8. Spy.
"He said what to you!?" Clara gasped, as if what he said offended her more than it did to me. Well as it should.
The sky was painted in soft streaks of pink and gold, the air still holding onto the traces of sunlight as we walked to the studio. I carefully balanced our coffees, handing one to her as she adjusted the strap of her ballet bag.
"Oh, please." i scoff, "Don't make me repeat it, he is so infuriating. Like hello? Does he not know how to help a lady?" I take a sip of my coffee as we walk to the studio, side by side.
I looked up at the sky, reliving the whole ridiculous day—the dream tree, the chaos of kids with pizza, me tripping over a hoop and him refusing to help, and of course, that line. That line. Which would now live in my head rent-free until the end of time.
"Well, he did mention that you are no lady-"
"Excuse me? Whose side are you exactly on?" I cut her off, narrowing my eyes at her. My day just keeps getting worse and worse.
"Haven't exactly decided yet," She paused, for a second before continuing, "well.
. who would have guessed? The guy who you accidentally threw your chocolate pastry on, the guy we met in the gym, and the guy whom you met yesterday all are the same person!
" her voice was playful, "Maybe its fate, honey. "
"Oh, if this is fate then i don't know what'd you call about your date with Mr. Art Guy," I teased, wiggling my brows. "Well, spill. What happened on the date?"
Her cheeks turned the softest shade of pink when I mentioned about him, "It was perfect, Ama. I couldn't have asked for more. I wore-"
"The red dress right!?" I squealed, "I knew it! You'd look ethereal in it!"
Clara grinned, her eyes lighting up at the memory. "He was so sweet," she said, taking a sip of her coffee. "He kept complimenting me, said that I made the dress worth it. I couldn't stop smiling the whole time."
"And the view? It was insane. You could see the skyline stretch forever. He even pointed out some buildings he liked and told me why- like the angles, the shadows. The depth. And then," she paused, a smile forming on her face, "he started talking about sculpting. With his hands.
"His hands?" I asked, sipping my coffee.
"Yea, Long fingers, a huge palm. Very detailed, I'd say." she sighed.
"Gosh, you are hopeless." I sighed, shaking my head and then tossed my cup of coffee in the trash.
"And you my dear, should accept that fate threw Xavier Hayes at you 3 times!" she said, pointing her finger at me.
Four times if you include the part where I called him sherlock
"Please," I scoffed. "If fate had a face, I'd throw my chocolate pastry at it again."
"Still not over that, huh?"
"Not even a little."
We both stared at each other for a second and then we laughed- our shoes clicking against the pavement as we turned the corner towards the studio.
"Anyways," she added, "just wait. Life's weird. You might end up teaching ballet every week with the Ring Lord."
"Right, about that.. He literally said 'Why would I want to do something like that with you?'" I scoffed, "What makes him think that I'd do something like that with him again!?"
"You asked him." she said, shaking her head. Well she did have a point.
I did ask him. I was hoping he'd say yes because I still don't think iPads are good for learning. Especially for kids.
"That was before he gave me attitude!" I huffed.
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The music finally ended, indicating the end of the rehearsal. Well that is if Madame gave up as well. "Good," Madame said, her voice surprisingly calm. "Not excellent. But not disgraceful either. We're getting there."
That was basically Madame Dubois' version of saying I love you.
Clara leaned over and whispered, "She didn't threaten to end your career today. I think she likes you."
I wiped my forehead. "Either that, or she's planning something worse."
After changing into our comfy clothes, aka a comfortable top and sweatpants we grabbed our bags and headed out together, "Let's go to my place?" I asked her, adjusting my ballet bag on my shoulder.
"Like right now?" She asked, as if my question made no sense to her. Side effect of dating maybe.
"No, darling. Next year. When probably I'll still be crying over my single ass." I replied instantly, rolling my eyes. "Yes, right now"
We walked to my place- it was supposed to be a 10 minute walk, but with Clara, of course, it took us double the time. She started complaining about how one of her toe was aching because of her shoe and oh not to forget about her yapping about her date.
"And then he said, 'You make the gallery brighter.
' Can you believe that? Like, who even says that anymore?
" Her blue eyes sparkled. I have known her for 5 months for, she is my first friend here.
Well, only friend actually. But when she talked about Logan, her eyes had this spark, I never noticed.
And i swear to god if he breaks her heart-
Well, instead I just nodded, unlocking the door. "Very poetic. Did he also offer you a rose and offer to make you his next masterpiece?"
Instead of answering my question, she just clear her throat and said, "Also, did you see Sophie sneaking out today?" she whispered, eyes wide with scandal.
Weird. Cause the last time I asked her the very same question in the gym she avoided it by changing the topic. So i decided not to push further.
"Did he also stare at you like you're his next masterpiece?"
"Absolutely not!" Then she cleared her throat, "Okay," she said, setting her smoothie down, "Ready to check out some classes now? Or are we just going to sip our smoothies like two old ladies?"
"Yeah, I did. I thought I was imagining things cause of exhaustion." I said, with a shrug. We kick off our shoes the second we entered my apartment, I flopped down on the couch and hugged a cushion. I switched on the air conditioner cause ugh.
She closed the door behind us and flops down beside me, her bun is half-done, her mascara is slightly smudged. And yet, she looks beautiful.
Clara smirked, brushing a strand out of her face. "Nope. She totally slipped out the back when Madame Dubois was too busy scolding Sloane for her posture."
"Where do you think she went?" I asked, curiosity bubbling inside.
"I might have an idea." she wiggles her brows, mischief practically radiating off her.
I nod, asking her to continue. She leaned in closer, voice low and dripping with mischief. "Okay, so you won't believe this but Sophie? She's dating someone."
Sophie? The one who always said ballet came first, second, and third in her life? The same Sophie who once told me relationships were just 'distractions'?
I threw the cushion I was holding, "No way! Who is it?" I asked her, "Its.. a drummer, from a famous band." she said, getting up from the couch and walking to the kitchen.
"A drummer?"
She grins, clearly enjoying the suspense. "From a band. A famous band."
I nearly fall off the couch. "Are you joking?"
Clara nods, smug. "Nope. I saw them last week, outside the studio. He picked her up on a motorcycle."
I let out a dramatic gasp. "Why haven't you told me this before?!" She shrugs. "I needed the right moment. And post-rehearsal exhaustion felt perfect."
Thats Clara's way of saying I was just waiting for you to find it on your own.
"Well, what band is he in?" I ask, getting off the couch and walk to the kitchen. "Not like he is a member of Ashes in Velvet or something like that." I shrug, grabbing a glass of water.
Hearing my words, she froze for a second, then turned her head, looked at me, and then she walked towards me at a slow pace, "Girl, imma hold your hand when I say this." When she finally reaches me, she grabs my hand.
My heart stutters. "What? Why? What happened? Clara, what are you about to say-"
She inhales deeply. "He is in Ashes in Velvet."
I drop my glass on the table with my other hand, "No." I shake my head. "No, no, no, no way."
Clara nods.
Ashes in Velvet.
Ashes in freaking Velvet.
They're not just a band- they're the band.
The moment their debut album dropped three years ago, the entire world lost its collective mind.
They were moody, magnetic, and heartbreakingly talented.
Every song felt like someone cracked open your soul, poured poetry into it, then lit it on fire.
"Clara." I whisper like I'm afraid saying it too loud will make it real. It is real. "Sophie is dating a member of Ashes in Velvet?"
"She is."
"The same band with Maddox Black, the vocalist. And Zev, the bassist who never smiles. And Leo, the guitarist who probably has a thousand fangirls fantasizing at once-"
"And Jax, the hot keyboard genius with a reading glasses addiction," she added
I paused, then continue, "That means she's dating-"
"Kai." Clara finishes, "The drummer. The one with arms sculpted by the gods and that whole quietvibe."
"Is that why she has been glowing lately?" I put my palm over my mouth to prevent screaming. She bursts out laughing. "Honestly? I think so. And I don't even blame her."
"How long has this been going on for?" I asked her, to which she just shrugs and says, "That my dear is what we are gonna find out."
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the next chapter is gonna be fun ;))