11. Enjoying The View? #2
“Ah, so I have New York traffic to thank for your punctuality.” His tone is light, teasing.
I snort softly. “In a roundabout way, yeah.”
He slides his barre into place beside mine with a fluid ease I can’t help but envy. “Well, I’m glad you’re early. Gives me a chance to get to know you.” He glances toward me just in time to catch me struggling with the barre again. “Here—let me.”
Before I can protest, he steps over and lifts it from my grip with effortless strength, setting it into place like it weighs nothing.
“Thanks,” I say, brushing my hands against my thighs to hide my embarrassment. “Those are... heavier than I remember.”
He crouches slightly to adjust the height settings, his brow furrows in concentration.
“And... get to know me?”
He lifts his gaze, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes. “Yeah, why not?” He straightens, dusting his hands together. “Are you a closed book?”
I offer a half-shrug. “Depends on who’s trying to read me.”
A beat passes, quiet but not uncomfortable. His smile is small, but just enough that it reaches his eyes. “Fair enough.”
Before I can reply, the same mass of auburn waves that nearly sent me flying a few weeks ago bounces into the studio.
“Nik!” Lily shrieks, already mid-story. “You will not believe what just happened to me on the way here.” She stops short the moment she spots me.
“Oh my gosh!” Her eyes light up, and in seconds, she’s barreling toward me with arms flung wide. “Eleanor! I knew I’d see you again. We are going to be the best of friends, don’t you worry.”
Before I can brace myself, she wraps me in a full-force hug that nearly knocks me backward. Her perfume smells like cherries and her energy is brighter than the sun. Not even a cup of coffee can give me this much energy.
Friends.
I force a smile as I try to mask the knife-like ache in my chest. Not because Lily isn’t nice; she is.
Overwhelmingly so. But after the Sofia incident...
I’m not sure trusting anyone again is the smartest move.
Friendships come with conditions. Some are sweet and innocent at first, but can turn quickly. Almost like a pirouette gone wrong.
But Lily looks at me like we already belong in each other’s lives. Like I’m safe with her. And I don’t have the heart to brush her off.
“It’s nice to see you, Lily,” I say, managing a polite smile. See? I can be cordial.
“Lily,” Nik warns gently, a thread of amusement in his voice. “Bring it down a notch.”
She immediately takes a step back and cringes. “Right, sorry.” Then she glances at me, sheepish. “I was just hoping it would be you here. After all Nik was saying about you—”
“Lillian,” Nik cuts her off, more firmly this time. His eyes dart toward her with a pleading look.
He was… talking about me?
“Eleanor,” he blurts, pivoting, “meet coffee girl.” A sly smile tugs at his lips as he waves toward Lily.
Lily blinks, confused, until it clicks. Her eyes widen. “Nicholas,” she groans. “You told her that?” She crosses her arms with dramatic flair. “That’s rude.”
Nik points at her, feigning seriousness. “First of all, my name isn’t Nicholas. And second, of course I did. She asked about my worst first impression.”
“But we’re friends,” Lily whines, shooting him an offended look. “Friends don’t tell embarrassing stories.”
“Never mind that,” I cut in, feeling a second wave of embarrassment looming.
The last thing I need is for Nik to tell her what I was caught doing.
One awkward moment is enough for a lifetime.
I shift to him instead. “I thought you said that was your first impression of a new girl. She seems to be your friend.”
Nik smirks, crossing his arms, the movement making his biceps flex beneath his black shirt.
He looks far too smug for someone currently in control of my blood pressure.
“I said it was my first impression of a dancer,” he corrects, a low chuckle slipping out.
Then he nods toward Lily. “I’ve known her my whole life. ”
I feel like an outsider. This is a small town, and it won’t surprise me if everyone here has known each other since childhood. “Oh, really?” I ask, mostly to fill the silence, directing the question to no one in particular.
“Yep!” Lily chirps, oblivious to the knot tightening in my stomach. “Nik is like the brother I never had—or ever wanted, if I’m being honest.” She throws her head back with a cackle.
“Ha-ha,” Nik replies sarcastically, giving her a sidelong look. Then he turns toward her, hands resting on his hips. “So tell us,” he says, raising a brow. “What brings you in here more hectic than usual this morning?”
Lily places a hand on her chest, as if she needs to prepare herself.
“Okay. So. I was walking to Pot & Kettle, like I always do, because, as you know, I cannot start my day without caffeine—otherwise I’ll literally die, right?
And I’m halfway there when I see this squirrel—a very determined squirrel—dragging an entire bagel across the street. ”
Nik blinks. “A bagel?”
“Yes! Like, a full New York deli bagel. Sesame. Or everything seasoning—I’m not sure, but I was impressed.
I couldn’t just ignore it, right? So I took a picture because—well, obviously—and then this man on a bicycle comes swerving around the corner, sees me standing there, and yells at me for being in the way. ”
I bite back a laugh.
“But then.” She waves her arms around dramatically. “His bike tire hit the sidewalk, and he flew off like a cartoon character, landing straight in a bush.”
Nik raises an eyebrow. “Did you help him?”
Lily worries her bottom lip between her teeth. “I… asked if he was okay?”
“You asked?”
“Well, I was holding hot coffee! I didn’t want to spill it on him. But anyway, it turns out he’s the new pianist at Crosspoint and now he definitely hates me.” She sighs. “So yeah. That’s why I’m a little ‘hectic’ this morning.”
Nik holds up a hand. “Wait. New pianist? Does Dillon know about this?”
Lily shrugs. “Beats me.”
“Well,” Nik says, raising an eyebrow, “maybe you can have your mom bake him something as an apology for, you know, being in the way.”
Lily lets out a puff of air. “I guess I could.”
Nik shakes his head, and starts reviewing a small stack of papers clipped to his clipboard.
“Nik, before I forget—will Irina be here today?” Lily asks, stretching at one of the freestanding barres.
At that, Nik’s entire demeanor shifts. The fun, relaxed expression he’s been wearing vanishes, replaced by something more guarded. Whoever Irina is, she clearly means something to him.
“She’ll be here this morning,” he says, his voice more subdued. “After class, I’m taking her to a doctor’s appointment. Did you need to see her? I can text—”
“No, that’s okay,” Lily says softly, her smile softening into a frown. “I’ll catch her during break. I just have a leotard that’s starting to come apart at the shoulder. No big deal.” She pauses, then adds more quietly, “Do you want me to grab you guys lunch later? After her appointment?”
Nik nods, grateful. “That’d be great. Thanks, Lily.”
The name Irina echoes in my head, heavier than it has any right to be. Maybe she’s his girlfriend. Or maybe more. My stomach twists. An unwelcome twinge of jealousy flares in my chest.
Why? I barely know him. I have no reason to feel this way. And yet, I can’t lie to myself. A small, foolish part of me has enjoyed being the sole focus of his attention just a minute ago.
As they continue talking about Irina, a few more dancers trickle into the studio. Some cast curious glances my way, while others dive straight into stretching. To avoid getting in the way, I step toward a corner near the wall-mounted barre and quietly observe.
A few girls offer a polite hello as they pass, though most of the guys cluster into a loose circle, already deep in conversation.
With just a few minutes left before class begins, two men enter the room. The first is tall, with closely cropped, curly dirty-blond hair and sharp blue eyes. The man beside him has dark brown hair, piercing green eyes, and unmistakable burn scars trailing along his forearms, jaw, and ear.
The two men make their way toward Nik and Lily, still gathered near the podium. All four exchange hugs and back slaps like old friends, laughing easily. I watch from the corner, wondering if they’ve all known each other since childhood.
Once they finish exchanging hellos, the two men flank Lily on either side and start walking straight toward me. I stiffen instinctively, though hopefully not noticeably. I’m sure they’re nice, but the idea of adding more ‘friendships’ into my life feels… unsettling.
“Eleanor,” Lily says, beaming in my direction. She stops in front of me and gestures to the blond guy first. “This is Gabriel Fields,” she says, then motions to the man with dark brown hair. “And this is Dillon Pendry.”
They each offer a hand, friendly smiles on their faces. “Nice to meet you,” they say almost in unison.
I shake their hands politely. “Nice to meet you, too.”
“These two bozos are basically my best friends here,” Lily grins. “And since you’re my new friend, they’re a package deal. Non-negotiable.”
I let out a small laugh, even though my insides flutter nervously. Lily’s coming in fast and strong with the whole friendship thing, but at least she seems sincere. And something about the way Gabriel and Dillon stand there, warm and unassuming, makes it harder to retreat behind my usual wall.
Still, I keep my smile small, cautious. One step at a time.
“Welcome to Hollingford,” Dillon says with a watered-down Irish accent. “Hopefully it’s been suitable for you.”
I tilt my head slightly. “It’s been… interesting, to say the least.” I offer a half-hearted shrug.
Gabriel rests a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry,” he says with an encouraging smile. “You’ll warm up to it soon enough.”