Taylor's POV
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An impressive three story building that includes a state of the art gym, two performances halls and several dance studios. It’s even better than I remembered having visited with Matthew on the open day. All of the studios are equipped with barres, air conditioning and sprung floors. Glancing in at the gym, I make a note of getting myself in there as soon as possible.
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Heading into the changing rooms, I remove my skirt and shoes. Placing my ballet shoes on and some short dance shorts. I go over to the mirror and tie my long hair back in a high ponytail. There's a few other girls getting ready, they all know each other and are chatting easily to one another. I keep my ears open trying to work out who is who. Briefly wondering how Rhea is getting on over in humanities.
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Walking over to the studio I feel bare in my dance gear but I brush off the self consciousness and stride into the room. All of the dancers, there are around thirty off us, are seated round the mirrors on the walls. I do the same, Jays obnoxious comment pops into my head about me being a social conformist. I banish him from my thoughts, desperately trying not to see his charming grin in my mind.
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Another girl joins me, taking a seat next to me on the sprung floor and stretching out. She is shorter than me with very dark short hair and pale skin.
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The dance teacher puts on some music, stands at the front and begins. Without verbal instruction we follow her lead and warm up. Beginning with some basic plies and progressing into harder work such as leg extensions and eventually arabesques. I feel in good stead throughout the class, barely breaking a sweat. The dance teacher eyes me, and nods as I hold my arabesque and I smile down into my chest a feel I accomplished and glad of the practice I put myself through over the summer.
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"You're really good at your turns think you'd be able to go over them with me at some point" the petite girl from the start of class asks me, joining me as we walk back towards the changing rooms.
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"Sure, I'm Taylor by the way" I say easily with a grin.
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"Charley." She replies smiling at me. We laugh about how we both have unisex names before we head over to our kit bags to change.
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Pulling my skirt back on and eventually my boots, I fold up my ballet shoes and place them back into my dance bag. Checking my phone I read a message from Matthew telling me that he's waiting outside, no rush and that he’s missed me immeasurably.
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Touching up my makeup in the mirror, I pull my curls back out and give my hair a brush. Lastly I spritz myself with my favourite perfume and head for the doors.
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The automatic sensors click as I reach the front of the building and I look up to see Matthew standing against the wall. He pushes his brunette hair back and smiles at me as I approach him.
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"Hey beautiful" he whispers when I reach him and I can't help but smile.
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"You know we could go home. Like right now" he teases me pulling me into his chest.
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"Mmm however nice that sounds we said we would have lunch here first" I tell him, kissing his ear lightly.
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His lips kiss mine, trying to change my mind and I smile, a wide grin. His fingers rubbing my back.
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"No not going to work" I tell him breaking the kiss.
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“Ah it was worth a try, so you're telling me you don't want to be taken home and tied to the bed?" He smirks.
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"That's something I would be interested in...after lunch" I say smiling at him, imagining his lips all over my body. He stares at me seriously. A wide grin comes falls over his face.
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"I don't think I can wait until after lunch" he chuckles and slips his hand under my leotard and up my back.
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"Matthew" I laugh, my eyes darting around us.
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"Don't worry nobody can see us" he says cheekily moving his hand over my bra. His hand finding my nipple under my bra as I kiss him again softly.
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"Looks like you cannot wait until after lunch either" he chuckles removing his hand.
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"A quick lunch I promise" I tell him and he smiles genuinely.
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We walk down the lane surrounded by the trees, his bag in his back, he takes my duffle and slings it over his shoulder. The sun makes an appearance and filters through the trees. He tells me all about his first media lecture and his introduction to the art rooms. Listening to him intently, I hold onto his hand as we emerge back into the parking lot and head for the refectory.
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“It’s like a shopping centre” I smile up at him as he walks with his hand in mine. The refectory puts most campus canteens to shame. A large modern stone building, three storeys in height, the lower level is an open plan space offering different cuisines on each counter. From Mexican to burgers and even sushi. Theres even a coffee counter. I glance up at the ceiling and the balcony with stairs leading up to the second floor where there is an alcoholic bar and pool tables.
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“Glad we came for lunch” I smile up at him as he hugs me into him eyeing up the roasted meats and potatoes counter.
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“How very British” he laughs in his faux British accent and I swat him.
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“Shall we have a roast and a coffee” he smiles and I nod at him as he guides us over to the counter. A chef carves the meat off and adds on our potatoes and vegetables. Finishing the dish off with gravy. I smile at the steam coming off of the hot food.
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Laughing and joking with one another about visiting London we head over to our group, lounging around a bunch of sofas in the far corner. The vast space is filled with plush velvet chairs and sofas and oak tables. I set my tray down and scoot into the sofa next to Ross. Matthew slots in next to me. I regard Jay opposite me and then proceed to eat my food.
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"How was dance?" Ross asks.
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"Really good actually, I think all of the practice has paid off. Hey did you know there's a gym next to the changing rooms?" I inform him and he smiles.
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"Yeah, It's a pretty good one" Jay agrees as we glance up at him. I notice he has pulled half of his hair up into a bun. The rest of his blonde hair is out loose.
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"I think I'm going to go a few times a week" I tell Matthew.
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"You want me to spot for you while you bench press babe" he chuckles, rubbing my thigh.
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"No I'm just going to run on the tread I think" I tell him as he rolls his eyes. Clasping my hand in his and briefly eyeing my ring. Nobody has asked about it yet, but as I see Rachel approach us, I’m almost positive she will gawk at the diamond on my engagement finger.
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Rachel pulling her luminous orange jacket around her, plonks herself down next to Jay as he stares at her outfit distastefully. She sets down her sushi and crosses her legs over looking up at me and smiling. Rachel is a girl I’ve warmed too over time, she is herself and I appreciate her genuine unapologetic attitude. She eyes Jay, looking him over as he rolls his eyes. They’re having a bit of an on and off relationship; he tends to instigate when they are on and then he discards her when they are off.
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“Shut the fuck up” she says taking one glance at my ring and smiling at me.
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“Is that?!” She asks me and I smile up at her. She launches herself up as Jay holds onto his bowl of pasta, sighing at her outlandish behaviour.
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“Congratulations” she says eyeing Matthew.
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“Wow guys that’s huge” she laughs.
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“What’s huge” Ross asks innocently and I smile.
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“The rock on that girls hand” she smirks as Jay eyes me again just briefly, he had already clocked it.
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“We’re engaged” Matthew tells Ross.
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“You’re what?! Jesus you’re both eighteen” he laughs.
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“Yeah we know that we are it for one another. So I proposed” Matthew rationalises.
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“We haven’t set a date or anything; we’re just enjoying being engaged for now” I smile up at him.
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“Wow Matthew, congrats man that’s huge” Ross says taken aback, looking at me embarrassed.
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“Congrats both of you” Jay says looking up from his pasta as Rachel eyes him. Matthew rubs my thigh as we finish eating and I grin at him happily.
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"So who's up for freshers" Rachel asks the group.
Matthew and Jay remain silent. Ross had asked me about it, so I nudge him in the side. Exasperated with them all I speak up.
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“I wouldn't mind going to a party." I say to Rachel and she grins. Matty glances at me, casually. We had promised each other no more parties which lead to disputes and grievances. But this is freshers, this is an exception. I look at him willing him to just play along. We're not elderly just yet babe.
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"Let's all go to the Friday one" Jay says grasping my eye contact. Perhaps he is right, I’m a social conformist who likes to make other people happy and comfortable.
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"Just please tell me it's not fancy dress" I say to her.
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“No it’s just the regular wear your own clothes one” she replies beaming at me.
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Ryan arrives and sits in the single velvet chair next to us. Sipping an espresso with a pastry in his hands.
"You know this isn't half bad" he says indicating his coffee.
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"Friday freshers what do you think?" Rach asks him as he eyes her luminous jacket.
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"Oh yeah, hell yeah I'm in" he says facing me.
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“Nice Louboutins” Ryan says eyeing my boots and I smirk at him.
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“Are you studying fashion” I ask him with a wry smile.
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“Not quite, textiles and design. But close” he says giving me a warm smile.
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"It's supposed to be lively though, just so you know" he returns to Rachel.
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"Apparently they have ambulances parked outside the place just in case any students get paralytic" he informs us sighing.
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“They haven’t met us though have they” he laughs.
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"I want you" Matthew whispers in my ear and I chuckle. It’s like he can’t keep his hands off of me. Placing my hand on his thigh I smile at him and ruffle his hair.
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Jay eyes the gesture and I look at him steadily. He doesn't comment, he just meets my eyes and stares into them. Rhea joins us depositing her bag down as she takes a seat next to Ryan.
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Rhea says she will most definitely be up for freshers and we start coordinating outfits. She eyes my ring again and makes a fuss over Matthew’s new hair, telling him it looks great trimmed.
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"Looks like the gangs all back together" a snarky voice says over by Rach and Jay. I whip my head around to Jay, noticing Jen towering behind him, in a velour tracksuit.
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Jay nods to me, he did actually text me to warn me that she had enrolled in courses. Hairdressing to be exact. I was shocked that he had the forethought to tell me, it made me hate him less.
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We continue our conversation as if nothing had ever occurred, I focus on Rhea as she fills me in on her classes. She's moved into a flat not far from myself and Matty's with Malachi. She suggests we come over at some point for food and cocktails.
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Rach and Ryan go off to their next lecture together. I briefly look at them thinking they would work quite well together. Jen takes her leave with Brad, I didn't notice him before as I was trying to not look at her. I'm guessing she's back with him. I watch as her pink velour tracksuit disappears from the refectory.
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“I shall name her the witch in velour” I smirk over at Rhea. She smiles at me as Jay chuckles. Matthew pulls me in laughing.
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