After two hours, we're all sweaty but happy... and I'm nervous. I really want to come back, but I have no idea if it was enough.
"Before you say anything, I want Philipp. I have to dance with him, and I want to keep him." Nika's voice is firm and assertive and doesn't allow for any discussion. But I can see the others nodding in agreement.
"Separating the two of you would be the stupidest thing a coach could do, don't worry, Nika. Philipp, you heard it, if you’re up for it, we'd be more than happy to welcome you!"
I can hardly believe it; a huge weight falls off me that I didn't even know was there before. I'm going to dance again.
Chapter 2
Adrien
Changing universities after a year sucks. I was looking forward to being around people again and making some new friends, but it’s been a week now and it's not as easy as I thought.
I'm not loud and extroverted. I usually make friends quickly anyway, but everyone here already knows each other and there are set groups. One week in and I haven't spoken to anyone except my professors.
I have a plan for today. There's another guy in the class I have now, and no one is talking to him either. We have almost all our classes together, he probably has the same major as me. And he actually looks nice, rather quiet, like me.
Okay, I admit it. I may have stalked him in a non-creepy way. I've been watching him all week and decided it was worth a try. I've been through worse. Determined, I make my way to the third row, where he’s sitting alone on the first seat on the right side.
"Hey, ah… can I sit with you?"
He flinches when he sees me and pulls his earbuds out of his ears. "Ah, I'm sorry, what did you say?"
"Can I sit with you?"
"Oh! Yeah, sure, definitely! You're the other new guy, right?"
I draw my eyebrows together in confusion. "What makes you think that?" Did he hear something? Does he know something?
"I know from the student’s office that there was a second transfer and you're always alone too. One and one, you know?" He shrugs his shoulders and winks at me.
"That means you transferred to Strasbourg too?" Stupid question. I roll my eyes at myself.
"Yes."
"Where were you before?"
"In Rennes."
"That's quite a distance, nearly across the whole country. Did you want to come here?"
He grins sheepishly and blushes. "Yes, I wanted to come here. My girlfriend lives 18 miles from here on the German side. And you?"
The German side. That sounds so crazy. I haven’t been across the border yet, but Germany literally is only a tram ride away. Just by crossing the River Rhine you can visit another country. Fifteen minutes tops.
"I was in Paris..."
Two big brown eyes stare at me in disbelief. "And why did you want to leaveParis?"
"That's complicated." I scratch the back of my neck sheepishly and hope he doesn't ask any further.
"Okay, I get it." His open laugh relaxes me. "What's your name?"
"Adrien. What’s yours?"
"Élias. I think we have the same major, we have almost all our courses together."
Now I have to laugh. "And I thought I was the stalker here!"
