Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Aury
I love my job, but I wish I didn’t have to teach so many classes.
I have two more today—a new round of adult tai chi and then one ongoing open class for teens after school—to be followed by another monotonous night before doing it all again tomorrow.
I am not looking forward to the same pre-cooked frozen dinner and staring at the TV with only my cat for company.
But despite living in Hillside for two years now, I haven’t managed to make many friends.
The people are all nice, and it’s a lovely town, but I’ve never been all that outgoing.
Small talk is easy enough, but opening up and getting to know someone?
I scoff to myself while I ready the multi-purpose room for the next class.
I wouldn’t know how to be vulnerable if it slapped me in the face.
I want to be, though. Every night spent alone makes the darkness inside yawn wider, threatening to consume me.
My heart aches for the closeness and affection I see every day in the packs and pairings around town.
Sometimes it hurts so much that I don’t want to go out; better to suffer alone than be forced to see what I’m missing.
I refuse to let my thoughts turn to any particular person.
Not that avoiding thinking about her has helped much in that regard.
I’ve yearned for the self-assured omega since I first laid eyes on her two years ago, my first day here, when I saw her doing a tarot reading in the park and she beamed the brightest, most welcoming smile at me I’ve ever received.
Then she waved me over and had me draw a card.
Ace of Cups.
Her husky voice as she told me what it meant soothed my nerves, making me feel welcome and accepted despite neither of us knowing the other’s name.
She said I’d be welcome here, that I would find joy and friendship, maybe even more, if I let myself explore the relationships this town has to offer.
I swear she struck me stupid right then and there, and I’ve hardly been able to muster up the courage to say two words to her since.
Especially since I’m not an alpha, so the chances of her being interested in me are slim.
Unusual chatter in the hallway distracts me from that mesmerizing memory, and I look up just as a group of omegas walks through the door.
It’s like I summoned her with my thoughts.
I stare as Siobhan glances my way and waves.
Her bright blue eyes are so enticing, I want to dive into them and never surface.
She’s wearing a loose, dark purple crop top and tight black leggings that hug the curves of her legs and hips.
Her pale blonde hair is in an artfully messy bun on the top of her head, and my mind immediately wonders how much messier it would get during certain bedroom activities.
I swear I was finally getting over her, had just managed to stop obsessing about the woman (who am I kidding, she’s all I’ve been able to think about for the last two years) when her laugh rings through the room.
I don’t know what they’re here for, probably zumba or something, but they’re obviously in the wrong place. I frown, wishing I didn’t have to kick them out as I take a slow breath and then walk over to them.
“Ladies,” I say, dipping my chin. Siobhan smiles and turns towards me, and I gulp when her scent floats through the air.
Slightly earthy and sweet, but with a warm, spicy undertone, like a hot cup of masala chai straight off the stove.
I lick my lips, and her eyes dart down to follow the movement.
I have to swallow again as saliva floods my mouth, and one of her friends speaks up.
“Hi, um, Aury. Right?”
I force my gaze away from Siobhan to take in the purple-haired omega next to her, and I nod. My brain knows her, I remember helping out when her pack needed it a few months ago, but my brain cells all seem to be on vacation right now.
“Right, yes. That’s me.” I try to hold in my cringe, but I’m not sure it’s successful. Sage, I think her name is, covers her smile with a dainty hand. I clear my throat and continue. “I’m sorry, but I think you all have the wrong room. Zumba is further down the hall in the bigger dance room.”
“Oh, no,” Siobhan says, bouncing on her feet. “We’re here for your tai chi class! We signed up yesterday, see?” She holds her phone up, and sure enough, the confirmation email proves her right.
I stare at it and my mind races. They signed up for my class, on purpose?
“Are we good? Did I do it wrong?” Siobhan frowns at her phone, her scent turning spicier as she skims the email.
“No! No,” I rush to confirm. “You’re good, thank you for signing up. That is, I’m glad you’re here. I mean…” I trail off and my cheeks heat. I hope the bronze undertones from my southern Chinese background masks the blush that feels like flames across my face.
The other two omegas giggle, and Siobhan waves a hand at them distractedly.
“Good,” she says, grinning. “I can’t wait.”
I dip my chin to them again and back away, not knowing what else to say and feeling entirely overwhelmed by the stunning omega whose scent is seeping under my skin.
I palm the back of my neck and retreat to fiddle with the sound system.
This is going to be the most challenging class I’ve ever had to teach.
I hope I don’t make a fool of myself in front of her.
Over the next few minutes, a few others trickle into the room. Familiar faces from around town smile as they enter, and I greet the sweet but nosy grannies who never miss a class.
“Ah po. Welcome back.” I dip my head to the leader of the bunch, and she pinches my cheek, then pokes my stomach.
“Have you eaten? You’re too skinny. You need more gow ji.”
I pinch my lips, knowing it’s useless to contradict her as it’ll only pull the rest of them in. “I’ll eat more, ah po.”
She eyes me, but shuffles off to her usual place front and center. I only have a moment to mentally prepare myself to have Siobhan’s eyes on me for the next hour, and then it’s time to get started.
“Alright,” I project my voice over the soft background music and gesture everyone forward. “Please line up facing the mirror. We’ll begin with introductions, then go into some history and warm up stretching, ending with learning a few forms.”
Nods all around, and then everyone is lined up and waiting for me to begin.
I can feel Siobhan’s gaze fixed to me throughout the lesson, and it’s all I can do not to stare back at her as she listens, following every instruction so perfectly it makes me want to fall at her feet in worship.