Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
TEAM SPIRIT
TARYN
Star Cove New Hockey Training Center
Three Days Later
“Idon’t think I’ve ever been so nervous in my entire life.” I whisper to Jodie as I put one last coat of mascara on my lashes.
She meets my gaze in the mirror that covers one entire wall of one of the changing rooms that are being shared by all the hopeful future Star Cove Shooting Stars.
“You’ve got this, babe.” Jodie says with her typical unshakable confidence.
“We had to beat four hundred people in the group dance tryouts yesterday. So believe in yourself. Carole and Lexi must have seen something in us if we’re still here and we get to dance a solo in front of them and the other judges. ”
I know Jodie is right.
The first day of tryouts was scary. We went two elimination rounds dancing in groups of ten and then five for the duration of a random song.
That helped Carole and Lexi weed down the aspirant cheerleaders from over five hundred to a mere hundred.
Today we’re dancing a solo in front of the panel of judges. “I know, but there are still fifty more people to beat to get a spot in training camp. At least we get to choose which song we want to dance to.”
Jodie wraps a strand of her long brown hair around her curling iron.
“Today and tomorrow the judges want to see who we are as a person and as a dancer. It’s good to have their full attention for a handful of minutes today and for a one-on-one interview tomorrow if we pass the dance tryout.
But you’re gonna dazzle them. They would be crazy not to give you a spot in training camp. ”
Talia chimes in from the chair near Jodie’s. “Listen to your BFF. And word of advice from Sam, she texted me after she finished her solo. They’re looking for the best professional dancers, but they also want girls who are coachable, are team players, and who can lift each other up.”
“Yeah, that’s what it said in the welcome package they emailed us yesterday when we made the tryout finals.” Jodie points out.
“True. But Sam saw Lexi speaking to someone after her dance. They have staff walking around the complex, the dining hall, and even popping into the changing rooms. So be aware of every word you say and your facial expressions, even when you think the judges aren’t looking at you.”
Jodie and I smile at each other.
We have no problem with that code of conduct. We were co-captains of our dance team at Hemlock Beach, and we worked hard to maintain that same kind of environment that went beyond team spirit.
“The feeling of sisterhood was what I loved the most about our old dance team.” I say to Talia. “And it would be wonderful to find it again here.”
“You will.” Talia smiles.
I know she means it. She’s been nothing but kind to me and Jodie since we broke down in front of the training center on Saturday morning.
“Thanks.” I smile at her. “You’ve been a real friend from the second we met. I hope we get to be teammates, too.”
Tucker’s sister stands up from her chair and goes into the locker that’s been assigned to her for today. She comes back to the mirror holding a suit bag.
“Do you need help to put on the outfit for your performance?” I ask when she comes to stand behind my chair, looking at me through the mirror.
Talia shakes her head. “No. This is for you.”
I blink, unsure about what she’s offering me. “What’s in there?”
“The outfit you’re gonna wear for your solo.”
Her confident tone makes me turn in my chair so I can look at her face to face. “I already have an outfit.” I look down at my two-piece pink top and shorts.
“Are you still dancing to She’s The One by Robbie Williams?”
“Yeah. I know it’s an old 90s song, and most of the pieces the other girls are doing are Taylor Swift’s songs.
But I had been working on the choreography of it for my old team if we made it to nationals.
We didn’t get to use it because we didn’t place.
Last season we battled a few serious injuries, and that ruined our chances.
I loved that piece though, and I adapted that choreography as a solo. ”
Talia nods. “I wasn’t criticizing your choice of music, Taryn. And I’m not trying to sound like a bitch, but have you seen what all the other girls are wearing?”
I know all the other contestants have expensive-looking costumes for today’s performance.
“Yeah, I know. Look, this is all I have, and it will have to do. I attended college on a scholarship, and I had to get a part-time job even to pay for the outfits needed for our dance team’s performances.
And we used our last cash to pay for our room here in town.
Even if I had wanted to try to buy something better, it simply wasn’t possible. ”
Jodie backs me up. “It’s true. I would have let Tar-Tar borrow one of my outfits. I have a few nice pieces from when I did a collab on a series of dance videos with a famous influencer in Charleston. But our sizes are too different.”
“That’s where I recognized you from!” Genevieve’s voice makes us turn around. “You were in Bella Snow’s videos.”
“I was,” Jodie confirms.
Genevieve claps her hands, jumping up and down with a high-pitched squeal. “Omg. You’re gonna be selected for sure. Carole and Lexi follow Bella Snow, and they’ll have seen you. Besides, they’re looking exactly for our kinds of body types. They like their dancers tall and thin.”
Her words hit home. My short stature and my tendency to have curves have always been deep insecurities of mine.
I’ve always trained hard and watched my diet, but I’ll always have boobs and an ass, no matter how low the number I see when I jump on the scale.
And at almost twenty-two-years-old it’s safe to say that five three is the tallest I’ll ever be.
Jodie is five eleven and Genevieve must be around five nine.
They’re both willowy thin, built like ballet dancers.
“Thank you for the encouragement.” Jodie’s tone is clipped. “But physical appearance is only one parameter. World-class dancers come in many shapes and sizes, and while I appreciate your vote of confidence, this isn’t helpful to other girls.”
Genevieve’s hand goes to her chest, her eyelashes batting in surprise.
“Oh, of course.” Her tone sounds fake, almost staged.
“I didn’t mean anything by it. It was just a mere observation.
Your bestie and Talia might still be selected, but I would do them a disservice if I didn’t tell them what Carole told my mom.
They’re going to select more girls than what they need for the final roster.
And cuts are being made not only based on how quickly you can learn the dozens of dance routines they will teach us during training camp.
They’ll also assess the way we look in the uniforms they commission from a super famous designer.
If your body type doesn’t look right in the uniform, you’re out. No matter how well you can dance.”
Shit.
The implication is that she thinks these uniforms will be designed to suit a tall, willowy figure like hers and Jodie’s.
“That might be true, Gen.” Talia’s resentment is written all over her face. “But I was just telling Taryn and Jodie that they also want team players. And while uniforms can be tailored and adapted, your attitude needs an adjustment that I don’t think you’ll be able to make.”
Shock is written all over Genevieve’s face. “What about your attitude? You’re so rude. I was only trying to be supportive to two girls who are new in town. You can’t even be nice to me and we’ve gone to school together for two years.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “You always choose to misunderstand everything I say. I was just telling Taryn and Jodie what I know about the selection process to help them make the team, not to make anyone feel insecure. But if the shoe fits…”
Talia’s blue eyes narrow as she glares at her sorority sister. “Then I guess we should thank you for all this helpful information. But if I were you, I’d worry about my own performance. After all, you’re still a candidate too. None of us has made the team yet.”
“Ha,” Genevieve giggles, twirling the end of her dark, long ponytail around her fingers.
“True. But my performance of Pink Pony Club had the judges riveted. Besides, Carole has known me and has seen me grow as a dancer since I was in diapers. And if I needed anymore reassurance that I’m a shoo-in.
The mayor and a few of the other guest judges who were invited to help choose the forty-two finalists had to cancel, and my boyfriend was invited to fill one of those spots. ”
“Your boyfriend?” Talia’s eyebrows hit her hairline.
Genevieve’s smile widens. “Yup. They needed five extra judges, and Carole asked Coach Harrison to sit on the panel. And since the team will cheer for the Cove Knights this season, they thought it would be a good idea to get some of the players on the panel. The other four judges are Macklin, Nash, Colsen, and Tucker.”
Talia looks as surprised as I feel about the news. “Mack isn’t your boyfriend anymore. Didn’t you break up with him?”
“We were on a break. He wasn’t giving me the attention I needed. But he’s had a few weeks to miss me now. It’s only a matter of time before he begs me to get back together.”
Talia lowers her voice, her tone now softer and full of genuine compassion. “I don’t know about that, Gen. After you stormed out last night, Mack went home with the girl who was sitting on his lap at the bar.”