When I open my eyes the sky is bleeding deep oranges and reds. A little pink and purple scattered throughout the sky. Sunrise. I blink sleepily adjusting to the natural light in the room. Her body is still pressed against mine. Her arm around me is comforting. Necessary. It makes me feel safe. I hate that I have to leave this moment. I hate that I have to exit our sanctuary and go back into the real world. Back to a world where I can't openly be hers, where she can't touch me, or kiss me. I don't want to go to school today. Maybe she'll let me stay. I feel her lips on the back of my neck. Mmm.

"Good morning baby." Her voice is a little raspy from sleep. It's so cute.

"Good morning, Mistress." I turn around to face her. She smiles at me. "Ma'am, do you think we could skip classes today?"

She squints her eyes. "Are you sick?"

I fake cough. "I think so, Mama."

She sits up a little. "Well sheesh. We better take you to the hospital. Let's get dressed."

"Wait..." I say rethinking this.

"You'll probably have to get a shot and take nasty medicine. So yeah no school today."

"No! No! I'm fine. All better!" I say quickly.

She chuckles. "I bet. Come here." She pulls me into her.

"Sowwy I lied." I mumble.

"Why don't you want to go to school?" She asks.

"I'll miss you all day. I can't even hug you there. I just want to be with you." I confess.

She sighs. "I know baby. So what if we make a deal?"

I perk up. "Yes?"

"Go to school today and all weekend, every waking moment, we can be together. You'll stay here and we'll do whatever you want."

"What if I want to paint or color or dance?"

She smiles. "We can do that."

"What about eating ice cream for dinner?"

"Don't push it."

I giggle. "Okay. Deal!"

"Okay. Go get ready for school. I'll have Elizabeth drive you back to campus."

"Otay." I pucker my lips. She kisses me and pats my butt.

"Go."

I laugh and get up to start my day.

_______________________________

I haven't been able to focus all day. I don't want to be here. My last two classes have been a blur. I'll have to get notes from someone. I haven't seen Olivia all day. Honestly I'm still upset with her. She was being completely insensitive and refused to hear what I was saying yesterday. I hate when she does that. It's like she never sees how she could be wrong in a situation. The professor dismisses us and the room begins to clear. At least my last class is dance. That's something to look forward to. Not as if I can actually acknowledge my girlfriend. Wait, she's not my girlfriend. As soon as I step into the hallway I feel a hand on my arm. I turn to see Liv. She smiles weakly.

"What?" My tone is pointed. She knows I'm upset.

"I'm sorry, Kat." She pulls my favorite candy bar out of her pocket and tries to hand it to me. I don't take it.

"For what?" I ask.

"For being a dick yesterday. I thought about what you said. You were right. I would be pissed. So, I'm sorry."

I sigh. "I guess I forgive you." I take the candy bar.

She smiles and takes my bag. "Let me walk you to the studio. I've missed you."

"I missed you too." We start walking. She starts telling me about a girl she met. They exchanged numbers and have been texting almost non-stop. She shows me a picture of her.

"She's pretty, Liv."

"I know. I'm thinking about having her over this weekend. Is that cool?"

I nod. "Yeah. Especially since I won't be there."

"What? Where are you going?" She asks.

We reach the studio door.

"Where do you think?" I'm not trying to be an asshole. I just get nervous saying her name here.

"Ohhhh. Okay."

"Yeah. Well see you after class?" I ask.

"I have a meeting. See you at home?"

"Okay. Yeah."

Liv hugs me and squeezes me tightly. I laugh and go get ready for class. When I get inside of the studio I sit down to start stretching. Sam stands over me like a vulture. I look at her in the mirror.

"Can I help you?" I ask.

Sam sits beside me. "Guess what?"

"What?" I already know she's ready to spew some information I don't really care to hear.

"I know someone who likes you. I overheard them talking about you in the cafeteria yesterday."

Told you. "You overheard or you were purposely eavesdropping?" I continue to stretch while she talks. I see Mistress out of the corner of my eye pretending not to be interested in what Sam is saying. I wonder if it's bothering her at all. She should know I'm hers. It doesn't matter who likes me. I don't want them. Only her.

"It's Tori." Sam says like she just reveled the most sacred secret.

"I don't even know who that is." I shrug.

"Well you should. She's on the soccer team with your old boo. Short cut. Dreamy green eyes. If I was into girls I'd def see what she was about."

I roll my eyes. "Well maybe you should switch sides Sam. Give Tori a call."

"What is Olivia going to say when she finds out? I mean you're her girl and they're teammates."

"I'm not her girl. Olivia and I are JUST friends for the hundredth time and I'm not interested in Tori. So it wouldn't matter anyway." I explain. I'm trying not to get irritated but it's growing harder and harder.

"Samantha?" Miss Bell calls her name. Thank God.

"Yes?" Samantha stands to her feet.

"Why don't you lead the class in yesterday's combination for warmup?"

"Yes ma'am." Samantha smiles and giddily heads to the front of the class.

"Thank you." I silently mouth to mistress.

Her smile is subtle but I see it. She turns away and stands at the front of the room to watch us. Class goes by quickly. Mistress goes easy on us and good thing because I'm tired. Even though I went to bed before my bedtime, my body still feels like I ran a marathon last night. Our class gets dismissed and as we're leaving, coach Kindle walks in carrying a vase of flowers. The rest of my class doesn't seem to care. Except Samantha. We both turn around to see what she plans to do with those flowers. Samantha just wants something else to gossip about but I'm emotionally invested. Coach Kindle puts the flowers on Miss Bell's desk and hands her a card. Samantha and I make eye contact.

"Come on," I say, "we should give them some privacy." I honestly just don't think I can stomach to watch anymore.

Samantha hesitates but agrees. When we get outside Samantha turns to me. "What did we just see? Coach K and Miss Bell are a thing??"

"We don't know that." My stomach is turning with each step I take away from the studio. I try not to imagine Kindle's hand on Christine or their bodies pressed against each other.

"Uh did you see those flowers? Those were definitely I love you let's work it out flowers." Samantha says while texting. Surely she's spreading the rumor that they're together. I want to smack the phone from her hands.

"You got all that from a vase of flowers?" I ask.

"Yes, girl."

"Whatever. I'll see you tomorrow Sam."

"Okay. I'll keep you posted if I find out anything."

I sigh. "Great."

I go back to my room and try to not make myself sick with worry. My phone buzzes. Hopefully it's Mistress. It's not. I don't know this number.

"I hope you don't mind. Sam gave me your number. This is Tori."

Great. Fucking great.