I found a bit of time to update! Im still across country and the show is moving along really well, we open this weekend and I am waaaaaaay exhausted and sore. But I wanted to get this up for you guys. Ive been reading such amazing stuff in my down times at night to help get to sleep and I felt like I should be rewarding my lovely readers if I had the opportunity.
I am still on hiatus from the actual internet though, with Doctor Who and Game of Thrones strating this week and me without internet im staying off of Tumblr completely so if anyone on there wants to alert folks that theres been an update to this story I would greatly appreciate it, for their sakes.
I hope this is enough to get you guys staying invested in this story, it should be moving more…..seriously in a few chapters, I hope by the next 2 chapters we should see something….more like the previous…maybe…..muhahaha
Enjoy!
Here he was, sat outside of her studio door with an open book in his lap while she taught the…how many classes had it been again? Oh right, third class so far.
Three classes with him sat attempting to ignore the pull towards her behind the closed door and completely ignoring his reading. He was worried earlier that morning thinking that she would be just as stiff and awkward as she had been when he dropped her off the night before.
How wrong he was.
Last night she had seemed embarrassed, defeated even, and he had so desperately wanted to comfort her but was trying to maintain his professionalism, hoping to salvage some confidence in his ability to see this contract through. It wouldn't do to have her fire him after he made some unwanted advance on her. She was just out of a bad relationship and didn't need strange men pawing at her. Especially strange men charged with keeping her safe by her father no less. Knowing his luck Mr. Crawley would never again hire Barrow Security and Thomas would kick him out leaving him homeless, jobless, and friendless with a very unsatisfied hard-on to boot. All to find out just how deliciously soft her lips tasted.
However, she was shockingly just the opposite. She had bounced up to him in the driveway, having been waiting for him on the doorstep and launched into a game of twenty questions with that carefree smile of hers, leaving Tom completely stunned. She planted herself in the front seat and grilled him endlessly on the drive into town. She wanted to know everything about him, almost as if she was working from a list. Too confused to do anything but answer as shortly and honestly as possible Tom found himself opening up to her about his family, how he grew up, his siblings, his favorite subject in school, his favorite color and on and on. She had rolled on to the next question so quickly he couldn't even analyze his answers or her motivation. Utterly confused as to what she was trying to get at he played along as politely and detached as possible but he found himself getting caught up in her reactions. How her brow would furrow when he talked about studying politics at University or how her face would light up when he said his favorite TV show was Lost.
A number of times he nearly drove them off the road, weaving into the opposite lane. Thankfully, she was too absorbed in him to notice anything off about his normally focused driving skills. She kept up a constant stream of queries until they arrived out front of the studio and she snapped into the serious dance teacher role, leaving Tom to guess at her odd behavior.
She gifted him with one shy smile before entering the building with him trailing after her. He tried to ignore her adorable face scrunched up concentration as she began preparing for the first class. Tom decided to commandeer an empty plastic chair reserved for the more overbearing parents and took up residence outside her room's door.
He finally gave up trying to get through his novel about British politics in the 1920s and let his head drop back to rest on the wall behind him. Sighing heavily he closed his eyes and tried to force himself to adopt his cool indifference he had decided on this morning while getting ready, that was best avenue to take regarding Sybil. Polite and professional. Detached. The exact opposite of what his whole being was urging him to be.
Tom was jolted from his musings by a very delicate finger tapping on his knee. Bringing his head up he stared down at a life-sized ballerina figurine. She couldn't have been over four years old. She was the spitting image of the painting on the wall opposite him depicting some famous ballet dancer from the 1950's except she was miniaturized.
"Can I help you?" he finally said when she just stood there after several long moments staring at him, her little hands fisted on her little hips.
"Parents aren't allowed to sit that close to the door. Miss Sybil said." she said by way of greeting.
Astounded by her fearless nature for one so small he could think of no response to that save, "Well, I'm not a parent."
"Are you a policeman?"
Looking down at himself and his plain black t-shirt and dark jeans, he said simply, "No."
Eyes widening she said in a hushed voice, "Are you a creeper?"
Caught completely off guard he replied, "What?"
"Miss Sybil said you shouldn't talk to strange men you don't know unless they're a friend's parent or a policeman or something. But since you're not then you gots to be a creeper. Miss Sybil said creepers are bad guys that hang around places they aren't aposed to be at and act weird. You're not aposed to be here cause you're not a parent and your sitting in a parents chair. Plus you're acting really weird." She finished with her head tilted up in a very arrogant look.
"Why do you think I'm acting weird?" he asked, intrigued by this little troublemaker.
"Cause you haven't asked my name or told me how cute I look today." She said matter-of-factly.
Deciding to humor her he said, "Well I'm not a creeper; please forgive me for borrowing a parents chair and acting so weird. You look very cute in your um…bathing suit thingy and um…tie up shoes what-nots I'm Tom, what's your name?" he finished awkwardly, holding back a chuckle, not sure what she actually wanted from him.
"Thank you for noticing Mr. Tom. I'm Ivy and I'm going to be a ballerina when I get big like Miss Sybil. 'Cept Miss Sybil doesn't dress right for ballet classes but she says when I'm big and famous and a teacher too I can make it a rule that everyone has to right like me, even in the silly modern classes." She said with a frown, indicating how she felt about Sybil's choice of eclectic attire.
Tom could tell that this cheeky girl was a handful and he immediately felt sympathy for Sybil having her in class and probably asking a million questions and commenting on her choice of wear and movement style. Wanting to ease some of the pressure this wee hellion was fully capable of unleashing on Sybil on her first day back he said, "Well little Ivy, you'll have to practice very hard and very seriously like Miss Sybil does if you want to be able to make the rules. Do you want to know the secret to getting really good? In order to be the best dancer you have to know lots different styles, just not one thing. My Da always said the key to being good at one thing is to know everything in your field well and it will improve what you do. Even being good in the silly modern classes." He replied with a big grin to the now contemplative little girl.
"You're real smart huh?" she asked him.
Laughing at how he had so easily won her over Tom considered what to say next when the door behind him opened up, revealing the class of twelve year olds sweating and chugging their bottles of water as they streamed out gathering their discarded sweats and jackets into duffle bags and greeting their waiting guardians in the lobby. Sybil appeared behind them downing her entire bottle of water while leaning against the doorframe.
As she finished off the rest, she looked down at Tom for the first time since they entered the studio. Smiling at him as he sat leaned towards Ivy clearly having engaged in a conversation with her, Sybil gave him a raised eyebrow in question, asking him if he was all right. When he looked up at her and grinned in that incredibly sexy way he would do when he was relaxed and comfortable she felt her insides melt.
After learning all she had about him today, she felt he was even more perfect than she had first assumed. He was kind and loving as shown in the way he spoke about his family. He was also a big nerd who enjoyed reading and watching TV and eating large quantities of fried potatoes, no matter the stereotype, she remembered him saying with a faux serious look and then a laughing smile pointed at her. Her plan hadn't gone exactly perfectly, he was still very stiff and formal with her except when his guard was down and then she was able to read every emotion in his face.
She could tell he was attracted to her at least somewhat, which was a big jolt of confidence to her plan. She would notice him looking at her when he was supposed to be keeping his eyes on the road. She caught him staring at her lips more than once and wanted to tell him it was more than ok. Especially after her very vivid, dream the night before. She just wanted to know if his kiss would be as breathtaking in real life. If he would gently graze his teeth across her bottom as his tongue darted out to taste her. Shaking herself out of her naughty inner thoughts, she focused back on him in front of her.
"I've got one more class then we can be done for the day, are you alright out here?" she asked with a glance at Ivy, glaring at Sybil from next to Tom's chair. It looked like he had an admirer.
"Is Mr. Tom your boyfriend?" Ivy asked petulantly.
With a worried look at Sybil Tom answered as diplomatically as possible. "I'm Sybil's friend, we are…working together." he finished with a shrug at Sybil, unsure of how to categorize what he really was in a way a four year old would understand. Smiling at him Sybil decided to take pity on him.
"Tom is a good friend who wanted to know more about dancing so he's going to be hanging around for a little while and we will be very polite to him, wont we Ivy?" the little girl looked suspicious so Sybil decided the best distraction was to focus the attention back on her. "What have I said about talking to strangers Ivy?"
Ivy looked down, started playing with her skirt, and answered, "But I asked him if he was a creeper and he said no."
"That's not the rule though is it? Unless there's an adult around you don't talk to strangers right?" Sybil asked sternly, knowing how outgoing the girl was and also knowing the evil in the world.
"Well he was sitting in a parents chair and he's not a parent and he was too close the door like that time Daisy's mom wouldn't listen to you and then got bammed from the lobby," she said pointing her little finger at a stunned Tom. He looked amazed and a little hurt that she would throw him under the bus like that, trying to make him take the fall.
"She got banned from the lobby, not bammed. Nevertheless, that doesn't change the facts little miss. It's not Tom's fault you broke the rules. Now apologize to Tom and start warming up." She finished with that harsh teacher look, unblinking.
"Sorry Mr. Tom," Ivy replied with a pout. Looking at Tom as he gave her a little wink to cheer her spirits back up. He was really too kind for his own good. Ivy had enough spirit for the whole class; she would be back to sniping and critiquing as soon as the music started up. He was such a softie. Another surprising tidbit to add to her list. As she was gazing at him, he pulled his eyes from the retreating Ivy and up to her, locking eyes with her. She realized she was staring, probably pretty creepy to him, not the best way to make her plan work. If she creeped him out, he probably wouldn't be open to any of the delightful things she was envisioning right now. His gaze moved to her lips for a split second but she noticed.
Smiling at him she said, "This is my last class today. I want to work a little bit on some stuff afterwards but you can come into the studio if you want. Or you can stay out here if you like." She tried not to show how much she wanted him to give her some sort of signal that she wasn't alone in these feelings she was having trouble keeping silent.
Tom eyed her attire, she had shed most of her layers and was stood before him in tight hip hugging leggings and a thin white shirt, soaked with sweat and showing her bright pink sports bra underneath. Visibly gulping back the effect she was having on him Tom replied, "Wont that put you past dinner time?"
She seemed to think about it and then a huge grin appeared on her face, narrowing into a little mischievous grin. Groaning inwardly at what she could possibly have come up with he patiently waited for her to work out just what she was planning. And by now, he was sure she was planning something. Even though he had only known her for a short while, she was very expressive and easy to read. She had some grand scheme with all of the questioning, he was positive.
"That'll be fine, they won't miss me. Everyone is off doing their own thing tonight anyways. I had planned on just grabbing something on the way home if you don't mind a bit of a longer day today?" she asked very politely, offering him no way to refuse. What could he say,"no I won't take you to get food after you've basically run around a poorly ventilated room for most of the day?" of course he couldn't. But he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something else bigger being plotted, he just couldn't put his finger on it.
"I'm at your command until I take you home, as per my contract so if its food you want, then food you shall have." He said with a polite smile, trying to picture her as something less appealing, an aged grandmotherly type perhaps. She had the proper look for it now, as her eyebrows furrowed in a stern disapproval, clearly not liking his answer. Be polite and professional and he should be fine. Just as he finished that thought, she tipped her head down between her legs and shook out her hair, gathering it in her small hands before whipping herself back upright to retie her ponytail. The action brought forth such a powerful surge of adrenaline that he had to grip the chair beneath him to force himself to remain sitting. The curve of her spine, the quick flash of her cleavage as she dipped and her parted lips as she emerged had him literally shaking with attraction for her. His muscles were tensed with anticipation, uncontrollable with this feeling coursing through his body. He wanted her. He couldn't deny it any longer. What he could deny was a satisfaction of that want. He couldn't have her. Plain and simple. He had to stop finding her so damn gorgeous and focus on the job. She was the job. If he messed it up by messing with her, he was done.
"Well I'll see you in an hour then." She said turning back to the room rapidly filling with small girls all chatting and stretching.
"It's a date." He said, not thinking at all about the implications of that comment until she turned her head back to look at him over her shoulder, smiling so shyly and adorably he couldn't help but smile back. Damn, he thought. She could feel this strange attraction too. He had to do something about it, before it went too far. He already took her home and watched her sleep. Now he was going to have dinner with her. Of course, he couldn't just let her sit by herself somewhere and eat alone. He wasn't a monster. He would sit with her. And he would attempt to create some sort of boundary. Maybe they could be friends; she was clearly very comfortable with him. He could treat her like a sister. He already felt very protective of her. Just as he felt confident in his plan, he noticed her through the window showing something to the class. She was turning and swinging her arms up and over her head. When she finished she caught him through the window and gave him a quick wink and smile. He was doomed. Laying his head back to rest against the door, he assumed his earlier position, resigned to his defeat and downfall. There was really nothing for it. He would try to resist for as long as possible of course. That way he could say he tried. Really hard. If Thomas ever talked to him again.
Thinking harder about it, he realized he hadn't even thought about her situation. Why he was even here. She had just gotten out of a bad relationship, the worst. And here he was calculating the best way to get what his body was so clearly wanting without a thought to her state. He knew she was attracted to him as well, he had felt it. He was just in denial, he was sure he would have been more aware of it if he hadn't been trying so hard to keep her at an appropriate distance. He knew his potential for getting involved with her from the first moment he saw her barreling down the stairs. He had just attempted to ignore it in favor of keeping his job, and maintaining his friendship.
But ignoring it had been exhausting, even just this morning, he was drained with the effort of not watching her, not noticing her whenever she neared the door, or when her hand would accidently brush his in the car. He was vibrating with the effort it was taking and he so desperately wanted to just relax, let it go. She was a grown woman. She could make her own decisions. He just had to keep himself in check. Take things slowly. She was probably severely traumatized by the last male she had been around and he didn't want to be associated with that scum in any way. So he would treat her delicately, he would not initiate anything. But he was done fighting it. It was too much to keep denying this and working so hard to fight against it. He was becoming distracted and needed to focus on keeping her safe, which he could do much better when he wasn't telling himself that he wasn't looking at her lips with hunger.
Feeling much better, he shook himself upright. He was determined. Stay back but present. If she were interested, she would make it known. But being held back and formal was too cruel. He hated seeing her face fall when he remained stiff. He didn't want to push her away any longer. So they would have dinner. He would put his feelers out and see how receptive she was. He didn't want to engage in anything unwanted but this job really wasn't a career choice anyways, he should be hearing back from a paper soon enough and Thomas would forgive him if anything happened. He was sure of it. After all Thomas had met Jimmy on a job, not the same circumstances as Jimmy was working under Thomas but there was an argument to made, he was confident. In the space of an afternoon, he had completely flipped his world and was a man of possibility and opportunity. He only hoped it wouldn't burn him, and he prayed that it wouldn't burn her.
