Out of the question.
In individual training, we'll be alone together. Touching each other. Feeling each other.
Oh God. This can't happen.
I shake my head vehemently. "You insisted yourself that I focus my full attention on the coaching job," I remind the headmistress. "Having a dance partner would be a distraction." Those were her own words when she hired me. Why shouldn't they still hold true?
"That has changed. You will dance. In all the sessions, of course," she responds coldly. Her expression silently adds,That's what you get.
She wants to punish me. I should have expected it, but it still catches me off guard.
How am I supposed to dance with Aurora—for maybe even weeks—without...?
No. Don't even think about it.
"Understood," I say firmly, feeling Aurora's gaze drilling into my side.
Don't look.
Don't. Look.
A malicious grin forms on Madame Durand's face.
"Well then, that's settled." She quickly turns around and strides toward the door. Once there, she glances back at me. "And there will be no further problems. Do we understand each other?"
I struggle against the tightness in my throat, but it doesn't help. At least I manage to nod.
"Absolutely not," Aurora says firmly.
The headmistress's reaction is to raise an eyebrow before disappearing through the door.
I should leave too. Right now.
"Maxime." Suddenly, I feel Aurora's hand on my forearm. "Can we talk?"
"Better not," I manage to utter, but at the same time, I can't pull away from her or even leave the room.
"Are you serious?" Her tone carries disappointment and disbelief.
I avoid looking at her. "We've already discussed everything." It hurts to be this harsh, but it's the only way. "First training session tomorrow at two o'clock." Even as I speak the words, I feel like I'm not getting enough oxygen.
The pressure of her hand weakens, and then she lets go completely. Coldness spreads within me. "Oui," she says and walks past me to the outside while I stand rooted to the spot in the dance hall, reciting my mantra.
She's a student like any other.
In my mind, I repeat the sentence, vowing not to stop until I believe it myself.
