Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Bending over slightly I place my hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath right now feels almost close to impossible.
Standing back up I turn my head to look at my surroundings.
'Where even am I!?'
Brows furrowed and beads of sweat glistening my hair line I let out a frustrated and happy laugh, remembering what took place about 45 minutes ago.
***
"NICK, shut UP!' Goddddd"
Turning around I walk away from the boys with the intentions of going to class.
But Nick had other plans...
"HEY! Twinkle toes... where yah going?"
Turning back around to face him I see the other boys with him, each one wearing a smirk... but that paired with a dangerous glint in their eyes...
'Not good, definitely not good'
Before I could answer, Jake speaks up
"We're thinking of playing a little game, what do yah say? Wanna play?"
Okay you see if it was anyone else but Jake I definitely would have said no, and they definitely knew that
"Unless.... you're a chicken?"
The words fall out of Nicks mouth followed by sounds of bocking
'God I don't think there is ANYONE ELSE who gets on my last nerve like he does'
But as I turn my head back to look at Jakes soft waiting smile, the words pass my lips faster than my brain can register them.
"Game on."
***
'Jake I trusted you.... what the hell did you get me into!'
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Fuck
Taking in my surroundings I see I'm close to the gym, picking up my pace I leave my spot and pass the gym doors.
Running down the halls I try to stay hidden, ducking down low when an unsuspecting teacher passes my hiding place.
The sound of soft giggling halts me in my place, the light laughter sounding very familiar, turning towards it I take small steps.
'Jake!' It's definitely Jake'
Running now I follow the giggling, straight passed the gym and down the hall I catch a glimpse of his hair, fluttering softly as he rounds the corner.
Ugh!
Speeding up I round the same corner, expecting to catch Jake at the dead end... but instead coming face to face with ....
Nick.
Letting out a terrified Yelp his hands come up, slapping over my mouth he brings a finger to his lip, signaling me to shut up.
With a smile on his face we stand there, in the middle of the hallway, listening to the sounds of the teachers heals.
As they walk the opposite way his hand comes from off of my mouth, and his bright smile becomes smaller as he realizes our position.
Face to face
Chest to chest
With
Nick.
Grabbing my hand roughly he pulls me down the rest of the hallway and towards the stairs, going under them I'm face to face with Jake.
His bright smile immediately makes my racing heart slow down just a bit, squished between the two boys we sit there.
Our game of Hide and Seek continues.
Our soft breathing is the only sound we hear, as we all listen to the footsteps pass our hiding spot.
Over and over again we wait, till the coast is clear.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The tapping comes closer, gripping onto my hand Jake squeezes it harder, I can just tell the excitement is making him nervous.
The tapping stops and a moment later Justin and Sams face make their way into our view,
Hair soaked with sweat makes their smiles shine brighter.
With all 5 of us huddled under the stairs it becomes way too packed for any of us to stay there.
" I think we should stay here"
Jakes soft voice floats to our ears as his hand is still gripped onto mine, I don't know if he's just talking to me or all of us but at the moment staying here doesn't seem like such a bad idea.
With the rest of the boys eyes on me, Nick takes a little more time to register Jakes words... or was it to register where Jakes hand is.
But in that moment I didn't realize under the dim light what his intense gaze was for.
Turning his head with his jaw locked he makes his way out from under the stairs, the rest of us following suit.
"You all can stay...I'm gonna go find someplace else."
Looking directly at me and Jake when he said that.
'Whats his problem, I thought we were friends'
Tap. Tap. Tap.
All of our eyes widen at the sudden rapid tapping sound, just around the corner we all know there is a teacher that's about to catch us in our little game.
Nick gives us one last glance and sprints down the hall, yelling a 'See yah' over his shoulder.
'Shit shit shit!'
A hand snaps me out of my daze, warm and firm as it drags me down the hall, the back of jet black hair is the only thing I see as we run down the hallway.
It bounces up and down as he turns his head to give me a bright smile.
'Justin'
"Faster! Unless you want them to catch us... slow poke"
His laugh vibrates off the walls, his hand gets warmer in mine as he turns back around, picking up my pace I run next to him as we continue to make our way down the hall hand in hand.
~~
'BRINGGGG'
The last bell of the day rings
Stoping in our tracks we turn to look at each other, sweat all over our faces, chests rising up and down rapidly, heavy breathing, and somehow we both are wearing the biggest and brightest smile of the day.
Giggling to ourselves we're still hand in hand as the bodies of other students push past us, all on their way home.
Us?
We're just standing in the middle of the hallway, after our little game it's safe to say we all won.
Pulling me forward Justin makes his way to the cafe to meet up with the rest of the boys, we all agreed that if we didn't end up caught and with detention that we would meet up there.
Jogging our way there he pushes the door open, letting go of my hand for the first time he holds the door open for me.
Giving him a soft smile I walk through it, him following after me.
Rubbing my hand on my pants I try to warm it back up from Justin's missing hand, looking around the lunch room I only see 2 boys.
'There should be 3, who's missing?'
Apart from me and Justin, I see Jake and...
Sam.
'Wheres Nick?'
Standing there for a minute we wait for the missing person, as the last bell of the day rings we all glance around nervously.
"I guess he got caught..."
Jakes voice is the first to cut the tension, we all give out a soft chuckle and agree to head to the dance studio.
Making our way across the cafe we are just about to reach the doors, right before they swing open, nearly knocking me across the room.
"You didn't actually think I'd get caught did you!"
Nick in all his glory stands in the door frame, with the biggest smirk on his face, all of the other boys start to laugh rushing over to patt him on the back.
"Was kinda hoping actually"
Their loud laughing thankfully drowning out my words.
Pushing past Nick we all make our way to the studio, all talking about how we successfully skipped the last 2 classes AND won our little game of hide and go seek.
~
"As you all know we have our mid assessment, and for those who are new this is a graded dance on the people who are in pairs and for the people who are individuals"
Mr. Gee's loud voice makes all of us stare up at him with every ounce of our attention, clapping his hands together he continues.
"So for all of the pairs please pick out the song from up on the board that you will be taking as your final, and let me say this whichever song you pick is only yours, no duplicates. It's first come first serve, so chop chop!
My eyes widen as I stand up immediately running over to the board, skimming my eyes over the songs before anyone else I grab the marker and write our name next to one of the songs.
Not waiting for Nick he comes up behind me, sounding a bit angry that we didn't decide together.
"You could have waited!.."
Turning around to look at him I take him in,
His head is tilted down towards mine, eyebrows furrowed as he talks to me.
"Then you should have hurried up... besides the song I picked for us is a good one."
Nick stops to take a look at the board, turning back to me he chuckles
"Really? 'It's you'...by Ali gatie
you have got to be kidding me, that's way to slow and sappy for me"
Throwing an incredulous look towards him I take a step back from him
"Yeah well if you're such a good dancer like everyone says..
Turning around I walk away from him shouting over my shoulder as I do.
"Then that song shouldn't be a problem!"
Skipping my way over to The other boys I'm curious to know what solo song they're going to do.
Listening to Nick shout at me I sit down by Jake, not paying him any attention.
"So Jakey Shim... what song did YOU pick?"
Turning his head he gives me his full attention, small smile resting on his face
"Dusk til dawn..."
My eyes widen at the sentimental song, not expecting him to pick such a good one I tackle him in a hug, shouting about 'woooww you're gonna be amazing!'