Skylar didn’t waste any time after Waldo left her room, she went straight out to the campus café and bought herself a sugar loaded drink to help the fatigue and dizziness she felt after her latest vision and set off in search of Ruby. She asked about a half dozen people in her search, who all said the same thing, if she wasn’t at the sorority house then she could be anywhere, which didn’t help her any at all. Each one of them went on to ask just why she wanted to talk to her since she wasn’t ‘in her league’ before giggling or laughing at her in a way that said she was worthless. She knew otherwise, from someone in a higher power than they could ever hope to reach. Even the elders couldn’t have told her she was nothing, the very fact that she had been given the chance she had told her that the one person who mattered, though that she was special enough to be given the opportunity to show what she could do for other people. It only took her around fifteen minutes of wandering around campus and asking people who she knew were in Ruby’s social circle if they knew where she was, before she found her, sitting by herself in a quiet, shaded area of the campus gardens, looking quite lost.
“Ruby…do you mind?” Skylar waited until she had been invited to take a seat before sitting and contemplating how to start the complicated conversation she wanted to have with her. She asked her if she was okay only for the shrug of her shoulder to say that she wasn’t sure how to answer it so she felt that random casual chat was out of the question. She was obviously not in the mood. “I saw Waldo today…” She began with the important things, glad to see that Ruby instantly snapped to attention, turning to her with a hopeful smile as she clutched at the bench arm rail between them.
“Is he alright? Is he staying? Can I see him?” She couldn’t help but blurt out a dozen questions that Skylar couldn’t answer and when she admitted that, she lost her interest in the conversation and began sulking again. It annoyed Skylar, who was trying to do a nice thing for her only for her inability to ask random questions that only Waldo could answer result in rudeness and a lack of participation. But she wasn’t going to let it get in her way, she had only been around for one day but she hadn’t yet managed to complete on single task on her list, whether Ruby and Waldo’s relationship was on her list of mission or not, she was going to see the two back together.
“I’m sorry about what happened with you and Ryan but I understand that he’s beginning to act like a child and I want to help. I was going to help him until I realised how ungrateful he would be, so either I help you or not but it’s up to you.” Skylar made it quite clear that she was offering a one time deal to get her back together with the mans he truly loved but that if she refused it right there and then she wasn’t going to get another opportunity. It was about time that someone realised what an effort she was making and how she could have been doing a lot more interesting things with her time than making everyone else happy when she wasn’t. Not that that was why she had come back but it was certainly something she could have spent her time doing. “He gave me his number to keep in touch and I gave him mine in case he needs any help or advice but I’ve managed to persuade him to stick around town for a while. He came to talk to Ryan so I expect he’ll come back again and when he does I want to know that you’ll do the right thing.” Her words gave Ruby an unexpected jolt, becoming slightly defensive as she challenged her to explain exactly what she meant by that, not knowing what she was expected to do when he had broke it off with her even after hearing her explanation. He knew the truth and he still said he couldn’t handle it, why should she expect that to change now? “Such as apologising to him and begging him to take you back. He misses you, he won’t say no. But you know men, he needs to think it’s his idea.” Skylar knew fine well that most men needed a little help with the idea department but that it had to be done delicately so that they all thought it was their idea and were therefore more likely to accept it or go along with it. It was just the way the world was.
But Ruby just looked confused so she let out a sigh and went on to explain it in more detail. “Don’t admit it was all your fault, he was Ryan’s best friend he should have asked Ryan if he was okay with it, even if you were just friends. Let him admit it was partly his doing and only then ask if he can forgive you enough to take you back. If you let him blame it all on you there’ll be no taking it back, he’ll always remember it.” It seemed logical to say that once Waldo got it in his head that it was Ruby’s sole fault for their break up then he would never trust her again, particularly when he had an excuse to be jealous. It could never end badly if he didn’t take partial responsibility for it.
“So what? You want me to make out like part of it was his fault just because if I don’t he’ll make sure I never live it down? He’s not vindictive like that…he’s not like Ryan.” Skylar could see that she didn’t quite understand what she was really saying and so she couldn’t help but explain it a little slower and simpler for her, admitting that she didn’t put it past Ryan to weasel in at some point and ruin it for them again. And if he did, there was no reason Waldo should believe that she was innocent in it all. “So if he ever suspected me of cheating again when it’s not true I’d have no defence whereas if I let him admit that it was partly his fault then he wouldn’t say anything? I guess that’s a good idea.” Ruby was slowly coming round to the idea and figured it was a pretty good solution and it made a lot of sense when Skylar agreed that it would give her some security if he ever got jealous for no reason. She really couldn’t wait to see him again but as Skylar had said, it was up to him whether or not he forgave her and took her back. She just hoped he would.
Pepper wasn’t in the least surprised to see that Eliza felt bad after her initial presumption about Skylar’s blackout. She actually felt guilty when she told her how bad it was and how upset they had both been on seeing her reaction to it. As usual she promised to make it up to them both and offered to help with planning the party, which was good enough as far as she was concerned. She had spotted Skylar talking with Ruby and had asked if they could have a personal chat, which she had happily agreed to, so Pepper took Ruby’s place while she went off in search of Waldo, who she was surprised to hear had been on campus. When she found out that Skylar had been talking to him about Ryan and Ruby, hoping to get him back with her, she couldn’t have been happier. The poor girl had been given a hard deal when Ryan suddenly started going round telling everyone she was a slut and a cheat, it hadn’t been fair but whatever Devin tried to do only seemed to backfire so he wasn’t going to bother anymore. “I just want you to keep an eye on her, that’s all. Just when no-one else is around. She’s very fragile just now.” Pepper pleaded with her sister to help her take care of Skylar until she was capable of fending off Niles and Ryan’s flirtations and knew herself a little better. Her previous break up had obviously made her a little vulnerable and she didn’t want anyone taking advantage of that when it was fresh enough to only cause more hurt. Eliza said that she would help in any way she could and so she couldn’t help but thank her for trusting her. “Thank you. Niles and the boys are only interested in dating her, it’s not fair to let them gang up on her when she’s in such a vulnerable position.”
Eliza could see that her sister was hyped up about the entire situation so she felt a little realistic guidance was in order to show her that not everyone was as innocent or as fragile as she thought they were. In Skylar’s case she could understand her wanting her to be innocent and fragile, just so that they would have something in common to talk about. “Okay, I just don’t see what you’re so worried about. From the rumours I heard about her kiss with Ryan, she’s a feisty little thing that can handle herself. I don’t know what happened right after he walked out but when she came out of that chapel she was cool as a cucumber.” She thought it was about time that she faced facts that some people were perfectly capable of looking after themselves without needing anyone else to protect her. It just wasn’t fair to assume that she was useless and couldn’t handle a stupid frat boy’s flirtations. “Maybe she did cover it up but maybe she just isn’t willing to put up with his drama and is perfectly capable of standing up for herself?”
“Whichever it is it doesn’t matter now. Just agree that we need to keep the raging hormones away from her…if she decides she wants them then fine, but until then I want to protect her from them.” Pepper insisted that they should look out for Skylar until she asked them not to and when Eliza agreed to see it out. She ignored the realistic approach she had just given and moved on to talk about the party, hoping that it would cheer them both up. They had already talked about Skylar’s blackouts and the boys seemingly unwanted infatuation with her so it was about time they got to talk about something more exciting and much nicer. “I’ve had a thought about where to have it. Or really, Devin did…he suggested that we have it at the frat house so that Skylar can leave and Ryan won’t have any excuse to go after her. Neither will Niles.” The idea had merits and Eliza didn’t feel bad admitting that, nodding along with her sisters words as she thought about the benefits of the plan. After all, Pepper was asking her to protect Skylar from every guy on campus until she said not to and most of the troublemakers were party of Devin’s fraternity. If they all had no reason to go after Skylar whenever she chose to leave, then they could both just spend the night enjoying themselves.
“And if she’s having blackouts then she can leave anytime she likes and get some peaceful sleep. It sounds good to me. Devin and the boys can handle the music and we can do the decorating…maybe we could buy her a new dress for the party?” Pepper agreed instantly that it would be sweet to do something so nice for their new friend. She had only been on campus for one day and the fact that she had made a dozen friends already made no difference to how she would feel about attending a party full of people she didn’t know. “I take it you’ve got an idea of how to make her come to this party…considering it’s supposed to be a surprise and it’s her first day here I’m not sure she’d be so willing to delve right into the social aspect of things.” Eliza guessed that maybe it wasn’t such a great idea to spring the party atmosphere on her when she didn’t know anything about anyone other than the guys. She hadn’t been to classes and she had only met the people in their little group of friends and just maybe she was fed up of meeting people and wanted some time to adjust by herself. After all, half the guys she had met were now trying to seduce her, one had kissed her and then told her she wasn’t good enough…it didn’t exactly make for a great first day on campus. And when Pepper admitted she hadn’t thought about it and asked if she had any ideas, she explained her thoughts to her. “Just don’t try convincing her by telling her who will be there. Try the whole, we wanted to cheer you up routine because she might not want to meet anymore people today. You don’t want to overload her on her first day. Surrounding her with people might not be the best idea right now.” Pepper really hadn’t thought about Skylar not wanting to meet people, she had just assumed that a new girl in a new town and a new school would want to meet new people so that she could have some friends and feel more comfortable in her surroundings. She never realised that maybe Eliza was right, maybe all Skylar wanted was a little peace and quiet with no-one butting into her business like they all had recently.
*****
Julius couldn’t help but smile with pride as he watched Angelo teaching Raya to dance in the large reception hall, making sure that she wouldn’t get embarrassed at the party for Silvia. There was going to be a lot of people there and it was a very formal occasion, with caterers, champagne and a live jazz band. The guests were all going to be very respectable and well behaved and it was going to be no school disco for her, where she could go and have fun. He was going to have business clients there, multitudes of family members, old friends and business associates. It was a very adult affair and because Raya was growing into a very beautiful young woman, having just turned seventeen that morning, he had a feeling that it would be best for her to know how to dance like an adult. And Julius wasn’t the only one who looked proud of her as Angelo twirled her in his arms, Dino and his son looked to share the same feelings of love and devotion for that young girl, and rightly so. They all felt like fathers to her in some way and so they were all excited to see how her first real, formal dance turned out. “Alright…that’s good.” Angelo smiled, as he taught her all the different steps that she could expect to encounter, knowing that it would give her some more confidence in front of so many people she didn’t know. She complained, of course, that she didn’t need to learn to dance if she was only going to be dancing with him, watching her feet carefully as he taught her the waltz, frowning at his cheeky smile as he touched her chin and made her look up at him. “Head up.” He ordered sweetly, watching the deep concentration in her eyes until the song finished and he let her rest and get a drink from her bottle of water. “And who says you‘ll be dancing with me?” He asked teasingly as he leant over the piano, watching her with a scolding smile as she sat on the stool and slipped off her high heel shoes, making sure to practice in the same shoes she’d be wearing that night.
“Please Angelo, you have to dance with me.” She smiled back at him as though he should have known better. “You are a chicken. You’re afraid to not dance at all, in case one of your relatives asks you and you’re afraid to dance with anyone else in case that girl from your office asks you.” She explained, making him shush her with a frown, holding his finger to his lips. Dino was quick to ask what girl she was talking about, amused by the fact that his son didn’t seem to want to discuss the situation much further, or really at all. He practically out right ignored him and it was funny.
“It’s nothing, really.” He sighed, scolding the sweet girl in front of him as he pushed himself from the piano and tried to ignore his fathers heavy stare. “Now…can we get back to work?” He asked Raya cheekily, holding his hand out for her, but she knew what was next and anytime she had seen it done before, it always seemed too complicated, so she didn’t want to try it. She told him her feet hurt and asked to sit out for a while, begging with him for a proper rest, thinking that he might just let her have one when he buried his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “Julius, what do you think?”
“I think you should get her up and show her what sore feet really are.” He joked, making Angelo smile down at her softly, amused at the words that even made Raya smile as she shook her head in silent protest. And when Julius noticed that neither were moving he glanced back out into the hallway looking for his wife, knowing that if Raya couldn’t get up and dance it herself, then it would at least help to have someone show her how to do it. So when he saw Paige slowly walking through the hallway in a daze, looking quietly unhappy, with Danag watching her from the study doorway, he called out to her with an idea. “Paige…” Smiling as she glanced back at him, he urged her forward. “Darling, come help us with something.”
“What is it papà?” Paige asked curiously. She didn’t much feel like doing anything right now. She’d only managed to stop crying a minute ago, it wasn’t exactly the best time for her. Although it might take her mind off things, depending on what it was he wanted her to do. He asked her to dance with Angelo, something she was less than enthusiastic to go ahead with even though his explanation was perfectly reasonable, admitting that he was teaching Raya and that her feet hurt. It was no business of hers to complain when he continued to say that she needed to learn the steps before the party as he began ushering her into the reception room, a gentle, yet knowing smile reaching Angelo’s lips as he held his hand out to her.
The room instantly filled with silence as Paige slipped her hand into Angelo’s, happy to forget about her tears and enjoy something just for herself. But the second he pulled her closer into his body, gazing down at her adoringly with a seductive smile, and Raya started the music, the things that were said between the two as they stared at each other, spoke to their captivated audience on the highest levels, floated through the air in whispers of love and romance. Julius and Dino shared a proud smile, which only grew when they heard the front door opening and Simone called through her arrival, only for both men to notice that neither of their children were able to hear it. And both Simone and Silvia were unable to speak as they approached the door, sharing a smile as they noticed the obvious chemistry.
The sultry sound of her favourite song, the smooth voice of Clare Teal singing ‘You’re My Thrill’ filled Paige’s ears, nothing else able to break through her thoughts, unable to deny the fact that her heart overflowed with emotion as she looked up at Angelo, smiling as he readjusted his grip on her waist, pulling her closer. She had danced with Angelo a hundred times in her life, having both been sent to dance classes together to learn the very steps that he was now trying to teach Raya, but when he led her through the room, dancing a sexy salsa, she let her heart feel that familiar chemistry that she only ever felt when she danced with him.
There was no other time when Paige was ever able to find Angelo so irresistible, so handsome and charming, than when he held her body close to his, a deep desire flickering in his eyes. It felt as though there was no-one else in the room and they both chose to bask in the feeling, knowing that as soon as the music stopped and they were ripped away from each other, the feeling would be gone. “Why were you crying?” Angelo asked suddenly, his voice rich and deep as he dipped her, both smiling as she gave into the exhilaration of the dance, tilting her head back as he slowly slid his hand further up her spine and pulled her back up, her leg instinctively curling around his as she held onto his shoulders. They shared a satisfied smile as they completely the movement with a moment of slow, intricate footwork, twisting and turning their bodies into each others until he twirled her away from him, still holding onto her hand. And she almost thought she could get away with not answering him and lose herself in the music, but the second he drew her back into his body, she knew that he wasn’t going to let her ignore him. “Tell me…” He began only for her to interrupt him abruptly, asking what she was to tell him and however much she smiled, he didn’t like the interruption. “Tell me why you were crying.” He reminded her, unable to deny how good it felt to hold her in his arms and touch her the way he was only ever able to when they danced. And he almost didn’t mind that she didn’t want to talk, and that she wanted to focus on how good it felt to be able to express how they felt through the sensual moves of the dance, even if Paige couldn’t admit the same things at any other time. Turning her back to him, she didn’t know how to explain her tears and tried to piece the words together, but found herself barely able to breathe as she reached back and wrapped her arm around his neck. It was an amazing revelation to feel the intensity of what a single touch from him was doing to her and there was no way to stop it as her breath caught in her throat for a moment as Angelo touched his hand against hers. But he enjoyed it, watching with a smile as she closed her eyes to the feeling of his gentle touch, the tips of his fingers tenderly trailing down the inside of her arm. He could feel her breath quickening as he held her waist with his free hand, his subtle touch of the other slowly slipping down the side of her body, his hand curling around her waist as he took her hand in his and slowly twirled her away from him.
“Do you really think I was more beautiful before?” Paige found herself asking suddenly, the instant she was back in his arms, a curious smile reaching his lips as they continued to dance. He scolded her for eavesdropping in on his conversation but she ignored him blatantly and carried on. “And you’ve been talking about me behind me back…I’d say that makes us even.” She challenged him cheekily, the intrigued arch of his eyebrows making her smile as Angelo pulled her closer to him with a sharp tug, their bodies pressed against each other. “So, did you really mean it?”
“Paige, darling I never say anything about you I don’t mean.” He admitted it freely, the faint blush of her cheeks telling him he was right to do so. Whether she felt something for him or not, he at least wanted her to know that he cared, simply because she seemed to appreciate it so much. They both knew that the other men who thought they could make their way into her life, thought that they could do so by telling her how beautiful she was and complimenting their way into her good graces. But they also both knew that Angelo would never insult her that way. He rarely ever lied at all, but never to anyone he loved. He simply didn’t think it was acceptable, so Paige always knew that whatever he might say to her or about her, would always be the truth, and because of that, he was one of her dearest friends, even through all the arguing.
“Will you dance with me tonight Angelo?” She asked much to his surprise.
“But you hate to dance in front of people.” He reminded her, as if it was something she could ever forget. But he couldn’t help it and he could see the slightly shy smile she had as he twirled her, the soft shrug of a reply making him smile hopefully. If only she was trying to tell him something…that she might feel something, even if only when they danced… “Of course I’ll dance with you Paige. It wouldn’t be right for us to be there and not to dance together. You can’t very well be having a nice time if you don’t dance with the one you love.” He sighed, neither really aware of what he was saying other than that he was going to give her what she wanted. And for a minute or two, as the extensive song played on, neither spoke, enjoying the music as they danced, Angelo twirling Paige in his arms as the saxophone played on in the background.
His leg supported hers as they linked together, Angelo holding her hand as he dipped her, lowering her to the floor, Paige smiling as he swiftly let go of her hand with his right and caught it in his left hand in a second and twirled her, letting her spin along the floor before gently pulling her hand and helping her back to her feet. A breathless smile passed between them as Paige steadied herself in his arms, her hands pressed against his chest as she gazed up at him through dark eyelashes, both aware of the silence as the song finally stopped and denied them of the pleasure it brought to be so close together.
“Paige! What do you think your doing?” Danny’s voice broke through their thoughts.