Spring Knight: Young Adult Romance Novella (A Seasons of Change Standalone) (3 page)

Nodding her head towards the floor, she signalled for Aiden to follow her. As they stood face-to-face, waiting for instructions, Faye—a member of her class and someone Kayleigh was closest to—touched her arm to get her attention.

“He’s
not
out to get you, is he?” She snorted sarcastically causing Kayleigh to laugh.

“He can try, but he’s forgetting one important factor in his game.”

“What’s that?”

“People like me better, including the director. He shouldn’t be messing with me.” She smiled at Faye, who was glancing over her shoulder and nodding.

“What’s he doing here anyway? Didn’t think commitment to anything was his thing.”

“Don’t ask, it’s a long story. Regardless, he needs to get through.” Kayleigh tried to subtly imply that she needed people to have her back as well as Aiden’s, but she wasn’t sure how well the message was received.

“No problem, I wouldn’t want him leaving. We need someone new to admire now and then, and he fits the role perfectly.”

Kayleigh rolled her eyes so as not to let on to her true feelings. Faye, on the other hand, gave her a knowing look. However, before she could reply, she felt a tap on her shoulder.

Turning to face Aiden she noticed he looked irritated. “Shouldn’t you be listening to him teach the steps?” He nodded his head in the direction of Adam where he was going through a series of moves with a volunteer. She almost laughed, but refrained, thinking it would be unfair.

“I choreographed the dances, I know them better than him.”

Aiden’s eyes widened slightly before he regained his composure. “Lucky I got paired with you then.”

“Trust me, it wasn’t luck. Adam’s out for my head and he wants you gone. He thinks you’ll screw up and he can get you out, and then show me up.”

“Sorry about that. I’ll try not to screw up.” He looked smug, despite the apology. It frustrated her that he saw it all as a big game. It might have been for him since he had nothing riding on the performance, but she did. The thought caused a burst of anger she couldn’t contain to flare within her.

“You’d better be taking this seriously. I have grades depending on this show going well, and if you get me kicked out I swear I’ll make your life a living hell. Wipe that smirk off your face or walk away now. If you stay and grin at me one more time, I will smack it off.” She didn’t know where it came from, but confidence flowed through her. It seemed like she could do angry around him.

“Hey, where did the Kayleigh who’s quieter than a mouse go?”

“Door or a slap. Your choice.” She didn’t want to lose her anger. If she could keep it up, she thought there was a chance she’d get through the dance without becoming flustered.

“All right, calm down. What should I do?”

Everyone else was already practising the steps. A few looked unsteady, the coupling deliberately putting them at a disadvantage, but most moved fluidly across the floor.

Taking a deep breath, Kayleigh tried to bring herself to say the next words. She couldn’t believe she was going to utter them to Aiden of all people. It was a dream and a curse.

“Put one hand on my waist and the other in my hand.”

“Wow, is this just an excuse to get close to me?”

She gritted her teeth, fighting the heat in her cheeks. “Just … do it.”

“Not usually what women say to me, but okay.” His hand rested on her hip, his fingers reaching around and nearly touching her spine while he gripped the hand she held out. She tried desperately to ignore his words, to not let them affect her, but her mind was slowly travelling elsewhere.

“Now what, oh wise teacher?” Aiden teased like he knew exactly what she was thinking.

Ignore him, treat him like any other cast member,
she thought as she reeled off the steps, guiding him through it. They were practising one of the dances from a ballroom scene, and although the moves were nothing too complicated, she would have expected them to trip Aiden up. Then again he was athletic.

With his hands on her, it was hard to concentrate. It wasn’t like he was doing anything, but the constant contact was bothering Kayleigh. A few times she lost count, causing him to laugh at her, but she prayed it wasn’t because he knew what he was doing to her. However, it was Aiden Hanson after all. Renowned player, he was always fighting women off him and when he wasn’t, it was because he already had a ‘date’.

That was another thing about Aiden … he only did casual flings. Not once had he been in a serious relationship, so Kayleigh had no doubt he knew the effect he had on people. The grin that was a permanent fixture of his face told her enough.

“I won’t count this time,” Kayleigh said as she let Aiden lead and control the steps. It really was amazing how he had picked them up so quickly.

“How’d I do?” Aiden asked as he glanced down, his face much too close for her liking. She tried to feign nonchalance, telling herself she was an actress and she could pretend she was in character.

“It was okay. You’re not the best partner I’ve had.”

Aiden tilted his head back and let out another laugh, pulling a few people’s gazes to them. “No one has ever said that to me. You are the first to complain.”

Kayleigh went over her words again, and cursed herself when she realised what she’d said. However, she refused to let him break her composure. She was a character and she was in charge.

“Snap out of it, Aiden. This might not mean much to you, but it does to me. Either grow up or get out because if you keep acting like this my knee is going to end up somewhere very uncomfortable for you and I’ll just pretend it was a misstep in the dance,” she hissed, yanking her hand from his grip.

He actually looked worried by her threat, holding up his hands innocently. “Taking it seriously from now on.”

Kayleigh hummed dubiously, but took a step towards him so they could get back into position.

“Just to be sure we’re on the same page, though, which area were you talking about?” He had a smug expression in his face, his eyes shining with humour as he recovered.

“You want me to show you? Ask one more stupid question and I will.”

Aiden didn’t have time to answer because Adam called out for everyone to stop. However, he couldn’t hide the laughter he was trying to contain, and Kayleigh was starting to question whether he really was only there to wind her up.

“Snap out of it,” she hissed, glancing out of the corner of her eye as Adam lectured everyone.

“Kayleigh, seeing as you have so much to say, why don’t you go first?” He sounded overly excited and it came across as patronising. Regardless, she bit her cheek almost hard enough to draw blood and turned to face him with a fake smile.

“Sure, although I don’t know why you doubt me. I choreographed this, remember?” She arched her eyebrow in challenge to let Adam, and the room, know she wouldn’t be pushed around. Adam hated to be reminded that the show wasn’t just his creation, a fact only confirmed by the sound of his teeth grinding.

“Oh, I don’t doubt you. I wouldn’t have given you the role of Rapunzel if that was the case.”

Kayleigh ignored him and turned to face Aiden. Giving him a serious look, she hoped it conveyed to do everything perfectly or she would strangle him. By the look of concentration on his face, he seemed to have gotten the message.

Music from the show started to play through the speakers set up around the room, and suddenly Aiden was taking the lead. Moving her effortlessly around the floor, they floated gracefully until the choreography ran out and Kayleigh was left standing in his arms with a stunned expression.

“What the hell was that?” she whispered as Adam fumbled with the remote to shut off the music.

“I told you, I’m a fast learner.” Aiden dropped his hold on her so they could part as the music subsided. Kayleigh hadn’t even realised her mouth was open in shock until his fingers lifted to her jaw again, closing it. “You look much prettier when you don’t do that.”

Speechless, Kayleigh watched as he turned to walk away, leaving her standing there until Adam barked for the next couple to get into position. Hurrying off the floor, she went to grab her bag, giving Adam a wave to signal she was taking a break—it wasn’t like she’d be needed until the next round. He didn’t look pleased, but was distracted by the pair on the floor.

Kayleigh didn’t know what had come over her, but she was determined to get her message across. She refused to be played, and even if getting angry made her look like a fool, it would be no worse than stuttering and stumbling over her words because of Aiden’s presence.

CHAPTER FIVE

 

He didn’t know what was going on inside his head. In fact, he didn’t know what was going on with anything. His brain was struggling to keep up with the events of the last few hours and it wasn’t just because of Kayleigh’s transformation. He had never seen her act as confident as she had done recently. When she stepped into that room she was a totally different person, and he had to admit he liked her feisty side.

It was obvious she’d liked him for a while. She probably thought he’d never noticed her in the years she’d been hanging out with Ellie, but he had. He noticed the subtle blushes at certain comments, the way she tried to disappear from his eye line, and how she stumbled over her words. Of course, Aiden was cocky and over confident, he thought everyone loved him, but Kayleigh was different. She wasn’t upfront and demanding he go out with her, but her quietness made him notice her even more.

Her feisty side was a new development, though. The teasing on his part had been deliberate. He’d wanted to see if he could make her lose control; he wanted to see her blush, and he wanted her to play his game. However, he never expected her threats, and even if they didn’t scare him, he couldn’t get her face out of his head as he walked over to the café to buy a drink.

The idea of starring in a play had become that much more interesting at the prospect of being able to be around Kayleigh. He’d thought it would be boring, but as his mind came up with all of the ways he could make her blush or curse him, it suddenly became a great source of entertainment, and he wanted to get to know her. He had to remind himself not to take it too far, though. Not only would Ellie string him up by the balls if he hurt Kayleigh, but she was also a sweet girl who already suffered from a lack of confidence. After all, he wasn’t a monster. Regardless, he couldn’t help but wonder if he was ready to change for her … if the performance would be enough of an excuse to allow him to admit his true feelings and prove himself. At least that was his thought until he saw her storming across the room.

Maybe her anger isn’t so hot.

 

 

 

 

Her eyes locked on to him at the end of the counter immediately. Like a homing missile she headed in his direction, weaving through the tables gracefully but rapidly. Within seconds she stood toe-to-toe with him.

“Outside. Now.” She didn’t wait for a response. Gripping his arm, she dragged him from the café until they were outside where less people could see them. Despite being angry, she didn’t want to cause a huge scene. “What the hell was
that
?”

“What the hell was what?” He folded his arms, leaning against the corner of the wall with a teasing expression.

“In there ... the touching ... your comments. This isn’t a game, Aiden.”

“Believe me, I know. I have hundreds of pound resting on you getting me through to the show.”

“I meant me. I’m not going to be your new toy. I know your games, and I know your tricks.” Her anger was subsiding quickly, leaving room for her to doubt herself. She could feel herself reverting back to her old ways, becoming uncomfortable in his presence.

“Oh really? And what games would they be?” When he laughed, she both wanted to hit him and collapse into his arms, the sound making her go weak at the knees as she stared into his cool eyes that were bright with humour.

“You have a new girl on your arm every week, you take what you want and then end it. You’re Aiden Hanson for crying out loud, you’re known for not doing serious. But I refuse to be one of them.”

“What made you think you were going to be?”

That took her back a step. It stripped all of her anger, leaving a cold vulnerability behind. Like someone had thrown a bucket of ice cold water over her, a freezing nervousness surged through her as her heart started to race. Maybe she had read the situation wrong. Kayleigh started to twist her hands in front of her, keeping her attention on the stone beneath her ballet flats that had suddenly become so interesting. “I just thought ... you know ... because ...”

She kicked at the pebble, rolling it beneath her shoe, humiliated. Not knowing how she could have gotten things so wrong, she refused to look at him.

“Kay, I was only messing with you. I thought you’d know I was teasing. I’d never turn you down.”

She saw his feet move, signalling he was no longer leaning against the wall. Yet, not knowing how to respond, all words failing her, she said nothing.

“Look, you said you know how I am. I flirt with everyone, you’ve seen me. I’m confident and I go for what I want. I don’t mean anything by it most of the time.”

“Okay.” She didn’t understand what he was saying. Was he telling her he wasn’t interested or that he was flirting?

“So are we good? You’ll still help me?”

“Promise this isn’t a wind up?” She had to be sure.

“I never joke about money, Kayleigh. I need your help. I can’t promise I won’t say things that will make you uncomfortable, but I’ll try to think before I do something. God knows Ellie will kill me if I hurt you.”

Kayleigh nodded. It wasn’t a great deal, but at least it was something. She didn’t know what working with him was going to be like—she assumed it’d be hell—but she told herself she could work through it. As long as she remained in control and kept her feelings separate, she convinced herself she’d be fine.

“Be back in the P.A.C in thirty minutes, you’ll have your monologue audition.” Unable to stay around him any longer, she turned to leave. Her mind needed a break if she was going to have to help him through auditions.