Chapter Two: To Burn a Bridge or to Make One?

Griffin

"Nadia sweetheart please just spend a little time with Zoe and Kayla. They're the other Ambassador's daughters and you should show them around."

"They're troublemakers dad. I'm embarrassed to show my face in their home countries. I don't know how they could feel differently. " She answered her dad thinking that South Africa and Brazil were definitely off the map.

"Nadia please do this for me." He begged.

"Fine. They're waiting outside aren't they?"

Ryo

Misaki woke up next to Ryo, her hair a tousled big mess. They'd been doing this thing for a while, using each other's bodies for comfort, never getting too close.

Once he thought that they should give it a try and it was a disaster. She was the insecure type in a relationship and didn't trust him not to cheat ...even though Ryo actually was cheating, she never had proof and thought he was being sneaky when he wasn't.

He couldn't blame her. Ten years ago Ryo was a stupid teenager and put her through hell until they broke up when he was nineteen. It was a clean break until the Ishidas were brutally murdered, leaving him with a fifteen year old sister to take care of.

That's when Misaki stepped in and let Portia move into her house with her parents while Ryo figured shit out. That's when they started sleeping with each other again but she make it clear that it couldn't be the way it was before because she couldn't trust him.

Fast forward to today and Ryo didn't have any complaints. She must've picked up on his mood last night because what she did to him was amazing, almost enough to make him fall in love with her… if he had time for that.

Nyx

Zoe and Kayla went ahead without me, of course, forcing me to find my way to this place.

If I hadn't promised my dad, I would bail. Why would I want to party with them? And why male strippers? American strip clubs lacked the artistry and finesse that we had in the U.K.

I quickly got in after a short debate with the bouncer,. I guess I wasn't dressed promiscuous enough, and and found them in the front.

I watched bored as man after man came on stage. I was tired of seeing ripped guys and their privates. If you've seen one, you've seen all right?

Within an hour I was dying to get out but the rule was no one left unless it was an emergency.

I was walking back to my seat as the next guy started, Ginuwine's In Those Jeans started and Nadia thought that at least he had good music taste.

She looked up to see a guy with way too much talent and dance ability take the stage. As much as she wanted to look away, she couldn't and blushed when it was over and she'd seen everything.

This definitely was a night that she wouldn't forget.

Ryo

"Get up Han." He obnoxiously whispered into her ear with a low, southern drawl which she hated.

"Let me sleep."

"No. You owe me breakfast." Her eyes opened swiftly.

"Bull shit. You know the deal. I worked the shit out of you last night." She argued back.

"I don't remember that." Ryo placed his arms behind his head.

"Let me remind you." Misaki placed her legs on either side of Ryo's body, the sheet falling off her and exposing her ripe, naked body. Ryo grinned with lustful thoughts in his mind as he door handle to his room jiggled and then opened.

"I thought about it and I'm a jerk so-" Portia stopped once she saw a naked Misaki over her naked brother.

"Forget it. You guys are disgusting."

Ryo laughed, giving his ex-girlfriend a passionate kiss before throwing on some sweats and chasing after his sis.

"Yo Pors-Portia!"

"It's going to take me years to get that image out of my mind." She complained, dumping a bunch of stuff into a book bag. Ryo's eyebrow rose, amused.

"So what were you trying to tell me back there? Did you make a decision?" He smirked, already knowing what she was going to say.

"Yeah stupid. I'm staying with you. I'll take school seriously and you can check on me until I regain your trust."

"I like that."

"I was going to take you to breakfast but since Misaki I still here-"

"We'll go together. My treat."

Nyx

So this was it. Nadia was going to go to the dance team's tryouts. It was a month from now which gave her a lot of time to put together a solo routine.

The main thing that concerned her now was that she'd just seen the girls from last year's team and they looked professional. And like sexy vixens. That was not like Nadia at all.

Still, she grabbed a flyer and put her name on the tryout sheet. Thenshe was off to tutor a new kid in Calculus II. And she was late thanks to Zoe and Kayla and partying on a Sunday. Who kid that?

Leaving her last tutoring session, Nadia pulled out the flyer again. Reading and walking like she normally did and that's when it happened again.

Twice in the last two weeks. After getting punched last time, Nadia was anxious about what was to come.

"I-I'm sorry." She muttered realizing that it was a man that bumped into her this time. And he looked just like- no way.

"No sweat." He grinned carefree. God it must be nice to live a life with no worries. Nadia was about to head on her way when the girl from last week appeared.

"You? Please… I'm not in the mood to get punched again."

"I'm not hitting you pussy." Portia shook her head, grabbing the flyer out of Nadia's hands just because she could.

"Portia would you come on? We have to find Nadia Said before she leaves."

" Nadia Said," she turned back to the guy from earlier.

"Perfect. I'm Ryo Ishida and I need a tutor."

"Sure. Come with me." She walked past him and back into the library, her heels documenting her every move.

Ryo

She was uptight and stiff, just like Ryo thought a tutor would be. Since she was the only female tutor for advanced mathematics, he'd chosen her for Portia and since Portia was defiant, he came with to make sure it actually was done.

Nadia handed him paperwork as Portia waited in the doorframe. Her brother was smiling way too much at this British chick and she didn't like it.

She didn't like him being with any girl without the Portia stamp of approval. This one was too wimpy.

When Ryo finished filling out the sheet he handed it back and Nadia took a look. "Portia … I thought your name was Ryo."

"It is but Portia needs the help. I'm just her brother."

"Sorry. I can't help you."

"But a minute ago you just said-"

"I'm not sure if you heard but your sister got physical with me. I'm just not accustomed to violence so for my own protection I can't tutor her. She doesn't respect me."

Nadia stood up and was on her way.

"She's sorry for that. Portia tell her… look, I'll help you with something and guarantee your safety. I'll be there at the sessions to monitor her-"

"I'm sorry Ryo. I can't."

He brother and sister duo exchanged looks as Portia smiled smugly. She'd gotten rid of this one without much of an effort. Served her brother right for adding conditions to their agreement after it was agreed upon.

"Portia."

"I'm sorry… Nadia. I was going through something and took it out on you." Portia walked over to her and handed her back the flyer. "Are you really trying out for that?"

"Yes. Excuse me."

"You know it's impossible to get in. Those girls are just so free and seductive. Think you can do that?"

"I don't have a choice. Get in it forget about Med School."

"Then let me help you. Come down to the studio with me right now and I'll show you what I can do." Ryo begged.

If it were any other woman Ryo would just seduce them but that would scare off someone like this girl. No… he needed to be serious and show the artist side of himself.

Nyx

She knew who he was for sure when Nadia saw him dance. No man should be able to move their body so smoothly. She was in awe.

Ryo was going to be the one to help her. Portia was terrifying but if this was the way to becoming a Doctor, she was willing to take it.

"Now let me see what you can do."

"What? I'm not properly dressed." Nadia used that as her excuse.

"Relax. I've got something for you." He motioned towards Portia who handed her some loose workout clothes for a woman and then said, "I'll wait." Nadia shook her head in disbelief. This only happened in the movies. Who were these people?

Now, there was no way out. She pulled the T-shirt and sweats on in the bathroom and later hooked her phone up to the sound system in an open dance studio.

Stupid of her to follow people she didn't know to this place but … something was stopping her from saying no. And it definitely wasn't Portia.

So even though Nadia hadn't said 'no' she was super tight. Acting acting torpid and shy but knowing who this guy was was making her nervous. He'd asked her to pick a song to get them started so …

She finally settled on a Rihanna song- 'Where have you been'- and started dancing. When it was over she felt … better.

Ryo clapped out of duty and then asked, "do you know what the dancers here are known for? They leave this school and make it to the pros, work for stars… the style is different from yours. Even the song…"

He went over to her phone and picked out a new one. When the first techno sound started she knew what it was. Still Rhianna.

'Cake.'

"Come here and stand next to me. See if you are mimic my moves." Ryo demanded as his audition to teach quickly turned into her audition to secure him as a teacher.

Nadia tried keeping up but all of her ballet training was working against her. Halfway into the song, he gave up.

"Come here… now stand directly behind me. Get close." She moved in closer but still gave him some space. "You have to push your body all the way up against mine if you want to mimic my moves exactly. Let's just see if you can move your hips." He suggested trying not to sigh, pushing her body into his until there was no space.

Nadia could feel every part of his bum, every sweat bead but he was right. This was forcing her to loosen up.

"W-What do I do with my arms?"

"Just wrap them around me. Or put them on your hips… doesn't matter. We need to get this step first."

Nadia decided to do the latter until she gave in and held onto him for security. Maybe he didn't notice that her heart rate had picked up but … oh, forget it. He was a male stripper and she was dating Marcel just like her father wanted. Besides, what could he offer her that she didn't already have?

(A/N: Keep reading and review. I'm still working on my others … My Last Breath, Uncontrollable, Leave the Lights On and Get Over Me. -NL)