Kill Switch by Penelope Douglas

“I don’t know,” I answered instead.
I still could scream. I wasn’t ready just yet.
“Why did you come back?” I asked.
“I wanted to see if you’d dance again.”
“How did you know I’d be alone?”
“I don’t give a fuck if you’re alone,” he said. “Just as long
as I have you to myself.”
My heart skipped a beat, and I breathed faster and
shallower.
I wanted to be like him. Bold.
“I have your shoes,” he whispered.
My shoes?
Oh, my pointe shoes. I’d left them near the stereo when I
rehearsed this morning before school.
Dance for him…
I could. As long as I didn’t blast it, the music wouldn’t
wake my mother.
What would happen after I danced, though?
What was wrong with me that I liked that he was here?
He liked my dancing. He came to see if I would dance.
It made the world prettier.
I quickly hid the smile that tried to peek out.
I held out my hand. “Shoes?”
He set them in my hand, using both of his hands to make
sure I had them.
I dropped to the floor and slipped the shoes on, lacing up
the ribbons as I heard him walk away, probably to give me
room.
Once the slippers were fastened tightly, I stood up and
walked to the center of the dance floor, finding my X, and
turned out into second position. Bending my knees in a quick