**Sorry, I lied about her going back to school, but I think I can make up for it with what happens instead.

Chapter 3: WE MEET AGAIN

Today was the day. I would finally be back to dancing. I had missed the studio, the bar, and my Pointe shoes. I had even missed Miss Raine! I also realized that this was it. This was the make it or break it year to get into the company. I wanted it so bad, but so did many of the other dancers in my class. I would have to work hard, if I wanted to reach my dream.

I woke up extra early to get ready. Classes started at eight sharp, but I was up and moving at six. Once I was done, I shook Kat awake and noticed Abigail was already gone. She had probably left for her morning run. Kat was groggy as usual, but instantly perked up when she got out of the shower.

We both headed downstairs to grab some breakfast. I wore a t-shirt and sweatpants with my purple leotard underneath and Kat was in a jumper and her black leotard. We happened to be the first two up, and went straight for the kitchen. I look over at the table and saw dozens upon dozens of cupcakes. I gave Kat a look and in response she stuck out her tongue.

"What? Can't a girl make a bunch of cupcakes without being judged?" I raised my eyebrows up at her.

"Fine. I was all anxious without you and that guy made me a tad bit nervous." She made a inch sign with her thumb and pointer finger, "Only this much." I just laughed.

We grabbed a couple of cupcakes and stole the couch for ourselves. Kat turned the T.V. on and we watched Finding Nemo because nothing else was on. Nemo had just swum up to the boat and touched the bottom. Comically, Kat and I both gasped in fake shock.

"HE TOUCHED THE BUTT!"

We both jumped ten feet and we both whipped around and Kat cried out, "BEN!" I however turned so fast I went up and over the side of the couch with a large thud.

"TARA!" Kat jumped over the couch and Ben ran down the steps.

"Ouch, well that hurt," I said rubbing my ribs.

Ben pulled me up, "Are you okay T?" He checked me over for bruises or injury.

"I'm fine. Ben," I gave him a quick hug, "How are you?"

"I'm fantastic, you?" I nodded and he turned to Kat. As they greeted each other, I went and sat back on the couch. I finished up my cupcake and decided I wanted to brush my teeth again. I headed for the stairs and began to walk up to my room.

"Where you going T?" Kat asked. "Yeah, the party just got here Webster. ME!" Ben joked.

"I'll be right back, I want to go brush my teeth," I replied. Kat and Ben shared knowing looks. "Hey! There's nothing wrong with wanting clean, nice smelling teeth!" I said defensively. I continued to walk up to my room and I heard Ben shout, " It's called GUM Webster! Try it!" I just laughed.

Once I was done brushing my teeth, I looked down and noticed a stain on my shirt. I went over to my closet and picked out a new shirt. I began to change when a voice startled me,

"Soon I'm not going to be able to call you training bra anymore."

That voice sent tingles across my body. Only one voice could do that to me. I couldn't believe he was here. I shut my eyes really tight and hoped it wasn't a dream. If it was, I didn't want it to end.

"Tara? What's wrong?" I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"I..I don't want to wake up," I whispered.

"What? Tara this isn't a dream."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

" If it were a dream would I be able to do this?" He pulled my hair back from my face, caressing my cheek. "Could I do this?" He circled his arms around my waist. "Could I do this in a dream Tara?" He leaned down and brushed his lips against my neck. Slowly he turned me around to face him. Slowly I opened my eyes, and I was surprised at the proximity of our two bodies.

"Hi," I breathed, finally managing to get something out of my mouth.

"Hi," he said.

I shook my head, "I'm sorry, you just got back from a trip with your dad and I said hi?"

He released his hold on me reluctantly, and I stepped back, our moment ruined by my big mouth. He just looked at me.

I, being my awkward self, began to babble. "You must have had a great time. Was Raf okay? What did you two do? Joey missed you….." As I went on, he kept his eyes on me. "My parents were really disappointed when they heard you couldn't come…" Christian continued to stare making me more nervous and jumpy than before. "Gran was also upset and kept going on about what a nice young man you are and my aunts agreed with h…"

Christian closed the distance between us in record time and pulled me to him. I, of course, went on babbling, and he just stared. The look in his eyes finally shut me up, and I about melted to the ground. So much love, passion, adoration, pride, and many more emotions swam in his warm, dark brown eyes. What I couldn't believe was that all that love, was for me.

I blushed and looked down, overcome with emotion.

"Christian, I…" he tilted my head, bringing my eyes to his.

Then, all of a sudden, his lips were on mine. His lips were soft and inviting. His musky scent was intoxicating, and his skin was hot against mine. We kissed slow and gently, showing each other the love we had for one another. The time we spent away from each other caught up to us. We started kissing passionately to make up for lost time. My hands were tangled in his soft, black hair. His hands grasped my face, pulling me closer and sparks flew everywhere. Where ever he touched me I was on fire. Each kiss sent pleasurable chills down my spine. We broke apart to breath and he smiled at me.

"You have no idea how long I've waited to do that." His lips caught mine again.

Somehow, we fell onto the bed all tangled up. His arms went around my waist and my hands went to his muscled back. I broke away to catch my breath again, "Christian…we have to.." the words died in my mouth as he began to kiss my neck. His breath was hot and heavy and he kissed my collarbone in all the right places. My hands pulled at his hair, urging him to go on. After a while, I pulled him up to my mouth and continued our one on one session.

When he broke away, I flipped us and kissed down his neck in return. His hands stroked my curls and he nibbled on my ear. He picked me up and lay me on the bed so we faced each other. We lay side by side, every part of us touching, but still inching closer. We continued to kiss wildly, when a cough interrupted us. We broke apart startled.

"If you don't mind, other people have to share this room too."

"Go away Abigail," Christian said. He turned to me and continued to kiss me.

"Tara!" Abigail yelled. At that moment I was preoccupied with Christian's tongue down my throat, and had already forgotten about Abigail.

"OH, NO YOU DON'T!" Abigail stomped over and yanked Christian from my grasp. He fell to the floor with a great heavy thunk.

"Abigail!" Christian shouted. She dusted off her pants, "That's more like it." She grabbed her bag and headed for the door. "By the way, you have twenty minutes before class."

"Christian are you alright?" I asked leaning over to look at him. He rubbed his head and gave me a devilish grin.

"Now I am."

"Christian, NO!" he pulled me down on top of him. And kissed me with so much love, I sank into him.

After a few minutes he asked me, "Why don't we just stay here for today? Alone."

"Christian, not even you want skip first day of class."

"But Tara, all I want to do is be with you."

"Christian, I haven't even talked to Ben yet. We can't do this now," I said sadly.

"Why? Do you not want to be with me?" he asked angrily standing up.

"No!" I shot up, " I want to do this the right way. I want to make THIS last. We have to take it slow. Including gently breaking it off with our other ties."

"Tara, I can't take it slow. I want you, ONLY you."

"You said that before too Christian." I looked down.

"Tara," he said compassionately, "You know that it was a mistake. A HUGE mistake. I was angry, ashamed, frustrated, and I was hurt. Kat was there for me, and I got confused.."

"I was there for you too Christian! I wanted to help you through it all! But you didn't let me in!"

"I Know That Tara!" I looked at him hurt. "I'm sorry for yelling," he said, "I didn't want you to get involved. My family plays mind tricks, and when they get tired, they leave. I don't want you to have to deal with that, you're to special for that." I smiled at him.

"Christian, if this is going to work out, you need to trust me and let me help you."

"I will, and Tara, you need to be less controlling and stop putting everything before us."

"I'll try"

" You also need to stop being so beautiful."

"What? Why?" I asked.

"So I don't have to beat up every guy who looks at you." I smiled. I gave him a peck on the lips, and he deepened it. What felt like hours, I got my bearings and broke away.

"Let's take it slow, more on the friend zone for now. Just until we sort everything out, and let's not talk about it to anyone else yet."

"Not even Kat? And Abigail already knows."

"Maybe Kat, Abigail wouldn't tell, I think."

He smiled sadly, "I missed you."

"I missed you too." We kissed for a little bit, a broke away a little sad.

He gave me a longing smile, and he leaned down to give me one long, last kiss.

He walked to the door, but turned to face me as he turned the knob.

In a deep, sexy voice that sent shivers down my spine, he said;

"You will be mine Tara Webster"

**Whatcha think? Will Tara chose Ben or Christian? Will they ever make it to school? Will I ever stop being so annoying? No. AND WHO IS KAT'S MYSTERY MAN? I want to know!