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“All I’ve been thinking about is you,” he replies, locking into my eyes with his blue ones. “I want you to be mine, Emma. But we will have to keep this a secret. From everybody. What do you say?”
I take in a deep breath.
“I don’t know,” I whisper. “It’s so dangerous.”
“So, you don’t want me?” he asks.
I shake my head. “You must know how much I want you.”
“Then what do you say?”
“I’ll think about it,” I reply softly.
“You’ll think about it?”
“I need time,” I say. “I need to process all...this.”
August smiles. “Okay, but don’t think for too long. Here, take those ballet shoes at the very least. They’re my gift for you. Happy Sweet Sixteen, Emma Tucker. And that expression on your face when you opened it waspriceless.”
And then, in one graceful movement, he shoots out back where he came from, through the window and into the night.
14
EMMA
I walk back into ballet class the next day with my head held high, and for good reason - on my feet are August’s top-brand, brand-new, expensive ballet shoes. They’re probably the best pair in the entire class.
I catch the expressions of the other girls in the studio. Their eyes quickly dart down to what I’m wearing on my feet. They see exactly what’s making me so strut in so proud.
I even see Britney staring at me, no bullying words ready to spit in my direction when she’s glaring at my new footwear. She is totally speechless. And that adds a little confident spring to my step.
I take my usual position in the middle of the studio and do a big stretch down to the ground – bent over with my face undetectable by anyone else. I allow myself a little smile at my little victory, the other girls unable to see it.
I know I shouldn’t be so materialistic, but it’s not just the fancy new shoes that is gifting me confidence – it is also the fact that Augustthoughtabout giving me these.
He really does care about me. Someone has belief in me.
When I’m back up to standing, I catch the eye of Irina. She’s spotted my new shoes as well. Her small eyes shift back up to mine.
She simply nods at me and smiles.
I smile back.
And I am happy.
And I dare to think of what it might be like to be August Penmayne’s girlfriend...
15
EMMA
I know I’m meant to be helping Mom do her cleaning tasks, but I can’t get intrusive thoughts of August Penmayne out of my mind. He’s clogging up every waking moment, even more so than before he asked me to date him.
He really wants to be my boyfriend? He really wants me to be his girlfriend?
Is this some kind of dream?
My head is telling –screaming– at me that everything is moving too fast and that I just need to calm down and take things slow before they spiral out of my control and I inevitably get hurt, but my heart is telling me that this is the most amazing thing to have ever happened to me and why,oh why, did I tell him I needed to think about his proposal?
