Dance partner

Hearing the same topic again and again from the past two days made my eyes shut because of the slumber that’s consuming me. But Professor's loud voice made me open my eyes again. I was in my classroom praying silently to end the never ending boring class. It’s already noon and I was so sleepy. When I was about to fell on my desk as I couldn’t control more from the sleep, the dance club volunteers of the college entry to the classroom, made my eyes widened in excitement. My face lit up and I gave a bright smile looking at them. I knew most of the people from the college dance club. Even in school, I had a good connection with the members of dance club.

When they were smiling at me, Vickie was annoyed and gave me a look in which I could understand she was cursing me with her eyes. I just ignored her and kept listening to them.

They announced they needed dancers for town’s competition. Every year, there holds a dance competition just like interschool sports competition, for students of age between 15 to 21, in which almost every high school and college dancers participate. Though I received many awards for my dance in various small competitions, I didn’t win in town’s competition when I participated I my high school days.

When they announced they need dancers, immediately Vickie and I stood from our chairs. We both gave our names. After us, many showed interest in the event and gave their names to the volunteers. Among all the students giving their names, who caught my attention was Harry. When I saw him, he smirked looking at me.

I remembered the moment when he told he wanted to dance with me. Is he giving his name for that? If that’s the thing, he would be a fool. I would never accept him as my partner. Thinking about that, I too smirked looking at him. I shifted my gaze and when I saw Ben, he was fuming. I gasped because of his expression. Immediately I turned my gaze to my notebook with my head bent down.

Why the hell he was looking at me like I had stolen all of his chocolates? Ben stood from his chair and I thought he was going to give his name so I kept looking at him with my widened eyes. But instead of that, he walked out of the classroom. He won’t dance. I knew it but for a moment I became stupid.

They left the class and asked us to meet in the dance practice hall after college. I kept noticing the time as I was so excited to go there. And the classes were finished. As Anna won’t dance, she went to library to finish her college works. I told her to leave to her house but she waited for me. My Auburn cutie! I love her.

When I was heading to the practice room, my walk was hindered when out of nowhere Ben came and stood in front of me. I flinched and put my hand on my chest to calm myself. As a lot of students roaming around us, there’s no possibility for him to misbehave with me. With that thought, I acted brave before him.

When I was about to walk past behind him, he again stopped my way.

“What?” I asked raising my eyebrow.

“I’ve been trying for you for the past two years, but you were treating me like a trash. What’s there in him that made you smile looking at him?” He gritted his teeth.

“What? About whom you are speaking?” I asked confused.

He chuckled hearing me and spoke “You should go for acting. It’s the perfect profession for you.”

I narrowed my eyebrows looking at him. He continued speaking more like shouting “Harry is no better than me. He and I are same but you are smitten with him.”

I got it. He was talking about Harry. I smirked at Harry so Ben was furious. I let out a sigh and said “Look Ben! Harry is just a guy like you all. I have no special connection with him. If you think something, I couldn’t change your thoughts. And the main thing! I don’t need to explain things to you.” I gritted my teeth and started walking away.

“Don’t think I will ever leave you. I always get what I desire and I want you.” He shouted.

Ignoring him, I walked to the practice place. I saw Harry sat there talking to girl volunteers whereas Vickie was giving angry stares to the girls who were talking to him. I sat on the chair looking around. The practicing room, the competition, the entire dance thing made me remember Noah. Noah was my classmate in my school and my high school. He was my dance partner. With his not so much tall height and sharp looks he always looked attractive. In duet, we won awards too. He was the only boy with whom I got close. Ben even warned him to stay away from me but Noah didn’t. He considered me as one of his friends.

After high school, I talked to him on cell phone only once to ask where he joined for college. He got an admission in a college in city so he left.

“Thinking about me?” Harry asked dragging his chair towards me.

“Why would I ever think about you?”

“Because I’m handsome and everyone obviously thinks about me.” He said smirking.

“Could you just shut your stupid talk?” I asked irritated.

Saying that, I started scrolling my Instagram.

“Good evening everyone!” The volunteer’s shout made everyone raise their heads and look at him. He started telling the information about the town’s competition which most of us knew. Then he asked if anyone selected the pairs already. Few people raised their hands. The volunteer asked the remaining students to select their partners and as expected Harry selected me but I rejected as I didn’t want to be his dance partner.

I looked at everyone and saw Noah’s friend. He was not my schoolmate. I talked to him twice or thrice outside the school when he came to visit Noah. I was shocked for a moment seeing him but a small smile appeared on my lips when I saw he was looking for a partner too.

I walked to him ignoring Harry. I touched his shoulder and he turned to me. He was also shocked looking at me. He then spoke “Stella?”

I smiled and nodded my head. I didn’t remember his name so I didn’t call him anything.

“This is so shocking. So you are studying here? I... I mean Noah told me once but I ignored it.” he said smiling.

We then talked for few minutes. I noticed Harry was smirking at me. Why the hell he was smirking? I thought his ego would hurt and become furious.

Noah's friend; Rory, just now he said his name. He was from different department so I didn’t see him. He asked

“Do you have dance partner? I mean Noah is not here. I wonder who your new partner is.”

“I’m looking for the one.” I smiled.

To my relief he asked me to be his partner and I happily accepted. He is a good dancer as well as polite guy like Noah so it’s better for me if I have him as my partner.

“Okay guys! The practice sessions start from the next week. You should choose your partner by then.” The volunteer announced and left the stage.

Rory and I smiled looking at eachother then I waved my hand saying “Bye.”

“Bye Stella!”

I walked out of the room and decided to call Noah to inform him about my new partner. But before I do that, I felt someone approaching me so I immediately turned back. I saw Harry who is in my close proximity.

“Why did you reject me?” he asked with a confused face.

“Because I don’t want to dance with you.”

“Vickie asked me to dance with her but I rejected for you. And you... you asked a guy who is not at all handsome. You deserve a guy like me.”

I rolled my eyes hearing him. I spoke “Harry! I don’t understand you. Why do you think about me?”

“Because I like thinking about you and I would love to be your boyfriend.” He smirked.

“I told you. Not in this life.”

“Come on Stella! I don’t believe in reincarnation. You will become my girlfriend in this life and of course you will dance with me.”

“Why are you so adamant on having me as your girlfriend?” I asked frustrated.

He became silent for a moment and rubbed the back of his neck with his palm.

“Answer me.” I said crossing my arms.

He looked into my eyes and I could see many emotions gleaming. It felt like he was looking into my soul and I too kept staring at him silently. I know he was deceiving but emotions stirred inside me. For the first time in these days a question popped into my mind. Does he loves me so he has been trying to get close to me?

I know it’s ridiculous to think like that but it flashed in my mind. Immediately I let go of the question from my head and kept telling myself that he is a player who got bored of all sexy girls so trying for new thing; a girl like me.

When I was in my thoughts, my cell phone rang. I shifted my gaze from him to my cell phone. It was from Anna. Talking to her, I walked away from him. Anna and I started walking to our houses. While strolling, I told her everything that happened. She silently listened to me. After few minutes of walk, we reached our houses.

I went to my room and called Noah. I was so excited to tell him that his friend was my new partner.

“Hey Stella!” I heard Noah’s voice.

“Hey Noah! How are you?”

“You called me so I would be flying from today.” He laughed.

“Come on!” I laughed with him.

Before I tell about Rory, he asked “So how’s your new partner?”

“W-what? How?”

“Rory told me everything.”

“Oh! I called to tell the same thing.” I laughed.

“You know Stella! I miss our dance, our dance competitions and I miss you really.”

I smiled listening to him and said “When I was in the dance practice room, I kept thinking about you. I too missed our dance and I miss my dance partner very much.”

We both then talked for few minutes. He kept telling about his college, students and crushes. After few minutes of talk, I cut the call.