Free A Beautiful Forever by Lilliana Anderson

mouth,
crunching down loudly, “Yeah she didn’t look too happy about it,” he says. “Fuck
that Paige chick’s hot though, you should have seen her in that dress,” he nods
his head thoughtfully and blows out his breath.
    Gavin’s head joins in, “Are you two banging? ‘cause if
you’re not…” he asks finally looking away from the tv.
    “Don’t talk about her like that,” I warn them defensively.
    Gavin raises his hands signalling ‘no offense’, “It’s
alright mate, we’re just talking. Everyone can see you’ve got a thing for her –
no one’s cutting your grass.”
    I shake my head, “Whatever,” I say, moving into the kitchen
to grab a beer from the fridge.
    “Hey, Elliot, can you grab us another one as well,” Brian
calls out, returning the mood to normal.
    Handing them their drinks when I return to the living room,
I take a seat on the other couch, while I stare at the game on the tv, not
really watching. I’m busy thinking about where Paige is. I can’t help but feel
kind of annoyed that she didn’t text me to say she was going out. Then I kick
myself because it’s not like I own her, it’s not like she owes me anything. I
guess I’m just used to having her around. I don’t really want to hang out
without her… geez… I’ve got it bad.
     

Paige
    Naomi has taken me to this Salsa club she’s heard about and
has been dying to try out. We've both put on our most flowing dresses, and I
helped her curl her hair and pin it back to suit her outfit. I even went a
little wild and put some red lipstick on myself – it was under slight duress.
Naomi insisted I needed red lips to go with my black knee-length dress. Other
than that, I just have mascara on.
    Sitting at the bar, I watch Naomi strut her stuff on the
dance floor with a guy who certainly knows his moves, he’s spinning and
swinging her around the floor effortlessly, and I have to resist the urge to clap
whenever they finish a song.
    “Come and dance with me,” she asks breathlessly when she
walks back towards me.
    “Oh I don’t know. I'm really not that coordinated,” I laugh.
    “Nonsense! Come with me and I’ll show you.” She grabs my
hand and pulls me off the stool and starts to try to show me how to move my
feet and swing my hips. I don’t do too badly, but I feel a bit awkward next to
the smooth moving Naomi.
    The guy Naomi had been dancing with moves back over to cut
into our lesson, and I happily step away, bumping straight into a guy who, when
I turn around and see him, is the epitome of tall, dark and handsome.
    As a grin spreads over his face, I feel his eyes drag over
my body, “Can I interest you in a dance,” he rumbles in a deep baritone.
    Instantly, I shake my head. “Oh no, I’m not much of a
dancer.”
    “Not from what I saw,” he responds holding out his hand for
me to take. I look at it and step away from him, refusing his offer.
    “No thank you,” I say firmly, walking directly back to my
still vacant bar stool.
    I notice the guy shake his head before he moves on to some
other pretty girl who’s smiling and practically swooning the moment he holds
his hand out to her. Watching them move for a little while, I start to wish I
hadn’t agreed to this as I get restless and wonder when it’s time to go back to
the flat.
    Playing with my phone in my hand, I finger the touch screen,
trying to decide whether I want to text Elliot or not. I feel lonely without
him all of a sudden.
    Hey, what are you up to? I tap out and send before I
have a chance to change my mind.
    He responds quickly, like he had his phone in his hand and
was waiting on me. Watching cricket with the guys. U?
    Me: Watching Naomi dance.
    Elliot: Y aren’t u dancing?
    Me: I don’t like strangers touching me.
    Elliot: U want me to come get u?
    My thumbs hover unmoving, as I contemplate whether or not I
should bail.  I jolt my head up and cradle my phone in my lap guiltily as Naomi
comes over holding a bottle of beer and smiling.