“We’re going to a party,” Sasha said. “Some of the dance instructors are throwing it, and they know how to have a good time.”
Daphne’s eyes lit up. “Oh my god, really? That sounds perfect. I’ve never been to a party before.”
Both Sasha and April gave her a look.
“Never?” April asked.
“Well, not one that didn’t involve a cocktail dress and tiny hors d’oeuvres and violin music. But I guess, if you go way back, I went to a lot of VBS parties.”
“VBS?” Sasha asked.
“Vacation Bible School,” Daphne said. “We’d make paper doll Bible characters and drink alotof Hawaiian Punch.”
Sasha and April blinked at her.
“This is more dire than I thought,” Sasha said, turning to April. “And you? What was your biggest party ever?”
April narrowed her eyes. “This is Daphne’s wild adventure, not mine.”
“Yeah, but you need something,” Sasha said, flicking her gaze up and down April’s form. “Not sure what it is yet, but Jesus.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” April asked.
Sasha just flailed her arms between April and Daphne. “Need I say more?”
April lifted her eyes to the ceiling. “Fuck my life.”
“Exactly,” Sasha said, clapping her hands together. “Now meetme in the dance studio at nine o’clock tonight or I will hunt you down.”
And with that, she strode off in her white sneakers, hands in her pockets and whistling some tuneless song.
“She knows, doesn’t she?” April asked when Sasha was out of sight.
Daphne winced. “She sort of caught me right after—”
She cut herself off, closing her eyes and inhaling through her nose as she looked down at the floor. Somehow, she didn’t want to admit that she’d answered Elena’s call.
Couldn’t.
Not to April Evans.
She sighed before glancing back at April. “I’m sorry. I’m pathetic.”
April frowned, but her eyes were gentle. “You’re not pathetic.”
Softly.
Almost sweetly.
They stared at each other for a few seconds. Daphne felt her heartbeat everywhere as April’s dark eyes searched her own.
“Ready for class?” Daphne finally asked, even though she still couldn’t pull her gaze away.
“Yeah,” April said, her voice nearly a whisper.
For a second, neither of them moved. And when April eventually looked away, hitching her bag higher onto her shoulder and heading into the studio, Daphne felt dizzy and breathless. She wasn’t sure if it was because of talking to Elena or the party or something else altogether.
Or maybe, it was because of someoneelse altogether.
