MALLORY HAD NEVER SEEN HERSELF AS BEAUTIFUL, but now, staring at herself in the silver-framed mirror, she saw herself as something close to that. Her porcelain skin contrasted her anthracite black hair in its stark paleness, a skin so pallid and white that it gave her an almost ghastly look. She drew her hands along her colored lips, willfully ensuring the pigment coating them was the lipstick Kathy said they were and not the blood it so much emulated. The black outlines rimming her eyes suddenly stressed a shimmer she'd never seen glittering in those emerald globes before. But even amidst how grand and unblemished she appeared, there was a sudden sadness that filled her, with how the gold adorning her neck and donning her ears made her look overly surreptitious, an embodiment of the very vanity she detested.

"What have you done to me?" Mallory asked, peering into the mirror and finding herself more repulsing than ever. She spun her chair around to face Kathy, who was leaning over the dresser with an odd look of fascination. Judging by the brushes she had in her hands, Mallory knew Kathy wasn't done with transforming her into who-knows-what. She backed away instinctively. "No, Kat. I look hideous enough already."

Kathy rolled her eyes. "Oh, don't be silly. You look pretty, and when I'm done with you, you'll look even more beautiful." She dabbed on Mallory's face, steering away the sweat that was yet to approach it.

"I look like Bobo the clown!" Mallory peered into the mirror. "And are you sure this is lipstick?"

Kathy smiled "Stop it Mal, you're pretty."

"Yeah, by clown standards." Mallory jumped to her feet. "And what's with all this extra-cake up? I'm going to an audition, not a fashion gala."

"it's called makeup Mal." Kathy rolled her eyes. "Besides, with how you're looking now, I'm certain you'll win the favour of the judges."

Mallory narrowed her eyes at Kathy. "You're lucky I don't have a rag with me right now, else I'd have rubbed this trash off my face a long time ago."

"Whatever. You'll be thanking me when you win the competition."

Mallory's countenance deflated at the mention of the competition. She played with her hands and drew her sweater closer, suddenly cold. But it wasn't the kind of cold that came from the frigid air rushing out of the air conditioner. It was innate, borne out of the nervousness coursing through her body. She shut her eyes and shook her head. She couldn't do it, peform in front of millions of people, with their wary eyes calculating her every step, anticipating the very moment she would trip over her feet and fall. That doubled by the fact that she was uncertain about how prepared she was. She and Eric hadn't practiced as much as they knew they should've. They chatted their hours of practice away, indulged in hours worth of laughing when they were meant to be practicing their choreography. But even at that, she wasn't remorseful. Something about the time she spent with Eric made her feel whole, complete. There was something about Eric Rossi that was irresistible. He was cocky and funny whilst all the while never losing his air of wittiness. She felt herself around him, felt as though were meant to be together, their names written in the skies.

"Mal, are you okay?" Kathy drew her out of her trance.

Mallory sat up straight. "Yeah... was just thinking."

Before Kathy could press on, the door burst open. Mallory didn't need to turn her head to know it was Jason Trevor that just entered. Even though they had only met a few times, she'd committed the smell of his presence to memory, that acrid and strong cologne of his that gave her a physical blow. That coupled by the aggressive way he walked, made his entrance into a place unmistakable.

"Get the hell out." Jason stared Kathy down. "I want to talk to Mal...alone."

Mallory shifted in her seat. Something about the way he said 'alone' set her brain cells on fire. The soft innuendoes and undertones of secrecy in the word made her stomach churn, left her paralysed and incapable of reason.

"Trevor, I'm sorry but you can't just own every place you enter." Kathy adjusted her waistband." This is my time here and until that time is over—"

"You don't wish to get fired, do you?" Jason glared at her testily.

Kathy shut her eyes and swayed, dithering between letting out the defiant energy steering within her, or keeping her job. Kathy and Jason turned their heads to her, overtly waiting for her to make a choice between them. Malory's head throbbed. As much as she wanted Kathy to stay with her, something in her steered towards Jason, something she was but helpless to.

"We'll talk later, Kat."

Kathy's eyes shimmered with disappointment. She nodded and started for the door, stopping midway to confront Jason. "Hurt a hair on her head, and you'll smell my fist."

Jason smirked.

Kathy smiled wryly and went out the door. Mallory froze at the sudden blow of Kathy's exit. She was suddenly overwhelmed with the urge to call Kathy back in, to dispose of this weird air between her and Jason Trevor. Mallory stared at him through her lashes, tall and enigmatic as always, his over-gelled her sending darts of excellence into her eyes. But there was a missing element as to his demeanor today. Confidence. He chewed on his luscious pink lips and stared at her with hands dug into his pockets, his eyes holding codes she couldn't decipher. But when he neared her and ran his hands down her hair, she understood.

"You seem scarce these days," he said, grinning stupidly. "You don't have to guess Mal, I've missed you."

Mallory sucked in a sharp breath. "You say it like it's normal for us to be around each other."

Jason chuckled and leaned in closer, running his eyes over her, scrutinizing every inch of her face. "Isn't it? I mean, ever since you got with Eric Rossi, you've been distant."

"Shocking how you know his name this time."

Jason's eyes dilated, in the same way a criminal's did when exposed. "Mere guess." He chuckled. "You look beautiful by the way."

Mallory rose her brows. She wasn't so stupid as to dismiss his quick change of topics. It was bewildering, arousing suspicion. But she gave him the benefit of the doubt. "Um... thanks?"

Jason set his hip against the dresser and dug his eyes into hers. He was doing that a lot these days, but Mallory wasn't complaining. She scarcely ever found the willpower to break his gaze. It was intoxicating, dangerous, considering how she always felt him staring right into her soul, sifting aside her weaknesses, and adding them to his arsenal. He bit his lips and came closer, turning her chin upwards, drawing her face so near that she could feel his hot breath against the bridge of her nose. Mallory did nothing but draw nearer, for the first time invigorated to try to decipher the meaning behind those fathomless deep hazel eyes of his, to break apart the walls of engima he'd set around it, walls that withheld secrets he seemed eager to, but couldn't tell.

But as though he feared she would unravel them, he broke their gaze, and turned to pace the room. "I just wanted to... um... wish you good luck in your audition today."

Mallory rose her brows. "Really, is that it?"

"Yes."

Mallory stared right at him, into him. He was more transparent than she'd expected, easier to crack than usual. Mallory smiled. His defenses were definitely falling, his walls crumbling, but the problem was, he was bringing hers down with his. Nowadays, she found it much harder to distance herself from him. It was the opposite now; to be near him. And now, Mallory wanted that more than ever, now that he seemed uneasy, with his frenzied pacing and sped up breaths, the rapid way in which he ran his fingers through his hair. Something was definitely eating him up. "Let it out, Jace."

Jason sighed heavily and dropped on a seat near her, rubbing his face wearily. She strode to him and squatted underneath him, her hands on both his knees. "What is it?"

"Can I ask you something?" He drew his hands along her face, careful to miss her lips. Intentional about not smearing her lipstick.

"Yes," Mallory couldn't recognize her voice in its unusual squickuness,

He put his hands on her shoulder. "Don't ask any other questions okay. Just answer. Is there...is there some way I could discourage you from auditioning?"

Mallory rose her brows. "What kind of question is that?"

"Sorry, I forgot you weren't a stooge. Just answer, will you?"

Mallory rose. "Unless you put a gun to my head...no there isn't. The audition is everything I have."

"And soon it'll be the only thing you'll wish didn't have."

Mallory drew closer. "Sorry, what was that?"

He rubbed his scruff and avoided her gaze. "Nothing... I'm just worried."

"You're acting weird, Jace." Mallory placed a hand over his shoulder and squeezed gently. She could feel the trembles rippling through his body. He was dying with secrecy. She knew it. His unsettled eyes, the almost audible throbs of his heartbeat. But as though Mallory's touch were an antidote, his features softened. He grabbed her other hand and rubbed on it slightly.

"I confuse you, don't I, Trent?"

"A lot." Mallory giggled

Jason chuckled. "I don't doubt that.

"Now, tell me what's on your mind, Jace.".

Jason's smile immediately wore off, his features hardening. He dropped her hand sharply and shook his head, putting on his veneer of stoicism once again. "I'm sorry, I have to go."

Mallory stepped in his way. "Stop doing that!"

"What?" His eyes grew wild.

"Stop closing off on me when I'm trying to reach you," She ran her hand along his face, ignoring his stiffness. "I can see it in your eyes, every time Jace. You're scared of letting out your feelings, you're afraid... afraid to appear as anything but strong." She touched his cheek. "But it's okay to be weak at times. It's okay to tell me. Be yourself with me."

Jason's eyes pooled. He drew in a sharp breath and slowly pulled her hand off his face. Without saying a word, he proceeded for the door, touched the doorknob, then stopped, turning to face her again. "Mal, if you know half of who I really am... I bet you'll want nothing to do with me."

"I promise that won't happen."

Jason laughed nervously. "I promise it will."

Mallory gasped when he slammed the door on her. She stood there, dumbfounded, bewildered by Jason's absurd behaviour. How could a guy be so secretive, so hard to break, so capricious? She breathed deeply and recalled his words. Mal, if you know half of who I really am... I bet you'll want nothing to do with me. What did he even mean by that? What was wrong with this guy? Mallory shut her eyes at the sudden realisation of the warmth spreading through her chest, her inability to steady her breathing, the way her stomach churned violently. The stubbornness of her mind to persist on thoughts inclusive of Jason Trevor. She gasped. Could it be possible?

Was she falling for Jason Trevor?

Mallory laughed at the possibility and applied a new layer of lipstick. She merely pitied him, with the obvious struggle he was having with himself, with the herculean burdens he wasn't ready to let go of. Yes, that was it, the reason why her heart always raced in his presence. She cared for him. Very deeply. Mallory sighed. Too deeply, perhaps. It would be stupid to fall for a guy who wanted nothing to do with her. She was just another game to him, merely another subject to perfect his flirtation skills on, to test the efficiency of his charms, and whether or not she was willing to admit it, it was working.

Someone knocked on her door. Three heated raps.

"I'm coming."

She unbolted the door and started at the sight of Mr.William. His eyes were wild, hands shaky, forehead beaded with perspiration.

"Um... sir, is everything okay?"

He straightened. "Mal, I'm afraid we have a problem... and it's to do with your partner."

"Eric?"