tensed in Peirce ’ s arms.
“ Just go with it, ” he whispered, not realizing he was the reason it happened at all.
He spun me out, holding me at arm ’ s reach, and then tucked me into his arms again. It was my song Ryland was playing, but then again, it wasn ’ t. It was angry, sad, raw. It tore at my heart, and all I wanted to do was go to him and beg him to forgive me, take me back, and never let me go.
It felt like our performance went on forever rather than the two minutes it actually lasted. I both welcomed and dreaded the ending. I wished I ’ d never let Violet and Pierce talk me into it, but never in a million years did I think I would be performing in front of Ryland.
Pierce spun me and lifted me against him. My head fell back and I felt his lips against my chest. I was sure he could feel my heart pounding, and I didn ’ t want him to get the wrong idea. The music ended abruptly and I panicked. Pierce ’ s lips dragged up my neck. They were supposed to stop against mine, but I tensed in his arms and he didn ’ t go any farther. My chest burst with relief as we finished the routine. I bent my back over his arm and he followed, molding against my chest, and then the lights went out.
“ Are you okay? ” Pierce asked, pulling me back up.
“ Yes. ” It wasn ’ t as convincing as I wanted it to be, but I couldn ’ t help the slight shake in my voice.
“ It ’ s almost over, ” he said, not realizing my fear wasn ’ t from the crowd around us, but from only one person.
We stood side by side and were hit with that bright light again as everyone broke out in applause. It was almost deafening as it echoed off the walls. It made my ears ring. I had no idea where Ryland was or if he was even still around. He ’ d stopped playing before the performance was over.
Pierce bowed, pulling me with him, and I let him take control while I gathered myself. I felt like the walls were closing in on me. My darkness suffocated me and I felt like clawing at my own skin to get free, but there was no escaping this prison.
“ Were these two not absolutely amazing? ” I recognized Mr. Vincent ’ s voice over the speakers. “ Please give Araya Noelle and Pierce Montgomery a special round of applause. ”
The crowd cheered louder. I listened to Mark Vincent explain to everyone who Pierce and I were and how he was donating over fifty thousand dollars to the prestigious Madison Academy, School for the Blind.
As soon as Mark was done with his introductions, I slipped free from Pierce ’ s hand.
“ Araya? ” I heard Pierce call after me, but I didn ’ t stop moving.
I shifted through the bodies and pushed my way through the crowd. People congratulated me as I passed them, telling me how amazing I did and how brave I was.
When I shoved through the doors that led to my getaway, I gasped for breath. It was far from over, though.
I knew it was coming. When it was coming was a whole different story. I didn ’ t know where I was going, but I rushed down the hall, feeling against the wall as I went. I kept glancing behind me as if I expected an image to suddenly appear, but only darkness stalked me.
When I got to the sharp edge of a corner, I turned, pressing myself against the wall. I took a deep breath and my eyes closed. I breathed in deeply again and I could smell him, but I didn ’ t expect it, and I choked on my next breath. His body was warm and hard as it pressed against mine. His finger pressed against my lips before I could utter a sound.
Spinning me in his arms, he pulled me against his front and his arm was around my waist, fitting our hips together. His breath teased the sensitive skin at my ear and a bolt of currents ran down my spine.
He moved so quick I didn ’ t even realize he ’ d done it until I felt my hair spilling down my back and over my shoulder. Slowly, his hand moved up my arm and behind my shoulders, pulling all my hair to the side. A whimper trembled free when I felt his lips
“ Just go with it, ” he whispered, not realizing he was the reason it happened at all.
He spun me out, holding me at arm ’ s reach, and then tucked me into his arms again. It was my song Ryland was playing, but then again, it wasn ’ t. It was angry, sad, raw. It tore at my heart, and all I wanted to do was go to him and beg him to forgive me, take me back, and never let me go.
It felt like our performance went on forever rather than the two minutes it actually lasted. I both welcomed and dreaded the ending. I wished I ’ d never let Violet and Pierce talk me into it, but never in a million years did I think I would be performing in front of Ryland.
Pierce spun me and lifted me against him. My head fell back and I felt his lips against my chest. I was sure he could feel my heart pounding, and I didn ’ t want him to get the wrong idea. The music ended abruptly and I panicked. Pierce ’ s lips dragged up my neck. They were supposed to stop against mine, but I tensed in his arms and he didn ’ t go any farther. My chest burst with relief as we finished the routine. I bent my back over his arm and he followed, molding against my chest, and then the lights went out.
“ Are you okay? ” Pierce asked, pulling me back up.
“ Yes. ” It wasn ’ t as convincing as I wanted it to be, but I couldn ’ t help the slight shake in my voice.
“ It ’ s almost over, ” he said, not realizing my fear wasn ’ t from the crowd around us, but from only one person.
We stood side by side and were hit with that bright light again as everyone broke out in applause. It was almost deafening as it echoed off the walls. It made my ears ring. I had no idea where Ryland was or if he was even still around. He ’ d stopped playing before the performance was over.
Pierce bowed, pulling me with him, and I let him take control while I gathered myself. I felt like the walls were closing in on me. My darkness suffocated me and I felt like clawing at my own skin to get free, but there was no escaping this prison.
“ Were these two not absolutely amazing? ” I recognized Mr. Vincent ’ s voice over the speakers. “ Please give Araya Noelle and Pierce Montgomery a special round of applause. ”
The crowd cheered louder. I listened to Mark Vincent explain to everyone who Pierce and I were and how he was donating over fifty thousand dollars to the prestigious Madison Academy, School for the Blind.
As soon as Mark was done with his introductions, I slipped free from Pierce ’ s hand.
“ Araya? ” I heard Pierce call after me, but I didn ’ t stop moving.
I shifted through the bodies and pushed my way through the crowd. People congratulated me as I passed them, telling me how amazing I did and how brave I was.
When I shoved through the doors that led to my getaway, I gasped for breath. It was far from over, though.
I knew it was coming. When it was coming was a whole different story. I didn ’ t know where I was going, but I rushed down the hall, feeling against the wall as I went. I kept glancing behind me as if I expected an image to suddenly appear, but only darkness stalked me.
When I got to the sharp edge of a corner, I turned, pressing myself against the wall. I took a deep breath and my eyes closed. I breathed in deeply again and I could smell him, but I didn ’ t expect it, and I choked on my next breath. His body was warm and hard as it pressed against mine. His finger pressed against my lips before I could utter a sound.
Spinning me in his arms, he pulled me against his front and his arm was around my waist, fitting our hips together. His breath teased the sensitive skin at my ear and a bolt of currents ran down my spine.
He moved so quick I didn ’ t even realize he ’ d done it until I felt my hair spilling down my back and over my shoulder. Slowly, his hand moved up my arm and behind my shoulders, pulling all my hair to the side. A whimper trembled free when I felt his lips
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