HANNAH
Months had passed since that day with Jeremy. The tension between us had melted into something almost unrecognizable—something like indifference, maybe. We still ate lunch together sometimes, with Big Jim and Jessica now a solid pair. I watched them, day after day, sitting beside each other, holding hands, exchanging sweet glances and inside jokes. It was cute, sure, but it made something in my chest twist, something I didn’t want to face.
They were happy. And me? Well, I was alone, and it was fine—no, it was better this way. Or so I kept telling myself.
Big Jim, the charming and surprisingly sweet guy who had once been this intimidating figure to us all, was now this goofy, lovesick fool who couldn’t stop talking about Jessica. And Jessica? Well, she had somehow managed to grab hold of Big Jim's heart, making him fall for her in the most absurdly perfect way. They were ridiculous—talking about wedding plans as if they were already in their twenties. I tried not to think about it too much, but sometimes, I’d overhear them and feel a pang of longing. Not for Big Jim, obviously. But for the kind of relationship they had—a connection so easy, so natural. They seemed so comfortable in their own skin, with each other, like they belonged together.
Me? I had ballet. That was my thing now. My escape. The way I could feel like I was doing something just for me, where I didn’t need anyone else’s validation. Ballet had become a part of me in ways I hadn’t expected. I wasn’t just taking classes anymore—I was training. I had gotten so much better, faster than I’d imagined. I wasn’t perfect, but I could see the progress, and I was proud of it. The graceful way I moved across the floor, the control I had over my body—something about it just felt right. I was good at it.
But even so, sometimes, I couldn’t help but wonder about the things I’d left behind. I’d learned to stop thinking about Jeremy in certain ways, but it was hard to forget him entirely. Especially when I’d see him during lunch or when he’d quietly join us in the hallways like nothing had changed. There were moments when his presence still shook me, his blue eyes searching mine, his smile warm but distant.
Today, though, I had another distraction. It was just another regular afternoon, the bell ringing and signaling the end of the school day. Jessica and Big Jim were practically glued to each other as we walked out of school, and I couldn’t help but feel a little out of place. They were walking ahead of me, hands intertwined, talking animatedly about something I couldn’t quite catch. I was lost in my thoughts, the weight of my ballet shoes in my bag weighing me down as I tried to focus on getting to the studio.
“Hey, Hannah!” Jessica’s voice broke through my thoughts, and I looked up to see her grinning at me.
“What’s up?” I asked, even though I had an idea of where this conversation was going.
“You ready for practice?” she asked, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “I swear, I’ve seen you improve so much. You’re like a freaking professional now.”
I blushed, shaking my head slightly. “I’m still learning. But yeah, I’m ready.”
Big Jim, who had been walking on the other side of Jessica, smirked at me. “You should be proud, Hannah. I mean, half the guys in your class are watching you like they’ve never seen someone move before.”
I rolled my eyes, even though his words made my heart skip a beat. It wasn’t exactly a secret that guys seemed to be paying attention to me now. Not that I ever liked the attention.
I tried to laugh it off. “Big Jim, stop teasing me,” I said, nudging him with my elbow. “I’m just trying to focus on my dancing, not… whatever you’re talking about.”
But Jessica wasn’t done. She gave me a playful shove. “She’s being modest! Hannah’s practically the star of the class. Every time she does a pirouette, it’s like magic. The guys are all over you, you know?”
I felt my face heat up, and I couldn’t stop the little smile tugging at my lips, even though I was embarrassed. I didn’t need this. I really didn’t. But they kept going, and before I could respond, I heard a familiar voice.
“Hey, wait up!”
I turned around to see Jeremy walking toward us, hands shoved deep in his pockets, a casual look on his face. I hadn’t expected to see him here. He rarely joined us for these kinds of things.
“You coming with us?” I asked, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
Jeremy nodded, a slight grin pulling at his lips. “Yeah, I thought I’d watch you practice. See if you’re as good as Big Jim’s making you out to be.”
I was taken aback. Jeremy? Actually coming to watch me dance? That didn’t make sense. We didn’t really hang out anymore. But here he was, following us like it was the most normal thing in the world.
“Really?” I asked, my voice sounding higher than usual. “You want to watch ballet?”
He shrugged, and for the first time in a long time, I saw the faintest hint of a smile on his face. “Why not? You’re getting better, right? I might learn something.”
I couldn’t help the nervous flutter in my stomach. Of all the times Jeremy had been around, this felt… different. I glanced over at Jessica and Big Jim, both of whom were practically grinning ear to ear at the situation.
“Well, now that you’re here, maybe we can start practicing, huh?” I said, trying to hide my unease behind a smile.
The four of us made our way to the ballet studio, where the rest of the class was already getting ready. But as we walked inside, I could feel Jeremy’s eyes on me. I didn’t know why, but it made me nervous. Maybe it was because, despite everything, I still cared what he thought.
“I’m telling you, he’s going to be blown away by how good you are,” Big Jim said loudly, nudging me. “Hannah’s got that… that magic, you know? You should see how the boys look at her. They can’t get enough.”
I felt my face go crimson, and I immediately punched him in the arm. “Knock it off, Jim,” I said, trying to cover my embarrassment. “I’m not here to impress anyone.”
Big Jim, not one to back down from a joke, just grinned. “Sure you aren’t, princess.”
I turned to Jessica, half-joking and half-annoyed. “If he keeps this up, I might have to hide you from him,” I said, rolling my eyes. “You’re all he ever talks about.”
Jeremy didn’t respond at first, his expression unreadable. But then, just when I thought he was going to say something, he shrugged and let out a quiet chuckle. “You seem pretty used to it, though. Doesn’t seem to bother you.”
And just like that, everything felt normal again. Or at least, it almost did. I shot Jeremy a quick smile, but there was something in his eyes that lingered, something that I couldn’t quite place.
We all went to the sidelines to watch the rest of the class as I began to warm up. My heart was still racing, but I kept my focus on the music. The rhythm. The movement. I was in my element.
But no matter how hard I tried to concentrate, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Jeremy’s presence in the room was somehow making everything harder, making me question everything I thought I had moved on from.
I pushed the thoughts away. Tonight wasn’t about him. It was about me.
And for the first time in a long time, that was enough.
****
As Hannah danced, her movements flowing effortlessly across the floor, Jessica and Big Jim couldn't help but watch Jeremy, who had settled himself quietly on the side, his gaze locked onto her. There was something intense about the way he watched her, something that seemed to pull the air around him tight. He wasn’t making any noise, wasn’t fidgeting or acting out like usual. He simply stared at Hannah, his blue eyes almost drinking her in, as if he couldn’t look away, like he was mesmerized by her every move.
It wasn’t lost on either Jessica or Big Jim how different Jeremy was now. They had known him for years, but this was something new. They exchanged a glance, knowing full well that something was happening, even if neither of them was quite sure what it was. The energy in the room had shifted, and it was impossible to ignore the way Jeremy's eyes followed Hannah as she moved through the positions.
Jessica nudged Big Jim gently with her elbow, her lips curling into a knowing smile. “You see that?” she whispered, motioning to Jeremy without being too obvious. “He’s staring at her like he’s never seen anyone dance before. I think he’s confused.”
Big Jim leaned back, watching the scene unfold before him. He crossed his arms and nodded slowly. “Yeah, he’s been acting all indifferent to her for months now, but it’s clear he doesn’t know what to do with himself. I think he’s starting to realize... that he likes her. A lot.”
Jessica raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching into a smirk. “You really think so? I mean, he’s not exactly the type to show it, right? He’s not like us. He doesn’t get what it means to—" She stopped herself and shrugged. "He’s always been a little oblivious about this stuff.”
Big Jim chuckled. “He’s a genius, but when it comes to people? Yeah, he’s clueless. But look at the way he’s looking at her right now. I mean, it’s like he’s seeing her for the first time, or like he’s finally realizing she’s not just this social butterfly but insecure girl anymore.” His eyes narrowed as he looked at Jeremy again, his expression thoughtful. “It’s the way he watches her, though. Like... like he can’t get enough of her.”
Jessica leaned in, her eyes tracking the way Jeremy’s gaze followed Hannah, never straying for even a moment. She had been watching him carefully, and now it was so obvious. “It’s not just that, Jim. It’s the way he looks at her now. It’s different. It’s intense.” Her voice softened, almost as if she were musing to herself. “She’s not just pretty anymore. She’s... she’s this damn star. Like a celebrity or something. I don’t know. She’s... wow.”
Big Jim let out a low whistle, clearly impressed by how Jessica was seeing it. “I see it too. She’s got this vibe now. And he’s definitely noticing. You can’t tell me he’s not. He doesn’t just stare at any girl like that.”
Jessica let out a quiet laugh, glancing at her boyfriend. “Exactly. I’ve been saying it for weeks. Hannah’s got it. She’s more than just pretty. She’s beautiful, and it’s not just her looks anymore. It’s everything about her now. The way she moves, the way she carries herself. It’s like she’s completely transformed, and Jeremy... well, he’s not blind.”
“Yeah, I noticed that,” Big Jim replied, his grin widening as he leaned back, looking at Jeremy once more. “And you know what? He might be all smart and stuff, but at the end of the day, he’s still a guy. A guy who can’t help but be affected by someone like Hannah.”
Jessica chuckled, nodding in agreement. “I mean, how could he not be? She’s stunning. And it’s not just her face. It’s her whole energy now. It’s like she’s glowing. People can’t help but notice her, and Jeremy’s no exception. He might not realize it yet, but he’s feeling something. You can see it in the way he’s looking at her right now.”
The two of them fell silent for a moment, watching as Hannah finished her routine, her body moving with grace, her posture elegant, and her confidence more radiant than ever. As she finished, she took a deep breath and wiped the sweat from her brow, not noticing Jeremy’s continued gaze on her. The room was filled with the echoes of her performance, but all anyone could focus on was how her beauty had bloomed into something undeniable.
Big Jim spoke first, breaking the silence. “You’re right, Jessica. She’s different. She’s so much more than she was before. I don’t know how Jeremy doesn’t see it yet.”
Jessica laughed softly, but there was a quiet conviction in her voice. “He’s getting there. He’s just... slow. But trust me, he likes her. He’s not fooling anyone, not even himself.”
As they continued to watch, Jeremy finally broke his gaze from Hannah, though it was clear he was still processing what he’d seen. His face was unreadable, a mixture of confusion and awe. He gave a quick nod and turned to leave, but not before casting one last glance at her, his eyes lingering on Hannah longer than any of them had anticipated.
The room felt heavy with the unspoken truth, and Jessica couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief. “It’s gonna happen,” she whispered. “It might take some time, but he’ll realize it. He’s gonna see what we see. And when he does, it’s gonna be impossible for him to walk away from her.”
Big Jim nodded silently, his eyes fixed on the door where Jeremy had exited, leaving only a trace of his presence behind. “Yeah, it will. I just hope he doesn’t take too long.”
As Hannah took a seat on the floor, catching her breath after her dance, Jessica and Big Jim exchanged a look that spoke volumes. Things between them and Jeremy were about to get a whole lot more complicated—but they all knew one thing for sure: no one would be able to ignore the way he felt about Hannah for much longer.
****