Storiesonline.net ------- Dance For Me by Eon Copyright© 2005 by Eon ------- Description: A vicious trick from his girlfriend leaves Alastair Wolfe a cynic. A fall on stage at a young age leaves Sadira Scarlett too scared to persue her passion. Arrogant, rash, and stubborn, Alastair becomes a stripper, running away from the world he loves. When Sada comes crashing into his life, needing his help to regain her confidence, he'll once again be swept into that world. But this time dancing isn't the only passion to be found. Codes: MF slow rom 1st cons het safe oral pett ------- ------- Prologue Alastair Wolfe pulled his motorcycle into the extra portion of the driveway his father had had built years ago, and turned it off. He made certain it was secure, then headed into the house. The bike, a Ducati, was bigger and more powerful than his first bike, a gift from his father when he'd turned fourteen. And it was his pride and joy. I'm just as bad as dad is, Alastair thought, chuckling to himself as he unlocked the door. He was the only one of his siblings who had taken on his father's love of motorcycles. The house was quiet and still. Alastair paused in the living room and glanced around, frowning. The pink backpack and jean jacket sitting on the edge of the couch belonged to Melissa, his current girlfriend. She's early, he thought, walking into the kitchen. She wasn't in there either. Frowning, Alastair began making his way up the stairs. Maybe in my room, he thought. He and Melissa had been dating for the past year, since he'd met her at the academy where he took dance. She was sweet, if a small bit ditzy, and he'd fallen for her despite that. Alastair paused at the top of the stairs, in front of the door of his brother Quinn's room. What the hell? he thought, frowning. Loud, feminine moans filtered through the door. Quinn was the quiet type, and he very rarely even held hands with girls. That could mean only one thing, and Alastair couldn't believe it. "Quinn... !" The voice moaning that name was unmistakable. Furious, Alastair slammed the door open; it wasn't locked. A startled gasp came from the bed. He surged forward and grabbed Quinn by the shoulders, pulling him roughly off of Melissa. Melissa shrieked and grabbed a blanket, trying to cover herself as she scrambled off the bed. Quinn stumbled, and Alastair gave him a hard shake. His twin brother glanced up; his pale blue eyes were blurred and he blinked, as though trying to clear his head. What the hell? Alastair wondered. A soft rustling behind him caught his attention, and he spun around. Melissa was trying to pull on her clothes. She glanced up, and her bright blue eyes were full of guilt. With only her t-shirt on, and her hands clutching her jeans, she turned and fled from the room. Alastair settled Quinn down on the bed, and charged after her, chasing her down the stairs. He caught up with her in the living room and grabbed her from behind. She shrieked as he spun her around and slammed her hard against the living room wall. Tears glimmered in Melissa's eyes, but he was having none of it. Alastair knew from past experience that she was adept at bringing forth false tears. "What did you do?" he growled, shaking her. "Nothing!" Melissa shrieked, truly frightened. "Bullshit!" Alastair snarled. "He looked drugged!" Melissa's eyes darted over his shoulder, then quickly down. He could tell by her expression that she hoped he wouldn't notice. Closing his fingers around her wrist in an iron grip, he dragged her with him as he headed over to her backpack. Using one hand, Alastair pulled the backpack open and fished through it. As he expected, he soon found a bottle of pills. I can't believe it, he thought, his hands shaking. "Why?" Alastair demanded. "Why the hell did you do this, you slut!?" Melissa's pretty face twisted into an ugly scowl. "Because of you!" She spat. "You're so crude and stupid! You may be good looking, but it's all you have! Quinn is quiet and intelligent, and he's good looking! He's better than you are, and he's the one I wanted from the beginning!" Alastair stared at her. Never in his life had he been so horrified, or so embarrassed. He released her and shoved her backpack at her. Melissa grabbed the bag and backpedaled away from him. She had the audacity to look as though she had been the one who had been wronged. "He's so much better than you are!" Melissa shouted as she backed away. "You're worthless!" She whirled and stormed out of the house, despite the fact that she was only wearing a t-shirt. Alastair stood stock still, breathing heavily. He heard Quinn stumble down the stairs and whirled to face him. Some of the haziness had faded from his eyes, but he still looked confused. Walking over to his brother, he threw an arm around his shoulders. Quinn had put on jeans, at least. He looked up at Alastair, horror coming into his pale blue eyes as the cloudiness began to fade. "I... I didn't... she... don't..." Quinn stammered. "Hush," Alastair soothed. "She drugged you, Quinn. I can't believe it... it's sick." And speaking of sick, he thought, watching Quinn turn white. He supported his brother on the way to the bathroom, and helped him crouch by the toilet. Alastair waited until his brother had finished throwing up, then helped him clean up. He ran upstairs to get some clothes for Quinn, and even helped him dress. "I'm taking you to emergency room," Alastair explained. "I don't know what she gave you. I think we should have you checked out." "If... if you think so..." Quinn said, struggling with the words. "You... okay?" "I'll be fine," Alastair said, grabbing Quinn's car keys from the hook on the wall. "I'm more concerned about you." He wasn't going to be fine. Alastair knew he was far more hurt by this than he'd allowed Quinn to see. I'm worthless, am I? he thought, as he helped Quinn into the car. At least I'm not a slut. It wasn't a thought that stuck too well. He'd fallen in love with Melissa over the last year. And she'd claimed to love him too. Alastair couldn't imagine a bigger betrayal; she'd cheated on him, and had drugged his own brother in order to do so. ------- The crowd was bigger than she could have possibly imagined. Sadira Scarlett peeked around the curtain at the audience, feeling her heart pound wildly. At fourteen she was the youngest of her dance troupe, and yet the most promising. Better than any of them at her young age, she had boundless potential. And boundless nerves, she thought, giving herself a shake as she stepped back from the curtain. "Sada!" Startled, she turned to face on of her troupe mates. Melissa Hartley was nineteen, and spent half of her time practicing in some prestigious academy. Supposedly she had a gorgeous boyfriend who was top of his class in that same academy. She seems a bit rattled tonight, Sada noticed, her eyebrows lifting. I wonder what's wrong? Fortunately Melissa wouldn't have to worry too much. She was not that great a dancer, and had only a bit part. "If we win here tonight, we go on to the finals," Melissa said, smirking. "All eyes will be on you tonight, though. It's really up to you. No pressure, though, huh?" Yeah, no pressure, Sada thought, scowling at Melissa's back as she retreated. Easy for you to say. She'd never liked Melissa. Sighing, she set herself up to wait in the wings. Tonight she would lead them... and it was making her ill. How am I supposed to do this? she wondered, biting her lip. This is too much! She heard the music strike up, and braced herself. This was easy; she could do this! Sada had done Swan Lake so many times. Her problem was always the thirty-two fouettes in the Black Swan's part. So much of it was easy for her, almost like second nature, that she floated through it. She could feel eyes on her, feel them boring into her, but she ignored it. Sada loved to dance, loved to be on stage; there was no greater feeling in her mind. The first act went smoothly, and she felt relieved. There was a brief interlude while she changed costumes, into the black leotard for the next part. Sada studied her black toe shoes with a critical eye. They looked a little worn, she thought. Perhaps it's just me? Sighing, she pushed herself to her feet, and stretched onto her toes. Not a problem, not for her. She took a deep breath and headed back into the wings. Again, it was smooth sailing for a long while. Sada felt wonderful; she knew she was dancing better than she ever had before. Her partner, Andre, was a little off, but she made up for it with ease. Only the fouettes, now, she thought, forcing her mouth into a smile. Only the fouettes, and the hard part is over. All eyes were on her. Sada knew when her eyes were on the crowd that she was expecting so much from her. For the first time in the ten years she'd been dancing, the expectations were too much. The fouettes were going so well, and she thought she was clear. Sada put her toes down... and felt herself slip. She tried, desperately, to keep herself standing, but it was as if the floor went out from underneath her. She tumbled backward and landed hard on her shoulders, the air knocking out of her. Sada groaned, rolling onto her side, and grabbed her head. I don't feel too good, she thought, as the world spun wildly. She had, she realized now, landed hard on the back of her head. The music had stopped and her dance instructor was at her side, calling her name. Sada rolled onto her knees, and her stomached heaved wildly. No, no, no, she thought wildly, clenching her teeth. Not on stage, please not on the stage. It was disastrous. She could hear exclamations of shock and disgust as she threw up. "I think she has a concussion," Her instructor said. "Let's get her off the stage." Sada felt arms around her, lifting her up. Her head felt like soup, and it was hard to walk. Tears stung the back of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. I messed up, she thought, really bad. This was not something she would be able to live down. There was not a person in this theatre tonight who would forget this performance. They would all go home, and they would all remember the girl who had fallen down, and then thrown up on stage, in front of thousands of people. ------- Chapter One: Neon Lights Sadira Scalett inched aside the heavy five section notebook and lifted up the cover of her three ring binder. She stared at the brochure for the dance contest a local radio station was holding. It was a small thing, for amateurs, with a prize of two-hundred dollars. It's been so, so long since I've danced competitively, she thought, biting her lower lip. I don't even think I can do it any more. Sada longed, deep down, to try, but the competition was only two weeks away. She heard footsteps approaching fast behind her and quickly shoved the notebook back into place. Turning her gaze back to the computer screen, she pretended to be focusing when her friends walked up behind her. Farah was a perky, blue-eyed blonde, a fashion student who tried to tell all of them what to wear. Heather was a red-head, and she would be transferring into a law school at the end of the year. Gina was the loudest, most out spoken of all of them, and studied politics, insisting she'd be the first female Latino president. Sada felt so dull in comparison to the three of them. "Still working, Sada?" Farah chirped, throwing an arm around her shoulders. "This is due on Thursday," Sada explained, sitting back in her chair with a grown. "And Mr. Matson wants fifteen pages! On yacht racing in Rhode Island!" "Ewwww..." Heather wrinkled her nose. "You need a break, Sada. It's your birthday, for crying out loud!" Sada sighed and closed out the website she had accessed from the computers at the community college she attended. There was simply no use arguing with her friends, once they got an idea in their heads. She grabbed the pages she had printed from the printer, shoved them into a folder, and began stuffing everything back into the messenger bag she carried. Sada's friends watched her, and she didn't like the mischief she saw on their faces. "Where are we going?" Sada asked, as she slung the messenger bag over her shoulder. "It's a surprise," Gina answered, grinning. "Ohhhhh nooooo," Sada groaned, dropping her face into her hands. "Not another 'surprise'!" Her friends laughed. The last time they'd surprised her with a party. There'd been cute guys there, which should have been good for a girl turning twenty. Except that I'm so shy, I almost fainted, she thought, sighing heavily. They'd better not do anything like that this year. Sada handed off her bag to Gina (who spent a good deal of time in the gym and always carried everything), and hooked her arms with Heather and Farah. "All right," She conceded. "But if this is as bad as last time, I'll make you all pay." Farah giggled. "Oh, don't worry, Sada darling. You'll love this!" ------- Alastair plucked at the thin nylon holding on his g-string and sighed. I might actually enjoy this if it weren't for the costume, he thought, as he slid a leather jacket over his shoulders. He wasn't a stripper for the money, or because he enjoyed it. It was bitterness and spite that drove him on. Alastair teased the women here with what they could see and could not have. He could not get back at Melissa for what she'd done to him all those years ago, so he took it out on other women. Childish? Perhaps. Satisfying? Oh, definitely. Not that he didn't find women to sleep with occasionally. A man is still a man, after all, he thought, smiling to himself. He looked up and noticed some of the other guys crowded near the curtain, looking out into the crowd. Alastair's eyebrows lifted and he stood, approaching the group. "Something interesting, boys?" Alastair asked. "Check it out," One of the others, Ken Murphy, said. "Looks like hoighty toighty college girls." Alastair pushed through the small crowd to stare out into the crowd. Neon lights illuminated the stage and part of the crowd. A table of young women of approximately college girls caught his eye. They were all dressed nicely, as if they had come here straight after late classes. Definitely different from our usual, Alastair thought, studying them. They look like they should have good money with them, though. There was a gorgeous blonde and a red head, both of whom were the kind of girls that made some of these guys break their oaths not to sleep with the patrons. And a Latino girl who looked like the feisty type. The kinda girl who'll eat you alive, Alastair thought, chuckling to himself. In the middle of the table, the last girl sat looking mortified. Aren't we an exotic little thing... he mused, studying her. Straight, dark hair was clipped fairly short so that it feathered at the ends, framing a heart-shaped face. Her eyes were large and probably bright, but he couldn't tell in the light. "Look at the one in the middle," Ken said, chuckling. "The look on her face... bet she's a virgin!" Alastair rolled his eyes. "You can't tell by looking at someone." "Oh, sure I can," Ken boasted. "Even with the dim lighting you can tell she's bright red. She'll be a fun one to tease!" Alastair shook his head and walked away. He wasn't into teasing the girls the way the others were. While Ken and the other guys got close to the women, allowing them to touch, and touching back, he stayed mostly aloof. Women came to see him dance. He did more than the bumping and grinding the others claimed was dancing. And I've never had complaints when they can't touch me, Alastair thought, as he began stretching out. In fact, they absolutely love it. ------- Sada sank down in her chair, feeling distinctly mortified. Of all places, why this? she thought frantically, glancing at her friends. This is not good, not at all! Her friends had often played embarrassing pranks on her, but this really took the prize. They always said she was too uptight, that she needed to get laid. And Sada always told them she had more important things to do with her life. In truth, she had simply never recovered from her moment of ultimate disaster when she was fourteen. The more people she was around, the more she felt like she was going to mess up... no matter what she did. "Why did you bring me here?" Sada hissed, glaring at Farah. "Oh, relax," Farah said, rolling her eyes. "We came here to see the dancers. We brought you here for some inspiration." Sada stared at her. "Inspiration!? From male strippers!?" Gina turned in her seat and flashed a mysterious smile across the table to Farah. They're up to something, Sada thought, glancing between the two of them. She settled back in her chair and turned her eyes to the stage, curious despite herself. The lights dimmed further, to be replaced by the bright colors of neon, and pulsing music picked up in the background. Oh, brother, Sada thought, rolling her eyes. Cheesy porno music, all the way. The first dancer was little more than she expected. Although he was graceful, he was mostly about grinding, thrusting, and teasing the crowd. When he came near their table, her friends jumped around excitedly, but Sada shrank away. I'm going to kill them, she thought, chewing on her lower lip. I'm going to make them regret ever being born! This was horrifyingly embarrassing, especially when the dancer tried to get close to her. She scooted away from him, almost falling off her chair. The next dancer was little better, and she was beginning to feel a trend here. Why did they bring me here for my birthday? Sada wondered. They would have done better taking me drinking! Of course, she didn't drink, but she didn't like male strippers either. She knew her cheeks were bright red. They all grinned at her teasingly when they saw her, and some of them even winked. "I want to leave!" Sada said firmly, after the fourth dancer of the night. "This is not for me! Just not!" "Shhh!" Heather hissed. "You'll like this next part, Sadie." "Don't call me that," Sada grumbled. "Ladies!" The announcer shouted, above the din of shouting women. Sada jumped. "Hold onto your little red riding hoods, because here comes the big, bad Alastair Wolfe!" Oh, brother! Sada thought, rolling her eyes. A fleeting movement at the back of the stage caught her attention, and she glanced over. This man was different from the others; he wasn't quite as muscular for one, built on more slender, willowy lines. Dark hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail that trailed down the middle of his back. He's gorgeous! Sada thought, then felt her cheeks heat. Oh, god, come on Sada, he's just a guy, for crying out loud! But as it turned out, he wasn't just a guy. He didn't dance like the others. Right away she could see the classical training in the graceful way he moved. Sure, he did some thrusting and grinding, but not too much. Rather he did impressive leaps, flips, and splits amid something that looked almost tribal. When he pulled off his leather jacket, Sada noted a tattoo spread over his shoulder blades, but she couldn't make it out. She propped her chin in her hands and stared, entrance by his grace. The moves he did were not often ones she recognized; they looked like something of his own making. But she saw variations on such things as fouettes and pirouettes, and other classical ballet moves. Sada's lips parted and she licked them; her mouth was dry, and her heart was pounding hard from breathlessness. At one point when he turned, his gaze met hers. His eyes were so intensely blue that she could see them from where she sat. A slight smile curved lips almost too sensual for a man, and Sada felt her heart skip a beat. He's amazing, she thought, trembling. Now she understood what Farah had meant by inspiration. All her friends knew she had once been a dancer. And no doubt they had seen her looking at that flier, no matter how slick she thought she'd been about it. It was over far too soon for Sada's liking. She felt a distinct disappointment as the music faded away and Alastair finished in a graceful pose, on his knees with his back arched and his arms extended skyward. She could hear the roar of the women around her, and understood why. The other men may have been sexy and teasing, but there was something about Alastair Wolfe that was distinctly enticing. Sada turned glowing green eyes on her friends. "Guys, that was the best birthday present ever!" ------- Alastair's routine had been going perfectly. In fact, as far as anyone in the crowd would have noticed, he'd been spotless. But he knew he'd made a small mistake, and all because of a pair of brilliant green eyes. He'd come out of a turn and had found her staring at him intensely. Up closer, he could see that she was lovely, in that exotic way. But Alastair hadn't been expecting the intensity of her stare, and it had thrown him off greatly. He'd wobbled a bit, his balance thrown, but no one had seen it. A hand came down on his shoulder and he spun around. Lorenzo, the dancer just before him, grinned in his usual cocky manner. "Did you see that little college chick at that table?" Lorenzo asked, chuckling. "Ken was right, man, she is totally a virgin. She turned bright red whenever any of us got close." "Nothing wrong with that," Alastair muttered, towel sweat from his neck. "What's the big deal, anyway?" "Virgins are hot!" Lorenzo crowed. "And man, I'm gonna get me that one! Did you see the body on her?" "I wasn't looking," Alastair growled. "Why so cranky?" Lorenzo asked, trotting after him as he headed towards the showers. Alastair ignored him. Juvenile, he thought, rolling his eyes. He turned on the shower and stepped under the water. At twenty-five, he was about average age among the dancers, but often times he felt like the oldest one there. If he was cranky, it was because he knew, even if no one else did, that his routine hadn't been perfect. It was foolish to be concerned over a perfect routine at a strip club, but that was Alastair. The perfectionist dancer he had once been was still alive and well. He could hear them talking. The younger ones raved about the college girls, but the older ones he knew would mostly not bother. They understood the rules. Alastair felt a slight smile tugging at his lips. They wouldn't be able to get that one home, anyway, he thought, chuckling to himself. If the Latino would eat a man alive, she'd feed him alive to sharks. No need to get her own hands dirty. Shy she might have been, but he knew well that intense concentration he'd seen in her eyes. It was the look of stubbornness and determination. "Nice work tonight, man," Grant, the oldest of them, congratulated as he pulled his clothes on. "You always get the crowd going." "It isn't fair!" Ken complained, rolling his eyes. "All he does is dance, and the women go wild!" Alastair shrugged. "That's because I have sex appeal and talent." "Yeah, just you wait," Ken shot back. "Don't think you'll always be the star here!" "Watch your back, Alastair," Grant laughed. "He might just put a knife in it!" Alastair chuckled, and finished pulling on his clothes. He grabbed his jacket; jean rather than leather, as he found leather generally uncomfortable for everyday wearing. Slinging his backpack over one shoulder, he waved goodnight to the rest of the guys and headed out the back way. It was time to go home, to his nice little apartment, and his big comfy bed. I'm beat, Alastair thought, groaning. I didn't realize how much I put into that. His life had changed so much. If there was one thing he knew, it was the distinct disappointment of his family. Alastair had dropped out of college (he'd never been too good at it anyway) and taken up this job eventually. And since the incident with Melissa, his relationship with his brother had been rocky. Only his darling little sister, Alanna, was never disappointed in him. Alastair was overprotective of her, and he almost felt sorry for the guys who got too close to her. Fortunately she was more interested in art than guys. Alastair paused at his motorcycle and looked towards the entrance of the club. There he spotted the four college girls, among them that dark-haired exotic one. She was laughing, twirling in circles, and he could see so much grace in her movements, to the way she moved her fingers. She's a dancer, he realized, watching her. Alastair licked his lips. The camisole she wore clung to her breasts, which were thrust into the air with the arch of her back. Stop that, pervert, he scolded himself. "Did you see?!" The little dancer exclaimed, skidding to a halt. "What is he doing in a place like this? He's amazing!" "Easy, Sadie," the blonde laughed. "I told you you'd like this birthday present." "Got some inspiration now, chica?" The Latino girl asked. "It's coming out my pores!" the one called Sadie exclaimed, twirling again. Alastair couldn't help himself; he laughed. Not a soft laugh, but a full throated sound that carried across the parking lot. All four girls turned to face him, the little dancer looking embarrassed. He couldn't see the color of her green eyes from here, but he felt their intensity. Alastair flashed her a smile, and he knew her cheeks had turned red. She smiled back, shyly, then turned and skipped away. Her friends laughed, and followed. A dancer. And she'd gotten inspiration from him. Must be having a rough streak or something, Alastair thought, settling his backpack on his shoulders and climbing onto his motorcycle. Watching her twirl, he could see that she seemed a bit rusty. And it was too bad, because he could see what form she had beneath that. Potentially fantastic, he thought, as he started up his motorcycle. Alastair's eyes searched the dark for her as he sped through the parking lot, but she was gone. ------- Static sparked beneath her socks as Sada twirled across her carpet. She laughed, flinging her arms out to the side, and flopped down onto the bed. The next two weeks are going to be hard, she thought, staring up at the ceiling. Between school, dance practice, and watching Alastair Wolfe for inspiration, she was going to have a full schedule. But after watching him dance tonight, Sada was determined to enter the competition the radio station was holding. Sighing, she rolled onto her side and crawled beneath the covers. When she had first arrived at that club, Sada had thought her friends had gone mad. How could a strip club be her 21st birthday present? And in the end it had turned out to be the best birthday present she could imagine. I'm terrified, she thought, feeling her heart pound. But after watching him tonight, I just know it's something I have to do. Sada stared at her fingers, which trembled. She wished she could talk to him; maybe he could give her some advice. But the prospect was even scarier than the competition. Sada had never been brave when it came to guys, and Alastair was a fantastic dancer. He smiled at me, she thought, feeling a smile tug at her own lips. What a smile he has! It was silly to be all dreamy over a guy she didn't know. More than likely he was an arrogant jerk. Sleep, Sada, she told herself insistently. Tomorrow is the start of two very long weeks. A thrill of excitement went through her, but it faded quickly. She was exhausted; it had been a very long day. Closing her eyes, she felt it all come down on her. With a soft, satisfied smile, Sada fell into a deep, peaceful sleep for the first time since she had been fourteen years old. ------- Chapter Two: Competition The next two weeks felt as though they were the hardest and most exhausting of Sada's life. She practiced hard, reminding her body of so many things she no longer used. Her muscles ached constantly, she slept like the dead, and she almost drifted off in her classes. At night, despite being exhausted, she dragged herself off to the club to watch Alastair Wolfe dance. Despite being tired constantly, Sada didn't regret working so hard. In fact, she didn't have time to regret it. It was the night before the competition, and she had ended up going straight home after class. If there was one thing Sada knew, it was to make sure she didn't over-practice. Her body was exhausted, although not as tired as she would be if she'd practiced too much. Tonight she would stay home. Even though I want to see Alastair dance again, she thought, sighing heavily. Sada dropped into the papasan chair in the living room of her apartment and put her feet up on the matching footstool. She wouldn't miss practice, but she would miss Alastair. Foolish, she thought, rolling her eyes at herself. I don't even know him at all. It was dumb to miss a guy she didn't even know, but Sada had become intrigued by Alastair immensely over the past two weeks. He was good-looking, a fantastic dancer, and she sensed there was something beneath the surface. Some sort of sorrow, she thought, chewing on her lower lip. I can't figure out why; he dances so joyously. Tonight Sada could be there in her mind only, so it would not be a chance to figure out more of the Alastair Wolfe mystery. ------- At first, when the little dancer showed up at the club the next night, Alastair was flattered. It was obvious by her demeanor that she'd only come to watch him. However, when she'd shown up the next night, and the night after that, he'd begun to get a little creeped out. Sometimes her friends were with her, but much of the time she was alone. Alastair began to find her intense gaze to be highly disconcerting. Occasionally he had the strange thought that she could see right through him. Tonight, as he readied himself to dance, he tried to keep her out of his mind. As odd and creepy as it was to have her there so often, there was something about her that caught his eyes. It's because she dances too, Alastair thought, as he settled his jacket into place. Maybe some of our other patrons do, but I know she does. She, of all who watched, could truly appreciate his talent. It had been a long time since he'd experienced that, and it felt good, knowing someone saw that he was too good to dance here. Tonight turned out to be interesting. As soon as he stepped out in front of the crowd, Alastair realized that the little dancer was not there. Her friends were, however, and they all hooted wildly when he came on. He was surprised to feel a small niggling of disappointment that she was absent tonight. Maybe she got bored, he thought, feeling distinctly annoyed. Alastair could only do so much on this stage here; he couldn't come close to the variety and difficulty he loved. For the moment, he would have to ignore the fact that she was gone and concentrate. Yet no matter how hard he tried, he was a little off. None of the crowd seemed to notice, but he knew if the little dancer was here, she would have seen. This is getting ridiculous, Alastair thought, scowling to himself as he left the stage at the end of his performance. Maybe I should just try to meet her. Except that she wasn't here tonight, so he would just have to wait until she was. That will fix this, he thought, as he turned on the shower. Once I meet her in person she'll be just like every other girl. If there was one thing Alastair was bitter about, it was most definitely girls. He wondered how well he would dance if he wasn't constantly burdened with the heaviness of betrayal and depression. He needed joy in his dancing, the way that little dancer had moved the first night she'd come. Once clean and dry, Alastair began pulling on his clothes. He heard footsteps behind him, and spun around. There was Grant, with the three friends of the little dancer. Surprised, he straightened, smoothing his hands over his t-shirt. What do they want? he wondered, staring down at them. All of them were shorter than he was. At six foot six inches, there were few people who weren't shorter than him. Alastair smiled as the girls approached, then glanced at Grant. "These girls wanted to meet you," Grant explained. "Usually I don't allow it, but they begged. Said it was really, really important." Alastair frowned. "Grant, I don't think this is wise..." "It's only for a minute," the blonde cut in. "It's about our friend... you've seen her, I'm sure." "The little dancer," Alastair responded. "What about her?" The Latino girl giggled. "Oh, chico, you don't even know! She's been watching you every night for inspiration." "That I know," Alastair retorted. "Inspiration for what?" All three girls looked at each other, exchanging looks the spoke clearly; they weren't sure they should be telling him this. Makes it all the more interesting, he thought, fighting a smile. Then again, if it had to do with the little dancer, it was bound to be interesting, anyway. Alastair gave himself another shake. There was nothing special about this girl. She only reminded him of the days when he was still dancing how he loved, that was all. "Did you know about that dance contest?" the blonde asked. "The one the radio station is holding?" "Yeah," Alastair answered. "Is she entering?" The Latino girl nodded. "Indeed. You see, though, it's the first time she's danced this way in years. She had an... incident. All her confidence is gone. Now she's gonna try again, after watching you." "We're her friends, by the way," the red head put in. "I'm Heather, the blonde is Farah, and this is Gina." Alastair's eyebrows lifted. "And she is?" "Sadira," Farah said. "Or Sada for short. Anyway, we want you to go watch her." Alastair's eyebrows lifted further. Just a wee bit pretentious of them, isn't it? he thought. Maybe she doesn't want me there. Judging by the guilty looks on these girls' faces, that was probably the case. He reached for he light coat he'd brought with him, ready to just leave, when the Latino, Gina, spoke up again. "It would mean a lot to her," she said. "Just... make sure she doesn't see you until after she dances." Alastair sighed. "When is it?" "Tomorrow night," Farah replied. "Make sure you're there, Mr. Inspiration." Watching them walk away, Alastair bit his lip. Did I just commit myself to this? he wondered, frowning. He realized that, in a way, he had. From the first moment the little dancer had caught his eye, he'd got himself tangled with her. Because he simply was unable to ignore her. Alastair pulled his coat and shrugged lightly. Tomorrow was his night off; he supposed there could be worse ways to spend it. ------- Sada paused outside the ring created by ropes strung between bright orange construction cones. The crowd pressed against her. It was her turn to dance now, and she was freaked. Although she had practiced hard, she just wasn't sure she was ready. Now she paced, staring at the open area meant for dancing. I feel kinda silly, Sada thought, finally stepping over the rope. Maybe I should just stay as a has been. Originally she was going to wear a simple black leotard, but her friends had protested. Now she wore a short plaid skirt and a sheer black, long-sleeved top over the leotard. Judging by the male howls and catcalls, the outfit was perfect. Sada felt her cheeks begin to heat. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes, listening as the music began to creep up behind her. A moment later it burst into a crescendo, and she was moving. Having studied Alastair all week, she moved much like he did. Sada began with a series of leaps, one a sideways split, another a twist in the air, a third just something small and simple. The patterns were ones she could do in her sleep, and she moved through them easily, up on her toes through most of it. Sada found she could spring easiest from that position, into her highest flying moves. And she could fly; she could get height that a gymnast would be envious of. As the music played, she found herself getting into it more and more. Despite what seemed a shy, quiet demeanor, Sada loved attention. She glowed under the gazes and cheering of the watching crowd. A smile curved her lips, widening until her teeth flashed brightly beneath the blacklights. Her hair flew around her like a dark, miniature maelstrom. She flowed from the tips of her fingers to the tips of toes. It was going perfectly until almost the last moment. Sada felt her toes catch on the ground, and knew she was going to fall. The instinct that made her so great when she was younger was still there; in the back of her mind she knew that know one had any idea what her routine was supposed to be. Moving with the fall, she tumbled into a somersault, and came out of it on her knees. Sada sprang up immediately into a stretching leap, to the cheers of the crowd around her. She wasn't going to let that small bauble stop her now. As the music came to a close, she spun a final time, a triple twirl on the balls of her feet that kicked up dirt. Stretching her arms above her head, she finished with her fingers poised to the tips, one leg crossed elegantly before the other, and head thrown back. Light gleamed off the sweat of her face, making her skin glow. Sada felt distinct relief at finishing, and a thrill of joy as people clapped and shouted. "Sada Scarlett, ladies and gentlemen!" The announcer called. Grinning, she trotted out of the ring, leaping lightly over the rope. Hands slapped her on the back as she passed through. That was great! Sada thought. If she could have seen herself then, she would have seen her eyes bright with gold flecks among the green. As it was, she saw only one thing, something that made her mouth drop open in horror and shock. Alastair stood before her, grinning broadly. Sada felt her cheeks turn bright red, until she thought she might look like a tomato. ------- Alastair smiled down at the little dancer. She was definitely shocked to see him, for certain. And not pleased? he wondered, feeling oddly unsettled by that. Realizing how uncomfortable she must be, he closed his fingers around her wrist, and pulled her away from the crowd. Sada followed willingly, no doubt too stunned to protest. Alastair tugged her along until they were a decent distance from the crowd, then let her go and turned to face him. "Your friends asked me to come," Alastair explained quickly. "They said I was your inspiration." Sada's cheeks heated. "I uh... I guess so. I mean... I didn't ask them to ask you..." "I know," Alastair assured her. A smile tugged her lips. He'd been watching her so intently throughout the dance. Indeed, he could see how he'd inspired her; in two short weeks she'd picked up the basics of his style. Alastair had also seen her come close to falling, and her last second change into a tumble. He'd been impressed by her cleverness and enthralled by her movements. She's very graceful, he thought, smiling down at her. "So uh... did I do all right?" Sada asked, staring down at her toes. "You were great," Alastair replied. "I think you should win." Sada shook her head. "I can't beat those breakdancers. But that's okay. It was good for me to do." I think you're wrong, little dancer, Alastair thought. I think you slaughtered those breakdancers. He turned towards the crowd as the announcer stepped up on a chair, trying to get everyone's attention. Beside him he saw Sada look up, her green eyes bright and eager. Crossing his fingers behind his back, Alastair waiting with baited breath. "And the winner..." The announcer began dramatically. "Is... Gianna!" Alastair frowned. He seen this Gianna perform; she'd practically been pole dancing. Glancing over the crowd, he could see that there was easily more men here than women. That explains it, he thought, looking down at Sada. There was obvious disappointment in her bright green eyes. Alastair couldn't help but feel annoyed and outraged on her behalf. "You should have won," he told her. Sada shrugged. "It's not that big a deal." "You were better than her," Alastair insisted. He grinned. "Maybe I'm biased, seeing as you were dancing my style. I don't like to be beaten." A slow smile crept onto Sada's lips. She lifted her head, all the pluck going back into her stance as her head came up. A spark of mischief dazzled her eyes. Uh oh, Alastair thought, she is trouble in a small, cute package. "Maybe it's your fault, then," Sada said, eyeing him. "Maybe I was wrong to be inspired by you." Alastair snorted. "I'm better than all of these chumps here. You know that... it's why you wanted me to come see you." "I did not!" Sada protested. Alastair turned his gaze on hers, and she blushed. Surprisingly, she didn't seem upset that he had turned the tables on her. Rather she perked up further, her smile broadening until her teeth flashed. She's really quite beautiful, he thought, admiring the curve of her full, soft mouth. Alastair fought the sudden urge to kiss her. She was young, sweet, and innocent; not the kind of girl he should be fooling around with. "I'm sorry they bothered you," Sada said quietly. She had begun walking, no doubt towards her car. "Don't worry," Alastair assured her. "Should I walk you to your car?" Sada snorted. "I don't have one. I'm taking the bus." "The bus!" Alastair wrinkled his nose. "No, you aren't. I'm giving you a ride home." Sada paused, and he thought she was going to refuse. Then she smiled, bright and dazzling, and he realized just what he was doing. Alastair hadn't really trusted anyone since Melissa, but something about this little dancer charmed him. She was sweet, and came off as being almost painfully genuine. He found himself leading her to his motorcycle. They were both quiet... and she looked tired. Alastair handed her his helmet, and helped her up onto the motorcycle behind him. She closed his arms around him, pleasantly tight and snug, and he sighed. It had been several months since he'd had a girl in his life, even if they were only casual relationships. Sada's warm, soft body felt exquisite. Stop it, damnit, Alastair thought. She's too much like Alanna for me to be attracted to her. He wasn't attracted to her; he was merely frustrated. That was all. ------- Once Sada had gotten over her initial shock, she'd been pleased by Alastair's presence. He'd come to see her dance; her, a nobody, who meant nothing to him. And then he'd offered her a ride home... and her heart had soared. This is odd for me, she thought, leaning against him and squeezing her eyes shut as the motorcycle roared down the road. It wasn't like Sada to develop crushes on guys; not since that incident when she was fourteen had brought her the scorn of the boy she'd been infatuated with. I need to get over that, she realized. Just like I danced tonight, I need to get over my fear of guys, too. It was a big thing for Sada to admit to herself, but she understood why it was coming at this time. It was Alastair. Just like the boy she'd been so crazy over, he was a fabulous dancer. He was better looking, though. And, if Sada was honest with herself, that boy had been such a jerk. Alastair seemed like a sweetheart. After all, he'd offered her a ride home. They pulled up in front of her apartment a few minutes later, and Sada sat back with a sigh of relief. The motorcycle might have been sexy, but it was also terrifying. She climbed off, feeling a little wobbly, and pulled the helmet off. Looking at Alastair, she realized for the first time since he'd ask that he friends could have taken her home. Oh well, Sada thought, handing the helmet back to him. This was by far worth it. "Thank you for coming to see me," Sada said quietly, staring at her toes. "It meant a lot to me. You really did inspire me." Alastair smiled. "Glad I could be of service." "Well uh... good night," Sada stammered. She turned to head into her apartment, fishing for her keys. They were actually clipped to her belt loop, but she was feeling dazed, and for a moment had trouble finding them. "Sada!" Alastair called. Startled, she turned and peered over her shoulder at him. "Yes?" "Don't let this stop you," Alastair said. "You can really dance. Don't give up." A smile spread on Sada's face. She watched him, clutching her keys tightly to her chest, until he had driven away. Feeling as though she was on top of the world, she turned and bounced into her apartment. I'm not going to give up, she thought, as she dropped down onto the couch with an exhausted smile. Sada knew there was many competitions she could enter. Couple competitions, she thought, a smiling curving her lips. Maybe I should find myself a dark haired, tall, handsome, sexy partner name Alastair... ------- Chapter Three: Sada's Idea "Come on! Why won't you?" Alastair sighed and turned to face Sada. She'd perched herself on the seat of his motorcycle, and was staring at him expectantly. As always, he couldn't help thinking about how cute she was. Her dark hair was pulled into twin French braids that hovered above shoulders bared by the top she wore. The rich emerald color of the woven top matched her eyes and contrasted brightly against her dark hair. She has to look delicious, doesn't she? Alastair thought, groaning inwardly. "I'm not interested," Alastair repeated, shaking his head. "I don't dance that way anymore." "But you could," Sada insisted. "You're definitely good enough. You're just the kind of partner I need!" "I don't want to!" Alastair said firmly, glowering at her. "Now move! I want to leave!" He regretted his harsh words immediately. A flash of hurt showed in her startling green eyes as she slipped down off the motorcycle. Alastair expected her to say something, but Sada just looked at him for a moment, then walked away. Argh! he thought, shaking himself. I'm not going to go back to doing something I despise just because she flashes a pair of puppy eyes at me! Except he knew it wasn't something he despised. Alastair longed for that kind of dancing, but he could not. It brought back memories of Melissa, and her betrayal. If that had never happen, they would probably still be together... probably be married, no doubt, and perhaps competing, or maybe having children by now. Children? Alastair thought, chuckling to himself. Wow, maybe I'm starting to get old. Twenty-five might have been considered young by most, but he certainly didn't feel young these days. Alastair climbed onto his motorcycle, pulled on his helmet, and started up the bike. It was a short drive home from the parking lot of the community college, but that wasn't where he was headed. It was Friday, and Friday was, for some odd reason, family night. He and his brother Quinn went home every Friday night for dinner and quality time with the family. Alanna still lived at home while she was in college. Fortunately for Alastair it was only about ten minutes longer to his parents' home. He arrived at least an hour before supper; Quinn wasn't even there yet. Alanna sat on the floor in the living room, carefully painting her toenails a vivid shade of red. Balls of cotton separated each toe, to keep the nail polish from getting on her skin. When he entered the living room, she looked up at smiled at him. Her hair was closer to their mother's, cinnamon in color, but with streaks of honey-blonde mixed it. Her eyes were darker than his, a mix of his mother's light blue and his father's almost black. Alastair was glad she was so focused on school; he would have to break the man who tried to touch her. "How you doing, Lonnie?" Alastair asked, as he settled on the floor beside her. Alanna rolled her eyes. "Doing just fine, Ally. You?" "Ouch," Alastair grinned. "All right, you win. No more Lonnie. At least, not right now." "Where've you been keeping yourself?" Alanna asked, eyeing him sideways. "I heard a rumor that you were at a dance contest last week..." Alastair sighed. He'd known that Alanna would find out somehow. She always seemed to know what he'd been up to. If he told her about Sada, and her crazy idea, she would be all for it. I can't do it, he thought. First Sada chasing me around all week, and then adding Alanna to the mix? No way. They were really alike, his sister and Sada. Expect that he had no attraction to his sister, and he... he... I appreciate her beauty aesthetically, Alastair insisted mentally. That's all! "I was just watching," Alastair told her. Alanna's eyebrows lifted. "Watching who?" "No one in particular," Alastair lied. Alanna sighed heavily, in exaggerated exasperation. She put the top back on her nail polish and reaching out, grabbing her backpack from where it sat on the couch. From her bag she pulled pictures, numerous ones, of Sada dancing for the crowd at the contest. Mixed into the pictures was one of him, staring intently at the dancing ring. He didn't need more to the picture to know he was staring at Sada. "Bea is in Photography," Alanna explained. "She chose the competition to get some real artistic shots." "She's good," Alastair commented, wishing he could burn those pictures. "She's good," Alanna said, tapping a picture of Sada. "Bea said she was fantastic... and that you didn't take your eyes off her once." "I only went because her friends said she was inspired by me," Alastair grumbled. "And she was mimicking my style. I had to watch close, to make sure she was doing it right." Alanna tossed back her head and laughed. She had a very pretty laugh, but at the moment it grated on his nerves. I hate the way she does that, Alastair thought. She sees right through me, no matter what I do. She'd always had that unnerving ability. Alanna stuffed the pictures back in her bag, and began carefully pulling the cotton from between her toes. He could tell by the patient expression on her face that she was waiting for an explanation. He knew Alanna; she wasn't going to give up until he spilled the beans. "She is really good," Alastair admitted. "I guess she'd stopped dancing for awhile... lost her confidence. She wants to keep dancing now..." "That's good!" Alanna exclaimed. "She wants me to dance with her," Alastair continued. "And why not?" Alanna asked. "You're plenty good, Alastair. You don't belong in a strip club." Alastair sighed. She was right, and he knew it. Dancing at the club had been a denial of what he really was. And a precaution. He knew that Melissa would never stop dancing. If he had continued, he would have eventually encountered her. Whether it was a competition, or the chance they would end up in the same ballet company, he would encounter her. The thought of seeing her again made Alastair sick. "She's prettier than Melissa," Alanna said quietly. "And with your help, she could easily be a better dancer. Don't you think it would just kill her, to see you dancing with Sada?" "There's no guarantee I'd run into her," Alastair hedged, completely contradicting his thoughts of a moment before. Alanna rolled her eyes. "You know you would. And you know I'm right." He glanced over at her. She was right. I don't want to dance with Sada just to get at Melissa, Alastair thought, frowning. Although... if I were to dance with anyone, she would be a good choice. It would be easier to face Melissa with someone as elegant and lovely as Sada as his dance partner. But it isn't going to happen, he thought insistently. It really wouldn't be fair to her. ------- Fair or not, Alastair somehow found himself at a dance studio where Sada was practicing. It was Saturday night, very late, and she was the only one using the studio. He could hear music from behind the closed door. What am I doing here? he wondered, as he gently pushed the door open. Why did I let Alanna talk me into this? She had been the one to track Sada down. Alastair should never have gone along with this scheme. Sada was indeed dancing. She didn't notice him slip inside, so wrapped up in her dancing was she. Alastair paused just inside the door, staring at her. She moved with passion and grace, but he could see that she was not letting go completely. Her turns and twirls were perfectly centered, but there was not enough wildness in them. When she leapt, she didn't get all the height she could. Alastair followed the line of her body as she moved, seeing places where she could give a bit more, reach a bit further. It didn't seem to matter, though. He couldn't take his eyes off her. There was such charisma in her, in the way she moved. She needs to let it out, Alastair thought, biting anxiously at his lower lip. She needs to take the rein off that passion and use it to dance. He watched her drop into a split and throw her head back, arching her body. For a moment he caught a glimpse of what she could do, then she was back on her feet, her movements once more controlled. Sada was sexy. She needed to exploit that, use it to her advantage when she danced. She needed to arch her back more, toss her head, stretch her legs more. Alastair was walking towards her before he even realized what he was doing. His hands caught her hips, and he heard her gasp in surprise. Using his grip on her, he brought her body up against his, and slid his hands up to her ribs, just below her breasts. Alastair brought his mouth close to her ear. "Keep dancing," he murmured. ------- Alastair's voice. Sada recognized it immediately. It was soft and husky, and made her tremble. As did the touch of his hands. The heat of his skin seemed to soak right through her leotard. He commanded her to keep dancing, and so she did. She moved with him, following the push of his hands. Their movements together were fairly simple; without choreography they had to rely on body cues. But Sada had never felt this way before when she'd danced with someone. Alastair's hand caught hers as she twirled away from him. It was such a typical move, but when she spun back into his arms, he dipped her back over his arm. Sada's hair swept the floor. His free hand rested at the base of her neck, and slowly slid down between her breasts and along her stomach. She felt her cheeks go red, but had no strength to push him away, even when she straightened again. Sada lifted her gaze to find Alastair staring at her face intently. One hand rested, fingers splayed, on the small of her back, gently guiding her hips. His other hand slowly moved up her arm, touching with only his fingertips. Sada shivered; the pads of his fingers were pleasantly rough as they traveled over her skin. "Head back," Alastair commanded softly. "Close your eyes." It was as though he controlled her. She let her head fall back, and her eyes shut, as his hand traveled to her neck. He chuckled to himself, and his voice was soft and husky when he spoke. "I love obedient women," he murmured. Sada's head snapped up. "What is that supposed to mean!?" she demanded. Alastair didn't seem to notice her sudden change of mood. He trailed a finger up along her neck, over her chin, and to her lips. Really, he should have been paying attention, because golden sparks lit in her bright green eyes. When he didn't answer her, Sada opened her mouth and snapped her teeth at his finger. Alastair jerked his hand back, barely avoiding a sharp bite. "Hey!" he exclaimed, his eyebrows furrowing in a scowl. "What the hell was that for!?" "Obedient, am I?" Sada snarled, settling her hands on her hips. "Is that what you think?" Alastair took a small step back, belying his air of bravado. "Come on. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Plenty of women feel the way you do." "Oh?" Sada's expression darkened. "And what way is that, Alastair?" If he had half a brain, he'd back off, she thought, glowering at him. Sada had never been very obedient, and she hated it when people assumed she was. Just because she was quiet and kept to herself, people thought it meant she wasn't going to stand up for herself. Alastair was in for a nasty surprise, if he thought she was going to let him get away with this. "You don't need to be shy," Alastair said, his tone of voice patronizing. "It's okay to admit you're attracted to me." "I'm... oooo, you... you arrogant... !" Sada snarled, furious. Sada was not a quiet person, really. She had a temper, and no patience for arrogance. Without thinking she charged at Alastair, running into him full force and knocking him onto his back. He was fast, and his fingers closed around her wrist as he went backward, pulling her with him. Sada shrieked, fighting to stay on her feet, but he was stronger than she was, and she went down. Alastair moved quickly, rolling her onto her back and pinning her down. "You little harpy!" he growled. "I'm not going to help you at all, if you act like this!" "At least I'm not an arrogant prick!" Sada shot back. "Get off me, now!" "God!" Alastair huffed in frustration as he climbed back to his feet. "Why the hell are women so damn changeable!? Can't you ever make up your minds!?" "Maybe we wouldn't have to change them so much if men weren't such jerks!" Sada retorted. Alastair stared at her for a long moment, then turned on his heel and stomped from the studio. Sada winced as the door slammed shut. She brought her knees up to her chest, running her fingers through sweat dampened hair. That didn't go well at all, she thought, feeling tears sting her eyes. But why did he have to be such a jerk like that? I thought we could at least be friends. It drove her mad. Yes, Alastair was attractive, but why did he act like that? Like that's all there is to him, Sada thought, swiping at a tear as it fell. Like that's the only thing he's good for. ------- Alastair found the locker room and, of course, the showers. He didn't want to go home stinking of sweat. And he needed time to think, as well. She should make up her damn mind, he thought, as he turned the water on and ducked beneath it. Either she likes me or she doesn't! The last thing he wanted to deal with was another girl like Melissa! Once was enough for any man. That's not right, Alastair thought, leaning against the wall with a defeated sigh. This was my own fault. It wasn't as if he hadn't met girls since Melissa that her truly liked. He'd never been able to trust them, though, and that had destroyed any chance he'd had of a relationship. And here he was, destroying what was barely even a friendship yet. It wasn't fair to Sada, for him to compare her to Melissa. I sure made a mess of things, Alastair thought. He didn't have a towel with him, so he had to dress still dripping wet. It wasn't a huge improvement over being sweaty, but at least he didn't stink. Alastair would have headed directly home, but... There's no way she's still in there, he thought, as he gently pushed open the studio door. But she was there, sitting on the floor with her legs tucked up to her chest. Although Sada made no noise, Alastair could tell she was crying. He had a feeling he knew what was going through her head right now. Some of it was confusion, the same he experience. Didn't he know well the heat that could spark between two people when they danced together? That was, after all, how he'd ended up with Melissa. And Alastair suspected she was losing hope, too. She wanted badly to dance again, but her confidence was lacking. He knew exactly how that felt. "Sada," he called softly. She jumped slightly, and lifted her head, swiping quickly at the evidence of her tears. "What?" "This means hard work," Alastair said quietly. "We have to be able to work together. And you need to listen to me." "I can't make any promises," Sada responded stiffly. "And you can't bite me, either," Alastair continued. "I can't make any promises," Sada repeated, this time a bit of mischief sparking in her eyes, and curling the edges of her mouth. Alastair felt relieved. It seemed as though their little spat would be something they were capable of fixing. He hesitated then, not really sure of what to say. After all, he'd made a really poor showing today. That wasn't an impression he would rid her of so easily. Alanna would kill me, if she knew I was acting like that, Alastair thought. Even I'm ashamed of me. "I'm sorry," Sada said suddenly. "I'm scared. I had a... a bad fall, when I was younger. Now I'm confused and... and nervous..." Alastair nodded. "I understand, Sada. And I'm sorry. I was acting like an idiot." "I won't disagree with you," Sada said sharply, making him wince. "You... you can't just touch me like that. I won't put up with it." "You will," Alastair argued. "If you want me to be your partner, you'll have to learn. You can't be closed off from your dance partner... it doesn't work like that." Sada scowled at him. She's going to be incredibly stubborn, he realized. He simply couldn't let her get away with that. Folding his arms over his chest, he glowered right back at her. For a moment he thought she might jump at him again. Alastair was too angry; if she did that, he must accidentally hurt her. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to calm down. "I'm going home," Alastair told her. "Meet me here Wednesday afternoon. We can try to start this off on the right foot, next time." Sada opened her mouth as though she was going to protest, then stopped. She nodded, once, and looked away, staring at the floor. Alastair knew he'd get no more out of her today. Well, I think I learned my lesson, he thought, as he closed the door and headed out of the building. I guess it really is always the quiet ones. He would have to be more careful next time. This little dancer was simply not going to put up with his antics. ------- Chapter Four: Working Together? "I told you no!" Alastair sighed, backing away from Sada. She stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at him fiercely with those bright green eyes. She just doesn't understand, he thought, shaking his head. She needs to let me touch her for us to dance as we should. She would not allow his hands to wander. Sada wouldn't put up with intimate touches. Alastair was ready to scream with frustration. How could she not understand that it was all part of the dance? "I don't want you doing it," Sada said firmly. "It's not like we're having sex!" Alastair snapped, losing his patience. "Stop being such a prude!" Sada stared at him for a long moment, and he could see fury sparking in her eyes. To his surprise, she turned and stomped out of the studio, leaving him by himself. Not good, Alastair thought, sighing and running his fingers through his hair. This is just not working out. This was the second week he'd been dancing with Sada, and just about every session ended as this one had. It seemed that instead of become more comfortable with him as time went on, she became less. Dancing with Sada was complicated. Alastair had no interest in a serious relationship, but his interest in Sada wasn't solely platonic, either. Perhaps she sensed that, and that was what made her uneasy. Or maybe she was struggling with her own attraction to him. There was no doubt in his mind that she was attracted to him. Alastair never had any doubts about that. Don't I sound humble, he thought, dropping down on a pile of mats. Well, we'll have to try tomorrow, then. ------- Sada had to admit, Alastair surprised her. He worked hard, but was at the studio six days out of seven to practice with her. It was hell. He kept insisting she let him touch her in ways she'd never been touched. Maybe if she wasn't so drawn to him it might not bother her so much. Maybe if she hadn't woken up this morning from an erotic dream about him, she might not be so uptight. Alastair effected her, and that drove her crazy. Sada dropped the folder she was holding on the pile of mats by the door and began stretching. Alastair wouldn't get here for awhile; she wanted some time to dance on her own, and to think. The folder held information on a freestyle national dance contest. She'd never heard of anything like it before, and it seemed interesting. Sada walked over to the boom box they'd left in the studio, and put a CD in. I can always think and dance to these guys, she thought. She moved across the floor slowly, just moving with the music. Sada knew one thing for certain: she wanted to enter this contest. However things weren't working too well with Alastair. I know it's really my fault, she thought, but he's so arrogant, too! It drives me crazy! She stretched her arms up above her head, tilting her head back and singing softly as the music played. "Awake through motion... With curious to curtain your first move... Over arms length they'll break protocol... Jealous envy for the youngest one... To be the hero is all I'll ask... Can I be buried here among the dead... With room to honor me here in the end..." Sada wasn't really a good singer, but it soothed her to sing. Her head was a mish mash of thoughts she wasn't used to. She loved to dance, and she was an all right choreographer, but was she could enough for this. Maybe I can get Alastair to do the choreography, she thought, pausing for a moment to look at her reflection in the mirror. They hadn't really discussed it yet. Sada sighed and dropped to floor, folding her legs beneath her. They were going to have to discuss it soon. ------- Alastair paused outside the door of the studio. He couldn't help wondering where Sada found the money to rent it so often. Music played from inside the studio, although he wouldn't call it dancing music. What is that? he wondered, leaning against the door. It's weird. Alastair could hear Sada singing along with the music, something he would never have expected of her, lest she be caught undignified. "Did I bother telling you this... with the words that cross teeth and jump lips... a poor choice of words, in wanting to tell you anything... but words don't come with ease, they're forever my... hurt..." Shaking his head, he pushed open the door and stepped quietly inside. Sada was on the bar, one leg braced on it, stretching. She had her eyes closed, singing along to the music, and didn't notice him come in. Alastair dropped his backpack on the mats in the corner, then paused, eyeing the folder laying there. He flipped it open and rifled through the contest. A dance contest? he thought, frowning. We can't even work together yet and she's thinking about a contest? It was an interesting idea, though, he had to admit. Alastair glanced over at her. Time to teach the little dancer a lesson, he thought, smiling to himself. She wouldn't be making any decisions without him. He pulled off his jacket, boots, and socks, then crept up silently behind her. Sada was so absorbed in her music that she didn't realize something was amiss until he'd grabbed her. Ignoring her flailing, Alastair dragged her backwards, and spun her around to face him. Her green eyes lit with fury. "So, a dance contest?" Alastair asked, killing her anger before it had begun. "I... I was just... thinking about it!" Sada stammered defensively. "You can't possibly think we're ready," Alastair said. "You won't even let me touch you!" "Why should I?" Sada demanded, her anger creeping back up again. "We're just dancing together!" Alastair grabbed for her suddenly, quicker than she was able to move. He spun her around and pulled her up against him, her back firmly against his chest. His hands spanned her ribs, just beneath her breasts, and his hips rocked into hers. He felt Sada shiver as his mouth moved along her neck. Stop that, Alastair told himself, bringing his head back. I'm not going to take this that far. No matter what his body wanted him to do. "We are partners, Sada," Alastair murmured, feeling her shiver again as his breath rushed over her ear. "We need to move together. If you cannot relax with me, we can be nothing on the dance floor." "But... I..." Sada stammered, staring up at him. "That is dancing," Alastair told her. "It's passion, Sada. It's heat and touch and fire. Do you understand?" Judging by the look in her bright green eyes, she didn't quite get it. However she flinched a little less as he trailed a hand up between her breasts, so he got the feeling that he had, at least, planted a seed of understanding. The CD she'd been listening to started playing again, and although it wasn't suited to the dances Alastair had in mind, it was a good way to get her to sway with him. "Who is this?" Alastair asked, closing his arms firmly around her waist. "Coheed and Cambria," Sada told him. He stared at her. "Who?" "Coheed and Cambria," Sada repeated, laughing. "They're not too mainstream, but they're killer. So... about this contest..." Way to change the subject, Alastair thought, turning her to face him. An impish smile tugged at her soft, full mouth, and he had to fight not to smile back. The contest preliminaries were starting in a month, which hardly gave them enough time, he knew. It would mean choreographing and perfecting a dance in so little time, and with Sada unwilling to relax completely. But we're good, Alastair thought. Good enough that we could get through preliminaries not fully connected. "All right," Alastair conceded at last. "But this will be work, Sada. Hard work. You'd better be prepared." ------- When Alastair had told her that they would be working hard, Sada hadn't realized it would be this hard. She met him at the studio every day, after school, and before he had to go to work. They worked on pieces of the dance he had choreographed over and over again, until she felt she could do it in her sleep. And it was a fantastic dance, Sada had to admit. She had been a little wary about the music, at first, though. "Michael Jackson?" Sada questioned, lifting her eyebrows at Alastair. "Hey, I never said I liked him," Alastair said defensively, lifting his hands. "But you have to admit, the man has some good dancing music. And this is just for now, until I decide for certain what we're going to dance to." Sada stared at him. "You don't even know for sure? But then how can we make the dance work with the music?" "I know what I'm doing," Alastair assured her. "Don't question me." So she didn't. Sada left the music and choreography up to him, but she took care of registration and costumes herself. Alastair was a little leery about this at first; he didn't want to end up dancing in a dorky costume. Finding something he would wear, and producing a matching costume for herself, proved to be a worthy challenge. She got Farah, Gina, and Heather to help her with that. Sada had a small fight with Alastair over the pants he wanted to wear. She insisted that leather wasn't good for dancing, but he gotten her to admit that his were supple enough. By making her touch them while he was wearing them, something that made her face burn to think about. They'd had a huge argument about color; Alastair rarely wore anything but black. Sada knew that while it was okay to wear black sometimes, but judges at dance contests usually appreciated color. She had ended up agreeing to wait on a color decision until he made a music decision. When Alastair had at last come to her with his decision, she was able to finish planning for their costumes. That very afternoon she sat in the studio, listening to "Higher Ground" (the Red Hot Chilli Peppers version) and flipping through a book of color swatches. I suppose I could go with something dark, Sada mused, trailing her finger over a swatch of dark blue cotton. The preliminaries wouldn't call for anything spectacular, after all. "Having any luck?" Startled, Sada glanced up at Alastair. His hair was still dripping from a shower; she hadn't taken one yet. He sat down on the pile of mats next to her and looked down at the color swatches. "Don't worry," Sada assured him. "I'll have it figured out." "I like that skirt you picked up," Alastair said, his voice edged with good-natured humor. Sada felt her cheeks heat. "I... I thought it would match." Leather should have been out of the question. However she'd found a skirt that was pleated leather over gray plaid when she'd been out shopping with her friends. And it cost seventy bucks, Sada thought, wrinkling her nose at the memory. She'd shown it to Alastair, and he'd been teasing her about it ever since. "Aww, don't be shy," Alastair teased. "No one can blame you for wanting to look good... what with me around all the time." Sada glowered at him. "Don't push it." He laughed, and she stared at him for a moment. He was trying to break the tension, she thought, biting her lip. Sada sighed, stifling a laugh in the sound. At least they got along sometimes. She closed the book of swatches and tapped him lightly over the head with it. Alastair growled, swatting the book away. Sada sprang to her feet, laughing as he chased her around the studio. ------- Working so hard made both Sada and Alastair grumpy. With less than a week until the preliminaries, they were working together every spare hour they had. If you could call this working together, Alastair thought, glaring across the studio at Sada. They were in the middle of another argument about where he put his hands when they danced. They had one lift in their dance that required him to put his hands beneath her skirt, and she was not at all happy about it. "You knew the choreography weeks ago!" Alastair growled. "We've done this hundreds of times! And you'll be wearing a leotard beneath your skirt. What the hell is the problem!?" "There isn't anyone here watching us!" Sada shot back. "We're going to be in front of a crowd!" "Oh, geez," Alastair sighed, rolling his eyes. "Listen, Sada. This is just a part of dancing. If you can't handle it, then we should just pull out of the contest!" That brought her to a halt. She chewed on her lower lip, her eyes darting to the floor. They had been practicing, and when they'd gotten to the lift, she'd balked. She is driving me nuts, Alastair thought, rubbing a hand across his face. Why did I ever agree to this? He glanced up at Sada and saw her watching him. Her bright green eyes were resigned. "Let's practice," Sada grumbled, walking over to the stereo. And so they practiced. Alastair realized that if they really did make it through the preliminaries, he would run into a problem with work. Other parts of the competition would take place in different states, as well. He would have to find a way to work it out; he couldn't keep his apartment without his job. And his parents had made it quite clear that he couldn't stay with them unless he had a damn good reason. Somehow he doubted a dance contest was going to count. ------- Alastair knew his parents wouldn't let him back into the house for a dance contest, but he hoped at least they'd support him by attending. At first he hadn't wanted them to be there, but as he and Sada progressed, he'd changed his mind. They weren't perfect together, but they were good enough to impress his family. Alanna would kill me if I didn't invite her, he thought, smiling wryly. It was family night, and he was running a little late. The rest of the family looked up from the table as he entered. His mother's pale blue eyes were disapproving, as he'd expected. She wasn't a stern parent, but she was firm about the nights they spend together as a family. Her long brown hair was pulled up off her neck, and if one looked closely they could see light strands of gray mixed in. Alastair's mother was in her mid-forties, but she didn't look much older than thirty, especially when she smiled. His father looked amused. He showed his age a bit more than Alastair's mother, with strands of silver hair stark against the black. Laughter glittered in his dark eyes, and he covered a smirk with his hand. His mother sent a dark look her husband's way; she always knew what he was doing, even when she wasn't look. "Sorry," Alastair said, plopping down into his chair. "We ran over a bit." "We?" his mother questioned, her eyebrows lifting. "I suppose "we" have a good explanation, then, for why you're late?" "Give him a break, dear," his father said, grinning. "I understand he's been spending time with a girl." Alastair felt his cheeks heat. "Thanks a lot, Lonnie." "Not a problem, Ally," Alanna retorted. Quinn was quiet throughout, but Alastair saw him smiling. I should have thought twice about this, he thought, sighing heavily. He glanced over to his parents, to see his mother glowering at his father. "Gabriel Wolfe, you are a horrible influence on our children," his mother scolded. "Uh oh," Alanna giggled. "You know she means business when she uses your fully name." "Aislinn, sweetie, why don't we let our son explain?" Gabriel suggested, barely able to contain his laughter. Alastair glared at his father. Gabriel knew just how to get attention off of himself and onto someone else. All eyes once more turned to regard him; three pairs of blue in varying shades and one pair of near black. He suddenly felt distinctively uncomfortable. "I was practicing," Alastair said quietly. "With my dance partner, Sada." "Told you so!" Alanna crowed, grinning. Alastair shot her a look. "We are just dance partners. That's all. And... well, there's a competition we're entering. The preliminaries... I have tickets reserved, if... well, you know." "Ooo!" Alanna clapped her hands together childishly, her eyes sparking in delight. "We're invited! I thought you wouldn't invite us!" "I didn't want to!" Alastair growled. He looked over at his parents. They were looking at each other, then at him, then back to each other. Slowly a smiled curved his mother's lips, making her look even younger than she already did. Oh good, Alastair thought, letting out an explosive sigh of relief. He knew that his parents could go one of two ways; they could be pleased that he was doing something other than stripping, or they could disappointed that he was still doing nothing with his life. Alastair preferred the former choice much more than the latter. "Of course we'll be there," Aislinn said, smiling. "Alastair, honey, you know we wouldn't miss it for the world." ------- Chapter Five: Preliminary Alastair paused in front of the mirror in tiny stall in the men's dressing room. I hate preliminary facilities, he thought, scowling. At least Sada had made a good pick. Going along with the punk-style theme of her skirt, she'd had a top made for him in dark blue mesh. It was sleeveless and hooded, and he found he actually liked it quite a bit. The only uncomfortable bit was the tights he wore underneath his pants. Both he and Sada danced freestyle barefoot, but neither of them relished the idea of putting their feet where so many others had tread. I wouldn't be caught dead in these things anymore, otherwise, Alastair thought, tugging at them. He left the dressing room then, pulling his hair back into a ponytail as he went. Sada would meet him in the waiting area; she had their numbers. Couple number seventy-eight, Alastair thought, glancing around at the myriad of people milling in the waiting area. I can't wait until this number is cut down. It would be cut by half; one hundred out of two hundred couples would move on to the quarterfinals in Florida. Fifty had already been picked last night, during the first round of the preliminaries. A small figure cut a path through the crowd, moving towards him. Sada reached him, and paused, looking up at him. Yum, Alastair thought, fighting the urge to grin. Her costume was an echo of the one she'd worn at that radio station competition; a thin blue mesh top with long sleeves over her leotard, and of course the leather and plaid skirt. Sparkly make-up glittered on her lips, cheeks, and eyelids, meant to draw attention to her features. Sada's hair was left down for this. It was shorter than his, and didn't get in the way much. "You look good," Sada said quietly, her cheeks turning red as she studied him. "You look like a fifteen-year-old's wet dream," Alastair told her candidly, grinning when her cheeks darkened further. "Stop that," Sada growled, shoving his number at him. "Help me with this." "Sure thing," Alastair said, still grinning. She elbowed him in the ribs sharply, but it didn't deter him. He helped her pin the number to the back of her shirt, then stood still as she did the same for him. Sada was much shorter than he was, and she couldn't see over his shoulders when she was behind him. Alastair peered back over his shoulder at her and, noticing the paleness of her face, couldn't help but smile. She's nervous, he thought, turning to face her. She looks so cute when she's uncertain. "What?" Sada asked sharply, when she noticed him staring at her. "Nothing," Alastair replied, grinning. "Stop acting like a chump," Sada growled, scowling at him. She turned her back to him and stared out at the other couples. "Mmm," Alastair murmured, fighting back a laugh. "I love it when you talk dirty to me, baby." "Alastair!" Sada snarled, turning to glare at him again. Alastair laughed and took a step back, lifting his hands. "All right, all right. You win." He paused a moment, then when she had turned back around, "Harpy." "Arrogant prick," Sada muttered under her breath. She knows me so well, he thought, smiling ruefully. Alastair settled his hands lightly on her shoulders. She swayed, turning slightly to peer at him, but she didn't yell or pull away. She really is lovely, he thought, studying the profile of her face before she turned to face forward once again. He trailed his fingers through the wispy ends of her dark hair and heard her sigh softly. Couple twenty-two went on. It was definitely going to be a long wait. Honestly, they should have separated this into more than two nights, Alastair thought. He glanced around at the other couples, wondering who was couple seventy-seven, and who was seventy-nine. Seventy-nine was easy to find; they were both tall, the male taller than even Alastair, and the female close to six feet. Wow, he thought, his eyebrows lifting. That's something you don't see everyday. Female dancers were generally smaller and more compact. He scanned the crowd further, but could not find the other couple. Alastair turned his attention to the monitor up above the crowd of dancers, where they could view the other couples as they danced. Plenty of them were good, but a lot of them were, he thought, rather mediocre. Many of them were samey, and he found himself almost dozing on his feet. Sada seemed to share his opinion, because she yawned loudly. "Would you like to sit?" Alastair asked. "Not yet," Sada responded. "I'm too restless." He could understand that rather well. Alastair sighed, tilting his head back and closing his eyes. This is boring, he thought, I forgot how mind-numbingly boring this could be. He hated waiting. Dropping his head again, he glanced around the crowd, to see if any new couples had made their appearances. Alastair froze as one couple, number seventy-seven, caught his eye. Long, golden-blonde hair was pulled back in a tight, traditional bun. The floaty, rose pink dress she wore was tea length, and bright against her perfectly lily pale skin. She wore white tights and ballet slippers, and although she was older, she didn't look much different from what she'd always looked like. Melissa, Alastair thought, feeling suddenly cold. I should have known she'd be here. He didn't recognize her partner, but it didn't matter. I can't let her see me, he thought, releasing his hold on Sada. She was watching the monitor and didn't seem to notice when he backed away. Alastair knew he'd made a promise to Sada, but all thoughts of it had fled his mind. He pushed through the milling couples as quickly as he could, hoping she wouldn't see him. ------- Sada pulled her gaze away from the monitor and paused; something caught her eye. A glint of blonde hair. The woman in question, one half of couple number seventy-seven, turned around suddenly, and Sada sucked in her breath. Melissa Hartley, she thought, taking a step back. She expected to bump into Alastair, but she didn't. Turning she found, to her horror, that he was no longer there. Where'd he go? she wondered. When she turned to look back at the crowd, Melissa was coming towards her. A familiar, catty smile curled her lips. Sada sighed, folding her arms across her chest as Melissa and her partner approached. "Sadira Scarlett," Melissa cooed, batting her eyelashes. "That is you, isn't it, Sadie?" "Hello Melissa," Sada said, sighing inwardly. "Oh, it is you!" Melissa exclaimed. "Sadie, sweetheart, didn't anyone tell you that this is a competition for couples?" "My partner just... went to the bathroom," Sada muttered hesitantly. "Aw, that's too bad," Melissa purred. "I would so love to meet the man that would dare to dance with Ms. Graceful." Sada winced. She might not have stopped dancing after her fall, if it hadn't been for Melissa and... and... Oh, no, she thought, staring at Melissa's dance partner. She recognized the reddish-brown hair, brown eyes, and handsome face of Andre, her once dancer partner. And former big time crush. It was these two together that had made her life a living hell after she'd fallen on stage. "Hello, Sada," Andre said, smiling at her. "You've grown up." His smile was lecherous and it made her feel ill. She took a step back, then turned sharply and lifted her head to stare at the monitor. Sada felt the two of them stare at her for awhile, then turn and head back across the room. She shifted on her feet as she watched the couple dancing; number sixty-nine. It's almost our turn, she thought, glancing around quickly. Where is Alastair? "Couples seventy through eighty in the wings, please." Sada stared in horror at the stage director. She followed the other couples as they headed into the wings. Melissa and Andre were just in front of her. I'm going to kill Alastair, she thought, chewing on her lower lip anxiously. Where could he possibly have gone to? ------- Alastair leaned against the wall of the building, staring up at the star speckled sky. I can't believe she's here, he thought, rubbing his temples. Why was she here? Melissa had never been all that interested in freestyle dancing. Last time he'd seen her, she'd been wholly obsessed with classical ballet. This is just my luck, Alastair thought, sighing heavily. The last thing I wanted was to run into her. He had been hoping that maybe, just maybe, he'd be lucky enough to never see her again. And his family! They'd see her too, when she went on to dance. His mother and father had never agreed with Quinn's decision to not press charges, and they were furious with Melissa. Alanna was especially vehement when it came to his ex-girlfriend. Alastair glanced at the back door that lead into the backstage area and bit his lip. If he went back in there now, and Melissa saw him, she might say something to him. What would Sada think? Sada! he thought suddenly, his eyes widening. She was waiting for him inside. I promised her this, Alastair thought, shifting anxiously on his feet. I can't let her down. He groaned softly and reached for the door. For a moment he hesitated, not sure he really wanted to go in there. His past was in there, waiting for him with those disdainful blue eyes. This isn't about me! Alastair thought, giving himself a shake. This is about what Sada wants! Steeling himself, he pulled open the door and walked back into the crowded backstage area. He cut his way through the milling couples, his eyes scanning the crowd for Sada. She was not where he'd last seen her, in front of the monitor. Alastair glanced up and caught the announcer's voice as another couple appeared on the monitor. "Couple number seventy-seven, Melissa Hartley and Andre Gil." In the wings, Alastair thought, pushing through the crush of people. He slipped past the stage manager and into the wings, where he saw Sada waiting, watching. She slumped against the bar positioned there for stretching and shifted from foot to foot. As he got closer her heard her yawn. Glancing out, Alastair saw Melissa and her partner Andre moving together in a slow, slightly modified classical dance. "Boring, huh?" Alastair asked, leaning on the bar behind Sada. She jumped and whirled to face him. Her bright green eyes lit in surprise, then relief, when she saw him. "There you are!" Sada exclaimed. "You scared me!" "Sorry," Alastair murmured. "I uh... I really needed some fresh air." Sada smiled hesitantly. "I didn't think you would really abandon me..." Startled, he stared at her. She turned around, hiding the look of relief and joy in her eyes. Settling his hands on her shoulders once more, Alastair focused his gaze on Melissa and Andre. Technically they were both great dancers; they were just so boring to watch. Their performance was a slightly varied version of a piece from Sleeping Beauty. Dullsville, he thought, smothering a yawn of his own. Finally their dance ended. As they headed into the wings, Melissa's eyes narrowed on him. Alastair grabbed Sada's wrist and pulled her out onto the stage before Melissa could say anything. Above the polite applause of the audience he could hear his family cheering enthusiastically from the front row. Positioning themselves center stage, they stood with Sada in front, her head dropped and her arms dropped, and Alastair with his back to hers, his head lifted and his arms across his chest. "Couple number seventy-eight, Alastair Wolfe and Sadira Scarlett." Their music started up as the announcer's voice faded away. Alastair had chosen something lively and acrobatic for them to dance, so they weren't forced to be too close to one another too often. Mostly they moved side by side, often echoing each other's movements but other times paralleling each other's movements. Alastair listened to the music, using it to fuel his movements. "I'm so darn glad He let me try it again... 'Cause my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin... I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then... Gonna keep on tryin' till I reach the highest ground." In their routine they had some daring moves as well. The first was the one Sada had protested so vehemently because of her skirt. Alastair slid his hands beneath her skirt, bracing them between her thighs, and lifted her up. He tossed her lightly into the air; the audience gasped at her height and broke into cheers as she landed with ease on her toes. Alastair caught her around the waist and swung her to face him as the song went into its second verse. "Teachers... keep on teachin'... preachers... keep on preachin'... world... keep on turnin'..." Glancing to the side, he caught a glimpse of Sada's face. She was lit from the outside, a bright smile on her face and her eyes swimming with gold sparks. She really didn't need him to be great. There was so much life and charisma coming from her when she danced that every eye in the place was riveted on her. Alastair wanted to watch her too, and if he wasn't dancing with her, he'd be staring more intently than anyone else. The second daring move in their piece came near the end of the performance. Sada moved to stand behind him. As she dropped to the floor, he used all the strength in his legs to launch himself up and back, flipping over her as she slid along the floor beneath him. She came up in front of him, and Alastair grabbed hold of her when he landed. They went into the last part of their piece, which ended in modified fouettes with the last fast-paced, rousing seconds of the song. Breathing hard, they ended similarly to how they had begun, except that Alastair was in front with his head down and his arms free, and Sada was behind with her head up and her arms crossed. He could feel each deep breath she took, could hear her panting even with the roar of the crowd. That was fun, Alastair admitted to himself, pushing a stray strand of sweaty hair from his face as they broke position. The announcer called their names and number one more time as they headed off stage. They passed couple number seventy-nine on their way backstage, but fortunately he didn't see Melissa and her partner. Alastair turned to face Sada... and staggered back as she hit him roughly in the stomach. "I should kill you!" she exclaimed, glowering at him. "What if you didn't come back? Where would I be?" "I thought you said you knew I'd come back!" Alastair retorted. "I... you... ahhh!" Sada growled, stamping her feet. She paused and looked up at him, her anger fading quickly into uncertainty. "Thank you for coming back." "Hey, I wouldn't leave you," Alastair told her. "I made you a promise and I intend to keep it." "Alastair!" He winced. Slowly he turned to face Melissa and her partner as they approached. Sada stood beside him, and he noticed her eyes narrowing. Wait a minute, Alastair thought, frowning. "Alastair Wolfe," Melissa said. "And Sadira Scarlett. It's... laughable!" "Stow it, Melissa," Sada growled. "Know her?" Alastair asked beneath his breath. "She was in my dance troupe," Sada responded, glowering at Melissa. "You?" "Dated her," Alastair said, ignoring Sada's look of surprise. "Unfortunately." Melissa opened her mouth to reply, but never got the chance. The announcer's voice came through the speakers, announcing what couples had passed into the quarterfinals. Alastair felt Sada's hand slip into his, and he closed his fingers around hers, holding tight as the numbers were rattled off. "Number sixty-seven, number seventy-one, number seventy-seven, number seventy-eight, number seventy-nine..." Alastair had stopped listening. He stared down at Sada's dark hair as she hugged him tightly. Slowly, cautiously, he closed his arms around her. Melissa flashed him a vindictive look, then turned and walked away, pulling Andre with her. Alastair put his hands on Sada's shoulders and pushed her away gently. Tears of joy glimmered unshed in her bright green eyes, and she was grinning broadly. "We made it," she said quietly. "Told you so," Alastair said, grinning. "Come on... let's get changed before my family finds us and swamps us." "Too late," Sada said, her eyes widening as she looked over his shoulder. Alastair grunted softly as Alanna caught him in a hug from behind. Caught up in the excitement, Sada hugged him again. Now if only one of them wasn't my sister, he thought, grinning wryly. His mother made it a point of hugging him too, and although his father and brother were not quite so enthusiastic, both of them were grinning. Alastair managed to entangle himself from the frantic females eventually and headed for the changing rooms. He felt a hand come down on his shoulder and turned to glance at his brother. "Kick her ass, brother," Quinn said, before releasing him to get changed. ------- Chapter Six: On Ice Sada smothered a yawn as she made her way down the stairs to the ground floor of the college building. It wasn't as if she hadn't gotten sleep the night before; indeed she'd gotten nine hours. But it was hard to keep up with her grueling schedule. Apart from school, she practiced with Alastair almost every day. Of the two months leading up to the quarter finals, one had already passed in a flash. Sada couldn't believe it was near the end of November already. One would think that in so much time she and Alastair would have made a lot of progress. In reality, they were still fighting each other tooth and nail. The only time she spent with him was when they danced; Sada didn't feel comfortable with him when she hardly knew him. He refuses to spend time with me outside of the dance studio, she thought as she dumped her book bag into the back of her car. It's not like I'm asking to go on a date! All she wanted was to spend a little time with him as friends. It was a short drive to the dance studio from the college. Sada found a parking spot and grabbed her gym bag from the back seat. I'm late, she thought, as she raced into the locker room. Finding an empty stall, she changed quickly into tights, leotard and a pair of leg warmers. It was always just a little chilly in the studios. Grabbing up her bag, Sada raced up the stairs and into the studio she and Alastair always reserved. He was already there, as she'd known he would be. Alastair stood in the middle of the studio, dressed as usual (a t-shirt and sweatpants), his arms folded over his chest. A lock of dark hair had slipped loose from his ponytail and hung down in front of his eyes. If it weren't for the scowl on his face, Sada might have been tempted to brush the hair away. As it was, she wasn't even certain she wanted to stay in the studio with him. "Class ran late," Sada explained quickly "Let's get to work," Alastair growled, moving over to the stereo. Sada dropped her bag next to his on the pile of mats and reluctantly began stretching. Their performance for the quarterfinals was partially an acrobatic, energetic set like the last one had been, to "Last Train Home" by LostProphets. It seemed like a difficult song to dance to (not to mention a difficult one to get past the judges) but Alastair was insistent. The slower parts of the song would be slightly more classical, but mostly artsy stuff of his own personal choreography. When she had finished stretching Sada turned to regard Alastair. He turned the stereo on, then stepped over to her. They worked not only to their chosen song, but to others as well; as long as their was music they could dance. The slow parts of the song called for more touchy-feely than Sada was comfortable with. She knew she flinched each time Alastair's hands came too close to her breasts, or his fingers lingered too long on her arms. "Damnit, Sada," Alastair growled, after she had gotten so unsettled that she'd pushed him away. "I'm sorry!" Sada exclaimed. "Geez..." They started again, from the beginning. It wasn't long before she was flinching away from him, and they hadn't even gotten into the more acrobatic parts of the dance. Part way through Alastair had them start over for a third time. When Sada started flinching again, he growled and pushed her away. "What the hell is wrong with you!?" Alastair snarled. "You'd think after dancing together for the last couple of months you'd at least let me touch you! As a dance partner!" "I can't help it!" Sada retorted, folding her arms over her chest and glowering at him. "I don't know you! We never spend any time together!" "We spend almost every day together!" Alastair shouted. Sada rolled her eyes. "You call this spending time together? You're a slave driver! Besides, that isn't what I'm talking about! I can't get to know you while we're dancing!" "What do you need to know?" Alastair demanded. "It's not like we're dating!" "We could at least be friends!" Sada responded, her eyebrows drawing down into a scowl. Alastair let out a growl of frustration and turned away from her. He stomped over to the stereo and turned it off. Sada sighed and leaned up against the bar, staring down at her toes. This sucks, she thought, scuffing at the polished floor with the nylon covering her toes. I hate all this fighting. But she couldn't help it. It wasn't as if she hadn't tried. No matter how much she tried, Sada couldn't convince herself to allow him to touch her so intimately, even as her dance partner. I'm just messed up or something, she thought. I'm too old to be acting so innocent. "All right," Alastair said quietly, not looking at her. "I've got an idea. Go get dressed." "But..." Sada started to protest. "Just do it," Alastair cut her off. "Put your stuff in your car when you're done, then meet me at my motorcycle." Sada shrugged. She grabbed her bag and headed down to the locker room. A bit of sweat dampened the ends of her hair, but not enough to justify taking a shower. She changed back into jeans and her shirt, a layered Adidas that was gray with white thermal sleeves. I hate the cold, Sada thought, as she pulled on a large, gray hooded sweatshirt. Thick socks, a pair of tan fleece-lined boots, and a slightly lighter jacket than what she'd wear in the midst of winter left her warm and snug. By the time she got downstairs, put her bag in her car, and found Alastair's motorcycle he was already there, talking to someone on his cell phone. "All right, see you then," Alastair said, and hung up. He folded the phone and dropped it into the pocket of his coat, then turned to regard her. "Ready to go?" "I suppose," Sada replied, taking the helmet he offered her. "Where are we going?" Alastair smiled, the first smile she'd seen from him in quite awhile. "It's a surprise." Sada felt a thrill of excitement. This was the first warmth she'd seen from him in weeks. She settled onto the motorcycle behind him and closed her arms around him, glad for his warm body against hers. I have no problem doing this, she thought, leaning her head against his shoulder. So why am I so adverse to letting him touch me? Sada sighed. She had to find a way past this silliness, and soon. ------- Alastair helped Sada down off his motorcycle, and accepted the helmet from her when she handed it back. He secured it to the back of his bike, then began leading her towards the large white building across the parking lot. "A skating rink?" Sada asked, looking at him with raised eyebrows. He didn't answer. A man had emerged from the building and was walking towards them. He was a tall, lanky character with shaggy blonde hair threaded with strands of gray. Despite that, a smile lit his boyish face, making him look years younger than he actually was. Alastair reached out as the man approached and shook his hand. "Long time no see, kiddo," the man greeted him, grinning broadly. "Who's your friend?" "This is Sadira Scarlett, Sada for short," Alastair said. "Sada, this is a friend of my father's... Forrester Roberts. He owns the rink." Sada stared at Forrester. "You own an ice-skating rink?" "For my wife," Forrester explained, turning to lead them into the building. "It's kind of a long story... when I met her, she couldn't walk. And she'd watched ice skaters her whole life and wanted to do it too. And well... eventually with a lot of work she learned to walk again and then to skate." "She must be inspiring," Sada said, smiling. "She is," Forrester agreed. He turned a speculative eye on her. "You must be, too." Sada blushed. Alastair fought a grin. Forrester had always been charming and very perceptive. He often encouraged Alastair to go back to school, insisting he should think about running his own dance company some day. Ridiculous, Alastair thought, shaking his head. Everyone knows I'm too stupid for that. "Normally I'd be closed today... anniversary and all that," Forrester said. "But my dearest one is dropping the children off with their grandparents, so I had time to come and open the place for you." "I appreciate it," Alastair told him. Forrester handed him the keys. "Make sure you lock up when you're done. Nice meeting you, Sada." "Uh... nice meeting you, too," Sada stammered, no doubt a little overwhelmed by Forrester's brisk personality. "Come on," Alastair said, flashing her a smile. "Let's get to it." He left her briefly while she was pulling on her skates to turn on the radio. Alastair flipped to an alt-rock station, then headed back to put on his own skates, bobbing along slightly to "American Idiot". Sada already had her skates on, and he pulled his on quickly to join her in the rink. Alastair paused for a moment to watch her; she was as graceful on the ice as she was off the ice. "I had a feeling you could skate," Alastair said, as he came up close to her. "I love it," Sada replied, grinning. Her cheeks were bright red from exertion and exhilaration. "I thought this would be good," Alastair explained. "I figured we could have a little fun." "Well, then, let's go, pokey," Sada teased, skating away from him. "Hey!" Alastair exclaimed. He skated after her, catching up easily. The music, while far from being typical ice-skating fare, was just fine for the two of them to skate to. Alastair found many opportunities to get close to her as they zipped around the rink. Although he hadn't skated with a partner too many times, it was easy with Sada. Somehow she knew how to move in time with him. They skated seriously for a short while, but that didn't last. Soon their work degraded into play, starting when Alastair reached over, hiding a mischievous smile, and pinched her ass. Sada responded in kind, except she pinched his arm (hard), and then skated off. Alastair chased after her, trying to get a hold of her. She laughed as he chased her, until the moment when he actually caught her. Holding onto her wrists tightly, Alastair spun them around in circles. Sada shrieked in delight, her green eyes sparking with gold flecks. Even he found himself grinning, actually enjoying himself. When he finally let her go she spun away, skating to a stop by the wall. "I'm dizzy," Sada said, still laughing. "Me too," Alastair admitted, skating to a stop next to her. "But it was fun..." "It was," Sada agreed. "This is much nicer than arguing all the time." Alastair sighed. "I don't mean to be hard on you. I just don't understand what the problem is." "To be honest, I really don't either," Sada told him, staring down at her skates. "I mean... it shouldn't bother me, but... well, I guess I'm a naïve, innocent idiot." "You can't be that innocent," Alastair said. "I mean, certainly you've been touched before... haven't you?" Sada's cheeks burned. "I've never even been kissed." Alastair stared at her. She has to be kidding, he thought, but he could tell by her expression that she was serious. He fought a smile; it was actually really cute. His sister was like that, too, although despite the similarities in the two, Sada was noticeably different. Alastair knew Alanna was waiting for her fairytale prince, a notion that was a bit silly in a girl her age. Sada showed no signs of such impracticalness. "Enough about me," Sada muttered. "Tell me something about you. Did you go to college?" "Briefly," Alastair replied. "I'm no good at it, though. I'm too stupid." "You aren't stupid," Sada told him. "Don't start," Alastair said. "You'll sound like my sister, or Forrester. He actually thinks I should go to school for business, so I can run a dance company. Crazy, huh?" "Not at all," Sada said, turning to look at him. "I think you'd be good at it." Once again, Alastair stared at her. Her bright green eyes were perfectly sincere, with not a hint of teasing in them. Even his sister, who was his staunchest supporter, teased him a little. He found himself feeling distinctly uncomfortable beneath her gaze. Alastair cleared his throat and looked away, staring down at the ice. "I can't do it," Alastair said quietly. "I'm too stupid." "Academics aren't always everything," Sada told him. "You're bright and clever, and you've got a great feel for people. You know what they want to see. You might have to work at some aspects a bit, but I think you've got the ingenuity and intelligence to do it." "I uh... let's skate some more," Alastair hedged, uncertain how to respond to this. Sada flashed him a smile, then skated off. He followed after her, and soon he had caught up. They circled the ring in silence for awhile, listening to the music. At once point Alastair turned, caught her hands in his, and spun her around. The smile came back to her face, roses blooming delightfully in her cheeks. She looked so amazing, with her bright eyes lit up and her full, soft lips slightly parted. He knew he shouldn't. But she just looked so tempting. They came to a halt in the middle of the ring. Alastair stared at her intently, until her cheeks burned. He reached up and cupped her face gently in his hands, then bent and kissed her. It was the first truly soft, tender kiss he'd given any girl since Melissa. Sada's mouth trembled beneath his, tempting him to gently coax her lips open with the tip of his tongue. She moaned softly, her hands clutching at his arms. Alastair curled his fingers around the wispy ends of her hair, reluctant to let her go. Her mouth was so soft, and she tasted so sweet. Finally he forced himself to release her, and stared down at her. Her face was heated and her eyes were slightly hazed. "Now that's more like it!" Alastair breathed. Sada backed away from him, looking somewhat mortified. It wasn't his kiss that had bothered her, at least not exactly. Her fingers trailed lightly against her mouth. Alastair recognized the look in her eyes; she wanted more. Slowly, he told himself, taking a deep breath to ease the heat in his body. She's too innocent for my usual method. Sada was watching him as though he was a lion and she was the gazelle. "It's getting late," Alastair said. "I'll take you back to your car." "Okay," Sada said meekly. "Take tomorrow off," Alastair said as he skated off the ice. "Then the day after we'll start again." "Okay," Sada repeated, staring anywhere but him while she unlaced her skates. "And uh... we should probably start taking an extra day off," Alastair said hesitantly. "You know, to uh... do stuff like this." Sada brightened. "Okay!" Alastair laughed. The moment of discomfort had passed, and when they left the skating rink Sada was chattering excitedly about the upcoming quarter finals. They hadn't talked further about Melissa, and Sada hadn't mentioned it, for which he was truly grateful. He wasn't ready to explain the situation to her; it was far too complicated. Alastair glanced over at her once more before they reached his motorcycle and found her peering at him. She's too cute, he thought, fighting a smile. ------- Sada groaned and dropped onto her couch. She ached from head to toe. Although she'd been dancing nearly every day for the last couple of months, ice-skating was a little different. She'd been using some muscles that weren't used to being woken up, and now she hurt. But it was wonderful, Sada thought, forcing herself off the couch. It's the first time we've had that much fun together. She walked into her bathroom and began to run a bath. Her cheeks heated when she remembered that kiss. It was the first time she'd ever been kissed, and it made her realize something. Sada had spent years shy and withdrawn from boys after her disastrous fall in front of Andre. It's ridiculous, she thought, as she lowered herself into the bathtub. I'm twenty-one... it's time to grow up! Hot water rushed in to cover her, and she sighed in relief. This was much, much better. Truth be told, Sada had a feeling she would be rather shy with men even if she hadn't suffered that fall. Although she knew about protection and birth control (from her friends) and other aspects of sex (from romance novels), she'd led a rather sheltered life. Her parents, back home in California, were conservative and traditional. Sada had not been allowed to date or wear make-up, or any of those things. It's like having your growth stunted, she thought, curling up in the tub. Now I have to go back and learn it all from the beginning. ------- Chapter Seven: White Christmas Loud knocking broke through the fog of sleep. Alastair groaned and burrowed further under his covers. It's too early, he thought, grabbing his pillow and pulling it over his head. A moment later the door burst open. He braced himself, but it didn't keep him from moaning in early morning agony when his sister landed on him. You would think, Alastair thought, rolling over, that at twenty-one, she would have grown out of that. The pillow was pulled away from him, and Alanna stared down at him. The usual blue of her eyes was hidden by the brown contacts she insisted on wearing these days, to "be different from the rest of the family". "Get off," Alastair growled. "Morning, Ally," Alanna chirped. "Merry Christmas!" "Bah humbug," Alastair grumped. "Get off, Lonnie!" His sister sighed dramatically and jumped down off the bed. He sat up and slid off the bed. Knowing she would wake him up this way (as she had every Christmas morning since she was three), he'd dressed in a pair of warm flannel pajama bottoms. Alastair grabbed his robe from the back of the door and shrugged into it. Alanna was already heading downstairs, singing "Jingle Bells" at the top of her lungs. Thank god she can sing all right, he thought, running his fingers through his hair. Quinn had just stepped out of his room when he emerged in the hall. "Merry Christmas," Quinn said quietly. Alastair grinned. "Morning bro. Looking good." Quinn grumbled and ran his fingers through his hair much as Alastair had, except that his was more tangled and sticking out in a few places. They tramped downstairs, one behind the other, and into the living room. A giant tree, glittering with decorations, and heaps of brightly wrapped presents dominated the room. His mother met them at the bottom of the stairs and gave them both hugs. Breakfast was a delightful thing on Christmas morning. His mother an father worked together to make pancakes, sausage, bacon, ham, hash browns, scrambled eggs, and toast. Also, they whipped up cream and cut up strawberries to go with the pancakes. Alastair, Quinn, and their father were healthy eaters, and they usually had very little food left over. When they had finished and were drinking coffee, Alastair eyed the leftovers on the counter. "Hey, mom," he said. "Do you think you could um... wrap that up for me?" His mother glanced at him, her eyebrows raised. "For?" "Sada," Alastair explained, staring down into his coffee. "She uh... her parents live in California and well... I guess they had something of a falling out when she decided to move out of state for college so... so she doesn't have anyone to spend Christmas with. I was gonna um... go by and see her later." "Oh, dear, that's awful!" Aislinn exclaimed. He noted that despite her tone, a gleeful smile curved her lips. "Of course I'll wrap it up for you." Oh boy, Alastair thought, picking up his coffee mug and moving into the kitchen. Just what I need is mom bugging me about this. Alanna teased him constantly about Sada. It's not like we're dating, he thought, scowling. She's my dance partner. And why can't I have a friend who's female? Because Alastair didn't have female friends, that was why. Since Melissa he'd had one-night-stands, a few casual flings, but no one closer to him than that. His mother was no doubt hoping that this time would be different. Soon his parents and his brother and sister were in the living room with him, and that was when the fun began. In his time he'd seen families, both of relatives and of friends, that tore into their pile of presents like rabid animals, and were done with it in minutes. In Alastair's family they sat in the living room, usually for a couple of hours, opening the presents one by one. He loved the holidays; it gave him a warm, fuzzy feeling that he wasn't used to having and wasn't, to be honest, usually comfortable with having. The next couple of hours was filled with chatter, laughter, and the sound of tearing paper. Alastair got CDs and DVDs that he'd wanted, and that was mostly all. He was the first to say that he was impossible to shop for; there was a limited selection of things he actually liked. But his brother and sister always found something that surprised and delighted him. Alanna, who's funds were usually rather limited, had given him something called a Chocolate Lover's Survival Kit. Very few people actually got close enough to Alastair to know of his passion (bordering on obsession at times) with chocolate. Quinn had something rather unique, though. It was obviously a drawing or painting of some kind, Alastair knew by the shape of the package. But he wasn't expecting a picture of Sada. Done in shades of sienna, sepia, and cream, it was a very accurate depiction of her dancing. Quinn had an amazing ability to keep an image burned in his mind until he put it down on paper or canvas, and this was a tremendous showing of that talent. Alastair found it hard to find words to thank his brother, but not out of joy, as his family seemed to think. Quinn didn't know Sada very well, but he had captured her elegance, passion, and the exuberance that took her when she danced in such perfection that one thing was very obvious: he was, at the least, infatuated with her. He's good, but he couldn't have done this otherwise, Alastair thought, staring at the picture. He makes her look... mysterious and... like some kind of untouchable goddess. Although he admitted to himself, reluctantly, that he often thought the same of her when she was dancing. Afterwards he dressed warmly, retrieved the present he'd bought for Sada and the leftovers from breakfast (in convenient Tupperware) and left the house. The ride to Sada's place might have been uncomfortable, due to the chill. It also might have been breathtaking, due to the blanket of pure white snow covering nearly everything except the streets. Instead, Alastair was somewhat preoccupied with thoughts of that picture. It wasn't as if he and Sada were dating. Really, he should be glad that Quinn was showing interest in someone... but he wasn't. Alastair ended up knocking on the door of Sada's apartment several times before it opened. Apparently she'd still been in bed. Her hair was tousled, sticking up much as Quinn's had. She wore a pair of flannel pajama bottoms in an interesting shade of purple, and a clingy camisole that did little to wore off the chill that slipped past him and into her apartment. Sada blinked at him a few times, then stepped back, motioning for him to come in. "Sleeping in?" Alastair teased. "Was," Sada grumbled, grabbing a beat up old robe from her couch and pulling it on. She cinched in securely, then turned to look at him. "What are you doing here?" "Merry Christmas to you to," Alastair said, trying to appear offended but only managing to grin. "Sorry," Sada said, rubbing sleep from her eyes. "I do appreciate it, Alastair... I'm just not awake." "Come with me," Alastair said, grabbing her by the elbow and dragging her into the mini-kitchen. He sat her down at the table and began pulling the Tupperware from his bag. Sada watched him intently as he piled the pancakes onto one plate, and the rest of it on another, the heated both up in the microwave. Opening the tub of whipped cream and strawberries, Alastair set it all before her. She stared at him, her green eyes wide, as he settled down in the seat across from her. "Eat," Alastair commanded. "I can wait." Sada ate enthusiastically while he stood up and took a peek in her refrigerator. There was coffee creamer, which led him to find, with her help, some instant coffee, sugar, and a mug. He boiled water in a kettle, and when it was finished, Alastair poured it into the mug with coffee in it, and brought it to the table. He allowed Sada to put in cream and sugar on her own. By this time she was looking far more awake. "This is delicious," Sada said, sipping carefully at her coffee. "Mom and dad made it together," Alastair told her. "Every Christmas morning, in fact." Sada sighed. "Sounds wonderful." She finished eating, then sat back, folding her hands over her stomach and smiling in contentment. Alastair chuckled. He stood up and grabbed his backpack, then beckoned for her to follow him into the living room. Sada plopped down on the couch gracelessly, and he sat down beside her, with a bit more grace. Alastair pulled the package from his backpack and handed it to her. "Oh," Sada murmured, frowning. "I... I didn't get anything for you... I mean... I tried but... I couldn't think of anything..." Alastair laughed. "That's all right. Go on, open it. It was just something small that I saw..." Sada peered at him for a moment, then began carefully peeling away the wrapping. The package was lumpy and awkward; Alastair wasn't very good at wrapping presents, especially not of this sort. It was a plush, stuffed kitten with a calico coat that was some of the softest material he'd ever felt. Sada squealed in delight and hugged the stuffed animal close. She peeked up at him, and her cheeks turned red at his laughter. "I'm glad you like it so much," Alastair teased. "It's so cute," Sada cooed, holding the stuffed animal up. "I love cats!" "Why don't you have one?" Alastair asked. Sada shrugged. "I'd get one but... free kittens have to be taken to have their shots and stuff... I can't afford that, and I can't afford one that already has." She paused and looked up at him. Her green eyes were bright and lit with flecks of gold. Sada stared at him for what felt like a long time, and he could tell by the way she chewed at her lower lip that she was thinking about something. Finally she set aside the stuffed kitten and leaned towards him. Alastair braced himself as she pressed her mouth gently against his. It was a bare, chaste kiss, and Sada sat back afterwards, her cheeks bright red. "I uh... I figured that... since I couldn't find anything for you," she stammered, staring at the couch. "I mean, I thought... maybe..." Alastair chuckled softly. "Oh, that's a very good present." Sada's cheeks heated further. She moved to stand, but he grabbed her wrist, dragging her back. Feeling her tremble, Alastair kept his kiss brief and soft, and he released her quickly. She coughed, running her fingers through her hair and over her clothing, looking anywhere but him. Laughing, he stood up from the couch. "Go get dressed," Alastair said. "Where are we going?" Sada asked, her shyness fading into curiosity. "It's a surprise," Alastair told her, grinning. Sada laughed softly, then turned and headed into the bedroom. He tried to catch a glimpse of it as she slipped inside, but she closed the door quickly. Sighing, Alastair settled down on the couch to wait for her. This is probably a bad idea, he thought, running his fingers through his hair. I don't want her to get the wrong impression from this. Well, he would have to do his best to make sure she didn't. ------- Sada huddled beneath the thick fleece blanket, pressing closer to Alastair's side. She closed her hands around the cup of hot chocolate, grateful for the cover, which kept the liquid from spilling over her fingers each time the cart bumped. I can't believe this, she thought, glancing up at Alastair, then forward, to the driver of the horse drawn carriage. I wasn't expecting this. Sada sipped at her hot chocolate, sighing softly as the sweet liquid warmed her to her toes. "This is great," she said quietly. "Although... I'm a little surprised..." Alastair's eyebrows lifted. "Why?" "Well um... this is kinda..." Sada stammered hesitantly. "I mean, isn't this the sort of thing couples do?" "Well, doesn't it depend on how you define the word 'couple'?" Alastair asked, smiling slightly. "We're a couple of friends, aren't we? And I mean, as dance partners, that's what we are... a couple. Right?" Sada scowled. "Very funny." He reached over, his fingers tweaking the tip of her nose. Sada squeaked in surprise, then found herself giggling. No matter what, this was a lot of fun. She'd never done this sort of thing before with anyone. And when she leaned against Alastair he put his arm around her shoulders. He's warm, Sada thought, settling her head on his shoulder. And strong. It felt so nice to be close to someone like this. "So, where did you get this idea, anyway?" Sada asked, peering up at him. "Dad takes mom every year," Alastair explained, looking out at the snow covered trees lining the street. "I... I guess I figured you'd be the kind of person who would enjoy this kind of thing..." "Well, if you had that attitude, you could have taken your sister," Sada teased, grinning at him. Alastair turned to look at her. "Because I can't think my sister looks cute with the wind blowing through her hair." Sada felt her cheeks heat. Although he managed to keep a straight face, Alastair's pale blue eyes were sparkling with good humor. She turned away from him and stared down at the Styrofoam top of her hot chocolate cup. Just after New Year's, she and Alastair would be off to Florida to compete in the Quarterfinals. Sada knew they would go back to practicing next time they were together again, and they probably wouldn't spend time like this again until after the Quarterfinals were over. "Don't tease me," she said quietly. "That's right," Alastair said. "You've never had a boyfriend. I forgot." "You did not!" Sada accused, glowering at him. "You're right," Alastair agreed, grinning. "I wouldn't forget something so cute." Sada's scowled deepened. Alastair laughed, and tightened his hold on her. She sighed, leaning into his side, and sipped at her hot chocolate. She hadn't had a Christmas this nice in such a long time, even with Farah, Heather, and Gina. I'd better call them later, she thought, feeling a sudden flashed of guilt. She hadn't spent too much time with them since she'd begun practicing with Alastair. Not even at school. Speaking of school... Sada thought, glancing at her companion. "Have you thought about what I said?" she asked. "About school?" "Ah. Sada..." Alastair groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "You know I can't..." "Oh, sure you can!" Sada insisted. "Come on, Alastair. Why can't you just accept that you're smart and clever?" "Because I'm not!" Alastair growled. "Why?" Sada demanded. "Why do you think that way!?" Alastair let out a frustrated snarl and let go of her, twisting in the carriage to turn away from her. Damnit, she thought, dropping her head into her hands. I've really done it now. She sighed heavily and lifted her head, glancing over at Alastair. His shoulders were tense. Sada reached out and gently laid her hand on his arm. He flinched, but turned back in the seat to look at her. "Someone I knew once told me I was stupid and worthless," Alastair said quietly. "Maybe it was the way she did it... I believed every word." "Melissa," Sada said. Alastair nodded. "Yeah." "Oh, Alastair," Sada sighed. "You should know better than that. Melissa wouldn't know intelligence if it jumped up and bit her on the ass." Alastair stared at her. She could tell he was fighting hard not to laugh. Still, there was a bit of sorrow in his eyes. Sada could think of only one thing that might distract him from whatever awful memories were floating around his head at the moment. She reached up, gently catching his face in her hands, and lifted her mouth to his. Alastair stilled for a moment, then closed his arms around her, pressing his lips eagerly to hers. Never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined being kissed like that. His mouth was soft and hot, his teeth nibbled gently at her lower lip from time to time, and his tongue pressed against hers, teasing. Sada clung to him, her fingers curled in his hair. Alastair kissed her until they were both breathless, then drew back just a bit. His breath was warm against her face. "You give me more credit than I deserve, little Sada," Alastair murmured. "No I don't," Sada argued, still breathless. "You don't give yourself enough." "And if I decided to go to school?" Alastair asked, sitting back. "I mean, there's still time for me to sign up for courses at the community college. Would you help me study?" "I don't think you'd need help," Sada answered. "But I would, if you asked." Alastair grinned. "Well, I suppose that's fair enough." "But I have to warn you," Sada went on, forcing herself to keep a straight face. "I'll be just as much of a slave driver as you are." "I am not a slave driver!" Alastair protested indignantly. "You are," Sada insisted, grinning at him. "I don't mind, though. Well, not always. We're in the quarterfinals, aren't we?" Alastair laughed softly. He settled his arm around her shoulders once more and pulled her close. Sada held up her hot chocolate cup, offering it to him. He flashed her a smile, then sipped from the cup before handing it back to her. She snuggled down further beneath the heavy blanket and sighed in contentment. This is nice, Sada thought, smiling to herself. A bit of relaxation is nice for a change. "You know, it's been a long time since I've had a female friend," Alastair mused. "I forgot that it could actually be fun." Sada's eyebrows lifted. "You kiss all your friends like that?" "Only the ones that let me," Alastair joked, wiggling his eyebrows at her. "Pig," Sada muttered, scowling. "Oink, oink," Alastair murmured, pressing his mouth against her ear. She squeaked when his teeth nipped lightly at her earlobe, and jabbed him sharply in the ribs. Alastair yelped and pulled back, rubbing the spot she'd jabbed and staring at her. She smiled at him sweetly. I can't let him get away with things like that, Sada thought firmly. Her resolved fizzled a moment later when he pulled the cup of hot chocolate from her grip, bent her backwards, and kissed her. She flailed in his hold for a moment, then relaxed beneath the soft, sweet pressure of his lips. "What's gotten into you?" Sada asked, when he had finally pulled away. "I think all that eggnog I drank wasn't the non-alcoholic kind," Alastair murmured, nuzzling against her neck. Sada rolled her eyes. "Alcoholic eggnog, huh? Bah humbug!" ------- Chapter Eight: Quarterfinal Even in the dead of winter, the Florida sun could be brutal. Alastair stepped under the hot spray of the shower to wash a thick layer of sunscreen from his skin; he absolutely reeked of it. That's much better, he thought, washing away a residue of chlorine from his hair. His parents had gotten rooms at a nice hotel with an indoor swimming pool. They'd even paid for a room for Sada. The room adjoining mine, Alastair thought, scowling. I really hope Mom doesn't think she's being crafty. He finished his shower quickly and stepped out to towel himself dry. They still had a couple hours until their round of the Quarterfinal began. Alastair went over his hair with the towel, then pulled it back. He pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt; they'd change at the stadium. He'd just finished dressing when a soft knock on the inner door caught his attention. Alastair pulled it open to find Sada standing in the doorway, dressed much as he was, smelling sweetly of lilacs. Her hair had been blow-dried. "I'm so nervous," Sada whimpered. Alastair chuckled. "Don't worry, little Sada. Everything will be fine. We've practiced too much for it to not be fine." "I know," Sada said. "I... I can't help it, though. Whenever I'm getting ready to go on stage I... I remember that time..." Alastair felt a pang of sympathy for her. He'd never been anything but confident on the stage; he loved attention and usually craved it. Acting on impulse, he pulled her into his arms and held her close. Sada sighed softly, leaning her wait against him. Idiot, he chided himself. You're letting yourself care about her too much. She had an odd effect on him. Alastair found he wanted to protect her from things like this; sort of like how he always wanted to protect his sister, but different in many ways. My sister doesn't give me a hard on, he thought, groaning inwardly. Thank god. Sada smelled good. She was soft and warm, and fit against him nicely. He inhaled deeply, drawing in the scent of lilacs. Alastair gently pushed her away and sat her down on the edge of the bed. He knelt in front of her, forcing her to look at him. "We'll be fine," Alastair assured her. "I promise. Nothing bad will happen, Sada... I believe you can do this." "Thanks," Sada said, smiling faintly. "You're right. We can do this together." "That's my girl," Alastair said, grinning at her. "Let's start getting our things together, little dancer." ------- Sada stood in front of the mirror, inspecting herself. A bubble of nerves was growing in her stomach. She had not been able to enjoy any of her trip in the least; even the breath-taking Florida sunsets could not take her mind off the upcoming competition. She and Alastair were one of the last few couples performing... right after Melissa and Andre, naturally. Just what I need, Sada thought, rolling her eyes. Dancing right after my old crush and Alastair's old girlfriend. When she'd been choosing costumes Sada had tried to keep with their current theme of alternative music. She'd found another skirt, this one black mesh over red panne. The sides were slit and chains, three glittering, thin silver ones at each slit, were hooked into grommets set in the fabric at the waist. She'd also found a sleeveless red mesh shirt with a tattered hemline that hung just about below her ribs. Fingerless red fishnet gloves, an array of black rubber bracelets, and a pair of red fishnet stockings completed her outfit. I look like Hot Topic threw up on me, Sada thought, giggling. She'd wondered if this sort of thing was too extreme, but Alastair had assured her that it fit in perfectly with his plan. When she'd asked what exactly that was, he'd smiled mysteriously at her and remained silent. Sada shook her hair from her face, gave her make-up one last check, then headed out of the changing room, holding onto her number. They were couple number eighty-one this time. Alastair was waiting for her in the room reserved for the couples dancing tonight. Oh my, Sada thought, biting her lip. He was wearing his leather pants again, and she had wondered how she was ever going to convince him to dance in anything else. A red mesh vest hung open casually, baring his chest and stomach. She could see the vine-like tattoos that crept over his shoulders and around his upper-arms. Sada had even managed to convince him to wear a pair of gloves like hers, although he hadn't been happy about it. He had let her use a spray and some chunking tools to put red streaks in his dark hair that would wash out afterwards. "See," Sada said quietly as she approached. "I told you we have to match." Alastair peered down at her. "I'm glad I don't have to wear exactly the same thing you do." "Oh, hush," Sada grumped, scowling. Alastair turned fully to face her. He was holding his number too, and he handed it to her. Scowling still, she pinned it to the back of his vest, then shoved her number into his hand and turned around. She felt his breath hot against her ear, making her shiver. "I shouldn't have to say it," Alastair murmured. "But you look fantastic." Sada felt her face heat. "Oh... you don't think it's too much?" "Oh, it's too much," Alastair said. "However, I truly doubt my definition of "too much" is the same as yours, little dancer." She shivered again at another brush of his warm breath against her neck. His lips touched her earlobe, followed by the faint pressure of his teeth. Sada's eyes widened, and she pulled away from him, whirling to face him. Alastair grinned crookedly at her. She pressed her hands to her cheeks, which were bright red. I hope he doesn't do this sort of thing the whole time we're waiting, she thought, chewing her lower lip. What's gotten into him lately? He'd been affectionate, or at least, as close to it as he could get. Sada wasn't certain if the little nips and nuzzles he gave her were affection, not when they were followed by a flirting comment or sexual innuendo. She knew a lot of it was teasing; he gave her such a hard time for being so innocent at her age. Still... It's confusing, Sada thought. I can't tell if he means any of it or not. "So, Melissa and Andre are couple eighty, huh?" Alastair said, at once casual and relaxed. He leaned against the wall and stared up at the monitor. "Wow, look at that... ouch!" Sada peered up at the monitor in time to see a petite blonde pick herself up from the floor. Oh boy, she thought, feeling her heart thump painfully. I'd die if that were me. She watched the rest of the routine, but the blonde never seemed to get back her momentum. Sada found herself wishing that this was Melissa and Andre, and not some unnamed couple that was no threat to her and Alastair. Speaking of the unspeakable evil, Sada thought, catching a glimpse of Melissa from the corner of her eye. Once again she was wearing a dress; chiffon, tea length, and rosy pink. Andre wore a pink dress shirt, and maybe it was her imagination, but she thought he didn't look happy about it. Sada nudged Alastair and pointed in the direction of Melissa and Andre. "Nice," Alastair said loudly, his voice carrying across the room. "See, Sada, now why didn't you think of that? I always wanted to look like a little girl's bedroom." Melissa turned to glare at them. Alastair smiled sweetly and waved. Sada sighed, giving him a reproachful look, but he just grinned brightly at her. I'm not fooled, she thought as he turned his attention back to the monitor. You're just trying to look tough. Melissa had really hurt him; Sada wished she knew what had happened, so she could help him somehow. Of course, when he was acting like this he wasn't going to take her help, anyway. ------- Alastair had never been patient. He'd spent much of their wait making disparaging comments about Andre's costume and Melissa's hair (which had been done up in ridiculous sausage curls). At least, he had until Sada had grown impatient with him and told him off. Truthfully, he didn't know what to do with himself. For some reason, something about Sada and Melissa being in close proximity to each other was bothering him. Alastair certainly had no feelings for Melissa anymore, aside from anger and bitterness, but for some reason he was uncomfortable seeing her. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they had been called into the wings, along with the other couples eighty through ninety. They only had to wait through one couple to dance, and that was Melissa and Andre. Alastair settled behind Sada and rested his hands on her shoulders, as he had before. Her hair smelled so good that he rested his head atop hers, startling her. "Just in case I drift off," Alastair murmured. Sada chuckled. "I am not your pillow, Alastair Wolfe." "No?" Alastair pouted. "Aw, but you're so comfy." "Behave!" Sada scolded, trying to sound sharp, but he caught a hint of laughter in her voice. Melissa and Andre did another slow, classical piece. Alastair was torn between drifting off from boredom, or gagging at the music ("My Heart Will Go On", by Celine Dion). Sada seemed just as bored and disgusted as he was. She eventually shook him off of her to begin stretching out on the bar. Alastair stretched out a little himself, but he had done so earlier, too. Finally, at long last, Melissa and Andre's performance ended. Alastair grabbed hold of Sada's wrist and pulled her out of the wings, not even glancing at Melissa and Andre as they passed. He stopped in the middle of the stage and crouched, holding his hands out. Sada took up a position a few feet away from him, raising her hands above her head and staring up at the lights above the stage. "Couple number eighty-one, Alastair Wolfe and Sadira Scarlett." The music started up slow. For the first verse Alastair merely stood with his head bowed, as Sada dance. She made her way slowly over to him with the flow of the music, eventually lifting one foot and setting it in his cupped hands. The music jumped suddenly to a faster beat. He felt her weight lift as she pushed off of her other leg, and Alastair lifted his hands, giving Sada the air she needed to perform a back flip. The crowd gasped and cheered as she landed perfectly on her feet. Catching hold of her, Alastair finally joined in the actually dancing. "But we sing, if we're going nowhere... yeah we sing, if it's not enough... and we sing, sing without a reason... to ever fall in love..." Alastair loved this song. As it dropped back to a slightly slower beat, Sada let herself drop backwards with the boneless grace of a catch. He caught her just before she hit the floor, drawing another gasp of amazement from the crowd. She may not have realized just how much she was beginning to trust him, to agree to that move; it took a lot of trust and cooperation between dance partners. Especially when one considered that he then pulled her up and tossed her lightly into the air as the music sped up again. This time Alastair caught her. He noticed, when he caught a quick glimpse of her face, that she was grinning. The dance he'd put together was a lot of fun; he could hear people in the crowd cheering and hooting. There weren't any other truly daring moves in the rest of the piece, but there was a lot of synchronization and some big leaps. The song was one that faded out slowly. Alastair dropped back to his knees as the music softened, and Sada sidled up in front of him. He rested his head lightly against her stomach and she closed her arms around him, bowing her head. The music drifted off completely, leaving only the cheering and applause of the crowd. Sada took a step back and helped him to his feet, and they left the stage together. "Oh, that was fun!" Sada laughed, gripping Alastair's arm as they headed into the backstage area. Alastair grinned. "Who was it who was so nervous earlier?" "Oh, I was until you calmed me down," Sada told him, smiling brightly. "But you made it easier to deal with my nerves." Alastair smiled down at her. He slid his arm around her shoulders and gazed down into her bright green eyes. Her cheeks heated beneath his gaze, and he chuckled and released her. He led her to a bench beneath the monitor and pushed her gently down onto it. Sada let out a heavy sigh, and he could tell she was exhausted. She wore herself out, getting so nervous and worked up before they danced. They waited nearly ten minutes before receiving their scores; high, but unfortunately not higher than Andre and Melissa's. The judges can see that we aren't as cohesive as some couples, Alastair thought, frowning. He was pretty certain they would move on to the Semifinals, of course, but he couldn't help being a bit nervous. He sat down next to Sada and leaned against her, resting his head on her shoulder as they waited. ------- Sada finished pulling her hair back into French braided pig tails, then dropped her brush into her bag and zipped it up. She smoothed the black, off-the-shoulder peasant top she was wearing, feeling oddly nervous. The night was over, and they were moving on to the Semifinals, but her stomach was in knots. It's her, she thought, scowling. Melissa had looked so pretty, as she always did. And Alastair had been insulting Andre all night, it seemed. I can't compare to a pretty blonde who also used to be his girlfriend, Sada thought as she shouldered her bag. Really, why should it matter? Alastair teased her, sure, but he couldn't possibly be seriously interested in her. Lately, though, she'd noticed herself wishing he was serious. Not that she hadn't always been attracted to him, because she had. But then he had to go and show me how sweet he can actually be, Sada thought, scowling. Their trip to the skating rink had been nice, but it was Christmas that had done her in. And he hasn't been as much of an arrogant jerk lately, either. "I don't want to talk to you." Sada paused in the hallway. Just around the corner someone was standing, and she had a feeling she knew who it was. Alastair, definitely, because she recognized his voice, but she would be that Melissa was there, too. Flattening herself against the wall, she held as still as she could and listened. "This will only take a few minutes," came Melissa's voice. "Speak fast," Alastair growled. "I just don't get it, Alastair," Melissa said, her voice petulant. "You're so talented. Whatever are you doing with that half-trained klutz?" Half-trained klutz? Sada thought furiously. Her hands clenched into fists and she had to bite her lip to keep from jumping out at Melissa. Who does she think she is? she thought, scowling. Just because she is blonde and petite and pretty and... damnit. She stifled a sigh and pushed her back firmly against the wall. "I would appreciate if you wouldn't talk about my partner like that," Alastair said stiffly. "Oh, come on," Melissa laughed. "That girl is a joke! Why don't you get away from her while you still can?" "What is that supposed to mean?" Alastair demanded. Yeah, Sada thought, what is that supposed to mean? She had never liked Melissa, and she was liking her less and less by the second. That snobby tone of voice grated on her nerves. And she is so spoiled, too, Sada thought, feeling furious. I doubt she would ever appreciate a gift like a stuffed animal... she's the type who likes expensive jewelry. Why did he ever date someone like her, anyway? "All it would take is a word from my father," Melissa cooed. "Couples aren't supposed to change partners in the middle of the competition, but I could finagle it." Why that... that... Sada thought, shaking with rage. She was just about to step around the corner and tell Melissa exactly what she thought of her, but she never got the chance. Movement at the corner of her eye caught her attention. She saw Quinn glide past her, glancing at her briefly, then turn the corner. There was a soft gasp, which must have been Melissa. Sada wished then, passionately, that she could see her face. "Hello, Melissa," Quinn said quietly. "Hello," Melissa responded. Her voice sounded choked and nervous. "Did I hear correctly?" Quinn asked, his voice dangerously quiet. "I never want to hear you speak like that about Sada again. She is worth so much more than you are." "I... I... you... I didn't..." Melissa stammered. "You make me sick," Quinn growled. "After what you did... you have a lot of nerve even looking at my brother. And for you to speak like that about Sada... she's far more talented than you will ever be." "But I... I... there is... you see..." Melissa couldn't seem to get anything out of her mouth properly. "Go," Quinn said. I think that's the most I've ever heard him speak, Sada thought, grinning broadly. She heard the sound of footsteps moving quickly away, and turned the corner to find Alastair and Quinn regarded each other warily. Sada didn't really notice that, thought. She paused in front of them, unable to fight her smile. "That was brilliant!" Sada crowed. She stood on her toes and gave Quinn a quick peck on the cheek. Sada then started off down the hall, calling for them to follow. She didn't see the look of astonishment Alastair gave her, or the look of smug satisfaction that Quinn sent his brother's way. She never saw the tension between the two, or the anger in Alastair's eyes. After all, Sada, in all her enthusiasm and naiveté, wouldn't have thought either of them would take her friendly kiss as anything but. ------- Chapter Nine: Truth Hurts Sada let out a growl of frustration, slamming the door of the shower stall shut. What the hell is with him? she thought, as she jerked the knob. Cold water sprayed over her, making her yelp. She quickly adjusted the temperature and sighed as hot water ran down over her back. Her head was pounding, her muscles ached, and she was ready to scream. Something was wrong, of that there could be no doubt. For the last few weeks, since they'd gotten back from Florida, Alastair had been... odd. Cold, indifferent, yes, but even more; there seemed an undercurrent of anger in him. I don't understand, Sada thought, leaning against the side of the stall. He was being so affectionate before, now he's... Was it because of Melissa? He tried to act casual about it, but that most certainly didn't stop the horrible thought that he might still have feelings for her. Sada washed quickly, then got out of the shower. She dried herself in a rush, then tugged on her clothes. Usually, in this sort of weather, she dried her hair before leaving, but today she had business. Making certain she was tightly bundled in coat, scarf, and mittens, she headed out into the cold and dark. Alastair had already gone home. If he won't talk to me, then I know one of his family members will, she thought. Normally Sada would have felt guilty about going behind his back, but not with the way he'd been acting lately. It was a short drive to Alastair's parents' home. She knew he wouldn't be there, since it wasn't family night. Sada parked on the side of the street and headed up to the door, rubbing her hands together; the chill bit through her mittens. She rang the doorbell, and had to wait only a moment before the door opened. Alastair's sister, Alanna, answered the door. "Sada," Alanna greeted cheerfully. "I'm afraid Alastair isn't here right now." "I know," Sada said. "I um... I'm here to talk... about Alastair, I mean." Alanna nodded, her expression knowing. "Come in." Sada followed her into the house and sighed as warm air enveloped her. She took off her mittens and scarf and stuffed them in her pockets, then let Alanna take her coat. At that moment she heard soft footsteps; glancing up, she saw Quinn coming down the stairs. He looks good, she thought, biting her lip. Although he was Alastair's identical twin, there was some definite differences. His hair was shorter, falling just below his shoulders, and usually pull back into a neat ponytail. His demeanor was quiet and unobtrusive to Alastair's loud and outgoing. At the moment he was wearing a t-shirt and jeans; casual clothes looked good at him. A pair of reading glasses perched on his nose. When he saw her, he smiled, and Sada felt her heart thump. It's because he looks like Alastair, she thought. She felt a sudden pang of sympathy for Alanna. What must it be like, having two-heart achingly good-looking brothers? Torture, most likely, she thought. "So, what did you want to talk about?" Alanna asked, giving her brother a playful tap on the shoulder as he walked past her into the kitchen. "Um, well... it's about... Melissa," Sada replied, staring at her toes. Quinn walked back into the living room, holding a can of soda. "Follow me," he said quietly, beckoning for her to follow as he headed up the stairs. Sada glanced at Alanna, who nodded. Feeling somewhat self-conscious, she followed Quinn up the stairs and into the first room at the top. His room, she realized. It was unbelievably cozy and intimate. The carpet was black and thick, the walls painted a pleasant dark blue. Drawings and paintings of all sorts hung on the walls, alongside a few oriental style wall-hangings. His bed was a queen sized, set in a low frame of dark mahogany and done up in bedding of black and dark blue. The furniture was also dark mahogany, and there was an assortment of cool things on them; all kinds of candles, numerous beautiful bottles of crystal and blown glass, pewter figurines of wizards, dragons and the like, a miniature water fountain, and a beautiful oil burner shaped like two entertained lovers. It was darkly romantic. The girl who gets him is going to be awfully lucky, Sada thought. "So, you want to know about Melissa?" Quinn asked as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "Uh, yeah," Sada replied. She glanced around and saw a papasan chair in the corner. Quinn gestured towards it, and she sat down. "And what is it you want to know?" Quinn inquired softly, steepling his fingers beneath his chin. Sada took a deep breath, then plowed ahead. "I want to know what happened between them. Since the Quarterfinals he's been so... cold. And angry. I need to know what happened and I doubt he's going to tell me." Quinn was silent for a long time, regarding her with pale blue eyes that were just like Alastair's. Except they're not really, Sada thought. Quinn is so refined. Alastair is kind of crude. But... There was something missing in Quinn. Alastair had been cold lately; Quinn was cold, period. For some reason there was a kind of warmth missing from him. "I can tell you," Quinn said finally. "It involves me, after all. I suspect that's why he's upset. He didn't like that you kissed me." "I only kissed you on the cheek!" Sada protested. "And it was just a friendly kiss! I mean, no offense but..." Quinn lifted his hand, quieting her. "Don't worry about that now. First, what happened... well, it's not an easy story to hear... and not necessarily an easy one to believe." "I knew her when I was younger," Sada told him. "There isn't much you could tell me about her that I wouldn't believe." Quinn took a deep breath. The expression on his face didn't change, but she still got the feeling that this was a tough story for him to tell. He fixed her with an unnerving, pale blue stare. "It was the year we were nineteen," Quinn said quietly. "Alastair had been dating Melissa for quite awhile... they danced together. You would think they were the happiest couple in the world, the way they acted. One day I came home to find Melissa waiting outside the door. She knew Alastair wouldn't be home yet, she said she didn't have anything else to do. Silly me, I invited her in. She's pretty... I won't deny that I find her attractive, at least physically. Her personality is very unattractive, and she made some comments, well..." "Yes?" Sada prompted, leaning forward in her seat. "She was flirting with me," Quinn explained. "I didn't like that. She was my brother's girlfriend. The phone rang. I left the room... when I came back... well, that's where things start to get blurry." Sada's eyebrows raised. "Blurry?" "I'd left my drink on the coffee table," Quinn told her. "She put something in it. The doctor's told me what the scientific name was, but hell if I remember. Some kind of roofie, basically." "She didn't!" Sada exclaimed, her eyes widening. "Oh, she did," Quinn assured her. "I don't remember it really, but... Alastair caught us. He was furious. Took me to the hospital... but things haven't been the same between us, since." Sada sat back, feeling somewhat dazed. She didn't have to ask Quinn for anymore details. Alastair kept insisting he was worthless, something Melissa had told her. She must have decided she wanted Quinn instead, she thought, biting her lip. I can't believe it. Frowning, she stood up. Quinn stood up with her. He was watching her intently, and Sada felt suddenly uncomfortable. She looked around, trying to come up with something to say. "Uh... your room it's... it's nice," Sada stammered. "I uh... I thought you had your own place, like Alastair..." "It's being fumigated," Quinn said, taking a step toward her. It happened so fast that she wasn't sure how it happened. Quinn wasn't really rough, but he swept her off her feet and down onto the bed, pinning her easily beneath him. Sada let out a squeak of surprise which was quickly muffled by the pressure of his mouth. He was gentle and tender, and with her eyes closed, he could have easily have been Alastair. Alastair! she thought, panicking. She pressed her hands firmly against his chest and pushed firmly until he backed off. Sada scrambled out from underneath him and turned to stare at him. Quinn sat up, his calm expression never changing. He didn't look in the least repentant. Rather, her stood up, moving over to her swiftly, and caught hold of her arms, drawing her close. "Let go," Sada hissed, glaring at him. "He doesn't appreciate you, you know," Quinn told her. "You deserve better than him, Sada." Sada jerked out of his grip. "He's your brother! How can you say that?" "I know him," Quinn replied. "I know how he is." "No, no you don't," Sada said, shaking her head. "You haven't got a clue, if you can do this." Quinn smiled at her sadly, his fingertips brushing against her cheek lightly. "You can't blame a man for trying, lovely Sada." He turned away from her and she knew that for the dismissal it was. Sada left his room and raced down the stairs, feeling confused. On the one hand, she could not believe that Quinn would do that. On the other, she reminded herself that she wasn't dating Alastair, so technically Quinn hadn't done anything wrong. I have to see Alastair, she thought, grabbing her coat and dashing out the door even as she pulled it on. I have to talk to him about this... well, maybe not about Quinn kissing me. She drove straight to Alastair's apartment. It was pouring rain by the time she reached it, and Sada was soaked to the bone by the time she reached his apartment door. She knocked quickly, and when she got no response, she knocked again. The door opened this time, to reveal Alastair, dressed only in a pair of jeans, his hair still slightly damp from the shower. He looked surprise to see her. Alastair stepped back, and Sada stepped inside, grateful for the warmth. "What are you doing here?" Alastair asked, watching her as she stripped off her coat. "I needed to talk to you," Sada replied, wrinkling her nose and plucking at her wet shirt. "I just came from talking with your brother." Alastair's eyebrows lifted. "About?" "Melissa," Sada said. "He told me... what happened..." Alastair's expression darkened immediately. He took a step forward and Sada winced, stepping quickly back. His pale blue eyes flashed in annoyance. I knew he'd be angry, she thought, but I had to know. Still, she didn't like the way he was looking at her. "He had no right to tell you anything," Alastair growled. "He had every right!" Sada retorted. "It happened to him, too! And it's not like you were ever going to tell me!" Alastair snarled wordlessly and turned away. She stared at him, uncertain what to do. She could tell by the tense set of his shoulders that he was angry. I had to ask Quinn or I would have never known, Sada thought. I mean, what's wrong with that, it's not like I... She frowned. What if Alastair thought that she was doing the same thing Melissa had? But we're not dating! she thought. And it's not as if Alastair has made any indication that he wanted to! Those kisses were all... Amazing, that's what they were. Her heart beat faster just thinking about it. Moving quietly, she stepped around in front of him. His head was bowed and his hair covered his face. Sada reached up and cradled his face in her hands, catching his attention. The bemused expression in his pale blue eyes told her a lot. No wonder, she thought, taking a step closer to him. "I can't stand that she hurt you like that," Sada said quietly. "You must have really loved her, for it to effect you so deeply. But Alastair... she's wrong! You're not worthless!" She could see herself reflected in his eyes. Sada braced herself, prepared for anger, for denial, for sadness... for anything but the fierce, passionate kiss he dragged her close for. Startled, she could do nothing for a long moment but stand there. But this was Alastair, not Quinn, and she was kissing him back before she realized it. Alastair picked her up easily and carried her across the room. He supported her with one hand and, still kissing her, swept an array of papers and a phone book of the small table in his kitchen. Sada was breathless by the time he set her down on the table. She didn't have time to think. Alastair pulled back from her long enough to tug her wet t-shirt up over her head and toss it aside. Her skin was cold and clammy, but it warmed quickly under his hands. His mouth traced a fiery path along her neck and down over her collarbone. Sada buried her fingers in his hair; she trembled but it was not quite the same as before. She wasn't scared, but anticipation made her heart hammer and her blood race. Alastair's mouth moved further down, between her breasts. His hands slid around her back and unlatched her bra. Sada shivered, feeling her cheeks heat, as it fell away, baring her breasts. Keeping his hold on her firm, he moved his mouth along her skin, his lips and teeth teasing sensitive flesh. She closed her arms around him, holding onto him as he lowered her back onto the table, his mouth working restlessly at one painfully stiff nipple. "Alastair!" Sada breathed. His hands wandered along her belly, making her shiver. Alastair unfastened her jeans and she gasped in surprise when he pulled them down. Sada tried to sit up, but he pushed her back onto the table, murmuring something soothing against her skin. His fingers hooked beneath the waistband of her panties and tugged them down. "What are you doing?" Sada asked, starting to feel a bit panicky. "Relax, baby," Alastair murmured. "Just relax. I promise I won't do anything you won't enjoy." She couldn't come up with a reply, and anyway, she was too busy staring, her cheeks turned red, as he gently pulled her thighs apart. His hair tickled her belly as he lowered his head and Sada shivered at the first touch of his mouth against her. Alastair's tongue slid up against hot, aroused flesh, and she groaned, biting down on her lip. She buried her fingers in his hair again, holding him close and savoring the sweet pressure of his lips and tongue. She closed her eyes, her back arching off the table, little gasps spilling from her lips each time his mouth tugged at her clit. Sada could feel, through the fog of pleasure clouding her mind, the tension building in her belly. She moaned, her fingers flexing reflexively in his hair. The sound built into a loud cry as she came, little shudders shaking her body from head to toe. Sada released her hold on Alastair and brought her hands up to her face, her mind a whirl of thoughts. She lay there, trying to catch her breath, and didn't notice any movement until Alastair came back to the table. He used a towel to gently clean her off, and wipe the rest of the moisture from the cold rain away from her skin. Sada sat up slowly, feeling dazed but incredibly pleased. She was also shivering, this time from the cold. It wasn't cold in Alastair's apartment, but she was weak and shaky from the intensity of what he'd done, and the chill penetrated easily. "Here," Alastair said quietly. He handed her sweatshirt and she pulled it one. It was much too large for her and she had to roll up the sleeves, but it was warm. Cheeks flushing darkly, she found her panties and pulled them on. Alastair chuckled softly. Sada began looking around for her jeans, but stopped when he drew her close suddenly. She sighed, resting her head against his chest. Suddenly all those times she'd freaked out about him touching her seemed far away. This time she hadn't been able to resist. "Stay here tonight," Alastair murmured, his breath warm against her ear. "I... I... we... I..." Sada stammered, staring up at him. Alastair chuckled softly, his fingertips running gently along her cheek. "Not like that, little dancer. I just don't want you to go." "Oh," Sada said softly. "Okay..." He caught her hand in his and pulled her into the bedroom. It wasn't that late yet, but both of them were tired from practice, and work and school respectively. Sada allowed Alastair to pull her down onto his bed, and cuddled up close to his side. He pulled a blanket over them both, then closed his arms around her tightly. I can't believe it... she thought, resting her head on his chest. This is like a dream. ------- Alastair lay awake, staring at the ceiling, his fingers moving idly through Sada's hair. She was asleep, but he could not. It wasn't that her presence bothered him... okay, maybe it did. But not because she was in his bed, but... well, because she was in his bed. Damnit, Alastair thought, groaning softly. I'm not annoyed because she's here, I'm distracted, that's it. And unsettled. She provoked feelings in him that he wasn't quite certain he wanted to examine too closely. When he'd heard she'd been talking to his brother, his heart had stopped for a moment. Girls liked Quinn... he was mysterious. It didn't usually bother Alastair so much, except this time it drove him crazy. Why should she go to him? he wondered, starting to feel irritated. She could have just come to me! She didn't have to go running to my brother! But he knew why she had. He would probably never have been able to tell her about what happened. And I've been such a jerk the last few weeks, Alastair thought. I couldn't help it, though. When she'd kissed Quinn, even though it had just been a kiss on the cheek, he'd wanted to strangle his brother. Last time Quinn hadn't even done anything, and he'd stolen Melissa away. Alastair closed his arms possessively around Sada, disturbed by the thought that that would happen again. She shifted in her sleep, murmuring something incoherent against his chest, and he loosened his grip. It had been a near thing tonight, controlling himself. She sent a fire through his veins, and he'd wanted to take her tonight. Alastair had had to rein himself in fiercely, and he'd been well rewarded by the sweet little noises she'd made. He wanted the opportunity to make her make those noises again. "Sada," Alastair called softly. "Mmm?" she muttered, lifting her head slightly. "I uh... I know we're pretty busy but ah..." Alastair stammered, feeling oddly nervous. "Well, Valentine's Day is in a couple of weeks and um... well... would you like to do something together?" Sada stared at him for a moment, as if she wasn't sure she'd heard him right. A smile curved her lips slowly, and she lowered her head back onto his chest with a sigh and a murmured, "I'd love to, Alastair". Within moments he had drifted off into a blissfully peaceful sleep. ------- Chapter Ten: Surprise, Surprise! Sada leaned against the doorframe of the dance studio, watching Alastair. She could not take her eyes off of him. He danced in sweatpants, and only those. She knew he wasn't practicing their next performance, because he hadn't shown it to her yet. He was just letting off steam, and it was amazing to watch. Sada stood, completely rapt, as he danced, shifting between his usual freestyle and, to her surprise, break-dancing. Wow, she thought, licking her lips. She didn't really want to disturb him, but they did need to get down to it. Taking a deep breath, she moved over to the stereo and turned it off. Alastair stopped dancing, startled, and turn to look at her. Sada was surprised by the faint flush that lit his cheeks. He grabbed a towel to wipe sweat from his face, then hung it around her shoulders. She noticed a folder sitting on top of the stereo and a CD-R on top of that; that must have been the new dance and the music they'd practice to. "Sorry to interrupt you," Sada told Alastair as he approached to fiddle with the stereo. "I could have watched you all day, but I figured you might want to get started." Alastair chuckled. "Fair enough. I think you'll like this next bit... it fits nicely into my plan. Time to change things up a bit. Tell me, what do you know about belly dancing?" Sada's eyebrows raised. A sly smiled curved the corners of her mouth, and she demonstrated for him exactly what she knew about belly dancing; which was a lot. Although she hadn't danced competitively for years since her incident, she'd continued to learn where she could. Belly-dancing reminded her nothing of ballet, and so she'd learned everything she could of it. Alastair watched her for a few minutes, his mouth slightly open in surprise. "Okay, stop that," Alastair said, drawing in his breath sharply. "You're good at that." Sada grinned. "Having second thoughts?" Alastair stepped closer to her. She swallowed hard, staring up at him. His blue eyes were intense. His hands settled on her hips, drawing her close to him. Sada felt her cheeks heat beneath his gaze but she couldn't look away. He bent down and pressed his mouth lightly to hers. "Not at all, little dancer," Alastair murmured. "Well... unless you count some rather lecherous thoughts." "Not here," Sada hissed, her eyes widening. "Alastair, don't you dare. Someone could walk in and I don't think I can uh..." She stopped, feeling her mouth dry. I don't think I can resist you, Sada thought, staring up at him. She knew she didn't have to say it aloud for him to know it was true. His mouth brushed lightly against hers once more, making her shiver in delight. When Alastair stepped away from her, she felt light-headed and giddy. He brushed his fingertips gently over her lips, then stepped away. "Let's get started," Alastair said, leaving Sada with her heart pounding and her pulse racing. ------- Alastair shouldered his gym bag and opened the front door, stepping into his parents' house. It was wonderfully warm. All the heat he'd worked up practicing with Sada had fled in the freezing weather. Alanna was on the floor in the living room, sketching her cat Domino, who was curled up on the couch. He waved to her and headed past her, into the kitchen, where his parents were sitting, looking over bills. Alastair took a deep breath, leaning against the counter for support. "Can we talk?" he asked quietly. His mother looked up, smiling faintly. "Sure, honey. What's up?" "I uh... I need to borrow some money," Alastair replied. This caught his father's attention. "For what?" Gabriel asked, looking at him sharply. "Ah, well..." Alastair fidgeted, rubbing the back of his neck and staring at the floor. "Well, I'm only just making enough now to pay for my apartment, what with the competition and all and uh... well, you see, I was thinking about going back to school..." A light of excitement lit his mother's pale blue eyes. "Really? For what?" "Business," Alastair said quietly. "I know it's maybe kinda crazy but... I'd like to start a dance company someday. And well, I've had a lot of success, choreographing for this contest..." he took a deep breath. "I'll pay you back, of course, I just..." Gabriel chuckled. "Alastair, we've paid for your brother and your sister to go to college. What makes you think we wouldn't pay for you as well?" Alastair looked from his mother to his father, feeling a little surprised. Of course he knew that they'd paid for his brother and sister, but Alanna and Quinn had gone straight from high school. I really thought I'd used up all my strikes, he thought, relief flooding through him. He sagged against the countertop, letting his bag drop heavily to the kitchen floor. "When do you need this for?" Aislinn asked, a faint smiled playing at her lips. "Uh... ASAP," Alastair told her, grinning sheepishly. "The term starts at the end of the month and... I know I've got a lot going on right now, but I think I've waited long enough." Aislinn laughed. "All right, I'll get on it when I'm done with this. I was going to ask if you want to come to New York with us, to attend Quinn's showing, but I doubt you'll have time." Alastair shrugged. Once upon a time he would have been delighted to go to see one of Quinn's gallery shows, but not anymore. They hardly even talked to each other anymore. Not to mention that lately Quinn was only getting any praise at all because of long recognition. At one point he'd been slated as the next Pablo Picasso, but his work these days lacked passion. In fact, the picture of Sada he'd given Alastair for Christmas had been the most expressive thing he'd seen his brother do in a long time. "Hey, mom," Alastair said quietly, clearing his throat. "I uh... need to talk to dad for a few minutes... um..." His mother raised her eyebrows, but didn't question him. She gathered up her papers and left the kitchen, heading into the living room to join Alanna. Alastair took her seat and looked across the table at his father. Gabriel Wolfe was in his forties now, but no matter how many gray hairs he had, or how many lines around his mouth, Alastair never thought of him as old. His father was so full of life and he'd always wanted to be just like him. "Something wrong?" Gabriel asked, his eyebrows lifting. He and Aislinn often adopted similar facial expressions, they had been together for so long. "Uh... I kinda need some advice," Alastair explained, staring down at his hands. "I know it's still a few weeks but... well, Sada and I are supposed to go out for Valentine's Day and uh... what's so funny?" Gabriel grinned. "This girl seems to have a good influence over you. It reminds me of myself and your mother." "Really?" Alastair perked up. "Well, I'm just not sure what to do... I haven't been on an actual date since... well, you know." "I'm surprised," Gabriel said. "Haven't you considered taking her dancing?" "Well, yeah," Alastair said. "But I mean... we dance together a lot, I don't really see how I could make that special." Gabriel sat back in his chair, his brows furrowed in thought. I did consider taking her dancing, really, Alastair thought. But this is Sada... His little dancer. She was changing him, he realized. Somehow she made him able to care again. It was an unnerving thought, and one he didn't want to examine too closely at the moment, so he pushed it aside. "I have an idea," his father said suddenly, a familiar crooked grin curving his lips. "Listen well, Grasshopper..." ------- Sada stared at her reflection in the mirror for what had to be the thousandth time. God, it's like I think a hair will fall out of place if I'm not watching it, she thought, rolling her eyes. In fact, her hair was perfectly combed, gleaming beneath the bathroom light. She wore an emerald green top that spilled off her shoulders, and a pleated jean skirt that Farah had once convinced her to buy. I hope I look all right, Sada thought, as her stomach tied itself in knots. Alastair would be here to pick her up at any moment. The doorbell rang, making her jump. She smoothed her skirt one last time and dashed out into the living room, grabbing a jean jacket on her way and pulling it on. It was too light for the weather, but she didn't want to ruin the outfit. Sada opened the door to find Alastair waiting, leaning against the doorframe. He was dressed as usual; leather pants and a t-shirt beneath a jean jacket much like hers. The crooked grin he flashed her made her heart skip a beat. "Good evening, little dancer," Alastair said, his voice gently teasing. He pulled a rose from behind his back, touching her cheek gently with the soft petals. "H-hi..." Sada stammered, feeling her cheeks heat. She took the rose from him gently. Alastair grinned. "Let's go, sweetheart." Sada took Alastair's arm and followed him out to his motorcycle. It was freezing but she hardly noticed, especially when Alastair kissed her gently before helping her into the bike. The ride might have been uncomfortable, but she was too busy listening to her heart pound. Throughout the ride she kept wondering where he was going to take her, so she was a little surprised when they arrived at his apartment. Sada tried to ask him what they were doing, but he shushed her with another brush of his lips and lead her up to his apartment. The place was dark and Alastair left her at the door. She stood there, trying to adjust to the darkness, when he began lighting candles. The effect reminded her slightly of Quinn's room; by the time he was done, candlelight glimmered from every corner of the room. A small table had been placed in the living room and set with china that Sada figured must have been his parents. "Mom cooked," Alastair admitted quietly. Sada grinned. "Alastair, this is so... romantic. And so unlike you." "Hey!" Alastair said defensively. "Now, that's not fair. Come on, little dancer, I'll show you just how like me this is." Sada allowed herself to be led to the table. Alastair pulled the chair out for her, and she sat down, giggling when he spread a napkin over her lap. She clapped her hands over her mouth, trying to stifle her laughter as he served dinner with dramatic flourish. Dinner was quiet but ultimately wonderful. Rather than separate meals, his mother had made a platter with all sorts of things; slices of chicken or beef in varying sauces, steamed carrots, sweet peas, and string beans, shrimp and bits of lobster wrapped in lettuce or bacon, and small doughy dinner rolls. It was fun to eat, and Alastair watched her, teasing her enthusiasm for food gently. "Think you're up for a little dancing?" Alastair asked, when she had finally set down her fork. "I think so," Sada replied, her eyes sparkling. Alastair stood and wandered over to his stereo. He turned it on, then turned back to Sada and offered her his hand. She was surprised by the slow, soft music he'd chosen. He pulled her into his arms and held her close. Wow, she thought, resting her head on his shoulder. I can't believe this. His fingers ran through her hair idly, and she sighed, her eyelids drifting shut. "Penny for your thoughts," Alastair said quietly. Sada smiled. "I guess I'm just surprised. I mean... I wouldn't have expected something like this..." "Why not?" Alastair asked, pulling back from her slightly. "Well, uh, I mean..." Sada stammered, feeling her cheeks heat. "Well, this is the sort of thing you do for your girlfriend, not your dance partner." Alastair slid an arm firmly around her waist and pulled her back up against him. His hand slid beneath her chin, lifting her gaze. His pale blue eyes sparkled with a sort of mischief. "I know," he murmured, before lowering his mouth to hers. ------- The music was still playing, but the dancing was long forgotten. Alastair lifted his mouth from Sada's to catch his breath. He had her pinned beneath him on the couch, her shirt hiked up over her breasts and her skirt pushed up to her hips. He continued to touch her, his fingers light and teasing over her swollen flesh, listening to her soft moans. His fingers were sticky with her come. Alastair lowered his mouth to hers again, while he rested his free hand on her breast. "Alastair..." Sada mumbled against his lips. Alastair groaned. "What?" "How long... have we... ?" Sada panted. He was still touching her, making it hard for her to speak. Alastair lifted his head to glance at the clock, and his eyes widened in surprise. Sada wriggled beneath him, managing to slip out of his grasp while he was distracted. She pulled her shirt down and ran her fingers through her hair, but little could remedy the ruffled look she'd taken on over the last... "Two hours," Alastair answered, groaning softly. "Which explains why I'm in such agony." Sada giggled. "Hey, you started it!" "I know," Alastair sighed. His arousal was painful. Sada stood up from the couch and stretched out. He knew that she, at least, was well satisfied. He'd made sure of that. Alastair watched her as she smoothed down her skirt, and he reached out, catching hold of her. "Where do you think you're going?" Alastair asked. "I'm not done with you yet, little dancer." Sada squeaked in surprise as he pulled her back down onto the couch. She stayed there obediently as he went into the bathroom. Alastair closed the door to keep out prying eyes, then went to work. His apartment had an exceptionally large bathtub, of which he was inordinately proud. He ran the water, lighting candles as he let it get warm. Alastair added softly scented oils to the water, and decorative soap/salts shaped like rose petals that his sister had insisted Sada would find greatly romantic. He hadn't intended to use them, but the last two hours had changed that. Alastair stripped off his t-shirt, then opened the bathroom door. "Get in here, you." Laughing, Sada dashed into the bathroom. She paused, eyeing the bathtub, then glancing at him. Alastair shut the door and, not giving her time to thin about it, reached out for her and pulled her shirt off. She squeaked in protest, but was unable to get away from him, and soon she was moaning again as he nibbled at her earlobe. Sada was still in his arms as he pulled off the rest of her clothes. "Alastair..." Sada murmured. "Hush," Alastair whispered, kissing the curve of her ear. She turned to face him, her green eyes bright, reflecting candlelight. He stood still, barely able to move as she helped him remove his pants. Her cheeks flushed darkly and she turned away. Laughing, Alastair wrapped his arms around her and steered her towards the tub. He stepped in himself, then lifted her up and deposited her gently in the water. Sada leaned back against him as he settled in the water with her. "You're going to drive me crazy," Alastair told her. Sada giggled. "I didn't ask you to do those things to me." "This just isn't fair," Alastair said, sighing. "It's torture to touch you, and torture not to." "Did you mean what you said?" Sada asked suddenly, her tone sober. Alastair blinked. "What?" "About... I mean... you know," Sada stammered. "Me being your... girlfriend, you know." "Well, if you don't mind," Alastair said, his tone gently teasing. Sada turned over in the water, resting her head against his chest. "Of course I don't mind. I'm just surprised. I mean, it's not like... well, it's not like you've needed to be my boyfriend to get me to let you... you know..." Alastair snorted. "Little dancer, I sincerely hope you don't think that's the reason I want to be with you." He couldn't help tensing in anger. She can't be serious, he thought, gritting his teeth. I wasn't trying... I only wanted... damnit! Sada was staring up at him, her green eyes sparking. She sat up in his lap, and he groaned softly. Alastair inhaled deeply, trying to calm his raging body. Her hands rested against the sides of his face and her gaze was, if he wasn't imagining it, adoring. "I know, Alastair," Sada said softly. "I know. Although... if you were trying to seduce me, this is working fairly well." "I was trying to seduce you, a little," Alastair admitted. "And you'd better stop shifting so much or I'll be determined to succeed." Sada laughed and slid back down into the water. "I'll be sure to let you know when I'm ready for... that." "So then it won't be tonight?" Alastair asked, his voice half-teasing, half-pleading. "Not tonight," Sada replied, closing her eyes. "I just want to stay like this for awhile..." Alastair chuckled softly, resting his head atop hers. Once he relaxed he was able to calm himself down a little bit. He ran his fingers through Sada's hair. Inside, he was amazed at his boldness; he hadn't had any intentions of asking her to be his girlfriend tonight. But then the opportunity had presented itself, and he couldn't let it pass. Alastair remembered the stories his father had told him, of how his mother had changed him so much, and now he understood just what that felt like. ------- Chapter Eleven: Semi-Final Alastair was glad for the California sun. The warm air and the bright sunshine was a welcome break from his first two weeks of school. Although the were only staying until Sunday afternoon, he was enjoying himself. Sada ought to see this sunset, he thought, reaching for the keycard that opened their hotel room. They were sharing the room, and although Sada had insisted they would be sleeping in the separate beds, Alastair fully meant to change her mind. Music was playing in the hotel room. He stopped in the doorway and stared. Sada was up on one of the beds, dancing around to the music. She had her back to him; if she could see him she probably would have dropped the brush she was using as a microphone. "Ready lets roll onto something new... Takin' it's toll and I'm leaving without you... 'Cause heaven ain't close in a place like this, I said heaven ain't close in a place like this... Bring it back down, bring it back down tonight... Never thought I'd let a rumor ruin my moonlight..." Alastair covered his mouth, smothering his laughter. She was dressed in pjs already. Well, they would be getting up at six o'clock in the morning and the time difference was already making him feel sleepy. "Well somebody told me, that you had a boyfriend, that looks like a girlfriend, that I had in February of last year... it's not confidential, I got potential..." Alastair couldn't stop himself. He burst out laughing. Sada whirled around, the brush dropping from her hands. Her cheeks turned bright red and she sank down onto the bed, dropping her head into her hands. Laughing still, he walked over to the bed and sat down next to her, putting an arm around her shoulders. Sada peeked at him through her fingers. Alastair grinned and pulled her hands gently away from her face. "You're so cute," he murmured. Sada's cheeks darkened further. His fingers closed around her wrists as he lowered her gently down to the bed. His mouth met hers, softly, tenderly, and she sighed. Alastair gently coaxed her lips open with his and slid his tongue up against hers, drawing a small gasp from her. He chuckled softly against her mouth, then shifted his position so he could rest on top of her, his head cushioned between her breasts. "I wanna stay just like this," Alastair murmured, closing his eyes. "How am I supposed to sleep?" Sada asked, laughing. She drew her fingers through his hair idly. "Well," Alastair said, lifting his head slightly. "If you agree to let me sleep with you tonight then I'll move so it's at least comfortable." "What... what if someone catches us?" Sada's cheeks burned and Alastair laughed, reaching up to play with a strand of hair that fell into her eyes. "No one else has a key, little dancer," Alastair reminded her. "Oh," Sada said softly. That's a yes, Alastair thought, grinning. He shifted his weight off her and stood long enough to pull his t-shirt and jeans off. Glancing at Sada, he found she'd buried her head under a pillow. Hey, he thought, feeling mildly perturbed. At least I left my boxers on! He flicked off the light and jumped back into the bed with her. Alastair turned off the radio on the bedside alarm and then wound his arms around Sada, dragging her close. "So, what do you think of our chances tomorrow?" Sada asked, snuggling against him. Alastair shrugged. "I dunno. What do you think?" "I think you're a brilliant choreographer, Alastair," Sada told him. "I think we're gonna win." Alastair smiled and closed his arms tighter around her. She squeaked softly, and he loosened his grip just a bit. She makes me think I'm good enough, he thought, burying his face in her hair. All my worries go away when she's with me. He closed his eyes and settled down, completely relaxed with her here. Alastair would have no problem falling asleep tonight. ------- "Who's bloody idea was this?" Sada glowered at her image in the dressing room mirror. It was my damn idea, she thought, answering her own question. But I wouldn't have even had the idea if it wasn't for Alastair's choreography. She finally got the catch open on the silvery barefoot slave sandal. It covered her foot and was circled her ankle. The silvery links were adorned with green beads and bells. Sada struggled with the other one, then sat back, sighing. Some improvation had gone into the design of her costume. Rather than the usual top, she'd found a green handkerchief top that tied around her neck like a halter top and around her back. The silver links of the broad collar she'd lain over it made the green material look strangely sinuous. Green-beaded silver-link demi-gloves adorned her hands. Link bracelets adorned her wrist, with a chain up to the arm bands around her upper arms. Slave bracelets, but they made wonderful gear for this sort of dancing. Strips of silk in various shades of green and pale yellow formed her skirt. An exotic take on a typical belly dancer outfit, but it worked. Sada sighed and brushed her hair out of her face, then headed out of the dressing room. The trick will be getting my number on, she thought, grinning wryly. They were couple number forty-two tonight. And of course, Melissa and Andre were couple forty-one. It seemed they would never get away from them. "Wow, Sada..." Sada jumped. She glared at Alastair, who had snuck into the girls' changing room. He grinned sheepishly and followed her out. For once he wasn't wearing his leather pants. He looks like Aladdin, kind of, she thought, giggling. From the puffy pants to the open vest, although the look was charming on him. His hair was pulled back as usual when he danced. "You look fantastic," Alastair told her. "She looks like a simpering little harem girl, doesn't she?" Melissa's voice carried loudly above the din of couples crowded in the waiting room. Sada rolled her eyes, standing on her toes to pin Alastair's number on his back. "She should cross 'simper' off her list of vocabulary words for the week," Sada said, just as loud as Melissa had. Alastair snorted, lifting a hand to his mouth to quickly smother his laughter. Grinning broadly, he helped pin Sada's number to her back, albeit carefully. She giggled as his teeth nipped at her earlobe, even as her face turned bright red and she elbowed him sharply in the ribs. Not here, she thought, stepping away from him and fixing him with an admonishing glare. Everyone would see us here! The wait began. There was no split now that they were down to only fifty couples, although Sada felt that that was a bit too much for one night. She was antsy and impatient, and watching the monitor didn't help. Many of the couples made small mistakes, normally insignificant, but they made so many. It made her nervous. She could feel Alastair's hands on her shoulders, kneading gently. "Don't worry, little dancer," Alastair murmured in her ear. "We will be spectacular. And you... there won't be a single person in the audience who will be able to keep their eyes off you." Sada sighed. "Stop it, Alastair. Flattery will get you everywhere." Alastair laughed, and the soft, rich sound of it relaxed her. By the time they had moved into the wings and were stretching on the bar, she was still nervous but not as jittery. Sada settled against Alastair was they set in to watch Melissa and Andre perform their number. Both of them were expecting another slow, syrupy dance, and both of them nearly jumped out of their skin when fast music struck up. "Heeeeey..." Sada growled. "Look, Alastair, they're copying us!" Alastair chuckled. "Don't forget, little dancer, that was us before. What we've got now is much different. I think we will make the stronger impression." "Only because you're a genius," Sada told him. "Stop it, Sada," Alastair said. "Flattery will get you everywhere." Sada snickered. She relaxed again and was feeling pretty good by the time it was her and Alastair's turn. He took her hand and led her out onto the stage; the audience was applauding, which felt wonderful. The enthusiastic screaming she heard above the rest of the crowd had to be Alastair's family. "Couple number forty-two, Alastair Wolfe and Sada Scarlett." The music struck up. Sada loved this song, and she'd been surprised when Alastair had shown her the dance he'd planned. Far different from what they'd done before, it was slow and sensual. A mix of belly-dancing, ballet, and freestyle, it was fun to do and she hoped fun to watch. "I dream of fire... Those dreams are tied to a horse that will never die... And in the flames... her shadows play in the shape of a man's desire." Never in her life had she felt such heat. She moved with Alastair, her body against his, her movements fluid grace under the guidance of his hands, which traveled along her arms and belly and occasionally rested on her hips. The dance was intimate, almost too much so, but Sada forgot all about the crowd. All she could feel was Alastair's body moving against hers, and her ears were filled with the pounding of her heart and the sound of the music. "I dream of rain... I lift my gaze to empty skies above... I close my eyes, this rare perfume is the sweet intoxication of her love..." Alastair's hands supported her lower back as she arched, sweeping backward. He held her in that position, his mouth against her belly, one hand coming up to trail down along her neck and between her breasts. In the next instant she had straightened into his arms, and they moved together against as though they were connected by more than their hands. "Sweet desert rose... Each of her veils, a secret promise... This desert flower... No sweet perfume every tortured me more than this..." Sada closed her eyes. This is bliss, she thought, as Alastair's hands shifted down to her hips again. It was as exhilarating as their earlier dances, although in a different way. As the song faded away, his hands cupped her face, his thumb feathering lightly over her lower lip. Sada stared up at him, into his pale blue eyes. My god, she thought, I'm falling in love with him! The revelation nearly knocked her off her feet. The noise of the crowd finally broke through her trance. Sada grinned, feeling shaky as Alastair lead her off the stage. They headed past the next couple and into the waiting room, where they collapsed together on a bench. Alastair put his arms around her immediately, laughing breathlessly. No, Sada thought, resting her head on his chest. I'm already in love with him. "That was wonderful, little dancer," Alastair murmured. "You were wonderful." "That was so boring!" Melissa's voice carried across the room. "Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if they get zeroes! What lousy choreography." "Ignore her," Sada muttered. "Just ignore her." "She doesn't bother me," Alastair said. "I was talking to myself," Sada told him. Alastair laughed. They stayed like that together until the rest of the contests had danced. To Sada's surprise their scores were fantastic. We're in the lead! she thought, grinning and jumping to her feet. We're in the lead! Ha, take that miss priss bitch! She shot a glance at Melissa, who looked furious. Alastair got to his feet a bit more slowly, although she could tell by the sparkling of his eyes that she was just as pleased as she was. "Alastair! Sada!" Sada braced herself, but Alanna didn't smother her in a hug this time. She was trailed by Quinn, who was looking... unhappy. He glanced at her and then quickly away. I won't let this spoil my good mood, she thought, determinedly. "Did you hear?" Alanna asked, grinning. "The judges said the finals will be a double." "Oh, no," Alastair muttered. "Oh, yes!" Alanna cheered. Sada blinked. "What does that mean, a double?" "Two dances," Alastair explained. "Which means choreographing, practicing, and performing two dances. It's hard and exhausting..." "They've set the finals for the beginning of summer," Alanna said, chattering in her usual cheery mode. "So at least it won't get in the way of school, right Alastair? And I know you can come up with two dances just as great as this one was! Better, even!" Sada grinned at Alastair, who rolled his eyes. She leaned against him experimentally and was pleased when he put his arm around her shoulders, dragging her close. They hadn't made a big announcement of their relationship, but that didn't mean they were concealing it. It was just that they spent so much time in the dance studio that they weren't often seen elsewhere. Sada glanced up at Alastair and noticed he was frowning. "Are you going to be able to do this?" Sada asked. "It's so much, and you already have a lot going on..." "I can do it," Alastair assured her. Sada frowned. "Alastair, really... I'd hate myself if something happened to you because of me." "Stop it," Alastair muttered. "Look, I'll take care of it. I won't let you down, Sada." Sada stared at his face for awhile, but he was stubbornly determined. I won't let him make himself sick, she thought, as she broke apart from him to head to the dressing room. This is important but... not as important as he is. But a part of her really hoped he would be able to handle it. She wanted to win this competition... not just for herself, but for Alastair, too. ------- Alastair was already thinking on the dances he would choreograph for the final as he showered. It's going to be tough, he thought, running his fingers through his hair. But with Sada, I can do anything. It meant he was going to need more help from his parents, though, and he wasn't sure how they would react to that. It was enough for them to help me once, Alastair thought. I shouldn't ask for more before I can pay them back for this. He got out of the shower and dried himself off, then pulled his clothes on. The California night air was gloriously warm and he was wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I'm going to hate going back to the cold, Alastair thought, as he shouldered his gym bag and headed out of the dressing room. His parents were waiting for him outside the door; his brother and sister had probably gone back to the hotel. "You two were fantastic," his mother said, smiling broadly. "Thanks, mom," Alastair said. "Next one is going to be a killer." Gabriel put an arm around his son's shoulder. "We'll make it work. Go find your dancer so we can get back to the hotel, okay?" "She isn't..." Alastair began, then paused. He grinned. "Well, just don't let her hear you call her that." His father's laughter followed him down the hall as he headed towards the girls' dressing room. His mother's voice mixed with his father's laughter, and Alastair smiled. He'd been so self-absorbed this last few years that he hadn't paid close attention to how happy they were together. I want that, he thought, I want to have someone just like that. Maybe Sada would be that person. He reached the corner before the dressing room and paused; he could hear voices. Just like when Sada had heard him and Melissa, he now heard her voice. And, much to his displeasure, Melissa's. Despite himself, Alastair pinned himself against the wall and listened closely. "You can't actually win you know." That was Melissa's voice. "I mean, Alastair is good, but you're nothing special. He can't hold it up all by himself." "Don't you have better things to do?" Sada muttered. Alastair could hear her exasperation. Melissa laughed. "Come on, little Sada. I've known Alastair longer than you have. What, do you think this is a romantic comedy? He isn't going to fall in love with you, you know." "I never asked him to," Sada said, her voice sharp and annoyed. "He'd never look at you twice," Melissa went on. "You're just his dance partner. I was his girlfriend. I slept with him." Sada kept quiet. Alastair wished dearly that he could see her face. Don't just stand there, he thought, clenching his hands into fists. Let her have it! But Sada didn't speak and for a moment he thought she'd left. Then Melissa's voice rose, as annoying and goading as ever. "You probably still haven't even been kissed yet!" Melissa laughed. "Sada the Virgin... you're so pathetic!" Alastair couldn't take anymore. He walked around the corner and grabbed hold of Sada. Melissa stared at him, horrified, as he grabbed Sada and pulled her into his arms. He caught a glimpse of her bright green eyes, startled and wide, before he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her gently. "I've been looking for you," Alastair murmured. "Sorry," Sada whispered. Melissa looked at them once, then stomped away, furious. "Why didn't you stand up to her?" Alastair asked, cradling Sada's face in his hands. "You could have told her we're together." Sada looked at him. "It isn't any of her business, Alastair. I don't want her spitting her filth about us." Alastair sighed and closed his arms around her, dragging her near. Poor little dancer, he thought, resting his head on hers. She's trying so hard to get over what happened to her when she was fourteen. He gave her another small, gentle kiss, then lead her away from the dressing room. He'd find a way to help his little dancer... he'd help her mop the floor with Melissa. ------- Chapter Twelve: Amateur Night Sada stopped to study herself in the mirror. Gina, Farah, and Heather had taken her shopping the day before for this "date". I don't know why I agreed to this, she thought, leaning close to the mirror to apply Loreal Lash-Out mascara to her lashes. Alastair had invited her to "Amateur Night" at the club where he danced. Both men and women were welcome to get up on stage and strip, at least down to their underwear. It should at least be entertaining, Sada thought, putting the mascara away and grabbing a lipstick. Oh, and god bless Cover Girl for these lipsticks that don't wear off. Sada wasn't much of a party girl; the leather pants and small, close fitted emerald green t-shirt she'd bought were as close as she got. The rich red lipstick brought out the paleness of her skin, making her look like a china doll. I hope Alastair doesn't think I look silly, she thought, brushing her hair out of her face. She jumped when the doorbell rang and dashed out of the bathroom to answer it. "Cute," Alastair teased her, grinning. She glowered at him. Damn him for looking so good, she thought, studying him. Somehow he was managing to keep up with his busy schedule and he didn't look any worse for wear. His hair was left to hang free down over his shoulders. He wore leather pants, like her, but his shirt was dark blue sheer mesh and he wore a long coat over it of some light, tough material. Sada grabbed her jacket and pulled it on; the end of March was warmer than the end of Feburary, but not by much. Alastair paused in front of his bike for a moment and studied her. She raised her eyebrows, and squeaked when he lifted her up by the waist, depositing her on the bike seat. Sada clung to the handlebars instinctively and glared at him. "You look cute like that," Alastair told her, grinning. "You'd make a hot biker chick." "No way," Sada said, shaking her head and scooting back on bike seat to allow Alastair to get on. "I don't even like being on here with you." "No worries, baby," Alastair assured her, handing her his helmet. "I won't let anything happen to you." Grinning, Sada closed her arms around Alastair and clung to him as they drove away from her apartment. Yeah, the motorcycle scared the hell out of her, but she always felt safe with him. I'm a slave to love, she thought, rolling her eyes at herself. Otherwise I would never agree to go to this "Amateur Night" thing. Sada had no intention of getting up on stage, of course. That would never happen in a million years. She was surprised to be met at the club by not only Heather, Farah, and Gina, but Alanna, too. Alastair's sister looked adorable, although he looked perturbed; she'd dressed in leather pants and a dark blue sheer mesh shirt, like his, although she wore a black camisole beneath hers. She even had a similar long coat. "You know, Lonnie," Alastair said, sliding an arm around Sada's waist as they headed into the club. "It was bad enough when mom was dressing me and Quinn alike when we were babies." "I couldn't help it, Ally," Alanna retorted. "You have such brilliant fashion sense, I just had to copy you." "Quinn put you up to this, didn't he?" Alastair demanded. Alanna grinned brightly. "Mom and dad, actually. You know Quinn doesn't come down off his cloud anymore these days." Sorrow flickered across Alastair's face at this, and Sada bit her lip, worried. He shrugged it off quickly, though, and began talking animatedly about last year's Amateur Night. This should prove entertaining, at least, she thought, clinging to Alastair as they wended their way through the crowded tables. I mean, I'd never get up their but maybe Heather or Gina or... or... aw, hell. Sada stared at the table where Andre and Melissa were sitting. "Alastair!" Melissa called, her honeyed voice grating on Sada's nerves. "A friend told me... I couldn't believe it... you work here? I just had to come see this." Alastair gritted his teeth and Sada noticed Alanna doing the same. She drew herself up and responded to Melissa before anyone else could. "Not tonight, Lis. Can't you read? Amateur Night... but you can get up there if you want, we know how much you love being the center of attention." "Maybe you should go up there, Sada," Melissa retorted, smiling sweetly. "A twenty-one-year-old virgin is quite a treat for these folks, isn't it?" Sada bit her lip, feeling her cheeks heat up. Goddamnit, she thought, sitting down unceremoniously in the chair Alastair pulled out for her. Why did I have to be such a wimp growing up? Glancing sideways at Alastair, she grinned slightly. Why should she want a first kiss or first time from some clumsy boy when she had sexy Alastair? "You know," Alastair said, leaning forward slightly. "Maybe you should go up there. Don't care about everyone else, but it would be quite a treat for me!" Alastair grinned lasciviously at her and she glowered at him. Laughing, he put an arm around her shoulders, keeping hold of her throughout the MC's announcements and there first few dancers. Sada watched, sometimes embarrassed and sometimes laughing herself silly, as men and women attempted to dance on the stage. Alastair eventually ended up in conversations with some of the people he knew who worked there, but she, Heather, Gina, Farah, and Alanna had fun watching. Every now and then Sada glanced sideways to the table where Melissa and Andre sat. They spent a lot of time laughing and whispering to each other, and at one point Melissa left the table. Ignore them, she told herself, staring hard at a skinny white boy on stage who looked like he was having a conniption fit. Ignore them, watch the... eww, stare at the tabletop, don't watch the ugly skinny white boy. "Ladies and gentlemen," the MC said. "Melissa Hartley!" Sada looked up sharply and Alastair did the same. I didn't think she'd do it! she thought, blinking in surprise. A second later she found out what Melissa was up to, as Madonna's "Like A Virgin" played while she danced. A sharp pain in her hand, she realized, was her nails pressing into her palm, she had clenched her fingers so tightly. Alastair was expressionless; she couldn't tell if he was angry or not. "Ignore her," Alastair muttered. "No," Sada said. She had an idea. It made her stomach roll to think about, but she was going to do it. Sada stood and left the table, to find the DJ. She explained quickly that she was Alastair's girlfriend, and the DJ and MC agreed to let her go on next. Taking a deep breath, she approached the side of the stage and waited until Melissa finished. I'm losing my mind, she thought, as she stepped up onto the stage. I'm losing my mind, I'm losing my mind, I'm losing my mind... "Ladies and gentlemen, Sada Scarlett!" Everyone was staring at her, and she knew it. A small glance at her table revealed five shocked pairs of eyes, although she suspected she saw a hint of curiosity in Alastair's gaze. Sada poised herself in a slightly altered third position as she waited for the music, and began to sway nervously when it came on. "I've been a bad, bad girl... I've been careless with a delicate man... and it's a sad, sad world... when a girl will break a boy, just because she can..." Melissa looked outraged. Alastair was grinning, his pale blue eyes glowing in appreciation. Alanna, Heather, Farah, and Gina hooted wildly with the rest of the crowd, cheering her on. This is kind of fun, Sada thought, fighting a smile. She loosened up, allowing the music to infect her. It was a very sexy beat and she moved sinuously to it, swaying her hips slowly, arching her back and tossing her head. Though she normally would never consider it, she slowly stripped off her t-shirt. Sada had no intention of taking off more than that, although Alastair's whistling made her consider it briefly. She tossed her t-shirt to Farah for safe-keeping and continued to dance, dropping down to her knees. She stretched and arched on the floor, rolled and pushed herself back up onto her knees. Sada scooted close to the edge of the stage and beckoned to Alastair. He was out of his chair in a second. She reached out for him as he approached the stage, tangling her fingers in his hair. His mouth blazed a trail of fiery kisses down her neck, over her collarbone, down between her breasts, and down her stomach as she arched her back again. Sada shivered, amazed at her own boldness, and gently pushed Alastair away. She stood up to finish her dance; by the time she was done the crowd was cheering, although Melissa looked pissed... especially since Andre was cheering too. "Thanks," Sada said breathlessly, taking her t-shirt back from Farah. "You go, chica!" Gina crowed, grinning. "I can't believe you did that." "Neither can I!" Alastair said. He hooked an arm around her and dragged her down into his lap. Laughing, Sada wound her arms around him. She was feeling oddly bold tonight and she leaned over, her teeth nipping at his earlobe. "Let's go home," Sada murmured. "Home?" Alastair asked, his eyebrows lifting. Sada grinned. "Your place." Alastair swallowed. "You sure?" "I'm very sure," Sada purred. "Let's go." "Well," Alastair cleared his throat and stood up. His fingers curled around her wrist. "Don't have to tell me twice." They paused only long enough to grab their coats and, laughing, fled out into the night. ------- Alastair pushed open the door of his apartment, then automatically shifted his hands beneath Sada's thighs; she was riding piggy-back. He pushed the door closed with his foot and set her down gently, turning around the grab her and pull her into his arms. She moaned softly as he ravished her mouth with his, stealing her breath. Alastair kept his hold on her tight, slowly pulling her toward the bedroom. His hands traveled beneath her shirt, warming her slightly chilled skin. He was so busy fondling her that Sada, laughing, had to open the bedroom door for him. Her laughter faded into a soft moan as he wiggled his fingers beneath her bra and cupped her breasts, feathering his thumbs lightly over her nipples. Alastair again pushed the door closed with his foot, and backed her toward the bed. Despite her reassurances, Sada trembled in his arms. She squeaked softly, the sound muffled against Alastair's mouth, as they tumbled to the bed. He pulled back, drawing in a deep breath, and gazed down at her. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair tousled, and her eyelids heavy. She's beautiful, he thought. "Sada," Alastair murmured. "You have to be sure. I don't know if I'll be able to stop myself once..." "I... I'm scared..." Sada admitted quietly. Her cheeks were bright red and her eyes glittered. "But I want... I want to..." "Sweet Sada," Alastair whispered, finding her hand with his. He lifted her fingertips to his mouth and kissed them tenderly. "Don't be scared." She sighed softly, her eyelashes fluttering. Alastair lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her tenderly, then started to pull up her shirt. Sada lifted herself off the bed, helping him remove first the t-shirt, then her bra. She shivered and flushed beneath his gaze. Alastair pushed her down gently onto the bed and unfastened her pants. Sada lifted her hips, and he took her pants and panties off in one turn. "You're so beautiful," Alastair murmured, trailing his fingertips along the inside of her thigh. He kissed her again. Sada's fingers ran through his hair, down his back, and beneath his shirt. This time he was the one who aided her in getting his clothes off. Getting his pants off was particularily difficult, and both of them were snickering by the time they'd managed. Alastair sat back on his heels and grinned at her. "If you thought that was funny, just wait," Alastair said, chuckling softly. He leaned over her to his bedside table and opened the drawer. Sada stared at him, wide eyed, as he held up a condom. Just when her cheeks were returning to a normal color they turned bright red again. She sat up, watching him intently as he opened the package. Alastair raised his eyebrows at her, then handed it to her. Sada blinked. "What am I supposed to do with it?" she asked. Alastair laughed at her indignant tone. "Put it on me." "I can't do that!" Sada said incredulously. Alastair couldn't help himself; he cracked up. She glowered at him and it took him awhile to sober up. Leaning forward, he caught some of her hair in his hand, gently tugging her gaze upward. "You are so cute," Alastair murmured, grinning brightly. "Here, little dancer, I'll help." Fighting his laughter at her wide-eyed expression and the little squeaks she made, he showed her how to put the condom on him. Her innocence was so endearing and oddly arousing. Alastair pressed his mouth to hers and pushed her back down onto the bed once more, his hands finding hers. "This part is going to hurt," Alastair whispered. "I'm sorry, baby." He nudged her thighs opened gently. Her trembling was nerve-wracking, but he knew he couldn't stop himself now. Alastair was careful as he slid inside her; even with the condom on, she was so tight that he groaned softly. He closed his fingers tightly around hers and moved, in one stroke, all the way inside her. Sada's gasp of pain tore him apart, and the tears that ran down her cheeks made him feel helpless. "Don't cry," Alastair murmured, kissing the tears away from her cheeks. "Don't cry, little dancer, please." "I... I'm okay," Sada told him. "Really..." He continued to kiss her, lying as still as he could to give her time to adjust. It was a form of torture, really. Alastair coaxed her mouth open with his, teasing her tongue and the inside of her lower lip. He thought he might go crazy, holding himself still inside her, until he felt the shy, experimental shift of her hips. Sada peered up at him, her green eyes watery and a wan smile on her lips. He moved slowly, carefully inside her. Alastair couldn't remember the last time he'd felt like this. There was a longing to please her, a longing stronger than any he'd had in so long. As she began to shift beneath him, making little noises in her throat and awkwardly meeting his hips with hers, he felt a strong pleasure completely different from that of her body tight around him. Alastair bent his head to kiss her again, teasing her lips with his. He wouldn't have believed himself capable of such tenderness. He kissed her everywhere, finding sensitive places on her neck, her ears, and at the corners of her mouth. His fingertips stroked her palms and over her wrists, down her arms. Alastair was so busy focusing on her that her cries caught him by surprise. He felt her body tighten around his and groaned, burying his face against her neck. Her fingers wound tight in his hair and he couldn't hold himself back, listening to her cries as she came. Sada's heartbeat fluttered wildly. He listened to the sound of her breathing as he caught his own breath. Sweat dripped down his back. Alastair lifted himself up off her and gazed down at her. She smiled and winced slightly as he pulled out of her. He stretched out next to her on the bed and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "Are you okay?" Alastair asked. "It hurts a bit," Sada admitted. "But I don't mind." She snuggled against his side and laid her head on his chest. Alastair ran his fingers through her sweat dampened hair. I thought this part of me was gone, he thought, but she makes me feel so... warm. Sada sighed heavily and closed her eyes, and he knew she was sleepy. Still, he had to know... "Why did you do that?" Alastair asked. "Dance, I mean." "That bitch," Sada murmured sleepily. "She deserved it. She was trying to jab at you, more than me, I know. That's how she is." "Still," Alastair said. "She's not worth it." "I won't let her hurt you..." Sada's voice faded as she drifted off. "You mean the world to me, Alastair." Alastair sucked in his breath sharply, surprised. Sada was asleep; she didn't realize what she was saying. But it felt so good, he thought, gazing down at her in the dark. To be important to someone like that. Melissa had never made him feel like that. He'd loved her, but she'd never made him feel truly warm and wanted, made him feel like he was the center of the universe. I wish I knew how, little dancer, Alastair thought, closing his eyes. But I don't have the words to tell you how I feel. ------- Chapter Thirteen: Birthday May was turning out to be a surprisingly warm month and Sada felt comfortable with just a light jacket pulled over her dress. She held the plastic bag she was carrying close to her chest, clutching it tightly as she rang the doorbell of the Wolfe family home. I have more than an hour, she thought, glancing over her shoulder. Sada jumped with the door opened, and turned to find Quinn regarding her curiously. He looked as good as he always did, with his dark hair pulled back into a neat ponytail and reading glasses perched on his nose. A book was held loosely in one hand. Quinn was dressed as she'd always seen him; black jeans and a dark t-shirt. He wore nothing on his feet, though. A slight smile curved his lips when he saw her and he stepped back, gesturing for her to come in. "You're early," Quinn told her quietly. "Or late, depending on how you look at it." Sada blinked at him. "Huh?" "Alastair won't be home for a little while yet," Quinn explained. "And we celebrated earlier this morning." "Oh," Sada said. "I know that. I uh... want to bring you your birthday present." Quinn stared at her. His pale blue eyes were so intent that Sada felt herself begin to blush. She held up the back she was carrying, offering it to him. His fingers brushed hers lightly as he took the back. She pulled her hand back. Chewing her lip fretfully, Sada followed Quinn up the stairs to his room. She tried not to freak out when he closed the door behind them and beckoned for her to sit. Sada huddled in the chair and watched him. Quinn stared speculatively at the packages; one larger one and three smaller ones. You'd think he's never gotten a birthday present before, she thought, watching as he gingerly picked off the wrapping paper. She'd had no idea what to get him, and the choice she'd finally settled on caused him to look up at her, his eyebrows raised in bemusement. "A Playstation?" Quinn asked, not even blinking. "Well, yeah," Sada replied, nodded. "I just... you look like you need to have more fun." A slow grin curled the corners of Quinn's lips and he chuckled softly to himself. The three other packages were games; Spyro the Dragon, Street Fighter 2, and Final Fantasy 7. Sada had figured that a bit of variety would be good for him. By the time he was done unwrapping them all he was laughing hard, coughing as he tried to smother it against his hand. "What's so funny?" Sada demanded, frowning. "Nothing, just..." Quinn stammered through his laughter. "I don't know... I'm just surprised. No one has ever given me a present because they thought I needed to have more fun before." "Well, I didn't know what to get you," Sada said defensively, rising from her chair. "No, no, this is great," Quinn told her, reaching out and grabbing her wrist. "Stay and play with me... please?" Sada looked down at him. His pale blue eyes held a pleading expression that reminded her forcibly of Alastair. His laughter still sparkled there, as well, warming him more than she'd ever seen him. Oh, damn, she thought, sinking slowly to the floor. I hate it when they look at me like that. Sada sighed in defeat and reached for the box holding the Playstation. "All right," Sada said. "You probably don't know how to hook this thing up, anyway." ------- Alastair had been surprised to see Sada's car at his house when he got there. I should be, he thought, she probably came cause it's my birthday. Technically it was his and his brother's birthday, really. A sudden worry prickled inside him and he went inside quickly. His parents and sister weren't there. Alastair's heart began to pound loudly and he headed up the stairs, haunted by a strong sense of déjà vu. He stopped outside the door to Quinn's room. Although his brother had gone back to his own apartment, he kept his room here as a miniature echo of his apartment. Alastair had to strain to hear over the pounding of his blood. The faint sound of giggles filtered from behind the door. Rage and horror filled him, and he grabbed the doorknob, twisting it violently and pushing the door open. Alastair didn't know what to make of the scene that met his eyes. Sada and Quinn were sitting on the floor in front of the T.V. playing video games. Quinn looked up as soon as the door opened, his eyes widening in shock, but Sada continued playing. A moment later she cheered lately. "Beat you again, Quinn!" Sada crowed, then turned to see what he was looking at. "Hi, Alastair!" "You... that... not fair..." Quinn stammered. "C'mere, jerkface!" Sada squeaked loudly as Quinn caught her in a headlock and gave her a noogie. Alastair could only stare at them open-mouthed. He hadn't seen his brother laughing like that in years. Sada finally wriggled free and bounced to her feet, smoothing down the short, emerald green halter dress she was wearing. Quinn stood slower, eyeing Alastair cautiously. "Happy birthday, Alastair!" Sada chirped, grinning cheerfully. "I've been waiting for you to get home." "Sada," Quinn said softly, reaching out and catching her wrist. "Thank you." Alastair met his brother's eyes as Quinn pulled Sada into a hug. He knew the challenge in those pale blue eyes well. He's just trying to get to me, Alastair thought, clenching his fists. Unfortunately, it's working. He was ready to grab Sada and pull her away when Quinn finally released her. If she noticed the tension between the two of them, she didn't show it. "Let's go, Alastair," Sada said, grabbing hold of his arm and pulling him from the room. He was still angry and he kept silent as he followed her downstairs and out to her car. Isn't she going to say anything to me? he thought, gritting his teeth. Doesn't she have anything to say for herself? Sada was unlocking her car. She turned to face him and opened her mouth to speak; only then did she notice the look on his face. Alastair saw her smile falter. "What's wrong?" Sada asked. "Come on, I've got your birthday present for you." Alastair shook his head. "I don't think so." "What? Why?" Sada frowned for a moment, then laughed. "That's not funny, Alastair. Come on." "No," Alastair said firmly. "I'm not in the mood." "Oh..." Sada stared at him. Don't look at me like that, Alastair thought, squeezing his eyes shut. The hurt in her eyes pulled him apart. How could she not understand? How could she possibly be so naïve? It's part of what I like about her, though, I guess, he thought, opening his eyes. Sada was settling down in her car and he could see from where he stood that she was fighting back tears. Alastair sighed in defeat and walked around to the other side of the car. "Fine," he conceded, dropping into the passengers' seat. "Where are we going?" Sada grinned. "It's a surprise." He soon found himself blindfolded. Despite himself, Alastair couldn't help being curious about what was going on. When he tried to lift the blindfold to peek, Sada reached over and slapped his hand. Soon his curiosity won past his anger and he was anxious to know where they were going. He tried to convince her to give him some sort of hint, but nothing he said worked. "Hold on to me," Sada said, when they had gotten out of the car. "Not a problem," Alastair assured her, grabbing hold of her wrist. "I should tell you, from what I saw, you look really cute in that dress." "Are you trying to flatter me to make up for being a jerk?" Sada asked. "Well... yes," Alastair admitted. Sada's laughter made him tingle. She had such a sweet voice, and she wasn't angry at him for being so cold. At least she understands, he thought. The fact that she was teasing him meant that she wasn't upset. Alastair clung to her tightly as she led him up stairs and down a hallway. He heard a sort of clicking and that was when he realized that they had to be in some sort of hotel. His suspicions were confirmed when Sada pulled the blindfold off. Not only were they in a hotel room, but it was a suite, no doubt one of their best. Huge, with a living room area, a kitchen area, a big bathroom, and a small set of stairs that led up into the bedroom, it was beyond luxuriant. Alastair leaned against Sada, curling an arm around her waist. He bent to kiss the top of her head gently. "How did you afford this?" Alastair asked. "I keep money away for special occasions," Sada explained. "I figured this counted as a special occasion..." He looked down at her; she was smiling warmly at him. Alastair wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, lowering his mouth to hers. He kissed her warmly for long moments, his mouth teasing hers. When they broke apart at last, Sada was breathless and her cheeks were flushed. I am so glad I decided to come along, Alastair thought, smiling to himself. ------- Several hours and a rich room service dinner later, he and Sada were sprawled out together on the floor in front of the T.V. Alastair kept looking at her; her hair was tousled and her dress was hitching up around her thighs, making her look like a wet dream. He ran his fingertips lightly along the back of her thigh, making her giggle. Sada reached back and pushed his hand away. "Stop it!" she giggled. Alastair shook his head. "Not until you give me my present." Sada giggled even harder. She rolled onto her back, grinning. Alastair reached for her, and she sprung to her feet. She heard him grumbling as he rose to chase after her, and she dashed up the stairs to the bedroom. He was faster than she was, though, and had caught her by the time she reached the top of the stairs. Sada shrieked loudly, kicking her feet as they tumbled together onto the bed. "Not fair!" Sada protested, wriggling wildly in his grasp. "Really, Alastair, this room is your birthday present!" Alastair released his grip on her. "Why don't I believe you?" Laughing, Sada sprang away from him. She turned to face him, leaning against the wall. Alastair scooted to the edge of the bed, then stood up. She felt her cheeks heat up beneath the intensity of his gaze. "All right," Sada said quietly, looking down at her toes. "But you have to unwrap it first." Alastair moved forward too quickly. She let out a squeak of surprise as he caught her arm and spun her around, pinning her up against the wall. Sada braced her hands against the wall, feeling rough wallpaper beneath her palms. Alastair's lips teased at the curve of her ear as he pressed up against her. "What a hideous waste of energy that would be," Alastair purred, sending warm breath against her neck. Sada shivered. Her cheeks burned and she pressed against the cool wallpaper, closing her eyes as Alastair's finger slipped between her thighs. She smothered a moan as his fingertips stroked her, teasing her clit. His teeth nipped at her earlobe, then her neck, and his free hand traveled up her back. Alastair's fingers caught the tie of her dress and tugged it free. Sada fell the soft cotton slip down, baring her breasts, then his hand came around to fondle her. "A... Alastair..." Sada moaned. His teeth nipped again, this time at her shoulder. She squeaked, tossing her head back against him. Alastair's fingers continued to tease her, and she shivered and sighed as one slipped inside her. Sada reached back, winding her arms around his neck and digging her fingers into his hair. Her hips moved against his touch, and her breath came loud and ragged. Sada whimpered softly a moment later when Alastair pulled his hand away. She heard the rustling of fabric as he pulled his jeans away, then released her grip on him and braced herself on the wall again as he pushed her forward. His hands pulled her panties down to her knees. Bent over double, with her hands on the wall holding her up, Sada trembled in anticipation. Alastair slipped a hand around to fondle her breasts again, and braced the other on her back. Sada moaned softly as he entered her, her fingers curling and her nails digging at the wallpaper. She moved her hips back to meet Alastair's each time he thrust inside her. Her cries built quickly, her body already worked up from his teasing. She pressed hard against the wall, trying to hold back, but the friction between her body and his made it impossible. Through the little shudders that ran through her, Sada could feel each long, deep stroke. She let her head tilt back, moaning softly in wanton abandon. Alastair's mouth pressed against her neck, nipping and suckling in turns. Both hands now cradled her breasts, his touch becoming almost rough. His thumbs feathered over her nipples, which were painfully tight, and Sada keened softly. Alastair's teeth dug into her shoulder. His dark hair spilled over her skin, soft as silk, tickling the curve of her breast. He was moving inside her so fast that the friction between them built swiftly, and Sada was soon trembling again, her body clenching around him tightly in climax. She felt him pull out of her suddenly, heard his soft groan which he muffled beneath her hair, and felt the hot spray of his come against her thighs. Panting, struggling to catch her breath, Sada leaned heavily against the wall. As the fog of pleasure began to fade from her mind, she felt her cheeks heat in embarrassment. Oh my, she thought, pushing herself back from the wall. What... I... I've never... She couldn't believe herself. Before she could say anything, before she could ever turn around, Alastair had picked her up and carried her to the bed. He settled with her cradled in his lap. "I'm sorry, sweetheart," Alastair murmured, running his thumb over her lower lip. "I should have been more careful... but I've been waiting to do that for a long time." "How long?" Sada asked, her eyebrows raising curiously. "Well..." Alastair grinned. "The first time I saw you I was already thinking dirty thoughts." "Bad Alastair," Sada said, smiling shyly. "Me?" Alastair's eyebrows shot up. "And what of you, Ms. Scarlett? You seemed to be enjoying yourself." Sada's cheeks burned, and Alastair laughed. He bent down, nuzzling his lips against hers. She closed her arms around him, digging her fingers into his hair, and clinging to him tightly. Giggles escaped her lips as his teeth nipped playfully at her neck and shoulders. "You're forgiven," Sada teased. She sobered a bit, and looked up at him directly. "But be more careful next time. We don't need little Alastairs running around." Alastair grinned. "At least not yet, anyway." What does he mean by that? she wondered, peering at him closely. Alastair stretched out on the bed, and Sada stretched out next to him. Both of them were only half undressed, and neither of them felt much like moving. She rested her head on his chest, sighing in contentment as his fingers ran through his hair. I'm feeling like it's my birthday, Sada thought, smiling to herself. She glanced up at Alastair, who had started laughing. "What?" Sada asked, blinking at him in puzzlement. "It's just... no one has ever given Quinn a Playstation before," Alastair explained, grinning. "Usually he gets books or art supplies." "No kidding," Sada said. "I kicked his butt at Street Fighter, and I'm horrible at that game." "Losing is good for him," Alastair told her. "And so is playing, really. I didn't know my brother remembered how to laugh." "Mmm..." Sada murmured. "Well, that isn't important right now... you're important right now." "Thank you, little dancer," Alastair said. "You make me feel loved." Sada laid still for a moment, thinking. She could feel her heart start to pound loudly. After their date on Valentine's Day, she'd been hoping to do something just as special for him. That was why she'd rented this hotel room for his birthday; so they could be together, away from the rest of the world. Sada snuggled tight to Alastair's side and smiled. "You are loved, Alastair," she told him. "I love you." ------- Chapter Fourteen: Final-First Night Admittedly, Alastair would have loved to be outside, enjoying the sunset on the beaches of Hawaii. At least we have a day between performances, he thought, pushing open the door of his dressing room. We can enjoy the beaches all we want, then. He would be glad for a break, even though the last months had been easier than he'd thought they'd be. The gap between semifinals and finals had given Alastair the chance to finish up his first semester of school, as well. I hate these things, he thought, tugging at the collar of the black, silken button down shirt he was wearing. They feel so snooty. On the contrary, his brother Quinn wore them often and that was where he'd borrowed this one from. It was a little tighter at arms, shoulders, and chest than Alastair would have liked, but it would work. He'd planned something relatively simple for this first night, hoping to balance out the extravagant performance he had choreographed for the final night. He wasn't surprised to find Sada waiting for him outside the men's dressing rooms, and he smiled when she saw her. To match him she was wearing a black halter dress. The hemline was asymmetrical, scooping above one knee and dipping below the other. Gathered at the empire waistline, a fall of sheer black fabric fell over the dress to match the hemline at the bottom. I've got to be the luckiest man alive, Alastair thought, catching hold of her and pulling her close. "I don't like this," Sada said, holding up her number card. "I don't want to go on first!" Alastair laughed as he took the number from her. "That's all right, little dancer. We'll be a hard act to follow... put lots of pressure on everyone else." "You just had to be such a good choreographer, didn't you?" Sada huffed, turning for him to pin the number on her (a tricky prospect once again with the dress having so little back). "I didn't know we'd have to perform first!" "Everything will be okay, Sada," Alastair soothed, leaning forward and kissing the curve of her ear. "We can do this, no problem." He rested his hands on her shoulders for a moment, then turned and crouched a bit so she could pin his number to the back of his shirt. Alastair sighed as her fingers gently pushed his hair out of the way. How can it be so easy for her? he wondered, turning to face her. Even knowing how she feels, I'm so scared to tell her. Cradling her face in his hands, he leaned his forehead against hers. After what had happened with Melissa, it was so difficult to tell Sada what he felt. "At least we won't have a long wait," Sada murmured, as she pulled free of his hold. "Ready to go?" "Sort of," Alastair said. "I'm not looking forward to seeing Her Royal Pain-In-The-Ass-Ness again." Sada laughed. "Ignore her. She isn't worth it." "Ignore her?" Alastair's eyebrows raised. "This from the girl who did a strip tease to get back at her?" "Shut up!" Sada grumbled. Alastair laughed softly, and a moment later Sada joined in. They walked into the waiting room. The monitor was currently blank, and only one other couple was there; Andre and Melissa, of course. They had gone back to their usual flowery ballet look and Alastair was pleased to see Andre in pink again. Melissa had done her blond hair up in curls again and she looked like some parody of a China doll. Alastair curled an arm around Sada, dragging her close. She giggled as he nuzzled her neck and nipped at her earlobe. He caught the dirty looks Melissa sent their way, and lifted his head at one point to grin at her. She looks like someone pissed in her morning coffee, he thought, holding Sada even tighter. Good. Serves her right. ------- Sada's stomach was in knots. This is it, she thought, biting her lip. We really, really need to do good here. She was so nervous that she was on the verge of tears, and only Alastair's hands on her shoulders gave her any comfort at all. They waited in the wings while the announcer gave the crowd an update on the contest so far. Why do we have to go first? Sada thought. I don't want to go first, I don't! "Just follow my lead, little dancer," Alastair murmured. Sada nodded. "I know." As the announcer called out their names, they stepped out onto the stage. Sada clutched Alastair's hand tightly in hers as they stepped into position. What they were doing tonight was rather classical compared to what they'd done before. It was simple, so there really should be no trouble. And yet Sada couldn't help the feeling of foreboding that grew in her stomach as she Alastair wound his arms around her waist and the music began. 'Love, I get so lost, sometimes... Days pass and this emptiness fills my heart... When I want to run away... I drive off in my car... But whichever way I go I come back to the place you are... ' The music was neither very slow nor very fast, allowing for a decent variety in what they could do. Sada found it easy to move along with Alastair as he guided her across the stage, his hands traveling along her arms or resting on her hips. She felt his lips brush her neck lightly as she leaned back into him, trusting him to hold onto her as he dipped her back. Sada hung loose-limbed in his grip, dipped so low that her hair almost brushed the floor. 'In your eyes... The light the heat... In your eyes... I am complete... In your eyes I see the doorway... In your eyes... to a thousand churches... In your eyes... The resolution of all the fruitless searches... In your eyes... Oh, I see the light and the heat... In your eyes... Oh, I want to be that complete... I want to touch the light, the heat I see in your eyes... ' Sada found herself relaxing, especially in the moments when she could look Alastair in the eyes. He would smile at her and warmth would flutter in her stomach. His fingertips met hers and they circled one another in a mock-up of a stately Renaissance dance. They were in the middle of their dance when it happened. Sada was up on her toes, doing a fouette, when she felt her ankle twist sharply. Startled, she lost her balance and in a moment of horror, she felt, landing hard on her backside. It happened in mere seconds, but it felt like an eternity to Sada. Tears prickled in her eyes, threatening to spill. At least this time I didn't land on my head, she thought, bitterly. There was no time for anything else. Strong fingers closed around her wrist and she was pulled back to her feet. Warm breath tickled her ear. "Don't give up, little dancer," Alastair murmured. "Not now." Sada gritted her teeth and forced a smile to her face. Her right ankle ached horribly but for Alastair's sake she continued to dance. It was painful, and not just because her ankle hurt. All of her fears had come true at the worst possible moment and it took all her willpower to not cry. By the time they had finished their performance her head ached and her eyes stung from holding back tears. Alastair held onto her as she limped off the stage. Standing in the wings, looking incredibly smug and confident, were Melissa and Andre. Sada stared determinedly ahead as they walked past them. "I told you she was a hack," Melissa said loudly, her tone gloating. Alastair turned angrily towards Melissa and Sada used that distraction to slip out of his hold. Despite the fact that her ankle hurt badly, she dashed through the waiting room. She could hear Alastair calling her name but she didn't stop, even when the thick, humid air outside stole her breath from her lungs. Tears streamed freely down her cheeks now. ------- The hotel room was dark when Alastair got there. He flicked on the light and found Sada curled up on the bed, sobbing quietly. She hadn't even gotten out of her costume. He sighed heavily and approached the bed slowly, taking a seat on the edge of it. His hands were gentle as he took hold of her foot and studied her ankle. She gasped softly when he touched her and that worried him. At least it doesn't seem to be sprained, Alastair thought, standing up. He grabbed an ace bandage from his suitcase (he always kept some with him) and used it to wrap her ankle. Sada didn't move once as he worked and she didn't speak, either. Alastair reached over and grabbed hold of her wrists, pulling her around onto her back. She wouldn't look at him. "You're going to have to rest awhile after this contest if over," Alastair told her. "Dancing on that will only make it worse." "Does it matter?" Sada retorted bitterly. "Why even bother? We can't win now." "Don't start that," Alastair admonished, moving to sit beside her. "There's still a chance, Sada." "We'd need a perfect score," Sada growled. "That isn't possible! Obviously!" Alastair sighed. It was so odd to see Sada feeling so down, he wasn't sure what to do. He gathered her into his arms; she didn't protest, but she didn't return his affection, either. For awhile he just ran his fingers through her hair, trying to gather his thoughts. This is frustrating, Alastair thought. I don't know how to get her to stop feeling sorry for herself! "Listen to me, little dancer," Alastair murmured. "What happened to you could happen to anyone. It could even happen to Melissa." "I wish," Sada muttered. "Maybe we'd get lucky and she'd be dancing on a cliff." Alastair snickered. "Yes, yes, we all wish she'd just drop off the face of the earth. But Sada, don't let her upset you." "She didn't upset me," Sada said morosely. "I upset me." "I know, baby," Alastair said, nipping gently at her earlobe. "But don't give up. The Sada I know wouldn't give up." "She wouldn't fall, either," Sada muttered. Alastair lowered his mouth to her neck, peppering gentle little kisses down to her shoulder. She sighed softly, leaning against him. He wound his arms around her, pulling her into his lap. Sada shifted slightly, getting comfortable, and her movement made his body tighten in response. Alastair gripped her waist tightly as she turned in his lap, settling her hands on his shoulders. "I know my Sada won't give up," Alastair said, sliding his hands up along her back. "No matter what happens, little dancer, you have to see this through to the end." "I know," Sada said quietly. Alastair reached up, cradling her face in his hands. Her green eyes were bright with unshed tears, but with something else, too. He tilted his head slightly, studying her expression, and he knew she was planning something. Her attention was wavering from her fall, and that was good. "I guess I can't really shower right now if I need to stay off my foot," Sada said, her eyes darting sideways. "But I feel icky..." Alastair's eyebrows lifted. "And?" "Help me," Sada said, looking at him again. Her mouth was curled into a pout. A smile curled his lips. Now this was something he could deal with. Keeping hold of her, Alastair slipped out from beneath her and let her settle back on the bed. She shifted around, lifting her hips and back so he could remove her dress, tights, and panties. He ran his hands lightly over her hips and legs as he undressed her, and Sada practically purred. Alastair stared down at for a moment, and she smiled shyly up at him. "You'll get spoiled," Alastair warned her. Sada stretched. "So what?" Laughing, he went into the bathroom and found a small towel. Alastair ran it beneath warm water, then returned to Sada. She watched him, her eyes heavy-lidded and a sexy hint of a smile curving the corners of her mouth. Stretching out on the bed next to her, he began to run the towel over her, wiping dried sweat from her skin. She moaned softly as he worked, and Alastair bit his lip, knowing she was purposefully teasing him. "Someone's suddenly in a good mood," Alastair teased, grinning. "It's your fault," Sada pouted. "Come a little closer, you..." Chuckling softly, Alastair moved closer to her. She reached up and began unbuttoning his shirt. He watched her, his hands stilling, as he forgot what he was supposed to be doing under her intense gaze. Sada's hands wandered along his chest, slowly upward, and he bent down into her touch. Alastair sighed softly as she pulled his hair loose from the hair tie and then dug her fingers into it. "You know, you're beautiful," Sada murmured. Alastair laughed softly. "Thanks, I think." "Am I?" Sada asked. "Beautiful?" Alastair grinned. "Sada, it isn't like you to fish for compliments." Sada frowned. "Does that mean I'm not?" He couldn't help it; Alastair laughed heartily, scooping Sada into his arms. She squeaked in surprise and wriggled against him. He was careful of her foot, though, despite his jubilation. She brings me such joy, he thought, burying his face against neck and inhaling deeply. "You are beautiful, Sada," Alastair assured her. "So beautiful that I'm finding it hard to control myself right now." Sada laughed. "That's nothing new." "C'mere, you!" Alastair growled. Sada shrieked, then dissolved into giggles as he pinned her back on the bed, suckling on her earlobe. He brought his mouth up to hers and kissed her hungrily. Alastair felt her hands run down his shoulders, pushing his shirt off. He helped her get it off, tossed it aside, then reached down to help her unfasten his pants. While she tugged at them, he slipped his hand between her thighs, brushing his fingers lightly up against her. She was hot and wet already from his washing her. Alastair let out a frustrated growl and released her long enough to get rid of his pants. She was watching him intently, her lips slightly parted, and he ached to get back to that soft mouth. Sada reached for him as he climbed back onto the bed and met his mouth eagerly with hers. He closed his arms around her and drew her up off the bed, into his lap. She squeaked in surprise and Alastair groaned softly as she settled on him. She held onto him tightly, moaning as he pushed his hips up into hers. Alastair bit down gently on her shoulder, getting a taste of her in his mouth. Her body was tight around him and she moved with him, awkwardly at first, then as fluidly as she danced. He braced his hands behind her back, dipping her as he would if they were dancing together, and bent his head to her breasts. Alastair's mouth moved restlessly over her breasts and Sada moaned softly. As her moans built into cries, he lowered her back onto the bed. His hands pinned hers down to the mattress, holding her firmly in place. Sweat began to gather on his skin and hers as moments, long and pleasant, passed. Alastair was finally forced to withdraw from her quickly, and only just managed to before he came. His arms shook and he panted hard, but he held himself up, not wanting to crush her beneath his weight. Cool fingers swept his hair away from his face. Alastair opened his eyes and smiled down at her, then stretched out beside her. Sada turned into his hold immediately, snuggling up tightly to him. He curled an arm around her waist, holding her close, and rested his head against hers. "I must learn to control myself," Alastair told her, chuckling softly. "So stop being so sexy." "Not my fault," Sada murmured sleepily. "Stop being so out of control." Alastair laughed. "Fair enough. So, do you feel a little better?" "A little," Sada replied, rolling onto her side and pressing her back to his chest. "I still can't believe I let that happen..." "It's not a big deal," Alastair said. "It's only a big deal if you let it defeat you." "As long as you're with me, I'll be fine," Sada said softly. Alastair smiled, running his fingers through her hair. He knew she was upset, and that she was going to be upset for awhile. But she'll make it as long as I support her, he thought, and I fully intend to do that. He knew, realistically, that their chances of winning the competition now were minimal at best. That wasn't what mattered. Alastair had to help Sada through to the end, because as long as she made it that far, it would be a victory. ------- Chapter Fifteen: Misunderstanding Sada spent as much of the day as possible resting, keeping off her foot, but even with Alastair's company she eventually couldn't take it anymore. Leaving him napping, she headed out of the room and down towards the vending machines. Her ankle ached with each step but she ignored it. This sucks so much, Sada thought, fishing into her pocket for some change. Alastair has been so kind, but he has to know we have no chance. "Well, if it isn't the Queen of Grace herself." Sada cringed. She knew that voice well, and it grated on her nerves to hear it. Ignoring Melissa, she dropped her change into the vending machine and pushed the buttons for a Milky Way. The vending machine gave a sickly grinding noise and a moment later the candy bar hit the bottom of it with a loud thunk. Sada bent to pick it up, trying to ignore Melissa's waspish comments. "Alastair should have joined me when he had a chance," Melissa said, her tone gloating. "At least then he wouldn't be dragged down by a loser." "Shouldn't you be annoying someone else right now?" Sada snapped, tearing open the wrapper and taking a bite of the candy bar. "Might as well get fat," Melissa gibed. "Give Alastair another reason to come running back to me." Sada rolled her eyes. "Except that any sane man would run away from you." Melissa's eyes narrowed. Sada smiled sweetly, then took another harsh bite from the Milky Way. She was getting irritated beyond belief, and the fingers of her free hand were curled into such a tight fist that her knuckles were turning white. Melissa took a step forward, trying to look threatening, although Sada just thought she looked ridiculous. "He will come back to me," Melissa growled. "I doubt it," Sada scoffed. "Alastair wants someone who loves him." Melissa laughed. "He isn't smart enough to know the difference." Sada wasn't really sure what came over her. The edges of her vision went red. There was the slap of flesh smacking into flesh, and Melissa staggered backward, a hand clapped to her left eye. Sada's hand stung, and she gave it a shake, trying to rid her knuckles of the ache. Melissa turned and raced away, sobbing loudly. Wuss, Sada thought, rolling her eyes. She took another bite of her candy bar, then paused, thinking. Instead of heading back to her room, she headed down along the walkway, turning one corner and heading halfway down the next walkway before knocking on a door there. She heard footsteps inside, then the door opened. Quinn peered down at her, blinking in surprise. His hair was tousled and he wasn't wearing a shirt, but there were smears of paint on his bare skin. If I weren't head over heels for Alastair, Sada thought, I'd be in some serious trouble. "Sada," Quinn said quietly. "Can I help you?" "I uh... could we talk for a few?" Sada asked, staring down at her toes. "Um... Alastair is sleeping and... well..." "Come in," Quinn said, stepping back from the door and beckoning her inside. Sada stepped into the room and grinned. The bed was a mess, with blankets and sheets tangled up. An easel was set up in the corner, turned away from her, and the area around it was messy, although she had a feeling Quinn had no trouble finding whatever he needed in the clutter. She made to take a look at what he was painting, but he caught her wrist and shook her head. Puzzled, Sada dropped down onto the edge of the bed and gazed up at him. "How's the ankle?" Quinn asked. "A little sore," Sada replied. "Quinn... do you think it's bad to hit people?" Quinn's eyebrows lifted. "Depends on who you hit, I guess." "I uh... well... I kinda..." Sada stammered. "I hit Melissa." Quinn stared at her for a second, then burst out laughing. She blinked at him, completely nonplussed. What's so funny? Sada wondered, frowning. She watched Quinn as he dropped onto the bed and stretched out on his back, still laughing. Despite herself, she had to clap a hand over her mouth to keep from giggling. It was odd to see him laugh so much. "Ahh, man," Quinn gasped, resting a hand on his chest. "Sada, there is absolutely nothing wrong with hitting Melissa... if anything, there's something wrong with not hitting her." Sada giggled. "But... well, I shouldn't let her get to me so much..." "She must have said something bad, to piss you off that much," Quinn said. "She called Alastair stupid," Sada said quietly. "I hate her... it's a waste of energy to hate someone, really, but I hate her for she did to him." Quinn nodded once, but was quiet. Sada lifted her head and glanced at him. He wasn't looking at her; his expression was contemplative and somewhat sorrowful. She shifted onto the bed and crawled over to him, peering down at his face. Pale blue eyes flickered up to look at her. Sada found herself unable to move as he brought his hands up to cradle her face. "I should have hit her twice," Sada murmured. "Once for Alastair, and once for you." Quinn laughed. "That wouldn't be enough times." ------- Alastair stirred in his sleep, reaching over to the other side of the bed to catch hold of Sada. His hands found only sheets, which jarred him awake. He sat up, running his fingers through his hair, and glanced around. Not here, he thought, pushing aside the blanket. She must have gotten bored laying around, poor thing. Alastair stood up and grabbed headed into the bathroom; a shower would feel good right now. Indeed, the water felt good on his skin, and it gave him time to think. Once he'd realized how strongly he felt for Sada, he'd been trying to find a way to tell her. The dance Alastair had created for tonight was supposed to be that way, but she hadn't seemed to notice it yet. And now she's so upset over falling, he thought, leaning back against the shower wall. She's right... it's doubtful we can win. But we can't give up. The delight in those bright green eyes when she danced convinced him of that. I hope she gets back soon, Alastair thought, as he stepped out of the shower and reached for a towel. Spending the day with her, just relaxing, was a wonderful, wonderful thing. So often they were too busy to relax and lay around. He'd been so blissfully comfortable that he'd drifted off to sleep. A knock on the door caught his attention. Must have forgotten her key, he thought, fastening his jeans, then throwing the towel around his shoulders. He ran his fingers through still damp hair and pulled the door open with the other hand. But it was not Sada standing there. What the hell is she doing here? Alastair wondered, staring down at Melissa. It took him all of a second to notice that she had a black eye and had been crying for awhile. "Um..." Alastair began uncertainly. "A-Andre... hit me..." Melissa sobbed, throwing herself at him. He stumbled back a bit, feeling very confused. If there was one thing Melissa was good at, it was fake tears. However, Alastair doubted that even she would give herself a black eye. She was too vain for such a thing. Frowning, he placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back gently. He really wanted to just tell her to leave, but the image of admonishing green eyes blazed in his mind. Damnit, Alastair thought. I've got to have a bleeding heart for a girlfriend. He doubted Sada would leave anyone, even her enemy, to a man who hit her. "Slow down," Alastair said. "What happened?" "I... I just... I guess I said the wrong thing," Melissa sniffed. "We were talking... he said that he thought his choreography was better than yours and... and well I just don't think that's right..." Who is she and what did she do with the real Melissa? Alastair wondered. He really wasn't sure he believed this, but still he hesitated. The bruise around her eye was proof that something did happen, even if it wasn't as she said it was. She stared up at him, pouting in the way that had always irritated him. Alastair willed himself to patience. "You should tell the police," he said. Melissa shook her head. "But... I'm s-scared. I... I know you won't let him hurt me..." "There's nothing I can do," Alastair hedged. "You really need to talk to the police..." "Please, Alastair," Melissa pleaded. "I don't want him to hit me again!" Alastair's skin crawled as Melissa threw herself at him again. Touching her made him feel ill, but he didn't know what to do. If Andre really had hit her, he couldn't just leave her unprotected. Yet he was reluctant to believe her. He didn't like the look he'd seen in her eyes. Alastair tried once again to push her away. "Why don't I talk to the police?" he suggested. "Go back to your room and-" "No!" Melissa cried, clinging to him. "Don't make me go back there!" "Melissa..." Alastair said, trying to keep his patience. "You need to calm down, okay? I can't help you if you're panicking." "But I'm scared," Melissa whimpered. Alastair sighed. He wanted badly to shove her out the door. He took a step back, but she stepped with him, trying to press close. Before he could get himself out of her grasp, she stood on her toes and pressed her mouth forcefully to his. Furious, he grabbed hold of her wrists and pulled her off of him. A quick, sharp intake of breath, from the door of the hotel room, caught his attention. "Sada," Alastair breathed. Tear-filled green eyes were staring at him. The world seemed oddly still, as though time had stopped. Sada stared at him for a moment, then whirled around and raced away. "No," Alastair murmured. "No, Sada! No!" He moved to run after her, but nails dug sharply into his arm. Annoyed, Alastair grabbed hold of Melissa's shoulders and shoved her roughly out of the room. He grabbed a t-shirt and yanked it on, then raced out of his room, slamming the door shut behind him. Melissa grabbed at him again, but he pushed her back with a snarl. A quick glance around showed that Sada had already disappeared. Where could she have gone? Alastair wondered, ignoring Melissa, who was whimpering pathetically. It took him only a moment to figure out where she would have gone. Quinn. Of course, where else would she go? He raced down the walkway to his brother's room and pounded hard on the door. At first Alastair got no answer, but he was certain they were in there. He knocked again, harder this time; hard enough to make his knuckles split. The door opened a crack and Quinn's pale blue eyes peeked out. "Let me in," Alastair growled. "No," Quinn said coolly. "Damnit!" Alastair shouted, shoving at the door. "Let me in, now!" Quinn stared at him for a painfully long moment. He glanced back into the room, then stepped outside, pulling the door closed behind him. One hand remained on the doorknob, holding the door open just enough so that he wouldn't get locked out. Alastair resisted the urge to knock his brother aside. Anger would not make Quinn budge; he knew that well enough. "Listen to me, Alastair," Quinn said. Alastair folded his arms over his chest and scowled. "Talk. Fast." "She's upset right now," Quinn explained. "You could go in there and you might be able to fix things... or you could wait until she's calmed down and can think clearly. If you insist, I'll let you in... but I think you should wait." Alastair sighed. He hated it when his brother made sense. He wanted to be angry with Sada that she could ever believe that of him, but he wasn't sure he could blame her. He hadn't exactly made himself a great reputation, being a stripper. People generally looked at him as being the type of guy who would cheat on his girlfriend. Sada isn't like that, Alastair thought. But that must have been a really rude shock. He sighed and looked back at his brother. "If you do anything..." Alastair warned. Quinn rolled his eyes. "Give me a break, Alastair." "I know how you feel about her," Alastair said. "You haven't done a picture like that in a long time. You're in love with her... but you don't even know her!" "I know her better than you think," Quinn growled. "I know how much she loves you, for one thing. And I know you've never told her you love her." Alastair stared at him. "How... ?" "She talks to me," Quinn said. "Because she's afraid she might say something that will make you leave her." Damnit, Alastair thought, sighing heavily. There was nothing he could do right now. Quinn was right; he needed to give Sada time to calm down. But the thought that she'd be alone with his brother while she was so upset... No, he thought, giving himself a shake. Sada would never... she wouldn't! But girls found Quinn to be so sexy and intriguing. It killed Alastair to know she'd be alone with him. "I'll never forgive you if you do anything to her," Alastair said, keeping his voice low. "Because I do love her. More than you know." Alastair turned, reluctantly, away from his brother and the room Sada was in. He didn't want to leave. He was walking away when his brother spoke again. "I do know," Quinn said softly. "Probably more than you do." ------- Quinn closed the door behind him and leaned against it heavily. He looked over at the bed, where Sada was curled up, sobbing quietly. Watching her like that tore him apart. And it's even worse, he thought, because I don't stand a chance. He knew his brother. The last time Alastair had been in college was when he was still with Melissa. Quinn remembered what his brother had said; that he didn't want to go to college, but he would because he wanted to marry Melissa someday. Feeling completely depressed, he walked over to the bed and climbed onto it. Quinn pulled Sada into his arms, holding her close. She closed her arms around him, clinging to him while she cried. This kills me, he thought, stroking her hair gently. He wasn't crazy. There was something between them... it just wasn't something strong enough to compete with what was between her and Alastair. At least, not on Sada's side. Her sobs only got louder as time went on. For awhile he let her cry, knowing it would be best if she let it out. When she began to choke and cough, however, Quinn rubbed her back gently, and spoke to her soothingly. "Easy," he murmured. "Calm down, Sada, calm down. It's all right." The only response he got was a choke gurgling. Quinn pushed her hair from her face and gently kissed at the tears falling down her cheeks. He felt guilty; it shouldn't feel so good to be holding her, when she was this upset. He wanted to imagine that she was his, that he was holding her because he was supposed to be, but her tears broke apart the illusion. "Listen to me, sweetheart," Quinn said softly. "You need to calm down. You didn't see what you thought you saw. Listen... you love Alastair. Do you really think he'd do that to you?" "N-no," Sada answered, her voice choked. "I know he wouldn't," Quinn told her. "A man would have to be crazy to let you go, Sada. Come on, calm down." She sniffled loudly and pulled away from him slightly. He sat up, reaching onto the bedside table and grabbing a tissue. Sada managed to sit up and blow her nose. She looked up at him, her eyes red-rimmed from tears, and yet she was still beautiful. Quinn reached out, gently brushing her cheek with her fingertips. She flashed him a watery smile and sniffed again. "It hurts," Sada said. "Because I love him so much..." "I know," Quinn told her. "Sada, I... this may sound out of place but... I want to kiss you." Sada stared at him. He knew what she must be thinking, but he had to try. Quinn knew that it wouldn't make a difference; he was thoroughly defeated in this. Still, he reached out and cradled her face in his hands. She looked up at him, her bright green eyes warily searching his face. "Alastair is so lucky to have you," Quinn murmured. "I would give anything to know, even for a second, what it's like..." He noticed the instant in which her expression changed from wary to understanding. Quinn read it in her eyes; she knew that he was giving up. The sympathy in her eyes made him ache. He bent down and pressed his mouth gently to hers. The feeling of her lips moving against his made him groan softly and he kissed her slowly, tenderly, making it last as long as he could. When he pulled back her cheeks were flushed. "Sorry," Quinn murmured. "I shouldn't have..." Sada shook her head, a slight smile curving her lips. "We'll call it payback... for Alastair letting his guard down long enough for that skank to kiss him." Quinn chuckled softly. "She must have made up some story about how she got that black eye... he's no good at getting himself out of corners when he's backed into them by women... even traitorous harpies like her." Sada laughed, sniffling slightly. The awkward moment had passed. Quinn helped her to wiped her face off, and gave her one of his t-shirts to wear for bed. When they curled up together once more, he felt extremely melancholy. The companionable way she rested against him made it final. Now that he had given up, she would see him only as a really good friend. Quinn closed his eyes and rested against her; if he was going to be a friend, he might a well enjoy her company. ------- Chapter Sixteen: Nothing Else Matters Sada rested against Quinn, listening to him breathe. I feel bad for him, she thought, sighing heavily. He's been so nice to me, even though he knows it won't change anything. She sat up and looked down at him. Maybe she did have some feelings for him, but she knew herself well enough by now. Quinn was mysterious and intriguing, but he wasn't Alastair. When she was with Quinn, she enjoyed herself. When she was with Alastair, Sada felt as though the rest of the world was no longer important. "It's not polite to stare," Quinn muttered, without opening his eyes. Sada laughed. "Good morning, grumpy. I'm going to take a shower, okay?" "Shower?" Quinn's eyes opened. "Now you've got my attention." Sada scowled. "Don't start acting like your brother." Quinn soft laughter followed her as she stood up and headed towards the bathroom. Her ankle still ached some, but she was determined to dance tonight. Maybe I should stay here until it's time to go, Sada thought, frowning as she glanced down at her ankle. Alastair will have a fit if he sees me limping like this. Besides which, she still needed time to think. Quinn was right, that she couldn't have seen what she thought she saw, but she was afraid to find out what the truth really was. "Sada?" Surprised, she paused and glanced over her shoulder. Quinn was holding up a menu. "Tell me what you want," he said. "I'll have it here by the time you get out of the shower." Smiling, Sada limped back over to Quinn. She studied the menu for a moment, considering carefully. "The oatmeal," Sada said at last. "And the fruit cup." "Oh... yummy..." Quinn muttered. Sada laughed. "I know, but oatmeal sticks to your ribs. It will be good to have something that stays with me if I get too nervous to eat later." "Okay," Quinn agreed, shrugging. "And I'll get you some ice." Sada smiled gratefully at him, then headed into the bathroom. Maybe if she iced her ankle and took something, it would stop hurting by the time she had to dance. At the least, she thought, I'll be able to stop limping by then. Alastair will be furious if he knew I was going to dance on it while it's hurt. Sada still wasn't sure what she was going to do about Alastair. Maybe a nice hot shower would help her to clear her head. ------- Alastair paced anxiously. I can't believe this, he thought, clenching his hands into fists. It's almost time for us to go into the wings and she isn't here! He shifted impatiently, straightening the simple long-sleeved black mesh shirt he was wearing with his leather pants. It didn't really vary much on their current theme, but he had his reasons he'd wanted to dress this way. Sada, however, had refused to let him see the outfit he'd chosen and if he wasn't so unsettled by the fact that she wasn't here yet, he'd be insatiably curious to see. "Alastair!" Startled, Alastair whirled around. Sada pushed through the crowd of waiting couples to get to him. His heart soared at the sight of her. Like him, she was dressed in black; a torn hem skirt that came down to about mid-thigh, and a mid-drift baring top with jagged hems at bottom and sleeves, attached to the skirt front and back with eyelet studded straps. Alastair noticed the ace bandage wrapped around Sada's ankle, as well. "Sorry," Sada panted, sweeping past him towards the wings. "Let's go." Frowning, he followed her. Maybe he was imagining it, but she seemed to be limping a bit. They took their place behind couple number twenty-four, who would be going on in a moment. Sada leaned against the bar, but she didn't stretch... and she didn't say anything to him either. What the hell is going on? Alastair wondered, moving closer to her. She won't even look at me. "Sada," Alastair said softly. Sada's response was so quiet he barely heard it. "Yes?" "What you thought you saw..." Alastair answered. "It wasn't... it wasn't what you thought, I swear it wasn't." "I know," Sada said. Then why won't you look at me? Alastair thought, feeling frustrated. The couple in front of them moved out onto stage. In only a few minutes it would be their turn; how could they dance together if she wouldn't so much as look at him? He watched her, trying to figure out what he could say to her. The couple before them was moving through their dance so quickly Alastair thought time was playing tricks on him. He reached out, closing his fingers around Sada's arms, letting his aching heart speak for him. "Sada, I love you," Alastair murmured. "You must know that I love you." Her shoulders tensed. Before he could do anything else, he heard the roar of applause that signified the other couple had finished. Alastair sighed and followed Sada out onto the stage, passing the other couple as they went. He paused before he was halfway across the stage and set himself up to begin. Sada continued further along and took up her own starting position. He glanced over at her, but there was nothing he could do now. "Couple number twenty-five, Alastair Wolfe and Sadira Scarlett." The music began. He knew both the crowd and the judges must be confused, because he and Sada began dancing... apart. Although their movements were very similar, they didn't touch, and the music had been playing for nearly a minute before they started moving closer to one another, circling as they did. 'So close no matter how far... Couldn't be much more from the heart... Forever trust in who we are... And nothing else matters... ' Sada's hand dropped lightly into his. Alastair closed his fingers around hers and drew her near, pulling her back up against his chest. He reached a hand around to cradle her face, and felt her breath warm against his palm as she leaned her cheek into his touch. The way she draped herself against him as she turned into him made his pulse pound. Sada's green eyes glowed faintly, and her expression was warm and soft as she gazed up at him. Alastair felt himself relax. 'Trust I seek and I find in you... Every day for us something new... Open mind for a different view... And nothing else matters... ' Sada's hand caught his. He kept his hold on her firm as she dropped back, arching her back, her hair sweeping the floor as he swung her carefully around and back up. The song had an instrumental interlude that they danced through, moving together with an ease they never had before. Alastair found moments when he was close to her to kiss her neck or the curve of her ear. Occasionally he felt the brush of her lips against his own skin and when he caught a glimpse of her face, he knew he was not the only one caught up in the spell they were weaving. 'I never opened myself this way... Life is ours, we live it our way... All these words I don't just say... And nothing else matters... ' Alastair caught her beneath one thigh, the other arm closing around her back as he lifted her up. He was careful when he tossed her up, and he caught her easily, swinging her around before setting her back on her feet. The music built to a crescendo and they broke a part to dance through it. 'Never cared for what they say... Never cared for games they play... Never cared for what they do... Never cared for what they know... And I know... ' He and Sada came out of identical leaps, although he got much higher than she did. The music softened and slowed, and they came together, lifting their hands to meet at the fingertips. Although they had done it before, the mimic of a stately Renaissance dance fit the choreography so well. And they could use the position to grasp hands as the music went into its last breaths. 'So close no matter how far... Couldn't be much more from the heart... Forever trust in who we are... No, nothing else matters... ' Together they dropped down to their knees. Alastair held onto Sada's hand as she laid back on the floor. She arched her back and he ran a hand along her body, between her breasts and over her stomach. Using his grip on her, he pulled her back to her knees and into a kiss. Alastair closed an arm around her waist and held onto her, still kissing her, as he laid back on the floor. When he was fully stretched out she broke the kiss, dropping her head into his chest. She settled, curled up against him, as they music faded away. They lay still for a long moment, listening to the crowd. At least they enjoyed it, Alastair thought, smiling faintly. He stood and helped Sada to her feet. She was limping as they left the stage, he noticed. He put an arm around her waist and helped her backstage, past the wings and into the waiting area. Sada broke out of his hold and walked immediately to a bench, dropping down on it with a heavy sigh. "I guess we should get ready to collect our prize," Melissa gloated loudly. Alastair glanced at her. He was pleased to see that make-up had not hidden the bruise around her eye. Ignoring her, he went over to Sada and dropped to his knees, lifting her foot. He unwrapped her ankle to examine it; there was a bit of swelling, although not enough to signified a serious injury. "Alastair," Sada murmured. He looked up. She reached out, cradling his face in her hands. Her green eyes were bright and glittered faintly with unshed tears. She's in pain, Alastair thought, leaning into her touch. Poor baby... He felt her fingers dig into his hair and he sighed blissfully. Sada dropped her head on top of his for a moment, then pulled back and reached for the ace bandage. Alastair tugged it out of her reach, and wrapped her ankle himself. "Ready to go?" Alastair asked, helping her to her feet. "Yeah," Sada said, leaning against him. "They're about to announce the winners... I'd really rather not hear this." Alastair nodded and began to lead her away. They could hear the announcer's voice come through the monitor in the waiting room. "And the winners are couple number twenty-five..." The rest of the words were drowned out by the screaming of the audience. Sada halted and Alastair paused, glancing down at her in confusion. She was staring up at the monitor. He followed her gaze and found the final scores flashing on the screen. No way, he thought, not certain he believed his eyes. That's not possible... but... we got a perfect score! "We won," Sada said softly. She looked up at him, her green eyes sparkling brightly. "Alastair, we won!" We really did win! he thought, turning to look down at her. Melissa's shrieked of outrage drowned out even the monitor. Laughing, Alastair scooped Sada up into his arms. She squeaked in surprise, throwing her arms around his neck, then her laughter joined hers. His mouth found hers, cutting her laughter short, and he kissed her until both of them were breathless. Alastair carried her back out onto the stage. He set her down gently beside him as the head judge came over. Sada leaned against him and he wrapped his arms around her. "I think this calls for a celebration," Alastair murmured. Sada looked up at him, her eyes sparking with mischief and a sly smile curving the corners of her mouth. "I was thinking more along the lines of a private party... you and me, and not much else..." ------- Sada leaned against Alastair as they swayed to the music. It had been a long day; after the contest had ended, Alastair's family had insisted on taking them out to dinner to celebrate. She felt so blissfully happy, she thought she might burst. They had won the contest. And Alastair had told her that he loved her. Sada looked up at him, catching only a glimpse of his pale blue eyes before he lowered his mouth enthusiastically to hers. "Alastair!" Sada squeaked, giggling. "Can't you control yourself?" "No," Alastair said honestly grinning. "I thought you wanted to celebrate." Sada pouted. "My foot hurts. And I never know how you're going to... um..." She trailed off, feeling her cheeks heat. The way Alastair watched her was unnerving. Strong hands slid beneath her backside and lifted her up off the floor. She threw her arms around his neck, clinging to him as he carried her over to the bed. Sada giggled as she dropped onto her back on the soft mattress. Alastair crouched before her, lifting the leg that was injured and propping it over his shoulder. She blushed darker as his hands slid beneath her skirt, pushing the short dress she was wearing up around her waist. His fingers slid beneath her panties and she gasped softly as he touched her. Sada wriggled, squirming atop the sheets, and moaned as Alastair slid a finger inside her. She reached her hands up to him and her leaned forward, allowing her to grasp his shirt and tug it off. "A quick celebration, then," Sada murmured. "I think my foot can hand that." Alastair grinned. He leaned over her, to the bedside table, and opened the drawer. When he sat back, Sada saw he had a condom. "Oh, not this again," Sada groaned. "If we don't," Alastair said, laughing. "We'll have something else to be celebrating before too long." Sada sat up and reached out, gingerly taking the condom from him. He continued to tease her with his fingertips, making her task all the more difficult. She struggled to get his jeans unfastened, then to get the condom wrapper opened. Alastairs fingers dipped inside her again, distracting her so that she almost dropped it. Laughing softly at her frustration, he stopped teasing her and helped her get the condom on him. "I'll never get used to that," Sada muttered, scowling. "Birth control," Alastair suggested. He didn't give her a chance to reply. She squeaked as he tackled her, smothering her with short, quick kisses. Sada laughed breathlessly, shifting beneath him to bring her hips up. He sank inside her, and the soft, blissful sound he made as he did made her body clench. Alastair's mouth dropped to hers, and his hands strayed to her shoulders, tugging down the straps of her dress. With her breasts bared, his hands sought her wrists, catching hold of them and drawing them above her head. He kept her pinned to the bed as he slid in and out of her over and over, building a hot friction between them. Alastair's mouth dropped to her breasts, moving restlessly and hungrily against them. Sada moaned softly, her fingers curling into fists and digging crescent shaped cuts into her palms. Each thrust of his hips brought him deep inside her and she raised her hips to meet his, trying to draw him even deeper. Teeth scraped over her skin. Alastair's mouth traveled up to her neck, his teeth nipping here and there. Sada moaned softly, expelling his name beneath her breath. It drove her crazy; somehow he knew just how to move inside her. The steady rhythm of his body moving into hers, drawn out into long, blissful moments, felt like her own personal heaven. Soon Sada was pressing her face against Alastair's neck, stifling the cries that accompanied the shuddering of her climaxing body. "I love you, little dancer," Alastair murmured against her ear, his voice ragged. She felt him come inside her. He finally released her wrists, then, and she threw her arms around him, drawing him close, mindless of the sweat on his body and hers. They held tight to each other for long moments, catching their breath. When Alastair pulled back at last, he slid out of her carefully, then reached for her. His hands gently tugged her clothing back into place, then tucked her up cozily in the bed. He went into the bathroom for a couple of minutes, and came back out with a damp towel. Sada sat up against the backboard of the bed as Alastair mopped sweat from her face, neck, and arms. When he was done she took the towel from him and returned the favor. They were both quiet, basking in the pleasantness of each other's company. Sada wished it could last forever, but... "I think we need to talk, Alastair," she murmured. "Look, Sada," Alastair said. "If this is about Melissa... honestly, she kissed me. I... I didn't know what to do, she said Andre hit her, and she did have a black eye..." Sada blinked. "I hit her." "You hit her?" Alastair stared at her incredulously for a moment, then burst out laughing. "That's my girl!" "That isn't what I wanted to talk about," Sada said quietly. Alastair's eyebrows raised. "Then what?" Sada took a deep breath. She wasn't really sure she wanted to tell him about this, but she didn't want there to be secrets between them. Would he understand? I can only just do my best to explain it, she thought, drawing her knees up to her chest. Alastair will understand, I'm sure of it. But she wasn't as sure as she tried to tell herself she was, and her voice shook as she spoke. "Last night I um..." Sada stammered. "Uh I... I kind of... kind of kissed your brother..." Alastair stared at her. "You 'kind of' kissed him?! How do you do that?" "It was like... almost like a good-bye kiss," Sada explained, staring down at her toes. "I've known for awhile that he likes me... and he was very kind to me last night. But it was like he was giving up... you know, I think he's jealous of you." "Jealous?" Alastair snorted. "He's the one who's always been in the limelight. Why are you telling me this, anyway?" Sada turned to face him and rose up onto her knees. She caught his face in her hands and gazed down at him, into the pale blue eyes that she loved so much. Alastair lifted a hand and brushed a strand of hair gently away from her cheek. She knew, now, that he understood what she was saying. Sada had a feeling that Alastair sense the same despair in Quinn that she did. "I don't want you to think I'd ever keep anything for you," Sada explained. "I'll admit, I like Quinn... but he's like the moon. Beautiful and mysterious, but cold. You remind me of the sun... you're so bright, you drown out everything else." Alastair's hands rested over hers. He was smiling. "Everything you speak, you remind me why I love you so much." ------- Epilogue Sada settled her messenger bag over her shoulder and approached the front door of the Wolfe house, lifting her hand to knock. It swung open before she reached it; Quinn stood in the doorway, smiling faintly. He lifted a finger to his lips, signaling for her to be quiet, then turned and led her inside. A moment later Sada found out why they had to be quiet: Alastair was asleep on the couch. Grinning, Sada tiptoed past him and into the kitchen. "Poor baby," she said quietly. "He's been working so hard..." "Not to mention that he's been shopping around," Quinn added, walking towards the refrigerator. "Shopping?" Sada peered at him. "For what?" Quinn just grinned at her mischievously. He took a half-gallon of chocolate ice cream out of the freezer and set it on the counter. Sada watched, licking her lips as he took out a jar of hot fudge and whipped cream. She took the hot fudge from him and stuck it in the microwave as he retrieved a bag of M&Ms from the spot in the cabinet where they kept them hidden. "Come on," Sada whined, as she scooped ice cream into a bowl. "Tell me!" "He's told you too much already. And make me one of those." Sada jumped and whirled around. Alastair stood in the doorway of the kitchen, his hair tousled, blinking sleep from his eyes. She smiled, setting down the ice cream scoop and walking over to him to close her arms around him. Quinn made a gagging sound as they kissed and Sada turned, walking over to him to give him a punch in the shoulder. Quinn yelped and rubbed his arm. "What the heck?" Quinn muttered. "You get a kiss and I get punched? That's just wrong." Sada laughed. Although Quinn was usually melancholy these days, occasionally he had his moments of good humor. She leaned against Alastair as she made three sundaes, pleased that he was awake. I don't get to see him nearly as much as I used to, she thought, sighing. With school and work... Alastair bent down and kissed her cheek, then reached out and took a sundae. "Hey guys! More letters!" Sada turned, surprised, to regard Alanna. She was holding a stack of envelopes and grinning. All summer Alastair had been receiving letters, from dancers, fans, and dance companies. A video of their dance during the contest had circulated not long after it had ended, and it hadn't been long before newspapers all over the country had reported the story. Sada set her sundae down and reached for her bag. "I've got some too," she said. "They left them at the apartment." Something tumbled out of her back and into her lap as she pulled the letters free. Startled, Sada reached down and picked up the small velvet box. She paused, biting her lip, and looked up at Alastair. He set his own sundae down and joined her on the floor, wrapping his arms around her from behind and taking the box. Alastair flipped it open, ignoring the intent stares of his sister and brother. "I hate the whole down on the knee thing," Alastair explained, taking the ring from the box. "Alastair..." Sada murmured. "Besides," Alastair went on, catching her hand in his. "I figured you can't say no in front of other people." Sada laughed, feeling tears sting her eyes. She tilted her head back, her mouth seeking his as he slipped the ring onto her finger. A triumphant shriek, followed by the flash of a camera, made her jump, falling back against Alastair. She looked up to see Alastair's parents in the doorway of the kitchen, his mother holding a camera. "Told you so," his mother gloated. "Don't be silly, love," his father said, putting his arms around her. "Who do you think helped him pick out the ring? He didn't have a clue!" "Shut up," Alastair muttered, flushing. He stood up and helped her up to her feet. Sada turned into his arms, hiding her face, which was bright red, against his chest. I would never have said no, she thought, lifting her head enough to see his face. Alastair smiled at her and gently touched her cheek. "Happy birthday, little dancer," he murmured. "Can we go dancing tonight?" Sada asked, her eyes lighting up. "To celebrate." Alastair groaned. "But we dance all the time..." "It's my birthday," Sada said, leaning close to him. "Indulge me." Alastair's eyebrows lifted. A slow, sexy grin curved the corners of his mouth and he bent down, pressing his mouth gently to hers. Sada was lifting her arms up to wrap around his neck when someone clear their throat. She started, and glanced around, turning bright red again. Alastair's mother and father, and his sister had left the room, but Quinn was still there, eating his sundae and glaring at them. "Want to come dancing with us?" Sada asked, smiling at him brightly. "You know I don't dance," Quinn hedged. "Pleeeeaaase?" Sada begged, pouting. Quinn sighed, but a hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "I'll think about it." ------- "I hope Quinn comes with us tonight. It will be good for him to get out." Alastair glanced over at Sada, who was carefully applying lipstick, leaning over the bathroom sink. She looks so cute, he thought, smiling to himself. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her against him, making her laugh. She turned into his arms and he bent to kiss her gently. "Let's not worry about my brother tonight, okay?" Alastair said, sighing. "I know you're concerned because he's been so down, but it's our night..." "I can't help it," Sada told him. "Even art doesn't make him happy anymore. He hasn't done anything that had any expression in it since that..." He followed her gaze out into the living room. Beside the portrait of Sada his brother had given him last Christmas was another, larger, of him and Sada dancing together. It was taken from their dance during the semi-finals and it was the best thing his brother had done in years. Alastair shook his head and wrapped his arms around Sada again, drawing her close. "It scares me when you talk like that," he murmured. "I don't like feeling jealous. But I get scared you'll end up liking Quinn more than me, too." "I would never," Sada said, looking up at him. A gently teasing smile curved her lips. "I mean, come on, once was enough, right?" Alastair couldn't smile. "It happened more than once..." Sada stilled. She looked up at him, her green eyes wide and startled. He brushed his fingertips against cheek. She opened her mouth to speak, and he knew she was about to ask, so he shook his head. "I will tell you, I promise," Alastair assured her. "Just... not tonight. I want to go out and celebrate your birthday... and our engagement. Okay?" Sada nodded, smiling warmly up at him. She stood on her toes and kissed him gently, then headed out of the bathroom. Alastair followed her, surprised when she handed him his jacket. It wasn't freezing yet, but the early autumn had been rather brisk. He laughed and helped her pull on her coat. I want to forget all those things tonight, Alastair thought as he took her hand in his and led her outside. All I want to think about is our life together, from now on. ------- The End ------- Posted: 2005-01-28 Last Modified: 2005-01-29 / 09:29:29 pm ------- http://storiesonline.net/ -------