Page 52 of Damaged Boys Don't Fall For Bubbly Girls
The guys try to convince me to reconsider. They claim I was perfect during rehearsal and don’t need extra practice. But I know the areas where I need to improve, and I’ll feel better knowing I put in the extra hours.
“Bye, everyone!” I wave to all seven of them. “See you tomorrow.”
The guys slap my hands or fist bump me as they wish me goodbye. Brock gives me a quick hug before following them out the door.
Zuri has a jazz class for seniors now, so I can’t use Studio A. But Dani tells me I can use Studio C, since there won’t be any classes taking place there. After getting a drink from the water cooler, I grab my backpack and walk toward the end of the hallway, where studio C is located. It’s smaller than the rest of the studios, which makes it perfect for me to use.
After putting on the music, I start working on one of the dance numbers I’m struggling with. I know I have many weeks to perfect it, but I love dancing so much and want to go above and beyond to have a knockout performance.
When I’m about fifteen or twenty minutes into rehearsal, I feel someone watching me. My gaze shoots to the door and I find Brock standing there. I nearly trip over my feet.
His eyes widen as he rushes inside. “Are you okay? Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I wasn’t sure if you were okay with me watching, but I didn’t want to disturb you because you looked like you were really into it.”
I tuck some hair behind my ear. “Yeah, I kind of disappear into my happy place when I dance.”
“I see it.”
We stand quietly, the only sound coming from my phone that’s playingThe Nutcrackermusic.
“Do you want me to go?” Brock asks. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to bother you.” He turns around.
“No, you don’t have to go. But um…” I tuck some more hair behind my ear. “I thought you left with the others.”
“Yeah, I was about to mount my bike, but I thought I would hang around and give you a lift home so you wouldn’t have to wait for your mom. I don’t mind waiting. And also, I thought you might like the company.” He pushes his bangs into his eyes. “I mean, sorry. You told the guys you wanted to be alone. I can leave…” He turns around again.
“No, it’s okay.” I put my hand on his arm, preventing him from leaving. “Having a huge audience with all the guys would be a bit too much, but I don’t mind if it’s just you.”
He turns around. “You sure? I really don’t want to bother you. I can wait in the lounge area.”
“I’m sure.” I give him a reassuring smile. “But I’m working on my weakest areas, so no judgment, okay?”
“Of course. I would never judge you. And honestly, I have no idea if you’re doing the dance right. It all looks perfect to me.”
“You’resouncultured,” I joke.
He chuckles. “I know, right? Tchaikovsky might just haunt me in my dreams tonight.”
My brows fly up. “You know the composer ofThe Nutcracker?”
“I do read a lot,” he says.
“True.”
Brock sits on one of the chairs near the wall and I continue my rehearsal. Now that I have a small audience—and it’sBrock—I’m super freakin’ nervous. And I don’t even know why. It’s not like I want to impress him, right? We’re just friends.
Ah, who am I kidding? Of course I want to impress him.
“You’re always so…what’s the right word? Majestic when you dance.”
His words cause warmth to spread through me, as well as confidence. And before I know it, I execute the danceperfectly.
“I did it!” I jump in my place and cheer. “I did it!”
“Awesome!” Brock rushes from his seat and hugs me. “I’m so proud of you. I knew you could do it.”
“I think having an audience helped,” I admit.
“Yeah?”
