ALL THE RIGHT MOVES MADE FOR YOU

Almost two weeks had passed since their last conversation but Denise couldn't get him out of her head. He was working again, teaching and helping out at the academy for a few months before deciding what to do next. Sometimes she saw him passing by, far enough not to notice her. It was a good thing because she didn't want to talk to him. Not then and not there that is.

Her parents wanted to celebrate his return that weekend, organizing a fancy dinner party which gave her the perfect opportunity to talk to him. First of all she broke up with Dylan once and for all, making sure he understood it really was over. Then she talked to her mother, asking her to tell Christopher she will give him a lift to the party. This way Denise could surprise him, giving him no opportunity to escape from the conversation.

On Saturday she woke up and went shopping and to a spa with her mother in the morning where Martha told her how proud she was of her for not giving up. It was weird but Denise was glad to hear that. Back in her apartment she put on a yellow cocktail dress and black high heels, finishing her makeup and hair before getting in the car.

'Everything's going to be fine,' she kept telling herself but the closer she got to his house the more unsure she became. 'What if he says no?' Luckily enough she didn't have more time for these thoughts because she reached his driveway. Taking a deep breath she looked into the mirror then got out of the car, slowly reaching the door by taking one step after another before she rang the bell.

Only half a minute later he opened the door, looking almost shocked by finding her there. 'What are you doing here, Denise?' he asked, leaning against the doorframe.

'Yeah, it's nice to see you, too, Chris,' she replied sarcastically. 'Can I come in?' For a moment Denise was afraid he would say no because he was hesitating for way too long, but then he stepped aside and she could walk into his living room. She didn't sit down, only rested her forearms on the back of the sofa. 'I always knew you looked good in uniforms, but this suit is really, really good,' she said with a smile.

'What do you want?' he asked coldly.

'Really?' Denise walked over to him, stopping a few steps away. 'After two weeks this is how you're talking to me? But, answering your question, I'm here because this is simply ridiculous. I mean, come on, why are you doing this? Oh, and FYI, I broke up with Dylan for good.'

He opened his mouth to ask her why but soon realized it would be a stupid question. Instead he turned around and left to pour a glass of bourbon for himself. 'You shouldn't have done that,' he said after long minutes of silence, his eyes not leaving hers. She could tell he was uneasy and she couldn't blame him for that.

Still, he was wrong. Denise let out a tired sigh as she ran a hand through her hair. 'I didn't love him, Christopher. He deserves someone who can give him the family he's dreaming about. Don't say that I made the wrong decision with this,' she said, stopping for a second. 'After the dinner party I'll tell dad about breaking up with Dylan and I'll also tell him what happened between the two of us.'

'No,' he said firmly, putting the glass on the nearest table. 'No, you won't.'

'Yes, I will. You know, I'm really tired of this. I'm sick of having these conversations over and over again and always hiding from everyone... God, even mom agrees with my plan.'

'Jeremy is going to kill me, Denise, not you.'

Her mouth fell open, but soon she was laughing wholeheartedly. 'Are you afraid?'

'Of course I'm afraid! He's my best friend and... It's still too complicated.'

Before he could say anything else she closed the gap between them and kissed him desperately, her arms tightly wrapped around his neck, but she pulled away eventually. 'Say it out loud,' she said quietly. 'Look in my eyes and tell me you don't want to give it a try.'

Christopher hesitated, just like he had done two weeks ago and even before that, ever since they broke up. He wasn't only afraid of her father, she knew that very well. There was something else behind this, something he never told her. After long seconds that seemed like an eternity, he took a deep breath, shook his head and opened his mouth. 'Denise,' he started but stopped again.

'Just say it,' she said.

'Don't do this to me.'

'I love you and I want to get back everything we had before. Please, just admit you feel the same way.'

He remained silent and she knew they were back where they had started. That afternoon when she kissed him, begged him to give the two of them a chance. This was beginning of their damned, twisted and slightly masochistic relationship which was bound to end this way. Whatever she wanted and whatever he wanted, and Denise saw that oh-so-clearly now, the odds were against them right from the start. It was a no-win scenario, just like the Kobayashi Maru. Jim Kirk could cheat it, though, she thought for a second, but soon realized it wouldn't work in real life.

This was the end.

Sometimes life is really strange. Denise wasn't sad; she didn't even feel like crying. If anything, she was angry. Not the shouting, breaking things kind of angry, because she was mainly angry with herself. After all, it was her fault. Nodding, she curled her lips into an understanding smile and took a few steps back. 'Alright, I'll call mom and tell her to pick you up as it was supposed to happen anyway. Have fun, okay? You deserve it.'

'Where are you going?' he finally asked after clearing his throat.

'I just need to clear my head, that's all. And maybe I'll have a drink with the others.'

There were times when cadets and officers spent some quality time in a bar that was located fairly close to the Academy. On a Friday night, as well as the rest of her friends, Denise was there, trying to forget the week behind them and already making plans for the next two days. Little did they know that she already had a plan of her own which didn't involve any of them.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Kyle jumped up from his chair. 'Oh, here's Professor Marsh and Captain Pike! It's such a nice evening, isn't it?' he shouted loudly, raising his beer with a huge grin plastered on his face. It was a miracle he didn't fell off his chair since his balance wasn't exactly reliable thanks to the amount of alcohol he already had in his system.

'Please, forgive him. He is drunk,' Lilian turned to them with an apologetic look.

Denise tried not to look at them; instead she massaged the bridge of her nose in embarrassment. She never understood why Kyle always had to drink so much. Then the worst possible scenario came when she heard Kyle speaking up again, 'Do you feel like joining us?' he asked.

It wasn't unusual for officers to drink with the cadets after classes. The rest of them were over twenty, old enough to be treated as adults. For Denise's biggest misfortune the officers agreed and occupied the available seats. Everyone knew that she and Captain Pike often met outside the Academy, thanks to his friendship with her father - that's why no one was surprised when Pike spoke up right after Denise had ordered another two shots for herself. 'Rough day?' he asked with a small smirk.

'Worse,' was all she said in response.

Christopher laughed before taking a sip of his beer. It was hard not to stand up and sit next to her, to reach over the table and touch her. She knew. He had told her these things so many times before that she knew when he was thinking about this. 'Come on, tomorrow is Saturday, and the barbeque party will definitely cheer you up.'

'Barbeque party? That's gonna be tomorrow?'

'Yes,' he replied as he took a sip of his beer.

'Fuck!'

He was laughing at her. 'You've planned something else?'

Of course she had other plans. She wanted to be with him, talking freely about whatever they felt like talking about. 'No,' she replied in the end. 'I mean... not exactly. I have to finish an essay, but I promised I'll go, so...'

'You need help?' he offered kindly.

'No, I already have help, but thank you.'

'Just asking.'

'I know.'

'And if it's not confidential information, may I ask who will help you?'

'That would be me,' said the guy sitting next to her as he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer. He was Jason, one of her best friends and also the only guy who didn't take no as an answer. But she could handle him. Sadly that wasn't true when it came to Christopher, who was watching the guy suspiciously. 'Captain Pike, can I ask you something?'

'Of course, you can, cadet,' he replied as casually as he could.

Jason drummed his long fingers on the table while the fingers of his other hand were gently stroking the skin on Denise's neck. She wanted to stop him because of Christopher but it would have been suspicious since she had never stopped him before. 'Isn't it... I don't know, a bit weird to talk to a cadet about things like barbeque parties at the weekend?' She turned to look at Jason, her eyes wide for a second.

'Since I've known Denise for a couple of years now, it's not,' came the diplomatic answer and she was happy it was now over.

But Jason went on; drunk enough to keep asking and sober enough to act naturally. 'And isn't it weird, in general, that you are on such good terms with her?'

Christopher had to kick Denise's leg under the table, because she was about to say something. They didn't know what had he known, so it would have been unnecessary to panic already. 'What are implying?' he asked coldly.

'I,' he started, struggling to find the right words. 'What I'm trying to say is... that... never mind, sir.'

It was their lucky day, but one of those that kept reminding them of the craziness of this relationship. It wasn't normal, to be happy behind closed doors and constantly paranoid in public, searching for faces and sentences that gave away someone's suspicion.

Author's note: Yes, I know. I wrote the previous chapter like eighteen months ago. But I guess the next one is going to be the last chapter of the story and since the new movie is so close, that chapter will arrive soon as well. The only question is: will there be a happy end?

All the Right Moves and Made for You are two amazing songs from OneRepublic.

(If there are any typos, I'm sorry, but I barely have time to write anything lately.)