Maybe, Nova Responds With A Soft Shrug Of Her Shoulders, But You Know How It Is. Take Your Eye Of The

“ maybe, ” nova responds with a soft shrug of her shoulders, “ but you know how it is. take your eye of the ball for a second and there’s someone else there, ready to try and take your place. ” as of right now her competitiveness and strive are still too strong to allow that. besides, aside from some online classes it’s not like she has much else going on. often too consumed by dance it doesn’t give much time for anything else. friends are hard to make, difficult to keep. and while she’s gained a few in their time here, sometimes it still feels like no one understands her. no one except him. apollo. the person who saved her in more ways than he could possibly realize. the easier option, he says. knows it's a joke and yet her smile threatens to falter. focuses hard to keep it in place, an art she's perfected. deep down she knows it shouldn't bother her, tries not to pay too much attention to the potential reason why it does. he's her roommate, her dance partner, one of the only true people she has in her life. feelings are out of the question, a bad idea . . . right ? " oh so you're saying this deal we've got going on is purely convivence for you, because you have no other options ? " she gently teases, slight raise of perfectly sculpted brow. her gaze softens suddenly, often confused by the way he'll sometimes say something that creates a warmth in her chest. " yeah, but you have to admit, " she begins, small step closer, " proving people wrong is one hell of a satisfying feeling. kind of like when i proved you wrong, because i know you didn't think i'd last a week dancing with you. now here we are, and you can't live without me. " there's a proud smile as she reaches out without much though ( something so unlike her, except with him ) and lightly presses finger to his chest.

"i think you're far more ahead than just on top of it," he comments. he doesn't see nova as a glass ceiling breaker, he sees her as the glass ceiling. one that, frankly, is unreachable for anyone else. he'd been dancing for almost three decades, and no dance partner he'd ever had compared to nova. they were all agreeable, willing to let apollo take over, and in awe of his talent. which, was great for his ego, but didn't make him better. and, as a professional dancer, that's what one strived for. his first rehearsal was full of arguments with nova, and they covered all of ten seconds of a dance in the span of an hour. she was challenging and annoying, but deep down, it was what he needed in a partner.

"that's what they call me," he chuckles. being humble was for insecure people, which he very much was not. at least, not when it came to his ability on the dancefloor. "honestly, i think you're the only one who wants me on or off the stage these days. which, is totally fine with me. way easier that way," he says, oblivious to how it could be taken. "you know, you're very much a kill them with kindness type. before you, if a company doubted me, i would simply move on..." there were many dance companies, but only one apollo fairbanks. "i guess everyone can thank you for making me nicer."

" that all sounds amazing, " nova replies, bright smile. " there's something about fall that just makes everything feel so cozy, don't you think ? " the darker nights, wrapping up warm, a greater sense of togetherness. it might just be one of her favourite times of the year. " you can't go wrong with banana bread, but those pumpkin-shaped cookies ? that’s such a good idea. do they come in different designs, or is it just the pumpkins ? because personally, i think little ghosts would be adorable. "

" doesn't it? " hadley smiled at the other. caffeine was honestly one of her daily essentials. at least one cup a day because she needed to be awake. especially when working slightly longer shifts at the bakery. a lot of the items were new things they were trying out and selling to hopefully get the fall vibe going more. " you got it. well. one of my co-workers has added apple fritters to the list, pumpkin pie, banana bread, pumpkin shaped cookies. i'm not sure if any of those spark your interest but i must say... they are SO good. " hadley felt the same way when it came to choosing a dessert. anything with apple or cinnamon and she was entirely sold.

" maybe, " ace answers honestly, because he can't make any promises he won't mess it up. " i’m kind of known for that, teds. it’s my thing. i’ve made a lot of people regret a lot of things. " his words are light-hearted, spoken with a teasing tone and accompanied by a casual shrug. a grin spreads across his face, and for a brief moment he considers making a joke about his parents— but he quickly decides against it. he’s not sure teddy would let it go over her head like others did, and now isn’t the time to open up about things like that. not when they have something important to focus on. " i pay plenty of attention, " ace assures her, keeping his eyes fixed on the ingredients in front of him. he’s not sure he trusts himself to look at her just yet. lately, he’s becoming too aware of what his heart is trying to tell him, things his mind is desperately trying to ignore. like how pretty she is, or how no one has ever made him laugh as much as she does. " but you’re the only person who can be you, teds. you’re one of a kind. " scrunches his nose, deep in though. " but if someone bought you a cake that you didn’t make, wouldn’t you be mad they went to someone else ? i can’t get my cakes anywhere else now. it feels like bakery cheating. " he laughs, a real laugh this time. he finds it hard to believe anyone would describe him as confident. sure, he can fake it when he needs to, but deep down insecurity runs rampant. " i’m not confident, especially not when it comes to stuff like that. " somehow, though, he still manages to attract attention from time to time. which is fine when it’s just for the night, but the idea of someone actually falling for him ? that terrifies him almost as much as the thought of him falling for someone. though it appears it may already be happening. his breath catches in his throat when she takes his hand, his gaze lingering a moment too long. when she asks who his friends are, only one word escapes his mouth, " you. "

"to be fair, between the two of us, i most definitely have been the kitchen dweller... and yet here i've brought you, against my better judgment. are you going to make me regret this?" time with ace was never time wasted, even if it did currently seem like they could go up in flames at any moment. literally. and that potential doesn't stop her from letting out a laugh as he compliments her. "what, just being in my orbit for years hasn't taught you a thing or two by now? i'm really starting to think you don't pay attention..."

"you know, i'm not too sure if they came to the party together. i think maybe they just ran into each other? it would be extra fucked up if they went together though... do you think both would warrant a cake? no one has ever bought ME an apology cake... although, i guess i would probably be the worst person. i judge every cake that i eat." never too harshly-- it was cake after all. hard to mess that up. "well, i just simply don't believe you. you come in here, so confident with your one-liners. no way you don't go repeating those all around town. anybody besides me stupid enough to fall for them yet?" teddy looks over to his hand, another chuckle escaping her lips. "i've made a real big mistake i think... how are you already covered in flour?" still, she sticks her hand out and grabs his. "who are your friends again? like, ones you'd be really mad about? just so i can be extra cautious," she jokes, giving his hand a light squeeze before dropping it.

“ oh, no, you don’t have a friendly face whatsoever. great bone structure, sure, but inviting ? not so much. luckily for you, i don’t intimate easily. but really, it wouldn’t hurt to smile more. or once— ever ! ” once again she’s talking quickly, animated, ignoring his first statement. eyes roll instantaneously as she adjusts her stance, exasperated sigh escaping perfectly painted lips. “ well, for starters, i haven’t seen you with anyone since charlotte, except for nova but she’s your roommate and if that was going to happen it likely would have by now. which is good for me because i also plan on getting her to sign up. but back to you. yes, you probably could get a date easily if you actually tried, but i’m just, like . . . way better at it. and honestly, men often can’t be trusted to make good decisions. that’s just fact. ”

"yeah, you're not exactly making me feel better as you boast about how much better you could stalk me..." he places the bottles in his bag. "you know, you're the only person i've ever met who seems to think i have a FRIENDLY FACE." he'd tried to let this girl down subtly what felt like a hundred different ways, and yet, she always found her way back to him. "and i ask you again... what makes you think that i can't get a date on my own?" probably the fact that he, well, you know... wouldn't. but he liked to think it was his own personal choice. his relationships had all been with dancers ( the exception being charlotte ) and they all ended poorly. apollo didn't see the point in making empty promises to others. he would provide what he could, and often times, it wasn't enough.

he shakes his head, anxiety still there like an invisible cloud surrounding him but he bounces on his feet, forces himself to believe it's magically gone. " nope, i'm officially stress-free. the stress i began to feel over caring for a plant seemed to evaporated all my other stress weirdly enough, so you know, when you think about it, this things still served some purpose in the hour it was in my life. " when alyssa agrees to take it, relief washes over him. he’s all too happy to hand it over, rid himself of it. “ well congratulations, alyssa, you’re now a plant mom to yet another one of these things and i am free. ” practically beaming now, can’t wait to go home and tell his dog all about it. “ let me know if you ever need a plant-sitter, i’ll help you find someone. ”

they do. it's true. all plants die eventually. and then you have to go out and buy yourself a new one. especially if you're not someone who really knows how to take care of them. " of course you're going to be fine. i have a pup too, so i get it. they're wayyyy tougher and a plant.. well.. it's a plant. you just have to give it some sunlight and water. how hard can that really be for you, you know? " she let out a laugh and a playful roll of her eyes while her tone was also kept teasingly. " way, way, easier. at least in my opinion, yes. " dogs usually always let you know whenever they happen to need anything at all. but with plants, it's not exactly as if it can bark and let you know what it needs. " you no longer have any stress? " she made a face as she looked at ace because she could see right through the expression clear as day on his face that he was indeed.... quite stressed out right about now. " you sure? because you seem like you are to me. " she paused before continuing to speak. " if you don't want it...i'll take it. we do have a few cute plants in my apartment. so, what's one more? "

" don't they have patches for that ? " noa questions, again trying not to sound judgmental. everyone has an addiction, hers just so happens to be shopping. it's a habit she deems to be pretty healthy, but her credit card bills may beg to differ. " yes, intensive. i'm very thourough. by the time we’re done i’ll know what you need more than you do. ” smile reappears when he agrees to sign up, hand extending forward. “ give me your phone, i’ll put in my business number and we can arrange for you to come into the office when you’re free.”

"yeah, i know," leon chuckles softly as he nods his head. "i've been smoking since i was sixteen though. so, it's really hard to quit." he doesn't tell her that he's tried a few times, but he always relapses and goes back to smoking even more. he's trying to cut his intake, but it's too damn difficult. he wishes he never started smoking in the first place. "intensive, huh?" his curiosity sparks up. he's been interviewed before, sure, but mostly about his music. this seems more... personal. and it sounds like a risk worth taking. it could be fun. he'll probably regret it when he's seventy if he doesn't do it now. "okay. i'm in."