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Teddy
SHE...SHE LIED. THAT’S all I can think as I see them, through the window in the door. See them kiss. Taryn and Jaidev. Jaidev who I was only just beginning to get used to, to like even. Because he did punch Peter when he was saying all that shit about Taryn. But now his motivation for doing that is clear.
And she kissed him back. That’s what it looked like. I mean, she didn’t push him away. And that’s what I just can’t understand.
Taryn told me she was repulsed by kissing. We managed it for auditions and shows, and I was always so careful with her, but now she’s doing this? And there’s no reason for her to kiss Jaidev. They’ve not got a kissing part. I know their choreography. I’ve got it right here, and it doesn’t involve that.
And she was kissing him back. She looked like she was enjoying it. So, it was just me she didn’t want to kiss or was repulsed by?
I feel sick. I turn.
She lied. Hell, maybe she even pretended she was aro and ace too. This whole time, was she just going along with it, laughing at me?
And all this time I’ve been putting my all into training, so I can dance with her!
Anger takes over me, and I punch the wall. Pain erupts through my hand. My knuckles throb.
Maybe I don’t even want to dance with Taryn—which means I don’t need to get into Roseheart. There are hundreds of other places across the world I could apply to as a solo dancer.
Yes. I’ll do that.
I don’t want to be around Taryn anyway. Not when she lied.
The door swings open. It’s Taryn.
“Hey,” she says. “We were just finishing.”
“Were you?” My voice is dry. She’s just going to pretend like she’s not hooking up with Jaidev? I mean, how stupid does she think I am?
“Yeah. But we’re ready now. We’re going to go and get dinner now. You coming?”
The lightness in her voice gets to me.
“No.”
“Oh, have you eaten already?”
“Yes,” I lie. But there’s no way I’m sitting there, at the same table as them!
I head to the studio. I need to practice more, get better if I’m going to get into a New York company, I decide. Then we’ll see who’s laughing.