Page 6 of Undeniably

It’s bittersweet to be in the studio. On one hand, my heart aches to be out there with them, doing each move as fluidly as I breathe. My heart feels lighter watching each of the students nail a harder move or just enjoying the dance for what it is.Beauty.

I miss the days when I could dance just for me.

Walking through the line, I grab a yogurt and a banana, taking it to an empty table. I’m about to sit down when a body hits me from behind.

“Oh my goodness, it’s actually you! I didn’t believe Keaton when he said you were back. I’ve missed you.” The girl squeezing me to death is none other than Tinsley Yates, Keaton’s younger sister.

My mind immediately takes in the young woman who has replaced the child I once knew.

“Tinsley? Damn, girl, you grew up.”

She huffs, “I wish other people saw that.”

I don’t miss the way her eyes dart to their table in the back corner.

“Do you still have a crush on Finley?”

Her cheeks turn red, but instead of answering, she punches my arm. Hard.

“Ow. What the hell, Tin Tin?” I fall easily into the nickname I used throughout her childhood.

“Where the hell did you go? You just left us. Abandoned us. You know, Keaton went looking for you. He was pissed when he found you but didn’t tell us what happened. So, I’m asking now. What the hell happened?”

I sit down and gesture for her to sit next to me. “Nothing. I changed schools, that’s all. I didn’t even know Keaton came looking for me. He never found me.”

“Bullshit. Something happened. It’s okay. You don’t want to tell me. I get it. Don’t forget where you came from though. You really hurt us when you left.”

A pinch of guilt sinks in. I didn’t mean to hurt Tinsley. She’s the sweetest girl I have ever met. At least, she was. It saddens me to know that I don’t know who she is anymore.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you. I swear.”

Her eyes soften. “I know you didn’t. I don’t know why you left, but you didn’t hurt just me. Reed was upset. Sterling and Finley were worried about you. Keaton lost his shit for a while. Just don’t do it again, okay? Everyone was messed up.”

My heart stutters. They aren’t my guys anymore. They are hers. I want to tell her about Keaton being the reason I left, but I can’t ruin her image of her perfect brother. No matter how I feel about him, I would never do that to her.

“I won’t. I don’t expect to come back to the group. I just want to finish my senior year and figure out what I want to do with my life.”

“Seriously, Tinsley?”

Finley Abbott sits down at our table. I would know him anywhere. He’s taller and fills out his clothes much better than he used to, but his signature blue eyes and that shaggy blond hair hasn’t changed since he was a kid.

“What?” Tinsley asks.

“Do you befriend all the new girls on their first day?”

“Morgan doesn’t count. I’ve known her most of my life.”

“Keaton won’t like this.”

“Keaton can go suck a dick.”

I gasp at hearing the words leave her mouth. She looks at me and winks.

Finley laughs. “Reed’s going to regret letting you hang out with Sage if you keep picking up her dirty mouth.”

“You know what I have to say to that?” When Finley doesn’t answer, she responds anyway. “Reed can go fuck a monkey. I’m not a child anymore. I do what I want.”

Finley shakes his head in exasperation but leaves.

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