The others? They’d been caught when the cops showed up, and while the cops let them off with a warning, our coach…well, he’d sent us here.
To our very own personal hell.
“Let’s get this over with,” I said.
“That’s the spirit,” Ryan said as I led the way up the stairs to the front doors, the rest of the guys dragging their feet behind me.
“Maybe it won’t be so bad,” I added. “I mean, some pro players take ballet classes, right?”
“It’s supposed to be good for flexibility,” Cooper said.
“See? There you go,” I said. “Maybe it’ll be good for us.”
“Couldn’t we have just watched some YouTube videos or something?” Alex said from behind. “Do we really have to take classes?”
Ryan shook his head. “Have I taught you fools nothing?” He turned at the top of the steps to face the others, like he was about to make a speech. “Ballet classes are usually filled with girls, right? The way I see it, the coach did us a favor sending us here. Think of it like a field trip to hottie heaven.”
I stared at him until he looked over. “What?”
I shook my head and opened the glass door leading to asterile foyer. It smelled like cleaning products and I had to blink as my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. I heard distant music and looked to my right to see a glass-lined wall so anyone in the entranceway could watch the dance class in action on the other side. The guys kept filing in behind me but I paused for a second at the sight of ten leotard-clad girls bending and stretching and?—
Oof!
I’d taken a step forward to get out of the doorway and ended up tripping over something in my path. “Hey, watch it!” a girl’s voice shouted.
No, not something.
Someone.
“I’m sorry,” I said as I disentangled my arms and legs from the girl who was now sprawled out on the ground. I got a flash of an oversized black hoodie and long brown curls as I reached out to help her up. She turned to face me.
Ouch!She smacked my hands away as I tried to reach for her to help her up.
“I’m fine,” she mumbled.
“Way to go, Ethan, taking out one of the dancers before we’ve even begun,” one of the guys joked.
When we were both standing, she turned to face me with her hands on her hips and I fought the urge to grin. She was just so…little. And cute. Especially with that fierce scowl she wore like she was alittle warrior about to do battle. “Can I help you?” she asked, though there was nothing hospitable about her tone.
“Yeah, uh sorry,” I said, gesturing to the ground where we’d tumbled. “I didn’t see you there.”
She stared at me.
“I’m sorry,” I tried again. “I really didn’t see you.”
“Nah, it was my bad,” she said evenly, looking down at her hoodie and T-shirt. I followed her gaze and felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. It took all of my will power not to leer at the sight of her obvious yet hidden curves and rounded hips. “I must have forgotten to take off my cloak of invisibility,” she finished.
Ryan choked on a laugh next to me as I dragged my gaze back up to see her watching me steadily, her eyes fathomless and unreadable.
I couldn’t tell if she was teasing or really annoyed so I opted to ignore that comment altogether. “We’re here for a, uh…ballet lesson?” Oh man, that sounded even lamer when I said it aloud. I looked around, distinctly uncomfortable under her watchful stare. “Is this the right place?”
She stared at me for another heartbeat, her lips twitching a bit before that placid, unreadable mask was back in place. “For ballet lessons?” She moved her head slowly and pointedly to the left where the dance class was still in session. Then she looked up at a large sign above a bulletin board announcing the ballet class schedule. When she looked back at me her big blue eyes were widewith feigned innocence. “Nope, no dance classes here. This is the post office.” She shrugged. “Sorry.”
Ryan was the only one to laugh. “Ethan, I think I love this girl.”
‘This girl’ glanced over at Ryan and I could have sworn I saw a little smile.
What the…? So Ryangot a smile, and all I got was mocked? I tried not to feel jealous. I mean, obviously I wasn’t jealous. Why would I be jealous? I didn’t even know this weird little girl.
