Page 3 of Easy Out

I still feel it some days.

Carter was the center of Royal Oaks. He moved around the trailer park and interacted with everyone. An obvious leader, Carter helped the only way he knew how. Legal or not.

I wanted to help too. I kept my trailer year-round since I needed a place to stay during breaks. It also allowed me the space to keep tabs on everyone.

A few days into winter break my freshman year, I witnessed my first dance battle.

I followed Carter to an old, abandoned building. It looked like something straight out of a dystopian movie. The brick walls were crumbling. There were boards over the windows.

Since there was no electricity, someone brought in generators for the lights and music. There were also a few portable outdoor heat lamps. Not sure why they bothered with those considering there was a giant hole in the roof and enough bodies filling the place to make you wish you could step into a walk-in freezer.

I hid in the crowd the best I could but found myself creeping toward the front when The Kings started dancing. I recognized everyone from Carter’s crew as people who’ve milled around my neighborhood. Some even spent afternoons camped on the roof of the trailer next door to mine.

After Carter finished dancing, he walked up to me with a menacing scowl. I didn’t give him a chance to speak. I simply stated, “I want in.” Then he took me by the elbow and smushed me in between Zeke and Emilio. Carter signaled something with his eyes, ran his hands through his hair, and walked away.

I didn’t see him for the rest of the night. The following day, he knocked on my trailer and asked me if I could dance. I said yes, and that was it. I was part of his crew.

Sweat drips down my back as I get boxed into the corner I’m hiding in. The Warehouse is a converted airplane hangar. The rolltop doors are wide open, making the air conditioning in here irrelevant as the Alabama heat sweeps in.

I push off the wall and make my way around the perimeter of The Warehouse, ignoring the pull of the music to the middle of the room where everyone is dancing.

The music, the lights, the energy of the people, it’s a siren’s call. My body begs me to migrate with the rest of the flock and let loose.

I rearrange the baseball cap on my head, covering more of my face. It might be dark, but it’s not enough to hide my identity. Every time a light sweeps across my face, blinding panic darts through my body.

I slurp down the last of my water and fight my way to the closest bar for a refill. I need to lower my body temperature and calm my nerves. I need to forget about Sydney and Nash and focus on my goal.

The bartender, Dave, rolls his eyes as he fills my glass. He hates wasting time on me, but he knows better than to ignore me since I’m under Carter’s protection.

I drop ten dollars on the bar top out of spite and respect. My mom worked in the service industry. If she didn’t get good tips, I didn’t eat. I don’t know who Dave has at home. If my ten dollars gets him more than peanut butter and bread next week, then he needs it more than me.

Walking away, I take a sip of my water. Damn, that’s refreshing. It is cooling down the fire of nerves flowing through my system. I sidestep a few people, slowly making my way to the wall in the back opposite the bar. I’m almost there when I hear my name.

“Lauren! Lo!” The voice pierces through the thrumming of the music. I turn around and come face to face with my roommate Sydney.

Damn it.

Way to be discreet, Syd. Geez! There is no way the guys won’t notice me now. There isn’t a chance in hell Nash or Koa will let their baby lamb walk too far from the herd with all the wolves out looking for their next prey.

“Hey, babe,” Sydney says as she steals my water and takes a giant gulp. “It is hot as Hades in here. Thanks, I needed that.” She hands me back my almost-empty drink. “You look cute, by the way. I almost didn’t recognize you.” Syd tugs on my hat.

“Pity you did.”

“Oh, come on. It won’t be that bad. I don’t know why you keep all this a secret anyways.”

It’s not something people at Newhouse need to know. I’m the only member of my crew who attends the University. Everyone else is either working, attending community college, or other activities. I’m not the type of person who puts myself on blast. But also, no one ever took the time to get to know me.

“You really don’t think it’s a big deal? I don’t want people to look at me differently. I don’t dance for attention.” I don’t want it. Maybe that’s the fear. For someone to finally see me. The real me. Not the watered-down version I am on campus.

“I think you are twenty-two years old and can do whatever you want with your life.”

“Right.” Syd rolls her eyes.

“I’ll prove it to you. Dance with me.” I start shaking my head before she can finish the sentence. Sydney places my glass of water on a nearby table. Then takes hold of both my hands.

“Sydney,” I snap. Nash and Koa are watching the two of us with the acuity of a secret service agent. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“Lo, it’s the perfect idea. Consider this a warm-up. A prequel. If you can’t handle their reaction to the two of us dancing together, then I will fake a headache and make them take me home.”

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