But first, I had to find her. I had to talk to her…and I had to say a prayer that she didn’t punch me in the face when I told her what I’d done.
I started to turn away when Olivia rested a hand on my arm. “Don’t tell her I said anything. She’d kill me.”
I nodded and raised my right hand in the Boy Scout salute. “I promise.”
Olivia hesitated and then dropped her hand. I made my way to the front door and pulled it open and disappeared inside. My heart was pounding as I scoured the studios in search of Collette.
Collette was the sexiest, most beautiful girl I knew. She took my breath awayand I hated that she doubted that in herself. She needed to see herself in a new light—she needed to see herself like I saw her.
Just as I passed by the far end studio window, I stopped. Collette was standing in the center of the room. She had on her leotard and tights and was practicing a move. I loved how her nose crinkled as she flung her foot out and turned. She spun around and stopped.
I thought she looked amazing, but she must have not done something right because a moment later, she blew the loose strands of hair that had fallen out of her bun from her face and tried it again.
Just as she moved to twirl, her gaze fell on me. Her lips tipped up into a shy smile as I raised my hand to wave.
She motioned for me to come into the room and I did. I pulled open the door just as she rushed over to the chair next to the wall and grabbed her sweatshirt. I used to think it was cute that she liked to wear them, but now? They were just a sign of her insecurities.
But she slipped it on before I could stop her. She walked over to me with her wide blue eyes that danced with excitement, and my heart ached for the sadness I knew she held within herself.
I wanted to prove to her right here, right now, that she was incredible.
“Where’s your guitar?” she asked as she glanced around.
I shrugged as I slipped off my duffle bag and took a step toward her. “It’sin my car. I can get it later.”
She furrowed her brow. “Later? No, you practice first, remember?” She took a step back as I advanced on her.
I held her gaze, hoping she would feel everything that I was trying to say. Everything I felt. I doubted that she just wanted to be friends. I was almost positive that she was scared. And I could work with scared.
“Not today,” I said as I reached out and grasped the edge of her hoodie that she had wrapped around her body like a robe. I was tired of her hatred of her body and I was going to show her what I saw. What Ionlysaw.
“Ethan, what are you doing?” she asked as her gaze filled with fear.
“Why do you always wear this when we practice?” I asked, allowing my voice to deepen as I grasped the other side of her hoodie.
Collette’s cheeks heated as she kept her arms wrapped around her stomach. “I get cold,” she said as she stepped back.
I shook my head. “I don’t believe that.” I moved closer just to see her eyes widen.
“I like the way it feels on my skin.”
I shook my head. “Try again.”
Tears brimmed her eyelids and I wanted to fix what she felt was so broken inside of her. What I saw was perfection and it killed me that she didn’t see the same.
“What do you want me to say?” she asked as she studied me.
I met her gaze and took in the pain that she held there.I could see the turmoil that was tearing her apart. And then, I realized that the only way to reach Collette—to really speak to her—was to dance.
“That you’ll dance with me? Without”—I waved to her hoodie—“this.”
She glanced down and stared at her hoodie. Then she glanced up at me. A tear slipped down her cheek as she studied me. “Ethan, I can’t.”
I reached up and wiped it away. Then I smiled at her, hoping I came across as encouraging instead of creepy.
“You can,” I said. Then I turned and made my way over to the stereo. I plugged in my phone and foundFix Youby Coldplay.
The beginning chords began to play and I let the notes flow through me. I hesitated and then turned to see Collette standing in the middle of the dance floor. She had her arms still tucked around her body and her head tipped down.
