HANNAH
The hum of the city buzzed in the air as Jeremy parked the car outside the large glass-fronted studio. I stepped out, stretching my legs after the five-hour drive, a mix of nerves and excitement bubbling in my chest. Jeremy got out as well, slamming the car door shut and shoving his hands into his pockets, his expression unreadable.
“Here we go,” I said, exhaling and glancing at him. “You didn’t have to come, you know.”
“I know,” he replied simply, his tone as indifferent as ever.
Inside, the studio was a whirlwind of movement and energy. Dancers stretched along the mirrored walls, their chatter filling the space. And then, there he was—Dylan. His easy grin widened as he spotted me, and before I knew it, he was pulling me into a warm hug.
“Hannah! Finally!” Dylan said, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. “I’ve been waiting for this moment. How’s the ankle?”
“Good as new,” I said, grinning back. “Thanks for being patient with me.”
Jeremy lingered behind, his gaze heavy as he watched us. I introduced them briefly, but Jeremy only gave a curt nod, his face unreadable.
After changing into my dance attire, I joined Dylan on the polished floor. The music swelled, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I let myself move freely, losing myself in the rhythm. Dylan and I worked seamlessly together, his movements perfectly complementing mine.
But every now and then, I’d glance toward the corner of the room where Jeremy sat, his phone in hand. His eyes weren’t on the screen, though—they were locked on us, sharp and cold. It was... unsettling.
When the song ended, Dylan nudged me playfully. “Come on, you’ve got to join us over here.” He gestured to the small group of dancers gathered in a circle, laughing and chatting.
I hesitated, my gaze darting back to Jeremy, who hadn’t moved. “Maybe later,” I said softly. “I should check on him.”
“Jeremy? He looks fine,” Dylan said with a shrug, but I was already walking away.
Jeremy didn’t look up as I approached, his fingers scrolling absently on his phone. I plopped down beside him, slipping my arm around his and resting my head against his shoulder.
“What are you doing?” he muttered, his tone low but not harsh.
“Keeping you company,” I said simply, glancing up at him. “You’ve been staring at me like I did something wrong.”
He finally looked at me, his expression unreadable. “You’re imagining things.”
I rolled my eyes but didn’t move. “Do you not like Dylan or something? You’ve been weird since we got here.”
Jeremy’s lips twitched, a hint of a smirk playing there, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the top of my head, catching me off guard.
“You’re so annoying,” he murmured.
I blinked up at him, startled by the sudden affection, but before I could say anything, he pulled away, his expression once again unreadable. My heart did an awkward little flip as I tried to process what had just happened, but Jeremy was already back to scrolling on his phone, as if nothing had happened at all.
****
By the time practice ended, night had fallen, and rain hammered relentlessly against the studio’s wide windows. The sound was deafening, a constant roar that drowned out everything else. I stared at the downpour, biting my lip. Driving back home in this would be impossible.
“Guess you’re stuck,” Dylan said, strolling over with his signature easy smile. “You two could crash at my place if you want. I’ve got a couch and a spare room.”
“No, thanks,” I said quickly, my eyes already scanning for Jeremy, who was leaning against the far wall, looking completely unfazed by the chaos outside. Dylan’s offer barely registered in my mind as I waved Jeremy over. “We’ll figure it out.”
Dylan’s brow furrowed, but I was already grabbing my bag and Jeremy’s arm. “Come on,” I said, pulling him toward the exit.
He didn’t resist but arched a brow as we stepped into the humid, rain-soaked night. “You have a plan, or are we just going to stand here and let the rain drown us?”
“My apartment’s nearby,” I said, yanking open the passenger door to his car. “We can wait out the storm there.”
Jeremy paused for a moment before shrugging. “Alright.”
The drive was tense. The windshield wipers worked furiously, but the visibility was still awful. Jeremy gripped the steering wheel tightly, his jaw clenched, while I stared out at the blurry lights of the city, trying not to think too hard about the fact that we were about to be alone.
When we finally reached my building, the rain still hadn’t let up. We dashed through the downpour, arriving at my door soaked and shivering. I fumbled with the keys, the awkwardness between us growing heavier with each passing second.
Once inside, I dropped my bag by the door and turned on the lights. My apartment was small but cozy, with an open living room and a kitchen that I hadn’t stepped foot in for months. Jeremy stood awkwardly near the entrance, dripping water onto the floor.
“Make yourself at home,” I said, kicking off my shoes and peeling off my damp jacket. “I’ll grab some towels.”
I returned with two towels, tossing one to him. He caught it easily, running it through his dark hair before draping it around his neck. The silence between us was deafening, and I couldn’t help but replay the last time we were alone together, the memory of his lips on mine still fresh in my mind.
Jeremy broke the silence first. “You didn’t have to drag me all the way here. We could’ve stayed at the studio.”
“It’s pouring. The studio isn’t exactly comfortable, and I didn’t want to bother Dylan.”
“Sure,” he said, his voice low, but I caught the faintest smirk on his lips. “You just wanted me here.”
I bristled, ignoring the heat rising to my cheeks. “Don’t flatter yourself. It’s just practical.”
“Right,” he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he toweled off his arms.
The tension in the room was unbearable. I busied myself by rummaging through the kitchen cabinets, pretending to look for something to drink. Jeremy, of course, didn’t move to make things easier. Instead, he wandered to the living room, sitting on the edge of the couch with his towel draped over his shoulders.
“Nice place,” he said, though the faint teasing lilt in his voice made me turn and glare at him.
“Thanks,” I said flatly, crossing my arms.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The air was thick with unspoken words and the undeniable pull that neither of us wanted to address. I moved to sit on the other end of the couch, careful to keep some distance between us.
Jeremy leaned back, resting his arms on the back of the couch. “So... you’ve got a dance partner now. That Dylan guy. He’s really... friendly.”
“Is that a problem?” I shot back, narrowing my eyes.
He shrugged, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Not for me.”
“Good.”
We sat in silence for a few minutes, the sound of the rain pounding against the windows filling the space. I leaned back into the cushions, trying to ignore the way his presence seemed to fill the entire room.
“You’re quiet tonight,” he said after a while, his voice soft but teasing. “Thinking about something?”
I glanced at him, catching the glint of mischief in his eyes. “Nothing important.”
“Sure,” he said, his smirk widening. “You’re always an open book, Hannah.”
I rolled my eyes and turned away, but the small smile tugging at my lips betrayed me. Despite the awkwardness, there was something oddly comforting about having him here. Something that made the storm outside seem far less daunting.
****