Tom could not believe how much he hated and loved the idea of having Angie as a dance partner. He'd studied and judged her silently for a while before finally deciding to ask. The club had been an audition. She had a great sense of rhythm and could imitate his moves very well. Plus, she looked hella hot dancing,

But when he'd asked... Her reaction when hearing about the money totally put him off and he actually wished he could take it back. Because it was an issue. If she really was interested in money... Well, that was something that he couldn't provide. He and Jimmy barely managed for themselves. All he could ever offer Angie was himself. It should be enough. Her reaction told him it might not be.

He pondered on this while he ate noodles from a plastic cup inside his tiny room. It was hella depressing, so he decided to think about something more exciting. Like Mizrelle. That French chick was here on some sort of exchange program. It made him weary. He was sick of older women. Bella had been even older than Jimmy and had fortunately graduated and moved the hell away from them.

A sick, twisted curiosity caught hold of him. He'd never asked, because Jimmy had made it pretty clear that the subject was dead, but Tom wondered what had happened. Had Jimmy faced his girlfriend one last time? Had he yelled at her, officially broken up with her? Or had he just waited it out until she left his life?

He couldn't have let it slide. If he were Jimmy, he would've given her hell. Something to remember. But Jimmy wasn't him. Fortunately.

With a groan, Tom dropped his noodle cup and leaned back in the chair. Bella was a worse subject than Angie. He should be focusing on Mizrelle. Because that woman actually had something interesting to say. Like that she was part of a fraternity. An underground organization for people who had nowhere to go. They looked after each other, they provided for each other and made the streets their home. Which will be his case come August thirteenth. He'd be kicked out and he and Jimmy would just have to sleep in the park or something.

Mizrelle offered a solution. She wouldn't say much about it yet, but these fraternity people probably had some shelter. And food. It was all he ever wanted. There were a few snags. Like how he didn't have enough information yet, or how it might interfere with college. But she'd promised to tell him more, and he was more than willing to listen. Then, he'd make an informed decision like the responsible almost-adult he was.

Jimmy's signature knock on the window had him hurrying to open it up. His brother crawled through, looking utterly exhausted. He wasn't in uniform today, only wore jeans and a t-shirt, but it was his day off. He'd been to martial arts training. He did have a tournament in a few days.

"I'm starting to get out of shape," Jimmy mumbled, dropping on the bed.

"You're kidding. I think you're the least out of shape person on this planet."

Jimmy smirked. "No, that's you. How was your day?"

"Eh, pretty good, I guess."

His brother wasn't fooled. He scanned Tom through narrowed eyes. "You have something on your mind. Spill."

Nope, he wasn't asking about Bella and he wouldn't mention Mizrelle until he learned more about what she offered. He wouldn't fill Jimmy with false hope. Which only left Angie. She was the main thing on his mind anyway.

"I sort of found a dance partner for the competition."

"That's great." But Jimmy's excitement turned into suspicion almost right away. "Is it that dumb blonde you were going out with? What was her name again?"

"Ugh, no." Gina did the bimbo swing and that was about it. "Someone new. Her name is Angie and we've been studying together for a while."

Jimmy raised his eyebrows and folded his hands behind his head. "A new girl, huh? Interesting."

"It's not interesting. We just study together and she's a really good dancer."

"How do you know she's a really good dancer if you only study with her?"

Damn, Jimmy was way too smart for his own good. Tom's stomach clenched uncomfortably as he tried to think of a way to skirt around the dating-not-dating issue of his relationship with Angie. You don't have a relationship with Angie! And why did he have to keep yelling that at himself?

"Okay, I might've taken her to the club to see her dance. But it's not what you think. We're just... well, not friends. I don't even know what we are."

"Mmhmm," Jimmy said most annoyingly. "Sure, okay. So you think she can handle you?"

"I think she has a chance, yes."

"That sounds great. Maybe you actually have a fair shot at this and you'll turn out winning."

Tom had no idea why he had a feeling Jimmy was no longer talking about dancing. And it scared him.

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"Come on, it's not that hard," Tom said exasperated.

"How do you even keep your balance on this thing?" Angie asked, swaying back and forth on the skateboard.

"It's so easy." He pulled her down and got on the board. "See? Feet on the middle of the board, knees slightly flexed, at least until you get the hang of it. Flexing your knees always improves your balance."

Angie rolled her eyes. "This is stupid. Can't we do something else? Like parkour? Or dance?"

Tom put his hand over his heart. "Stupid? I'm mortally offended." He flipped the board under his feet. "But I have to admit your balance sucks. How can you even ride a bike?"

She shoved him. It barely made him take a tiny step back.

"Pathetic."

She punched his shoulder. Ouch, that actually hurt. But he just put on a brave face and grinned.

"I'm really scared to teach you parkour now."

"I do not fall off my feet!"

She was so cute when she got all huffy. "Okay, let's go to some place we can actually jump on some stuff."

Her face lit up in a smile at once. She got so easily excited, it was adorable. It didn't have to be too dangerous either. He'd just take her to the construction site he used when he first started off. It had been abandoned for years so no one would bother them there.

"Get on the board and I'll roll you there." He pushed the skateboard toward her.

She looked at him skeptically, but got on. It was a weird show of trust and he strangely appreciated it. He put his hand on her back and pushed her forward gently. She grabbed his shoulder and sunk her nails into his skin, obviously scared but not backing out. He liked that about her.

"So, how's it going with your biology classes?" he asked casually.

Angie's mood instantly dropped. "I got an A on my latest project, the one you helped me with. But the teacher excused me from my next test instead of fixing my old one."

He frowned. "Why? Didn't you tell him to let you take the test?"

"I did take the test. He just didn't look over it and graded my project instead. He said he's very pleased with my improvement and thinks that B is an important drive for me," she said, dejected.

Tom clenched his fists. What an asshole. He had no idea how stressful things like these were for people like him and Angie. An important drive, my ass. More like a sword to the neck.

"That sucks." Sucks didn't even begin to describe it and by the sullen look on her face, Angie thought the same.

"Yeah, let's not think about that. I'd much rather focus on this skill you're going to teach me," she said, her tone chirpy.

"You should still think of something you could teach me in return."

"You mean other than how to be a sensitive soul?" she asked in mock surprise.

Tom laughed along, but if he stopped to think about it, he was a lot more sensitive since hanging out with her. More attentive, more empathetic. Ugh, he wasn't sure he liked that. What he did like was touching her. Hearing her laugh. Not putting himself in other people's shoes.

At some point during the ride, Angie's hold on him loosened and she seemed the relax. She'd listened and bent her knees, so he pushed her a little harder to make her ride a few feet on her own.

"Don't do that," she shrieked, jumping off the board.

"Come on, you were actually doing it."

"I don't want to do it."

"That sounds strangely disappointing."

Her eyes widened and she was back on the edge, tilting between relaxed and freaked out. Why was she freaking out? What was it about dating that scared her so much? She was sixteen. It's not like a whole lot could've happened. Heaven knew he had a lot more reasons to get all weird about dating. Unless...

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Do you have a boyfriend?" If she did, he was rolling out of there before she could look all guilty. Even if she has someone, you're not doing anything wrong. And that was his biggest problem.

Angie looked even more surprised if possible. "No, of course not."

Tom's shoulders relaxed, though why they'd been tense in the first place was a mystery. So it wasn't guilt that made her act weird. He was even more curious.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" she shot back.

He hesitated, pondering on the perfect answer. "I'm trying to get one, but she keeps freaking out whenever I bring it up."

"I do not keep freaking out!"

"Who said I was talking about you?"

Ha! He got her. The gobsmacked look on her face was priceless. But then he realized she didn't look amused, so he cleared his throat. "No, seriously now, I don't have anyone."

She bit her lip, looking sorry to have asked and focused on walking. Tom followed her, curiosity eating at him. Because this wasn't enough anymore. This silly little dance they were doing, skirting around the big stuff, not knowing anything about each other.

"Where do you live?" he asked.

"Oh, are we getting all serious and deep? If we are, take off your sunglasses."

"Not a chance."

"Then what's your favorite season?"

"My favorite season?" Tom stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. He thought it worth it to lift his sunglasses just to show her the look of disbelief in his eyes. What did she think he was? A ten year old girl with favorites?

"Yes, you know. The time of year you enjoy most."

"We're in Arizona. It's hot all the time."

"I'd love to see snow some day," Angie said, totally ignoring him. "And green fields and trees in bloom."

"You'd like to travel, then?"

"Oh, I'd love to." Her eyes shone with excitement.

And Tom's world seemed to plummet. Because she deserved to see new things, have that mad excitement in her eyes. Except it would never be with him. He'd never felt more trapped.

Why do you keep wanting to give her crap? This wasn't about her. He wanted to feel snow, see flowers in bloom. See cherry blossoms. Yup, his mood was gone. Because no matter how hard he avoided thinking about it, he would never rise above his condition. He'd never get to do all the things he lied to himself he would.

Because his family had abandoned him. Because his future was iffy at best. Because nobody wanted him.

As soon as she realized who he really was, Angie would up and leave, too. And he'll just have to learn to live with it.

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I have no idea what to ask. I'm not sure why my notes suck so much for this story. I just don't know how it's flowing and if the characters are likable or what.

I could ask what you think Angie's problem is, but it was hinted at a lot and it's not exactly a mystery. She's mostly just overreacting.

What do you think about Tom, though? Is he still insanely random or can you actually get a feel for his personality?

Thanks so much for reading and if you enjoyed it, please leave a vote and comment.