When I wake up in the morning, for the briefest of moments,  I think only about the small kiss I shared with Bayne last night. How soft his lips were on mine, how perfectly they moulded to my own, the warmth that lit my body on fire from such a small, insignificant touch. Like a tiny flame, burning small but exquisite. Kissing him, being kissed by him, it's nothing like I thought it would be. And it was barely anything. But god, It's so much. I feel my cheeks blush at just the thought of it. But then the confusion creeps back in and I can't think clearly anymore. The flame is extinguished before it even had time to thrive.

What exactly was that? Did we actually kiss? He kissed me, just. Sort of. But then he asked me to keep meeting with him a secret and then he just... left.

What even was that? Who does that shit?! How am
I now supposed to respond to that? What the hell does any of this even mean? Fuck.

See. This is why I avoid relationships. Things like this get very messy, very quickly. Guys like him are messy. Reckless with behaviour and hearts. Nothing but trouble. But so hot. Ahhhh. Shit.

I need a coffee.

And I know where I need to get it from.

I flip my legs over the edge of the bed and check my phone for the time. 7.00. Training starts today, but that's this afternoon. All I have this morning is a mandatory gym session at 9.00. Skin folds and basic agility testing. The fun stuff. I have plenty of time to get to Joe's and back before the torture begins.

I throw on a sports bra and tight shorts and pick out one of my cheer team training tops. I match it with my pink Nike's, a messy up do, some toothpaste, a splash of deodorant and I'm out.

I decide to Uber back and forth again until I'm familiar with the trip, then I might run there.
As my ride pulls up, I recognise the lady from last night.

"Making this a regular thing I see?" She questions with a slight laugh as I smile and get in.

"Looks like it." I say, not feeling in the mood for a chat.

"You and the boy both." She says again, only this time, she has my full attention.

"Oh, you dropped my friend to the cafe too?" I ask, trying to act all cool but literally dying on the inside.

Get a grip Ellis. You loser.

"Just now." She says with a small chortle. Is she laughing at me?! The nerve!

We arrive at Joe's and I thank her and exit the car. Safe to say I'll be ordering another ride or finding an alternative method of transport back, no further judgment needed for me today. I'm already judging myself. Hard.

I tentatively take a step toward the red door, trying to scope out the scene from the outside but my efforts are futile. The windows are too dark to see anything other than the odd shape or shadow.

I swallow the weird feeling that has overtaken me and swing the red door open. Nothing is stopping me from getting a cup of glorious coffee to go this morning, not even an awkward Bayne moment.

I try to be all stealth, I'm cool, I'm just casually ordering a latte and definitely not looking around. Absolutely not looking around at all. Because if I was, I would have spotted Bayne at the same table we were at just last night, with some girl, laughing, flirting.

Lucky I'm not looking then.

I feel a sinking feeling start to settle in my stomach where my breakfast isn't. But why? It's not like anything has happened. Well, it has but not really. Shit. Is this what Lexi meant by don't get involved? Is this even something to worry over?

I am momentarily distracted from the wallowing and extreme overthinking, as Joe greets me and asks for my order;

"Latte again honey?" She says sweetly and I manage to nod and hand over some cash before stepping to the side to wait for my sweet liquid saviour.

I crush myself into the corner between the edge of the counter and a wall, attempting to shrink from sight and my own personal shame. I'm not even surprised really. I'm fully versed in these type of guys. I have seen all the teen angst ridden shows about love and loss and losers.

If anything, this is a sign that my initial college plan was meant to be. Guys are a distraction. I can look but not touch. I should just touch myself and leave it at that. Safer. Less messy. In more ways than one.

Nodding both figuratively and actually, I step forward when Joe calls my name and accept my steaming cup of morning gold. I take a small life saving sip just as Bayne comes around the corner with his friend in tow. Still smiling. Still laughing.

Smug bastards. I panic. I have two options:
One- Run like I haven't seen them and hope that I can avoid him for the rest of my college life. Sounds easy.

Or

Two- Man up. Act all cool and unaffected. Because really, I have literally zero fucks to give, ninety nine problems and Bayne and his bitch aren't one.

I take the second option because, why not?' I want to be above the petty shit I was warned about. I am better than this. Bayne and I are friends right? I was foolish to think we might be anything else. I need to get a frigging grip on myself! So let's do this.
I'm a god damn Aussie and we don't take this shit!

I pause, waiting until I know they will be right in front of me and then I make my move. I turn, plaster on a faker than fake smile and get ready for a show.

His face says it all. Caught you mate. You un-original prick. Same place, next day? No game. Absolutely no game.

"Oh hey Bayne, long time no see huh?" I laugh, pun rudely intended mate.

"Hey, ah, Ellis, yeah.... guess so." He gulps visibly and leaves said girl standing there... speechless.

I take the lead on the awkward intro,

"I'm Ellis," I say, smiling in a sickening sweet way.
And then I finish the set;

"What did you guys have? Same as last night? Or different Bayne? I always find trying something different each day is loose myself. Hmmm, yep, I like to stick to one thing at a time. It's better that way. Less drama. And stds. Well, enjoy kids." And just like that I'm gone. Out the door, a strut in my step and a delicious coffee in hand.

I don't miss Joe snickering as I leave either. She knows his game. I must come back and chat to her, see what gossip she holds.

One thing is for certain; he almost had me. Shit. I almost fell for his bullshit lines and gorgeous face. Fuck. My vagina needs to harden up because she almost sold us down a slippery slope for the maybe promise of some Bayne attention.

As I walk briskly back to the dorm I have mentally decided two things:

The coffee shop is an easy run or fast walk away, especially when my mind is elsewhere and the coffee is this good.

And
I need to lift my game. I'm here to dance. The end.

********

I reach the campus with ten minutes to spare before I have to be at testing. This is a regular start of season occurrence in high level teams, in all sports really.
Skin folds, agility testing, baseline fitness level tests. We need to know where we are at now, so we know what to improve on over the season.

My phone beeps just as I round the corner of the gym entrance and I see Candice standing out front. As soon as she sees me she waves and opens the door so we can enter together.

How exciting is this? For some, not so much. But for me? Huge. This is our first offical training session. We will meet the coaches, trainers and the whole team will be present. It's a big deal. Though, not as big as later today. Dance class. All in class.

I'm much more nervous for that than any of this stuff. Fitness I got. Dance, I guess I'll find out later.
We shuffle collectively into the gym and I get to take a quick look around while the staff converse.

The facilities are top notch. Every piece of cardio equipment you could think of is here. Treadmills and rowers, check. So many of them I can't even count. They take up a whole row. Free weights and squat racks on the other side, along the whole other wall!
So much more but I'll have to wait to have a good look later. We can now use this as much as we want, after assessment today.

I'm going to make good use of this place! I spy some medicine balls I'm going to punish later. Better them then someone else's balls....

I turn when I hear the quiet chatter die down and watch as Lexi comes to the front of the group with two ladies, who seem to be mid to late twenties and two youngish, very attractive guys.

"Everyone, please help me welcome our coaching staff for the new season." She says and gets an excited round of applause.

She introduces the two ladies, Mabel and Alissa, the dance and cheer coaches and then the two guys, Axel the gym and fitness coach and Gabe, the stunt and acro coach. Damn! Training will be more fun that I thought.

Axel gives a small wave and we all turn our attention to him. He must be late twenties and has a bod to die for, or touch all night long. Take your pick. While it's strictly forbidden to date coaches, it's absolutely ok to check them out hard core. And I will. Indeed I will.

"Girls, guys, welcome. I know you all probably hate this part but it's an important part of your training regime to have a clear understanding of where you are with your fitness." He starts and I hear a collective grumble from the group.

No complaint from me. I love this part.

He continues,

"So today, we will put you through a list of basic fitness testing based on cardio, strength and agility.
I have asked some of the senior team leaders from the other campus teams to help me out today so we can get through all of it. They should be here any minute." He finishes, looking at the back of the room just as the door opens and a group of guys and girls enter.

Fuck. Me. Hard.

The first person I see, of course, is Bayne. Of course he bloody said yes to this. Wanker. He smirks as he notices me, obviously taking in the very unimpressed look on my face. He turns and whispers something to the person next to him, another face I recognise, Jax.

Him I'm happy to see.

Ah. I need to focus. Just because he is here doesn't mean I have to be forced to speak to him.

"Well look who it is." Candice says close to my ear. But when I turn and give her a scalding look she shakes her head and says;

"Ok, what did i miss?" I shake my head and imply that I will tell her later but she isn't having it.

She moves closer to me;

"Spill." She says and squeezes my hand.

I sneak a look at Axel, who is going through a list, matching people up with a partner and sending them off with paperwork, into the three divided testing sections to get through.

I take my chance to whisper all the recent events into her ear.

"WHAT?" She shrieks out loud. The entire room stops in their tracks and turns to stare at her.

"Is the first test? I'm so keen for this!" She stammers out, leaning over someone's shoulder and pretending to look at the papers they are holding.

"Shit! Candice, later ok?" I quickly whisper and she nods, mouthing the word sorry as we wait to be paired up.

"Candice?" Axel calls out and she steps forward.
"Bayne" Axel says, and he motions for him to join Candice, handing him the paperwork. He edges slowly and wearily over to stand beside a now calculating and smiling Candice. Dirty smirk is no where to be seen now huh bud?

I stifle a giggle.

"Ah, come on then, keep up." She snarls, snatching the paperwork and strutting off, leaving him standing alone.

If looks could kill, Bayne would be ten feet under. He follows Candice like a naughty little school boy as they head to their selected group at the treadmill station. She whips her head to me and winks.

Poor Bayne. She is going to make him sweat.

"Ellis?" Axel calls and I raise my hand, hoping I at least get someone experienced enough to assist me properly. I want to ace this.

"Jax." He says and I smile and release a breath. Jax steps over to me and returns my smile with his, giving me a small wink.

This could not have gone any better.