he retrieved his hand.
"You dance like a dying chicken."
We both broke into soft laughter and that was it.
It wasn't the answer to my question but we understood it.
"Having so much fun with my boyfriend, aren't you sis?"
Can't a girl have some peace and quiet?