Yay! Another chapter! I'm trying to put some variation in here with event so some may be boring some may not be but I'm trying something new so bare with me. We're all learning together. Again, thank you for those who are reviewing. It's hard to keep motivated for a story when you feel like no one cares to read it. I do enjoy reading the reviews I get :) I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, it's a little long considering what I've been uploading lately which is a good thing!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Fifty Shades Trilogy
Skyler pulls into the senior parking lot and turns off the engine. "I seriously hate school." He lets out a deep sigh.
"Now you're starting to feel my pain. It's better when you're here." I grab his hand again. I know I have to get through the day and I want to without having to call either of my parents.
"We shall fight and conquer senior year." Skyler speaks in a pirate accent that causes me to giggle. "But it's going to be hard pretending that we're not something when we are." I feel the tension through his hands. His grip hardens along with his shoulders stiffening.
"But would you rather have the world know and live miserably in the media or enjoy the quiet time with a piece of mind?" I watch Skyler shake his head. The victory is mine. He doesn't know what its like to be in the public eye. A target at all times for money. My father worked hard to keep us out of the media and even if we did he would somehow take it down before it went viral.
"I'm still trying to figure out how I got lucky to have met you and for whatever reason you put up with me. It still confuses me. You can have anybody at a snap of a finger. A person of wealth and knowledge and yet here you are, with me. I come from paycheck to paycheck living and parents who basically abandon their child." I stop him there. The thought of Skyler thinking that he isn't deserving makes me sick to my stomach.
"Skyler," I whisper. "If it's anyone, it's me who doesn't deserve you. You make me look past my wealth and family to actually come back to appreciate it. You have taught me so much about life and how it's not a silver platter experience. When am I going to get through to her stubborn head that I choose you. I choose you through every guy and every girl out there to be my best friend and I choose you through every person that has ever attempted to be with me because nothing has felt so right to me until now." The adrenaline runs through my body and I try to calm my breathing down. I never told anyone about the effect Skyler had on my life. I don't think he even knew until this moment the value I truly have in our relationship.
"Phoebe," He cups my cheek with his hand and I lean into the welcoming warmth. "You're stronger than you think. I was just the little push you needed to realize everything around you." And with that being said, Skyler took his keys out from the ignition and grabbed his bag that is by my feet. "And for a start, we need to get to zero period. We have 5 minutes to change before we're tardy."
The one thing I adore about Skyler is his punctuality. I know he'll be where he says he'll be and on time. Nothing pisses me off more than someone who's late. "I swear, I should just make you my PA for life. I would never be late for anything ever again if I'm with you." I hear him laugh as I close the door behind me.
"I wouldn't mind that. I would know what you're doing, when you're doing it and for how long you'll be doing it for." Skyler raises his eyebrows and I know exactly what he just inferred.
"Maybe just being my boyfriend is good for now." I give him a quick side hug.
"I love the sound of that. It's music to my ears everytime I hear that I finally got you." Skyler kisses below my ear before letting me go. "I'll see you upstairs." I watch him go up the stairs to the boy locker room to change for dance as I make my way to the girls locker room.
As I walk out of the girls locker room and head upstairs to the dance studio, I spot Skyler in sweats and cut off t-shirt. I take the moment to take in the view. I never noticed how fit he actually is until now. Upper arm defined by the muscle lines and I can see the side of a v line where his abs are making their way in. A soft smile appears as I walk in and find Ava approaching me.
"Finally!" She grabs me and pulls me into a big hug. "You haven't been at school and when I called Uncle Christian to see what's going on, he said you were going to see Teddy for the weekend." Ava is my cousin on my dad's brothers side. She's the sister I never had and will always have my back but even she doesn't know what I've been going through.
"I'm fine. I just had a rough start to the school year and Dad thought it would be good to see Teddy since I haven't seen him in so long. There's nothing wrong right now." I smile at her and know that what I told her is technically in a way the truth.
"Okay but next time give me a heads up. You have no idea how awkward it was to be eating with people you don't normally mingle with." I feel bad knowing I should have told Ava that I was ditching school. Skyler, Ava and I always ate lunch together. We were three peas in a pod. Skyler loved her to death as a sister, too.
"I'm sorry. I completely forget to be honest. I just wanted to get out of school and away from all the people. You know how they were on the first day of school." Ava spots my concern right away.
"I know. I heard some rumor stuff about you and Skyler since both of you guys were gone the same day and were spotted leaving together but it all subsided now." She links our arms as we head to the back of the dance studio and sit while waiting for our teacher to instruct us. The thought of people talking about me makes me nervous, especially since Skyler and I have to hide ourselves.
I want to tell Ava everything. I want to tell her about Skyler and I. I want to tell her about the pills I've been taking and the deprivation I have to go through. I want to tell her that I don't feel like I can be apart of this family. I want to tell her everything, but I can't.
It took me so long to tell my own brother what is going on and out of the blue Skyler figured stuff out. This isn't what I wanted. I wanted to be better before anyone found out. I want to be healthy and say that I made it through before people known that I'm damaged. But I can't. I don't want help, but I need it.
"Phoebe?" Ava takes me out of my thoughts. "Are you with me here?"
"Yeah, sorry. Just thinking about how much work I have to catch up on. What were you saying?" I smile innocently and Ava looks at me for a second then continues on.
"I was in the auditorium the other day rehearsing for the fall concert and I overhead Ms. Hutch saying that she wants Skyler to do a solo duet." Everything around me fades away. My attention is centered on Ava. Ms. Hutch is our dance instructor for the school. Groups were given mandatory choreography to create and perfect for the fall concert thats in 6 weeks. Theres no way we could create a show in 6 weeks if we started when school did. I'm in about 5 performance as a group and one solo duet with Ava.
"What are you trying to tell me, Ava?" I need to hear it or else I won't believe it. I already know what she's going to say but until she says it, it's not true.
"Ms. Hutch wants Skyler and Heather to do the solo duet." She whispers. I feel like the wind was pushed out of me. All the blood drains from my face and I know I'm turning pale. Heather? Out of all people, Ms. Hutch wants Heather to do the duet?
Heather and I have our difference. Our fathers are rivals of each other and even know I didn't want our fathers relations to conflict our friendship, she saw otherwise. My dad was always one step ahead of hers and summer before freshman year, Daddy bought half of Heather's Dad's company and ever since, she's been a living nightmare for me.
The thought of her doing a solo duet with Skyler angered me. We all know a couples duet was slow and emotional. I know she has a thing for Skyler and even though I trust him, I don't trust her. Does Skyler know yet? Ms. Hutch hasn't said anything yet so maybe she changed her mind.
"It's not official yet." I hear the fear in my voice. I don't even recognize it.
"It is. I was in her office before class and I saw the run list for the concert." Ava knows how much I hate this. She doesn't have to ask me if I'm okay because she knows I'm not. To her right now, I'm just Skyler's best friend and am protective of him in a sister way. She doesn't know that the intimacy of the dance that Skyler would have to do Heather will tear me to pieces.
"That list can always change. Nothing is official until tech week." She looks at me and we both know it's unlikely for the list to change now that we have 6 weeks to stage the dance. "If he wouldn't be giving one hundred percent effort, she'll drop the duet." I can't believe I'm saying this.
"How can you say that? You know how hard Skyler has been working for this. His dream is to have a solo duet and he's finally getting it. Phoebe, we've been dancing since we were 5. We got the duet freshman year because we already were coming in with experience. It was literally handed to us. Skyler did start dancing till eighth grade and had to work his way up. You know how difficult it is for a guy to become a dancer because of stereotypes. This is his chance, don't take it away from him." I know Ava is right. Skyler has been working up for this.
It's not easy becoming a dancer when you're a guy. Guys are suppose to play football and sit on their asses to play videogames but Skyler never did that. With everything that went on with his parents and the emancipation, dance was and still is his little getaway. He's just like me in a way. Getting lost in the music, putting every ounce of energy into each movement and just letting go. For those three minutes in a song, everything in the world is okay.
"I just can't bare her being that close to him. It may not mean anything to him but it'll sure mean a lot to her. I hate this, Ava. Fall concert is going to suck for me now that this is happening." I turn to see Skyler talking and laughing with some of the other dancers. Ava gives me a gentle side hug.
"Alright dancers. Sorry I'm late. I was printing out the official run list for the show. This fall concert is pretty loaded and I want it perfected. There is no room for mistakes. I can just tell by songs choice and group combination, we are really putting ourselves out there and pulling some dangerous risks." In that moment, Ms. Hutch left her seriousness and brought in a smile. "Now, I would like to that this moment to announce a small addition to the concert this year. With deep consideration and a watchful eye, I would like to announce that Skyler has earned his solo duet for the fall concert."
I watch Skylers eye widen in shock and soon he has the biggest smile on his face. I take a few steps towards him to give him a hug. I'm happy for him, I really am but I won't be as soon as he finds out who the duet is with.
"And his partner for this dance is Heather." In that moment, the cheer silence a little. People are still applauding but it's out of respect not excitement. We can hear in the background Heather jumping in joy but everyone stays quiet. I can feel Skyler's arms grip around me harder and I know he's angry at this.
"Congratulations," I whisper into his ears before reluctantly pulling away.
"Phoebe." I silence him. I already know that's going to tell me he won't do it. I already know that he's going to tell Ms. Hutch to change the person or else it's not happening.
"You deserve this so much. You worked so hard towards it. Don't overthink it, just take it and do it." I try to keep my voice strong so he won't see my disapproval.
"I don't want to share this moment with anyone else but you. It's not worth the energy if it's not you I'm dancing with. Phoebe, my dream of my first solo duet was for you to do it with me, no one else. Especially not Heather, out of all people." We interrupted when the music comes on to start warm-up.
"Take it Skyler. You're going to regret this if you don't give it your all." I walk away from him and into my spot for warm-up. The rest of the period is a living hell for me. My body is here but my mind isn't. I know the dance without thinking about it so automatically I drift off thinking about Skyler and Heather.
As soon as Ms. Hutch excuses us to shower and get ready for next period, I am the first one out the door. I notice Skyler trying to make his way through the people from the other side of the studio but I'm already down the stairs and into the locker room before he makes it across.
I turn on the shower and let the cold water hit my body for a few seconds before I can feel the warmth start to flow down. Why should I be jealous about Heather dancing with Skyler? I trust him. He's been wanting this for so long. Why can't I just be happy for him and not make it about me because it isn't. Stop being selfish, Phoebe. You're taking away Skylers spotlight. You've already had yours so many time. It's his turn now.