Alexis' POV
It's my first day attending the Yoga class I'd registered for online. For something that had a month's free trial, I wasn't expecting it to be of any use but I decided to give it a try before judging it. The moment I walked into the gym building, I introduced myself to the receptionist and she welcomed me with smiles, directing me to the yoga studio immediately. But I wasn't expecting what I saw the moment I stepped into the studio. The large room was filled with women that mostly looked like runway models, all dressed in gym clothing, hanging around in small groups and chatting lightly. From the mere sight of them, I recognized a few of them that I've seen modeling on different magazine covers and even some Victoria's Secret models. I was stunned speechless, my legs failing, as I froze by the door. When I'd registered for the free class, I hadn't expected it to be this filled with different beauties that it looked like they were all competing for Miss Universe, rather than attending a free yoga session.
My prolonged stay at the door post must have caught their attention because I caught a few nasty stares directed at me, with the majority of them checking me out and rolling their eyes. I didn't need to check out myself to know what had warranted those dirty obnoxious stares_it was pretty obvious. I was one of the few curvy women in the room, and as if that wasn't enough, I was very much shorter than the majority of them in my little height of 5"4. What was supposed to build up my self-confidence was beginning to demean it more, and the main purpose for my presence hadn't even been established. At this point, I had half a mind to leave and return home but exhaling, I swallowed and slowly made my way towards a corner of the room, standing by the window, and looking out at the city below, the busy streets serving as my main focus_a way to zone out on the nervousness that was nagging at me, and to also do away with the dirty looks and eye rolls I was getting from the other women.
Although I tried my best to get lost in the background, I couldn't stop myself from listening in on their conversations.
"He's so hot…" one of the women closest to me drawled in a sultry voice.
"The man put all Greek gods to shame with his beauty. I can't wait to be his partner for whatever positions we'll try out," another responded.
At this point, I was very sure they were talking about the yoga instructor and It also dawned on me why so many of them had registered for the class_not that they needed it, but to ogle the instructor. I couldn't care less about his looks. Not that I'd seen the man, but then, Ted was also very good-looking but turned out to be the greatest asshole of the century. There was nothing special about pretty men, except they were just that_pretty with a stinking attitude.
"You can't be so sure he'll pick you to be his partner," another woman commented, clearly upset by the first woman's words but this only earned her a mocking chuckle.
"Oh, come on darling, you don't expect him to partner up with a stranger when he has a friend here do you?" The woman who had laughed spoke up. "I know Quinn, love and he wouldn't pick a stranger over his friend. Stop daydreaming about him, I mean, you aren't even his type but if you truly want him, I could put in a word for you,"
I rolled my eyes at her attitude, wondering how people kept women like her as friends. Ignoring their meaningless banter, I continued looking out the window, zoning out of my environment and the happenings around me, my thoughts running deep to my past and how what I'd considered a lovely relationship with Ted had ended abruptly in an ugly way. I was so lost in my trance that I didn't realize the class had long started, until a hand tapped my shoulder, causing me to flinch, a gasp of shock flying out of my lips. Quickly, I whipped my head around, but I wasn't ready for what my eyes met.
Gorgeous ocean blue eyes stared back at me, darkening with concern but that wasn't what stole my attention. The god standing before me did. My eyes naturally drank him in, trailing from his eyes to his neck, past his Adam's apple, to his shoulder blades, all covered in tattoos, that spread out to his biceps, ending at his wrists. The form-fitting wife-beater he had on wasn't helping matters as it left nothing to the imagination, except for the tattoos that seemed to have continued to his chest from the little exposed skin of his shoulder that I could see.
"Hey," his deep guttural voice sailed into my ears, causing my eyes to snap back to his. The concern I'd seen from earlier was still etched in them. As if I hadn't had enough, my hungry eyes ate his facial features, from his thin pointed nose to his plump pale pink lips, down to his clean-shaven jaw. "Are you okay?" The voice growled, and my stomach coiled, setting off butterflies that had me biting my lips, scared that I'd release a whimper from how tight my lower stomach was knotted. Unable to speak, I simply gave him a small nod. He watched me for a few seconds, still holding my gaze. "Please, pay attention. I noticed you zoned out and weren't listening to whatever information I'd passed out so, for your sake, I'll begin. Is that okay?" Again, I nodded in response. Without uttering more words, he returned to his position at the front, and began addressing everyone, and also orienting us on what we're to expect for the duration of the program.
My eyes traveled around the studio to see a few of the women giving me the stink eye and at that moment, I felt like sinking to the ground for it to swallow me. I didn't know how to handle the unnecessary attention born out of their jealousy but I also understood that to make it through the month of trial and for the duration of my stay in the class, I had to keep maximum distance between the instructor and me, to get peace of mind. Heaving a distressful sigh, I returned my attention to the hot instructor as the class began.
For the next two hours, we practiced different poses for beginners and it was really fun. Considering he was also a very attentive instructor, he made sure everyone was following and openly ignored the women that made it a point to flirt with him by pretending they couldn't get the poses right. More than that, the few hours I spent in the class calmed me and my chaotic life was forgotten.
"We'll stop here for today, ladies," the instructor announced as the class came to an end. "And I hope to see y'all in our next class," he gave a genuine smile afterward, turning to exit but before he could, some of the women called his attention, pretending to have private questions about the class but it was pretty obvious that they just wanted an uninterrupted chance to flirt with him.
For a few minutes, I stared at the flock around him before releasing a breath and packing my gym bag. While they were all still busy getting to know each other, I slinked out of the building, hailing down a cab to head home. Throughout the short drive to my home, my thoughts floated around my encounter with the yoga instructor and how my body had reacted to a single touch from him. It had been a while I got those instant reactions from the opposite sex. Yes, with Ted, things were really sweet but it never really had me in knots, leaving me nervous and hot like a single touch from the man did. The last time I felt that was…
Suddenly, I felt a jerk in the car and my heart sank, a gasp of terror expelling from my lips. I quickly scooted to the edge of my seat, struggling to find an object to grip, not wanting to fall down. At this point, my breath came out in short pants, with my heart slamming against my chest, my survival instincts leading me. I was so lost in myself that I didn't notice the car door opening until an arm grabbed my wrist, shaking me.
"Ma'am…" a masculine voice sailed into my ears, distracting me from my terror. "Are you okay? We've arrived at your destination,"
My eyes scanned his face, shifting past him to our environment and then back to the car and my seat, only to realize I was still safe in my seat, with my seat belt in place. At the realization that what I'd thought was a near-death experience was another of my panic attacks, I quickly nodded at the cabman, handing him some dollar bills and hastily scurrying into the apartment building I shared with my friends, with my eyes filled with tears. As soon as I was inside our apartment, a choked sob flew out of my lips, while I hurried to my room in search of my pills with tears streaming down my face.
It killed me on the inside to know a second party had witnessed my panic attacks. I hated having them in public. I shouldn't have thought about him. I mentally scolded myself as I threw the pills into my mouth, swallowing them with a large gulp of water. This experience only proved I needed the yoga classes more than ever and I also had to stay far away from the instructor. I couldn't afford to risk another attack with the feelings he aroused in me.