Page 10 of Set the Moment
We’d been ten-years-old and bored out of our minds that summer because a storm knocked the power out in Maryland. It’d also been the first ever summer I spent more than a week in Summerfield.
The prickling feeling I’d felt earlier rises, and instead of my eyes remaining on the deep brown ones in front of me, they flicker to the left.
Our eyes connect instantly like two magnets.
My breath catches, and I feel like I’m falling back down the rabbit hole of us. Images of him and I throughout our life in the summer and the winter of my 18th birthday flash like photos.
Cool jade eyes pull me in and refuse to let me go. No matter if I’m in a crowded room, on a busy street, or on stage, my eyes will always find his.
It’s been two years since I’ve seen him. Should I wave? Do I say hi? Does he even remember me? I mean I look different…my hair’spink,for crying out loud. Did I mess up by changing myself?
I haven’t even gotten to the tattoo part of my list—
He’s with a girl. My head tilts as he and I keep our eyes locked on one another, unwavering, as she jumps into his arms and they lock around her instantly.
Jace has a girlfriend?
Does he call her angel, too?
“So…have you thought about my question from earlier?”
Like a bucket of ice cold water has been dumped over my head, my eyes snap back to Arin or Ashton’s—I’m horrible with names—brown eyes.
Inhaling sharply, I think over his question.
I came to this school to get a fresh start, and if that means going on a date with a random hot guy, then so be it.
“Yeah, pick me up this Sunday?”
“Sunday at eight?”
Why do I feel like this could be the start of something very, very bad?
No Si Si, that’s just you overthinking…tell the cute guy yes and move on with your day.
“It’s a date.” My heart bangs against my chest as the words tumble from my lips.
Is this normal or a sign of a bad omen?
I’ll be fine…I hope.
Aric—right, that’s his name—walks me to class and reminds me that he’ll pick me up for our date on Sunday. I don’t know if it’s because it’s my first date here or because I’m uncertain about whether or not he and I should be going on it, but my heart stutters.
Pushing away that feeling, my body soothes itself as I enter the studio where Ballet 3303 will be held. The room is bright and lively with chatter as people stand around. Smells of sterile disinfectant and old wood calm my nerves as I enter the expansive dance studio that I'll be spending the next few weeks of my life in.
The studio is probably the largest I’ve ever been in on a college campus.
Floor to ceiling windows line the expansive western wall with huge mirrors along the front. There are barres strategically placed along the middle of the room and a podium in the corner where the professor will conduct class.
I sigh, my shoulders relaxing as I drop my bag down, taking a seat beside a girl with auburn hair. She looks up at me, giving me a small smile.
It’s a familiar smile, but I can’t quite place it.
“Your hair is beautiful! I’ve always wanted to dye mine!” She giggles and I cringe back as she sticks her grimy hands up in an attempt to touch my hair.
What the hell?
Why do strangers think that because I have “pretty” and unique hair, that gives them a free pass to pet me like an animal at the zoo?
