The Girl Next Door
The Boy Next Door Chapter 52

Monsieur Dupre claps his hands together and we all pause. "We will do it again until it is perfection!"

what makes Monsieur Dupre such an amazing instructor.

For just a moment, my shoulders sag before I lift and take my position. We've been practicing the same piece over and over. He wasn't kidding when he said that we would keep at it until the movements were perfection. The guy is a real taskmaster. Although, that's The music resumes and lift up onto the toes of my shoes, stretching my arms over head and holding the pose before raising one pointed foot out in front of me. The music arcs and still I hold the pose. My muscles begin to tremble. "Bon!" he says.

Instead of dwelling on the pain, I force it from my mind and lose myself in the rhythm of the music.

Like before, the only thing that soothes the pain of this last breakup is dance. I'm able to lose myself in the precision of the movement for hours at a time. It helps me not think about- Nope. Not going to do it.

Even when he presses in at the edges, I push my body harder so that my mind is too consumed with steps and precision to give one solitary thought to him.

As one, the class moves through the choreography like a well-oiled machine.

Or, in our case, a well-choregraphed routine.

Every so often, Monsieur Dupre will pause the music and critique our positions. Just as I spin on my toes, preparing to leap across the floor in a grand jete, I catch a glimpse of someone in the doorway from the corner of my eye. My footwork falters and I stumble. Colton. What's he doing here?

Even though the question sits perched on the tip of my tongue, I can't push it out. Instead, I stare at him from across the studio. Eating him up with my eyes. Ever since I broke off our relationship, I've been avoiding him in hopes that it would make moving on a little easier.

I should have known that it wouldn't be that easy.

The music stops and the other dancers turn until everyone stares at the tall blond football player lurking at the threshold of the spacious room.

"Can I help you?" Monsieur Dupre's asks in a clipped tone, aiming a haughty look in Colton's direction.

If there's one thing our instructor detests, it's being interrupted. The world could come crashing down around us, and as long as it doesn't interfere with our performance, it would be of no concern.

Remember the band playing on deck while the Titanic sunk?

Yeah, it's like that.

Colton's gaze flickers to him before zeroing in on me again. "I'm sorry, I need to speak with Alyssa."

"As you can see," the elegant man with the dark hair waves a hand, "we are in the middle of class. This can wait, yes?"

I expect Colton to nod and slink away. Everyone is staring at him with wide, fascinated eyes. Instead of doing just that, he steps further into the sun-soaked room. It's almost like he has a death wish. "No, it can't. I need to speak with Alyssa now." All eyes fall on me.

I gulp as my heart beats in to overdrive. Like everyone around me, I can't believe this is actually happening.

"By all means," Monsieur snaps, "continue. It is not like we are here, trying to master a complicated sequence of steps." "Thanks."

I wince. Perhaps Colton doesn't recognize the sarcasm dripping from the Frenchman's words, but I do. Even though I am one of his favored pupils, I'll pay for the untimely interruption at a later date with a punishing workout.

But...I don't care. I want to hear what Colton has to say.

No, I need to hear what Colton has to say.

His dark gaze stays pinned to mine as he steps further into the studio. Everyone around us falls away until it's just the two of us.

"I'm sorry, Lys. I hope you realize that I would never intentionally hurt you." When I open my mouth to tell him that's exactly what he did, he cuts me off with a nod. "I know." His voice drops but his attention remains focused on me. "I hurt you by pushing you away. What I needed was time to work everything out in my head. The meeting with Candance..." His voice trails off and my heart hitches. "It didn't go well."

From the pain swimming in his eyes, that seems like something of an understatement. It takes everything I have inside not to close the distance between us and take him in my arms. To soothe away the hurt radiating off him.

"Instead of talking to you about it, I closed down. That's the way I've always coped with the pain. It's something I need to work on. I know this and I'm willing to do it. I'll do whatever it takes to make our relationship work." He steps closer. "I love you, Lys. I always have. Even when I didn't want to, I loved you."

Emotion floods through me.

He clears his throat. "I don't deserve another chance, but I really hope you'll give me one. Let me prove that I can be the guy you not only need but deserve." Oh God.

Almost collectively, as if this is a synchronized movement, everyone shifts their gazes to me. Even Monsieur Dupre. A sigh escapes from a few of the girls.

"If you don't want him, Alyssa, I sure as hell do," Zoe says from across the room.

Her voice snaps me out of the fog that had descended. I don't bother to respond. Instead, I run across the floor before hurtling myself against him. With a soft grunt, his arms wrap around me, pulling me close, squeezing me tight.

"I really do love you, Lys," he whispers against ear.

I pull away just enough to meet his gaze. "I love you, too."

"So, can we get out of here?"

I glance at my instructor.

With a shake of his head, he rolls his eyes and flicks a hand at me. "Leave. You have taken up enough of my valuable time."

My cheeks heat when everyone breaks out into applause.

"You heard him," Colton says with a grin simmering around the corners of his lips, "let's get out of here."

I nod and untangle myself from him before running over to grab my bag. I shove my shoes into the small black duffle and pull on an oversized shirt that hangs off one shoulder and leggings. And then I'm ready to go. Yes, Monsieur Dupre will make me pay for this tomorrow but I'm not going to focus on that.

Colton holds a hand for me to take. And this time, when I slip my fingers into his, everything feels right. It feels like for the first time, maybe this really is a fresh start for us.

I have no idea what the future holds for us, but I'm excited to replace out.