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Lia doesn’t, and she’ll never find out. Not if she makes sure I lose my job today.

John keeps talking about Francesca’s classes as we walk across campus to the practice building. Nothing has changed here at all. Everything is the same as it was when I was a student. The studios have the same floor-to-ceiling mirrors. There’s still a gym and a swimming pool, which very few people actually use, but the school wants to offer the best. No wonder, considering the tuition fees.

We say goodbye on the second floor, and I thank him for the tips and follow Francesca’s voice into the studio where my first class is taking place. Most of the students are already there, but a few still seem to be missing. I spot Katie and a pale, blond girl. Both of them have already started their warm-up exercises and steal glances at me as soon as they realize I’m here. They giggle while I pretend not to notice.

“Good morning,” Francesca says, stopping next to me. “How are you feeling?”

Right now? Pretty awful, thanks for asking.

“Fine,” I lie, forcing a smile.

She nods contentedly. “I want you to focus on correcting posture problems today. I’ll divide the class into two groups. You take one, I’ll take the other, so it’s not too much for you to start with.”

“Okay, sounds good.”

“Wonderful.” She smiles and then looks at her watch. “We’ll start in ten minutes; everyone will be here by then. At least they should be. Some people take the first day of their final year more seriously than others.”

“Lia is with Mr. Pearson,” I blurt out.

What the hell? Am I defending Lia while she’s probably wrecking my life? Yeah, it sounds like that. Cool.

“I know, I heard,” Francesca says. Of course she did; she was at our morning meeting earlier. I don’t answer, but I’d really like to crawl into a hole right now. I really couldn’t be any easier to read.

“Francesca?” A tall, very slim guy joins us and distracts Francesca enough that hopefully she won’t think any more about what I said.

I stand there, unsure. What should I do now? Just wait? Wait for class to start and for Pearson to send for me so he can kick me out? I guess I have no choice. All because of her. Damn.

As if I summoned her with my thoughts, Lia enters the studio just then with long, smooth strides. I have to keep myself under tight control to stop myself from going over and confronting her. This is neither the right place nor the right time for that. She doesn’t even glance at me as she walks over to Katie and her friend. Instead, she’s got a cheerful smile on her face. I don’t buy it for a second, and I don’t understand. If she had told Pearson about us, she wouldn’t be in such a good mood, would she? Damn, I have no idea.

I spend the next five minutes watching her surreptitiously, trying to figure out from her expression what she discussed with Pearson, but she’s not giving anything away. She completely ignores me, talking to her friends and laughing as if nothing happened.

I clench my teeth, and I’m glad when Francesca finally rings the bell to start class. She assigns me to about a quarter of the students, and fortunately Lia isn’t one of them. It wouldn’t be good for either of us if I had to correct her posture. But even though she’s in the other group, I can’t manage to ignore her completely and concentrate on the other students. I’m failing on the first day of my job because she’s too distracting to me, even though she’s not doing anything wrong. She’s just doing what she’s supposed to do, like everyone else. As it turns out, Lia doesn’t need any correction. Her execution of the positions is absolutely flawless. Perfect. Controlled.

But still, there’s something off about the way she dances. Last night was different. Just as flawless, just as perfect, just as controlled. But not so . . . distant? No, that’s not it either. I can’t quite put my finger on what was different yesterday. But I don’t need to, because she’s not part of my group. Still, I find it extremely difficult not to watch her constantly as I walk among the students in my group and correct their posture. It’s surprisingly easy to spot their mistakes and show them how to do it better. Much easier than I expected it to be.

“That went well,” Francesca says at the end of the lesson, praising me. “Keep up the good work.”

Yeah, keep it up. The only question is whether I’ll have a chance to or not.

Chapter 13

Lia

A hand closes on my upper arm as I’m on my way to the restroom during the short break before pointe class.

I gasp in surprise as I’m towed into an empty locker room, the door closing behind me with a soft click, and I’m pressed against the cool wood. My breath catches as I look into Phoenix’s dark face. He braces himself with both hands on the door, next to my head. My heart skips a beat. He’s much too close to me. I inhale his scent, something that is totally unique to Phoenix.

Wrong, very wrong, Lia. Pull yourself together.

I clear my throat and lift my chin, pretending to be much more confident than I feel right now. “What’s going on?” I push his arm aside, and only now does he seem to realize how close he actually is to me.

“I could ask you the same thing,” he says, taking two steps back. The sudden distance between us feels strange.

“What do you mean?” I look up at him and frown.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“No,” I reply slowly.