"Let me clean you up." I murmured as I pulled him towards our bathroom. I made him sit down on the sink and searched for cotton wool probably for too long before I pressed the balls of cotton on his wounds. He flinched a little and I glanced at his lip that had started to swell. His eyes were sad and so lost. "How did you end up in this state?" I questioned quietly.
"I'm not bad? There were 4 of them and 1 of me. You should see the other lads." I knew he was trying to make light of the situation but I didn't find it funny. None of this was funny. A wave of sickness hit me and I leant against the sinks for a while. "Av what's up?" He frowned and I shook my head slowly.
"I think it's just all been a little bit much." I whispered as he came to rub my back. "Shall we take a break?" I questioned. In my head the rationale was great. We would put space between us and then Rava would leave us alone. He shook his head.
"Is that what you want?" I watched his Adams apple rise and fall as he held back water in his eyes I shook my head.
"No. Not at all." I almost laughed and I watched him smile.
“What if we just act as though we’re on a break?” He placed some space between us before he picked up his own cotton wool to clean my bloody stained face. “If you won’t run with me then we’ll just have to steal moments like these?” My breathing stopped as I replayed his words.
“So you want us to sneak around?” He shrugged.
“I don’t want to sneak anywhere with you. I want us being broken up to be believable. I want you to be able to finish up whatever it is that’s keeping you here and then we can fuck off together.” I held in a smile and I ran my nose over his.
“You know you’re impossible don’t you?” I smiled to myself a little as he cupped my face.
“Promise me you’ll try?” His words were almost a whisper and I shrugged.
“Fine?” I planted a kiss against his lips and pulled him closer towards me. “C’mon you. Bed.” His eyes lit with that familiar fire and I smirked to myself as he followed me towards the bedroom.
Saturday
I'd been back at work for what seemed like forever. Since the night he came back beat up something had changed. He was no longer affectionate in public and it was like we'd broken up. We'd steal moments like we did before either of us could admit we felt something for each other. I was early to Jamanes class. It was one of the only things I looked forward to at the moment. I let out a large sigh as the skin on my back made contact with the mirror behind where I was sat. Marley smiled down at me and I rolled my eyes.
"Well don't you look like a bundle of joy?" I scoffed and shrugged.
"Well let's face it I'm not exactly having a great time am I?" I snapped and I watched him raise his brow. Jamane handed me his hand and pulled me up. Dancers were now finished warming up and it was time to learn some new moves.
His choreography to ‘Bloodline’ by Ariana is fabulous. Memorising the steps I joined at the back, unable to stop myself and I smiled to myself as Buddy kept looking at me. I grabbed my bottle of water from the off the side and glanced at Jamane, he was so excited and I tapped him softly on the shoulder.
“This is really bloody good.” He had a huge grin on his face, his pearly whites were harsh against his caramel skin.
“Thanks,” he was smiling, watching everyone completing his routine “you know people have approached and asked me if you are really you?” He smirked at me and I frowned.
“What?” I questioned, confused by his statement and I leant against the wall.
“Like people have seen you on the Tube and they are like proper fangirling over you.” I burst into laughter and punched his arm softly.
“Don’t be stupid.” I scoffed and he shrugged before smirking. “Fine don’t believe me but you’re performing shortly.” He winked as he walked away from me and I frowned deeply. I had nobody to back me up this time. Nance had missed this class because she had promised she'd go for lunch with her father. I heard him beckon groups and watched as Chlo and Jay walked through the doors of the studio. My mouth almost fell to the floor and I gulped. Why were they here? I shook my head at him and he shrugged softly in my direction before he pointed towards Chlo. She smiled as she reached to pull me into an embrace.
“Hey?” She looked me up and down and I smiled weakly at her. I had missed her face. I hugged her again softly and she stroked my hair. “Go and smash it.” I smiled and nodded as I took my space on the dance floor. I performed the choreography and then watched other groups perform. They were all extremely talented and I smiled to myself. Their passion and flow really shone through in this class and I was proud to call Jamane a friend. Class ended
