Page 40 of Broken

I reset the music as we took our places and counted us off again…

“Perfect,” Leo beamed, sucking in deep breaths from exertion. He gave me a hug after we’d run through it a few times and then pulled back, tucking his head into his elbow as he was attacked with a cough. “Break?” he wheezed.

“Yeah,” I agreed, grabbing my water as I caught my breath. I toweled at the sweat that was beading across my chest and abdomen, then dabbed at my brow as I went to sit on the mats. “That cold’s not letting up, huh?” I asked when Leo sneezed a few times. “It’s not from what I gave you, right?”

He threw me a dismissive wave as he took a seat next to me. “Nah, I mean, that virus started things off, but this cold came after. It’s like my immune system never got a chance to get better before this round of crap hit. Not that I have time to sit back with it. December will be here before we know it.”

I nodded. It was already mid-October, and we’d been cracking down, countless hours in the studio here and even in my garage some evenings. We were determined to bring this audition all we had. Leo sneezed again, and I flinched, leaning away. “You okay?”

“Yeah. Just need to rest for a bit.” He leaned back, the dark strands of his hair pressing against the wall, and he breathed deeply for a minute before facing me. “Seriously, though, you’re a freaking genius, Izzy, with choreography. Tell me you’re not going to chicken out on this audition.”

I winced. “I thought I’d been keeping that pretty well to myself.”

He scoffed. “Ha, your doubts are written all over your face. Especially any time you mention Annie. Or Tucker. How’re things going with that?”

“Alright.” I couldn’t help but smile, sitting back as the room began to spin.Whoa, more water.I’d been bad about that lately, just getting lost in the dance. I’d forget. Ever since that virus, I was wearing out faster, my immune system on its own sinking line. But I didn’t have time to listen to it.

“Just alright?” Leo nudged my leg with his. “I saw the way he watched you that time he came here. He’s a goner for you. I like him better than that Zane guy. Jealous asshole.”

I nearly spurt out my water when I laughed. “Yep. That about sums him up. And you’re right, things with Tucker are amazing. Andyes, I start to doubt some about the Academy when I talk and or think about Annie, or him, or even Jet, but…” I trailed off, not even sure what I was trying to say.

“But nothing.” Leo gave me a serious look. “Baste Academy doesn’t offer auditions to just anyone, and you’d be a shoo-in. Just think about all the opportunities you’d have if you got in. A college dance team won’t be anything compared to the Academy on your resume. Or any other dance school.”

“I know. I know,” I insisted between long pulls from my water bottle. Iknewhe was right. The Academy would be fantastic. My dream. They specialized in all kinds of dance, and they had a great program for our favorite contemporary modern style. We interchanged with hip hop some, too, but that was our main go-to. I sighed. “It’s just more complicated for me than it is for you. I want to go. I’mgoingto audition, but it’s hard. I’ve never gone longer than dance camp without seeing Annie, and I don’t know if I could not live near my sister.”

“The twin thing.” Leo nodded, pursing his lips in consideration.

“I know Baste Academy would be amazing, though.”

“Then do it.”

“I am. The audition, at least. I’ll have to worry about whether I do go or not later.” There was so much to still think about. So much in the air. I didn’t even know if I’d officially get in.

Leo frowned, obviously not getting the answer he wanted. Which honestly wasn’t the answer I thought I’d give, either. I’d been so sure when that email came in. Then I heard Annie. It was just so complicated.

“You’re very frustrating sometimes, Donovan. You know that, right?”

I rolled my eyes, getting up, then held out my hands to pull Leo to his feet. “But you love me, anyway. And right now, we need to perfect this dance.”

“Well said.” He perked up again.

We were in the middle of what had to be our tenth run-through when the room started to tilt again. Ignoring it, pushing through, I came out of my backflip and leapt into my arc, spots dotting across my vision as Leo caught my waist. I tried to blink them away, my head spinning as I held my position in the air. The last thing I remembered was the spots spreading into blackness just as Leo twisted me around to his back for the lift I’d never make.

“Izzy, Izzy!” The voice broke through the cacophony of fleeting images I couldn’t quite see. “Izzy!”

My eyes opened to find Leo kneeling beside me, his features stressed with concern as he tapped at my cheeks.

“Oh, thank God,” he gushed when my focus returned. “Are you okay?”

“Dizzy,” I managed, still trying to get my bearings. “Give me a minute.” I crossed my arms over my face, taking long, slow breaths until the room felt still again. “What happened?” I looked at Leo.

“You fainted when I was spinning you around for the lift. Thank God for the mirror, or I wouldn’t have noticed in time. I barely managed to catch you.”

“Thanks then. That fall would have sucked,” I tried to joke.

Leo sat back, shock still prevalent in his expression. “Shit, Izzy, that seriously scared the crap out of me. Are you gonna be okay? Have you eaten? What happened?”

“I ate. But it’s been a while. Like five hours ago when I had a snack.” I winced when I checked my Fitbit, seeing it was past nine. “I could probably use more water, too.”

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