Page 11 of Easy Out

Lauren exhales. “You didn’t need to know.” Nash rolls his eyes. “I can’t do this right now. I need to go.”

Nash isn’t satisfied, but he’s smart enough to let it go. Lauren tells everyone thank you again and says goodbye. She stops short when her eyes land on me. Lauren gives me a slight nod and then walks away.

The lights start strobing throughout the warehouse, and the DJ returns to the mic with an announcement.

“Y’all enjoy the show? Let me hear you, Montgomery!” The crowd screams. “I still can’t hear you, Montgomery.” I didn’t think it was possible, but everyone screams again, raising the noise level a few more decibels. “That’s what I’m talking ’bout. Let me get all the contestants out on the floor. It’s time to find out who won this thing.”

The seven of us bulldoze our way through the lingering crowd to be front and center for the results.

Unfortunately, it puts me in the crosshairs of the dance team. One girl looks at me like I’m her next snack. She’s clueless if she thinks she has a chance with me. Girls from school should know I’m not a sure thing. I guess that is part of the appeal.

Ignoring the unwanted attention, I take in the rest of the dancers. Everyone is confident and ready to hear the results. The dude Lauren was talking to, Killer, is standing like a soldier with his hands behind his back. He looks like a prized fighter.

Lauren is the only one who appears nervous. Her hands are fidgety at her side, and her left foot bounces uncontrollably. She has her head down, staring at the floor while she chews her bottom lip with worry.

I don’t get it. She exuded confidence while she was dancing. Lauren was one of the best competitors tonight. Yet right now, she is a cluster of nerves.

The lights swirl around on the dance floor, and the music changes tempo as the MC, or maybe the club owner, enters the spotlight.

“Damn, y’all showed up tonight!” The guy gestures to all the dancers standing behind him. “I’m not going to keep you waiting any longer. As you know, only the top three are in the money. Third place...” he pulls open one of the envelopes in his hand. “The Kings Crew!”

Three guys and two girls step into the middle of the floor. One of them is the same guy who was holding Lauren back from Killer earlier tonight, and the other is her neighbor Emilio.

“Second place...” the MC pulls open another envelope. He holds the card up in the air before he screams, “We have ourselves a BATTLE.” The whole room erupts with noise.

“What the fuck?” Nash asks, looking at us like we would know what that means.

“That’s right. We’ll have one more battle before we can determine our winner. Tonight’s battle is between...” He pauses for a few beats, building up the tension. “Killer and LoLo! You have to prove yourselves one more time. Everyone else, thanks for playing. Better luck next time.”

Mierda! Lauren did it.

Lauren promptly puts on her game face. She is ready to settle their fight from earlier on the floor. This girl switches her moods so fast she’s giving me whiplash.

One minute she looks like a terrified kitten, and the next she’s a fucking tiger stalking her next victim.

“Here are the rules.” The guy starts up again. “Each of you will get two rounds to dance—ninety seconds for each round. Your time starts once you step into the center. Who wants to go first?”

“Ladies first,” Killer says with a sly grin.

“Then, by all means, take the floor, Killer,” Lauren counters, backing away from the middle of the floor. The whole warehouse breaks out in a collective wave of oohs.

Apparently, the battle has already begun. Damn, this girl. The left side of my mouth tries to tick up in a smile, but I don’t allow it.

The music starts. Killer and Lauren begin moving around and sizing each other up. Suddenly Killer steps in the middle of the floor and starts dancing aggressively in Lauren’s face. He doesn’t hold anything back. He moves with fluidity. He plays with the crowd and with Lauren.

I’ve decided I do not like him.

I begin planning this guy’s murder. He’s floating down the Alabama River when a warm palm touches my back. I stiffen at the contact.

“Hey there,” she says as I remove her hand from my back. “You want to get out of here?” I glare at the girl. It’s the same one from the Newhouse dance team who was trying to get my attention earlier.

“No.”

“Seriously? I know you were checking me out,” she purrs. Not only is this girl full of herself, she is also delusional and not worth another second of my time.

It’s Lauren’s turn. She takes over and slides her body right up to Killer in a slick move. The crowd goes crazy. They love her and her tenacity. She has them eating out of the palm of her hands.

She dips low and rises, popping her hips out to the beat. Then she does some kind of intricate move with her hands and feet that has everyone screaming in awe.

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