Laura P. O. V:

Dear contestants,

Congratulations. We are very happy to hear that you just entered the next level of dancing. We would like you to meet your sparkling passion of dance in the next stage and hope to see you in the finals.

To enter the semi finals,

Please pay the required amount to the following account by online, within 24 April.

Twenty thousand dollars.

Cluchank.

Twenty freaking thousand dollars.

Are they going to build a ship to Mars?

Why do they need such a hell lot of money?

I looked at the letter again to confirm whether I had read it right.

It was still there. The bold two with four perfectly oval zeros etched on the fresh paper.

Disappointed, I shoved up back into the heavy rack of books on my arms.

Twenty thousand by tomorrow? Not going to happen.

I slouched, tiredness heavy on my head on the teak cupboard of the most detached part of the whole town. My school library. The crunchy smell of old papers oddly calmed my mind.

Visiting library in school hours is prohibited. But with Shirley and her games, I am 100% sure that my head is going to be blown off in front of everyone.

So I started taking notes on this theory on English literature. About love and chemistry.

Chemistry? What an illicit subject.

Chemistry is different from love. Some would say it's fake because chemistry is something associated with beauty. It would fade away as relationship goes on.

But everyone needed that spark in their life. Without chemistry, holding hands would be like a stalker ready to kidnap you.

I remembered the intense chemistry between Christian and Shirley yesterday night. They were holding each other and he seemed very bright and happy.

They are perfect!

Anger crept on my mind with no solid reason. He is what he is. A player.

I tiptoed on my feet, trying to get the book from the highest shelf to add it to my collection. My hands was pulling it from the middle of the bunch. But my heart, a part of me broke when the blinding trust on him was broken.

That. arrogant. jerk.

Suddenly all books started to collapse from the shelf.

Welcome! My broken nose.

Scared, I closed my eyes tightly when another hand from my back slammed them back, protecting me. I shuttered open my eyes and looked up to see a chiseled sharp jaw with a five o clock shadow, good enough to be charming. His body sandwiched me with the wooden shelf, pushing me against his hard chest.

Oh! He must be at least more than six feet.

"Well! Every book would be responsible for the stitches on your face"

He looked down at me, with a soft smile spreading a homely warmth, like Christmas. His caring eyes stared back at me.

"Are you alright?", His eyebrows arched.

"Yah. But I want all the dirty parts", I said blankly staring at him.

Reality hit me as I realized how absurd I am. Heat rose to his cheeks, his eyes flicked whether he had heard the right words.

"The book! I meant the book.", I said in reflex.

He looked up and picked the book. His eyes scanned curiously on the title of the book.

"You never seem to have a kinky side?"

"You never even know me."

He looked at the collection of the books I had in my hand.

Fault in Our Stars
Romeo and Juliet
Fifty shades of Grey
How to get a guy
And every weird books were stacked on my hand.

"That is an interesting collection of a book. You seem like.."

"Craving for attention?", I rolled my eyes.

"No. An incurable romantic."

What? Is he hitting on me?

I looked deeply into his eyes. Well, there is no hint of flirt in his eyes and they were so warm and friendly.

His eyebrows frowned as I eye stalked his face. He moved further away from me and placed his hand on the teak cupboard which created a slight earthquake in it.

"Was that weird? I am sorr-", he said.

He started to speak as book from the top shelf fell from the earthquake he created and hit me right on the middle of my head.

Oww.

Adding oil to my burning rage, my head ached hard. The heavy stack of books slipped down on the floor, creating a havoc in the silence.

"Shit! I'm so sorry about that.", He said, rubbing my head to ease the bruise.

"Now it's weirder.", I said, alarming the close intimacy.

A cute boy in the abandoned section of romantics? It's like a dream which never exists.

My phone rang from under the pile of the books, scattered all around.

Video call from Christian!

How did he get my number?

I took it, a slight joy made my heart skip a beat. My mood suddenly lifted up as I took the call.

I saw a blurred video of Christian's face with a background of people and a white board.

"Hello, enemy!"

"Enemy?"

"So, let's play a game, honeybee. I would give you three hints on where I am and you should rush here within five minutes."

"Why would I do that?"

"Because I am doing a project on how to get revenge by exposing the dark secrets of you"

"What?", My nerves were tensed, my brain racking every possible way to find out what he is going to do without giving out a clue that I'm stressed.

Yesterday was a perfect escape. I was quick off the mark and no one had ever found out us.

"So let's get a glimpse of the audience!"

He turned the phone as I saw a lot of people, sitting down. He got everyone's attention. At the right corner was David, who is frantically typing in his phone.

Shit.

He turned the camera back and I saw Shirley, hugging him and kissing his cheek hardly.

"Here is our special sweet guest, Shirley"

If she is here, that's trouble. She would make a big scene about whatever she gets and that gave me creeps.

"What? Where are you?"

"Find out within five minutes."

I looked at the background for clues. White board, a big podium in centre and a brown wallpaper.

"Oh! And say hi to Ethan, who is behind you"

"Ethan?", I looked behind to see Ethan standing confused, his hands grazed his brown hair and he looked at me, trying to find the explanation.

"Hey Ethan. Thanks man for distracting her."

"And Laura! You are right. We, players would always break hearts."

The video call disconnected.

I stood dazed, knowing the fact that I was being played. I am one of his pawn in his game of chess. My eyes filled with tears, my heart thumped hard, wishing this was a nightmare.

David was right! He is always right.

"Woah! I can explain", Ethan said, his same soothing eyes which felt like Christmas now scared me. He came closer, trying to calm me.

"You were.. a.. bait? You used... me!", I found strength to find my broken words.

"Laura! Listen to me, please."

"Get off me", I pushed him back against the cupboard as the last pieces of my strength and trust were lost.

A text message ringed.

David: Come to Socio cls. You are SO FIRED.