In The End
Chapter 12: Distance
Serenity had not heard from Seto in three weeks… three whole weeks! She had tried calling, but she either got his secretary or voicemail. It was tormenting her, she feared that she had said the wrong thing or pushed him too hard the last time they had spoken, it felt like a lifetime ago. She felt so angry and hurt, he had not called her back. She didn't know what hurt the most, not seeing him or him not calling her back. She could probably forgive him for not calling back… but she needed to see him.
She didn't know where this need was coming from. She had been independent for quite a while now. She had learned to live with herself and by herself. She had not needed anyone for so long until she had met him… And now just as fast as he had come into her life… now he was gone. She fingered the beautiful bracelet around her wrist that he had given her. Why give someone something like this if you planned on never seeing them again? Was it just a joke? Seto was definitely a cold sort of person, but to do something like this?
She had tried reaching Mokuba, but apparently he was away with friends because it was, after all, school vacation. She had just gone about her life… since it was vacation she had put more and more time into her dancing since that was all she could do. Her dance instructor had let her use the studio while everyone else was enjoying their vacation with friends or family. But she had no one. Now though, even her dancing was not satisfying her.
She looked at herself in the dance studio mirror. She looked tired. Overworked. But she would carry on so that she didn't have to think about Seto. She cranked up the volume to Estelle feat. David Guetta's One Love and gave it her all. She knew she was a good dancer and her dance instructor had confirmed it. She was passionate, energetic and creative when it came to dancing. It made her feel free, free of her past, free of all her worries.
She did a backflip, then a twirl, she felt happy when her body was moving to the beat. All of a sudden the music stopped. She turned, sometimes the CD player needed a couple of slaps to get back in working order. But as she turned her eyes grew wide. There was Seto. Maybe her imagination was playing tricks on her.
"I should have come and watched you dance sooner, you look good when you dance." Seto smirked, watching as her cheeks flushed some more, from exerction and embarrassment.
Serenity regained her composure. Walking over to her jacket and sweat pants so that she could cover herself up. She felt exposed, here alone with Seto in the dance studio.
"You should have returned my calls." Serenity turned her back on him, getting dressed. She felt angry again.
"I know." Serenity jumped and turned around. Seto was now right behind her.
"Geez, do you always sneak up on people like that." She sat down, putting on her boots. Seto just watched her. When she was finished, she just looked at him, trying to figure out his expression.
Seto had come to the dance studio in search of Serenity. He knew where she lived, where she went to school and where she danced, without her having to tell him. It was good having connections and money, it meant he could get any information that he required.
As he watched Serenity dance and give it her all, he was amazed. She was so beautiful and she did not even know it. He had missed her in these three long weeks. Seeing her again made him happy. And that was surprising because it was a feeling he did not experience very often. That was until he had met her, then everything changed. Happiness stopped becoming a ghost and started becoming a frequent visitor.
Now he was sitting opposite her and he could not clear his thoughts because looking at her did that to him. She was looking at him expectantly. He had definitely missed her. Her eyes were so captivating.
"What now?" Serenity was searching his eyes and for a moment he saw hurt and anger flash through hers. And sadness. That is what tugged at his heart that most.
"These three weeks…" He started explaining.
"What about these three weeks Seto?" Serenity got up and walked over to the window, he could tell she was angry because she would not look at him.
She suddenly turned.
"I have not seen you and I have not heard from you at all. I am sure I did nothing to deserve it so how could you do that? You give me this," she pointed to the bracelet, "and then I do not hear from you, what for then? Why give me this and let me believe that you care and then just leave me alone for three weeks?"
Seto felt his heart contract. He did not know she felt that strongly about their…relationship, or whatever this was. He remembered the necklace she had given him with the exquisite dragon that had not left his neck ever since she had given it to him. Obviously he meant more to her than he realised.
"Come here." Seto's voice was gentle as he gestured over to the chair. Serenity walked over and sat down without a word, looking down at her hands. He could tell she was battling herself on the inside, whether to stay here or just walk away from him and save herself the pain.
He lifted her chin with his finger. Gently running his fingertips across her jawline, he felt her shiver under his touch and he smirked on the inside.
As quickly as his touch was on her skin, it was gone and she did not want it gone, she wanted it back. She was relieved when he reached for her hands instead. He leaned towards her and for a moment her whole body went numb, was he going to kiss her? Instead he stopped milimeters from her lips.
"Come over for dinner tonight." And just as quickly as his presence filled the whole of the dance floor, it was gone.
*
Seto lifted himself up onto the treadmill. His arms holding most of his weight. He changed the setting to a slow pace and began walking.
He had to be ready for Serenity tonight.
