Samantha
The next few days passed quickly, Delphine returned the next day, and the day after that. She helped me buy the things I needed to start school, and asked numerous questions about my life.
I didn't meet Theon again that week, packed up everything and could finally feel at home. On Monday, I woke up early, had breakfast and thought about what that class would be like. I would only work in the afternoon, so I used the morning to get everything ready. I entered the school feeling a little lost. I hated firsts days.
" Do you need help? " the girl from the office approached me.
I looked at her, she was a black woman, with delicate features, sweet eyes, very short dark hair, and an infectious smile. A beautiful girl, if she could dance and we were in Vegas, Elle would recruit her without a second thought.
" I guess so " I smiled " it's my first day, and I don't know what to do.”
" My name is Dominic Carter " she introduced herself " anything you need, you can talk to me.”
" Samantha Hurst " I shook her hand with a smile on my face " thank you very much, that's good to hear.”
" Come, Samantha, I'll help you " she indicated for me to follow her.
" Thank you.”
" So, you're new in town, aren't you? " she appraised me.
" Yes, I arrived on Wednesday," I reported.
" And how are you liking the city? Have you met many people?
" Well, most of the people I've met are Adamos," I frowned as I reached the studio door, "but it's a nice town.”
" All change is strange at first," she reassured me, "you'll get used to it.”
" I'm sure I will," I thanked her for her encouragement before entering my new workplace, releasing her to return to her duties.
A few minutes later I was already wearing tights and pantyhose, with my hair tied up in a tight bun and sneakers, waiting for the girls to finish dressing. I looked in the mirror barely recognizing myself, it had been a long time since I had dressed like that. I turned sideways, stroking my small belly that was already standing out in the tight clothes.
" You're showing, aren't you? " I smiled, smoothing my baby.
The dread I had felt before at the thought of being pregnant had been replaced by another feeling. I still felt anxious about thinking about my future, but I also felt happy.
" how long are you expecting? " a voice startled me.
I turned around, finding a woman standing in the doorway. She was tall, blonde, with green eyes and an angelic face. The kind of face that gives you peace and makes you think that everything will be alright.
" Three months," I answered shyly.
She walked over to where I was standing, holding out her hand to greet me.
" My name is Lillian Brown, but you can call me Lilly, I'm a fourth grade teacher," she smiled.
" Samantha Hurst, the new ballet teacher. But I prefer to be called Sam," I shook her hand.
" I could tell " she smiled " Are you new in town, Sam?”
" Yes, I arrived last Wednesday," I repeated the information I had given Dominic.
" Dominic told me that you were a referral from Theon Adamos," she continued naturally, "Are you friends?”
The arrival of a group of excited girls interrupted us.
" Sorry, duty calls," I said, a little embarrassed that my relationship with Theon was being asked questions.
" Dominic and I will take you out for coffee today," she decided.
" I don't know. I... " the sound of the excited girls seemed to break any train of thought I was trying to follow "I'll let you know later.”
I walked over to the girls, clapping my hands together to get their attention.
" I'll wait," Lilly assured him, "Girls, be nice to Miss Hurst, she can't be nervous.”
" Why not, Mrs. Brown? " a wide-eyed little girl asked.
She was interrupted by another girl with a poke in the ribs, before whispering not a little softly.
" Didn't you see that she's pregnant?”
" My name is Samantha Hurst, and I am your new ballet teacher. I want you to introduce yourselves and show me what you've already learned, okay?”
They excitedly agreed, and after the stretching exercises, I was able to assess the level of the girls. Near the end of the class, Theon entered the studio and stood by the back wall, waving as he noticed that he had caught my attention.
I felt the immediate urge to go to him, but tried to act as if I hadn't missed him. I have no reason to miss him, he is only the father of my child.
" That's all for today, girls " I decided to dismiss them " any questions?”
I widened my eyes as they all raised their hands. I thought I did well, how can you all have doubts?
" Really? That's fine. What's your question, Kim? " I pointed to one.
" Is it true that you're expecting a baby? " she asked, causing me to blink in confusion.
" Okay, straight up girl. Yes, I'm expecting a baby." My gaze flicked to Theon, who seemed to be enjoying the situation.
Again all the girls raised their hands eagerly.
" Questions about class," I emphasized.
Little by little they lowered their hands, causing me to hold back my laughter at the situation. Why do they have to be so curious?
" You can go change," I released them, and they hurried off toward the changing room.
Theon leaned away from the wall, coming toward me.
" Hi," I greeted him with a smile.
He had a light expression on his face, and he looked happy, and that made me happy, too.
" Hi, you did great with them," he stopped right next to me, making my heart race.
Put yourself together Samantha! There's no reason for you to look like a teenager just because the guy is handsome! He has a girlfriend!
" I have a bunch of curious students, that's for sure," I smiled, "but they are well developed, so soon I can start a choreography.”
" I told you you'd do well.”
" See you tomorrow, Miss Hurst," the girls rushed past, excited to go home, leaving me there with him.
" See you tomorrow.”
We watched in silence as they left the studio. I looked back at Theon, feeling a pang of sadness in my chest.
" It's bigger than last time," he put his hand on my belly, "it feels like it's going by so fast.”
" Yes, it is. He's already this big " I spread my fingers apart to show him " I can't wait to feel him.
" It must be amazing.”
Theon was focused on caressing my belly, his hand was warm through the thin fabric of the tights and made me feel good. At that moment I could forget everything that was unusual in our situation, but it was time to remember one important point.
" Did you and your girlfriend hit it off? " I searched his eyes.
That seemed to break Theon's charm a little, but he didn't pull away.
" Yes, Harper and I talked, and she told me what you said. Thank you.”
" I told you, Apollo, I'm not here to get in the way of your relationship. She seems like a good woman, and I'd rather get along with the woman who will help you take care of our son," I smiled.
I was not lying. Despite my controversial feelings for Theon, I had no regrets about talking to Harper and would really like to get along with her.
" I'm glad that you feel that way, and I hope that someday I'll be able to reciprocate," he smiled, going back to smoothing my stomach.
The sound of footsteps caught our attention, and we looked toward the door to find Lillian and Dominic standing there, looking a little uncomfortable for interrupting our moment.
Theon removed his hand from my stomach and I smiled at the girls, trying to act as natural as possible. We both weren't doing anything wrong, there's no point in acting like we have to hide it.
He seemed to think the same way, as he waved to them, greeting them with a calm expression.
" I'm going out with the girls," I commented as I walked beside him, heading in their direction.
" I'm glad to know that you are making friends. Hello ladies.”
" Hi Theon, come to see how Samantha is doing? " Dominic smiled, while Lillian looked at us with a suspicious expression.
" Yes, I wanted to check that she has everything she needs," he replied, "but I'm going back to the store now.”
" I'll go change and we can go. Bye Theon.”
" Let me know if you need anything," he ordered, kissing my cheek before walking away.
I headed the other way, heading toward the changing rooms. A few minutes later I was joining the two of them, who were still whispering near the door.
" Shall we go? " they shut up as soon as they saw me.
I guess I'll have to clear things up.
We walked through the streets of Aspen in an awkward silence. They seemed curious about my relationship with Theon, but they didn't know how to ask, and that was already bothering me.
We went to the café that I had visited last week, and settled down at a table after placing our orders.
" So, you want to know what my relationship is with Theon," I decided to put an end to their doubts.
The two of them looked at each other before Dominic spoke up.
" Sorry, we don't mean to pry, it's just that you seemed rather close before.”
" He's dating my husband's aunt," Lillian gave me a meaningful look.
Okay. The sooner we clear this up, the better.
" Yes, I know her. Theon is my... friend.”
I was actually surprised that they didn't know anything about the two of us. I thought this sort of thing spreads easily in small towns.
" Really? Have you known each other for a long time? " Dominic asked, sipping his coffee.
" Three months," I remarked nonchalantly before taking a bite out of my blueberry muffin.
Lillian frowned as she made the associations, she looked at me confused and before Dominic asked anything again, I decided to end the mystery.
" Theon is the father of my baby," I shrugged, leaving them both stunned.
" Excuse me, did you say that Theon is the father of your baby? " Lilly looked for confirmation, totally incredulous.
" Yes. We met in Vegas, before his cousin's wedding," I explained, "we stayed together for a few nights and... Well, you can imagine what came next.”
I shrugged before caressing my belly. This was already becoming a habit for me.
" Wow, I would expect that from anyone but Theon," Dominic remarked.
I looked away not knowing how to feel about that comment. Would everyone consider that I was a mistake for him?
" Did he say anything about being in a store, what was he talking about? " I decided to ask a few questions, and get away from any possible criticism.
" The Adamos own several shops in Aspen, Theon runs some of them," Lilly explained as if it were obvious.
" I didn't know that.”
" Have you met his family? " Lillian questioned " How are they handling it?”
" I've only met Delphine and his sister.”
" Which one? " Dominic asked.
" Callie," I grimaced as I remembered my son's father's sister.
" So you haven't met Lara and the baby yet? " Lillian sipped her coffee " she's nicer.”
" I don't know who Lara is," I explained confused.
" My God, didn't you ask him anything when you met? " Lillian scoffed.
" Have you seen the guy? I asked him if he wanted to go somewhere private.”
That elicited more giggles from the two girls, relieving me a little.
" So, how do you plan to handle all this? " Dominic asked.
" Theon will continue his relationship with Harper, and maybe I'll meet someone else too.
" That won't be so easy, men are a little difficult about this," Lillian rolled her eyes.
" If the guy can't handle it, I don't want to go out with him," I shrugged, "Theon was the last crazy thing in my life.”
" You sure picked the right craziness," Dominic remarked, "is that why you came to Aspen? “
" My parents live in Texas, but I didn't want to go back home and had no one to help me in Vegas, besides, that's not the environment I want to raise my son in. So Theon suggested that I come to Aspen.”
" It was a good solution. But I still think it's a complicated situation," Lillian commented.
" It will only be complicated if we allow it. It's not as if we have feelings for each other," I stated.
Well, of course I think he's handsome and I'm attracted to him, but there's nothing I can do about it. In the same way that I am attracted to him, I can be attracted to others. Yes, in time I will be able to see him as a friend only.