My First Time

Ch.5

Alexa’s Pov

It was safe to say that I had discovered two additional things I disliked about Akila: his car and his music. They were simply added to my mental list titled 'reasons I dislike Akila.' As childish as it may seem, it brought me a sense of satisfaction to include more items on that list.

"So, are you all serious dancers?" he inquired, casting a glance at Essel. One hand rested on her thigh while the other gripped the steering wheel, driving leisurely. I didn't have much faith in his driving abilities, which only heightened my anxiety.

"Absolutely, we’re Afro dancers," she answered cheerfully, gazing at him with an adoring smile. Someone please hand me a bucket.

"You guys are making me feel nauseous!" I remarked, reclining against the stiff leather seat. Essel caught my eye in the rearview mirror, wearing a smirk.

"Is there an issue, pumpkin?" he teased, prompting me to squint at the limited view of his face. I didn’t need to see his mouth to know it was twisted into that infuriating smirk.

"You are definitely the issue! Stop flirting with my best friend and just drive," I said, crossing my arms over my chest. My heart was racing against my bare arm. We were unfamiliar with this new group, and we had no idea how well they could dance, so it could turn out to be a complete disaster. Plus, they were friends of Akila's, so who knows what they were like.

"I'm not flirting! I'm just asking questions," he shot back, pretending to be shocked. I didn't respond; I simply rolled my eyes and focused my gaze back out the window.

The place I had moved to wasn't as bad as I thought. Even though my apartment looked rough from the outside, the inside was fantastic. Everything appeared tidy and organized as we navigated through the main streets, but it was only when we started driving through the back alleys that things looked grimier. The state of the streets and the people loitering there made me uneasy, but I wasn't about to share that with him.

"We've arrived!" Akila exclaimed as he parked outside a warehouse. It didn't seem too terrible, and I could hear the music thumping from within, but I still had my doubts. Essel, on the other hand, was a whole different story, practically bouncing with excitement in her seat.

"Are you really sure you didn't just bring us out here to harm us?" I inquired, and he chuckled as if I were making a joke. "Because I have pepper spray with me," I added awkwardly, leaving him with a smirk. His laughter caused his shoulders to shake, and it quickly dawned on me that I enjoyed the sound of it. It wasn't hostile; in fact, it felt quite inviting. Everything that Akila was not.

"Sweetheart, if I intended to harm you both, do you honestly think it was wise to inform me about your pepper spray?" he asked, raising an eyebrow when I scoffed.

"I thought so, now come on, you two," he said cheerfully, tucking his keys into his back pocket.

"You know, perhaps we should wait until we can find a group at Uni; I have some studying to do anyway..." I trailed off, maintaining my distance behind the 'happy couple'. Akila glanced back at me.

"Live a little," he muttered, and I frowned, adjusting my bag over my shoulder as we approached the door. The music started to get louder, resonating through my chest and syncing with my heartbeat.

"Akila!" I heard a guy shout, and as I stopped scanning the surprisingly cozy interior, I spotted a handsome guy with black hair making his way towards us. He was shirtless, showcasing a dancer's physique—defined chest without being overly muscular, and a slim waist that let his dark jeans hang low. In the corner, three other guys and one girl were part of the group, all performing some simple azonto moves to the rhythm of the music.

"Dickson, man," Akila called out. Essel moved closer to me and nudged me with her elbow, pointing at Dickson, who had now positioned himself in front of Akila. He glanced our way, his sharp brown eyes scanning our figures.

"So, you all can dance, huh?" Dickson inquired, sidestepping Akila to approach us.

"Yep," Essel replied with confidence, adjusting her stance to stand tall.

Dickson grinned and stepped aside, motioning for us to go ahead of him.

"Alright, let's put some music on and have a dance-off between the two of you," he said, casting a glance at his crew, who had coincidentally paused their dancing and were approaching us.

"Hey!" the girl said cautiously. She examined us before looking at Dickson as he made the introductions. I had already tossed my bag onto the floor and was quickly stretching my muscles in preparation. To be honest, now that I felt secure, I wasn't anxious. Both Essel and I were confident in our dancing skills and could hold our own against them; I just wasn't thrilled about Akila and how he seemed to be hovering, observing my every move.

Before long, Essel and I found ourselves positioned by the music player, while Dickson's crew stood across from us. I shut my eyes and absorbed the rhythm of the song, allowing it to inspire my dance moves. I glanced at Essel and leaned in to whisper in her ear.

"Esdeath routine," I murmured, and her eyes widened in surprise before she nodded at me with a smile. At Esdeath, a nightclub in our previous city, we had performed an impressive routine that made us well-known among the troops and clubs. It was our first official performance, and it remains one of our best routines ever.

Dickson's crew kicked off the dance. They moved with such skill that I couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety about competing against them. The level they achieved reminded me of our former crew.

Essel and I executed a sequence of body rolls, side steps, and twists before the opposing team took their turn. We must have danced for around thirty minutes until we both ran out of moves, leaving everyone panting. Dickson flashed a smile and wiped his brow with a towel, then extended his hand towards me.

"You girls are impressive, feel free to join us on the dance floor," he said between breaths, and I couldn't help but smile back. Just as I was about to respond, Essel interjected, leaving me to focus on my racing heart and heavy breathing.

"Thanks, can I get your number?" she inquired. I tuned out of their ongoing conversation and lifted the hem of my top, letting the cool outdoor air refresh my skin.

I left Essel chatting with the others while I stepped outside with my bag to freshen up. The breeze brushed against my forehead, sweeping my bangs aside. I took a moment to cool down, stretching the toned muscles in my abdomen and back.

"I didn't see that coming," Akila's voice came from behind me, prompting a sigh from my lips.

"What are you still doing here?" I inquired, continuing to stretch. It was only when I noticed his gaze trailing down my back that I realized I was stretching in front of that jerk.

"You all need a ride home," he said nonchalantly, and I sighed again, leaning against the cool stone wall behind me.

"Could you do me a favor?" I asked, stealing a glance at his attractive face, and he gave me a smirk.

"For a price," he replied.

"You're impossible," I exclaimed in frustration. I bent down to pick up my bag, but suddenly, I felt a large hand grip my forearm. Before I could comprehend what was happening, I found myself pressed against Akila's muscular chest, his hand still firmly holding my forearm.

"You keep walking away from me," he remarked, that infuriating smirk still plastered on his face. If I could, I would have slapped it right off.

"You're just annoying," I spat out, attempting to distance myself but unable to do so.

"You know, you're among the very first girls to turn me down," he murmured, gazing down at me. I squinted and let out a scoff.

"Incredible. Just when I thought your ego couldn't inflate any further." He grinned but remained silent, merely gliding his thumb over the exposed skin of my arms.

"I'm not egotistical, just... self-assured," he replied with a shrug, releasing my arm. I quickly pulled it back and took a couple of steps away from him, creating some space. I didn't want him to realize that he had just sent my heart racing.

"Essel is self-assured; you, on the other hand, have your head so far up your own backside," I grumbled, bending down to grab my bag and head back inside to meet Essel. Honestly, I was contemplating asking her to swap roommates.

Akila joined me moments later, beaming at me.

"You really have a short fuse, you know," he remarked, prompting me to roll my eyes as I stalked back to Essel and Dickson.

"Only with you," I retorted over my shoulder, which earned me a playful salute from my roommate. I realized I needed to find a way to coexist with him; after all, I had another twelve months living under the same roof, and if things continued like this, we wouldn't have any fun at all.

"Alexa!" Essel called out, and I smiled as I joined her by Dickson. He informed us that they practiced at the same warehouse every Wednesday, Saturday, and Monday. I had classes at the university on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, but it turned out that Pascal, another member of the group, was in my class and could take me to and from the warehouse.

"Alright, ladies, we need to head out!" Akila shouted from the door.

We hurried over to him, and Essel quickly wrapped her arm around him in a brief 'thank you' hug. I wasn't thrilled about it. She had a flirty personality, but he was not the type to flirt with. First, he was my roommate, and second, he was a complete jerk.

Just as Essel entered the car, a locking sound echoed, causing Akila to tense up. I was situated behind him, yet I could observe every muscle in his back tighten.

"Well, if it isn't my dear brother," purred a voice I didn't recognize. I was about to lean over Akila's shoulder to catch a glimpse of the person speaking to us, but his arm shot back, preventing me from doing so. He allowed me just one quick look over his shoulder before turning his attention back to the front. I attempted to open the car door, but it was locked, and Essel was grinning at the man in front of Akila.

"Good morning, Steve," Akila said through gritted teeth. I could feel a hint of tension in the air, and I found myself wishing I was locked inside the car with Essel.