It All Started With A Lie

{38}

"What are you doing, Olivia? This is not the music we asked for!" she screeched. 

"I'm not here to DJ, Annabelle, play your own damn music," I rolled my eyes, standing up and moving away from the speaker. She glared at me before going to connect her phone and look for the music. "Quick water break, everyone," I said. The class started 2 minutes ago. 

"No, no water break!" Annabelle yelled, struggling to find the music. 

"Water break," I nodded. 

The kids scattered around the room, running around, chasing each other, and laughing. I sat on the floor under the ballet bars, against the mirror, noticing one little girl sitting in the corner, drinking from her water bottle. I grabbed one of the boys running around and pulled him towards me gently. "Hi, what's your name?" I asked. 

"Jack," he answered, flashing me a toothy grin. 

"Hi, Jack. I'm Olivia. Would you be nice enough to tell who that pretty girl is?" I asked, pointing in the direction of the little girl. 

"Pretty?" His nose scrunched up. 

"Jack," I said warningly. 

"She is very pretty, nobody listens to me when I say that," he whined, tripping over his words, "That's Delilah," he said. 

"Delilah," I nodded slowly. Then he ran off. I watched her for a solid minute and wow, Annabelle really doesn't know anything. Anyway, I was watching her as she sat there alone, watching all the other kids. She was smiling at first. Like she was happy for them. But then her smile faltered and turned into a frown. She seemed alone. No, she seemed... lonely. 

"Delilah!" I called out. 

Her face lit up as she looked up at me. I gestured to her to come over. She put her water bottle back inside her backpack before making her way over to me. "Yes, Miss Olivia?" she asked, her voice coming out in an adorable squeak, unlike Annabelle's annoying one. 

"It's just Olivia, no Miss, all right?" I asked. She nodded in understanding. "Come here," I said, holding my hands out. She grabbed my hands before I tugged her forward and then pulled her into my lap. "Why were you sitting there all by yourself?" I asked her while noticing that her ponytail had come loose. "Can I tie that for you?" 

She nodded while fiddling with her shirt. "I don't have any friends," she mumbled while looking around the room. 

"Why is that?" I asked. 

She shrugged as I tied up her hair. "Nobody talks to me," she said hesitantly. 

"Well, I'm sure they want to," I said, turning her to face me. She shook her head. "Of course, they do. Jack over there thinks you're really pretty and so do I," I grinned. 

"You do?" she smiled. 

"I do," I nodded, "You are very pretty, Delilah. Answer me this, would you want to be friends with Jack?" I asked. She looked at him silently before turning back to me, slowly nodding. "Jack!" I called out. He came over to me, all his friends watching him. "You know Delilah, right?" 

"Yes," he nodded.

"Well, I want you to be her friend, can you do that for me?" I questioned. 

"Her friend..." he trailed off with uncertainty. He then shrugged, "Sure." 

"Really?" she grinned. 

"Yes, come on." He stuck his hand out. She grabbed his hand and stood up from my lap, going with him. I watched as he took her to his friends and said, "This is Delilah. My new friend." 

And nobody welcomed her. 

"Then I'm not your friend too," Jack said, determined to have Delilah be welcomed. They all then agreed. When Jack said he won't be friends with them if they didn't accept Delilah. And then she too was one of the kids aimlessly running around giggling and screaming. 

I was sitting there, smiling at her when the door to the room opened and Ethan stepped in. I stood up and headed to the speakers as Annabelle got back to teaching, giving up on the music. I focused on finding the music and fixing the speaker while all the kids stared at Ethan. 

"Olivia?" they all chanted. 

"One second, guys," I mumbled. 

"Olivia, there's a man here for you," Delilah said, coming up to me and poking my shoulder. I looked up at Ethan, biting back a smile. 

"Hello?" We both looked down at Jack who tugged Ethan's pants. "Are you here for Miss Olivia?" he asked. 

"I uh, I sure am," Ethan nodded. I watched as he stood there, his green eyes glinting with hope and mischief. 

Have I mentioned his eyes are green? Like emerald green? They're beautiful and I love them. Almost as much as I love him. 

"What are you doing here?" I asked. 

"I need to talk to you," he said, throwing an irritated glance towards Annabelle. 

"I told you, I don't wanna talk," I said while tying Delilah's laces for her before turning back to the music. 

"Please, Olivia? I'm sorry, I messed up okay?" he asked, kneeling down beside me. "I can't act like I hate you any longer, so I'm acting like I realized I was wrong and now I want you back," he whispered, somehow magically connecting my phone to the speakers and finding the music. 

"Ethan, you should leave," I said, standing up, ushering Delilah towards the rest of the kids. Annabelle was very obviously listening in. 

"I'm not leaving here until you take me back," he groaned. 

"Ethan, I can't do this right now, I have a class to tend to," I sighed, running my hand through my hair, feigning frustration. 

"Then I'm a student. Run through the routine, go on. I'll see how you can avoid me when I'm standing right in front of you," he shrugged, standing with all the kids. 

"You can't be serious," I said, biting back a laugh. There's no way he's really doing this. 

"Oh, I'm dead serious. Let's see how long you can avoid me when I'm standing right here in front of you," he retorted with a smirk. 

I nodded slowly, " Okay. Dancing with elementary schoolers. Sure, let's see," I smirked.

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Chapter 38

I think this book may be anywhere between 42-45 chapters at most so sit tight and enjoy it while it lasts <3