Chapter Seven
Carly
The end of classes can’t come sooner! Why does the time refuse to move when you really want it to? The dance tryouts are after school and I’m so antsy-pantsy. Does it really matter what my teacher is droning on about when we’re talking about my future here?
When the final bell finally rings, I grab my stuff and race to the gym.
No one is here yet, not even Coach Moreno.
But she did set up a table for her and me to sit at.
I’m currently team captain because this was my idea, but once we have a proper team, we’ll have a vote because I want the right person to be the captain.
I know I’m super early and can’t expect the hopefuls to teleport here right away, but I really want to get the show on the road. I already have some ideas for a kickbutt choreography and I can’t wait to show it to my teammates and to my coach.
My body perks up when Addie walks through the gym doors with Caleb at her side. She’s dressed in her gym clothes, which are a dark green shirt and matching shorts. When she sees me, a huge smile takes over her face and she jets over.
“You’re here!” I throw my arms around her and hug her super tight. “I can’t wait to see your routine. You’ll be amazing .”
“Thanks. Caleb, Raven, and Sophie helped me put it together last night. I can’t wait to knock you dead.”
I smile at Caleb. “Are you here for moral support?”
He wraps his arm around Addie’s waist and presses his lips to her cheek. “Of course. I’m here to support my girlfriend and her best friend. I know you both will be great.”
“Thanks. I just wish everyone would come already!”
Sophie has tutoring, so she won’t be able to join us, but Raven should arrive soon. She’s speaking to one of her teachers.
Addie, Caleb, and I chat about various things while we wait, though it’s mostly Caleb and Addie doing the talking because I’m so nervous. My eyes keep flitting to the door every five seconds, as though that will somehow magically make everyone appear. But it’s still pretty early.
After about five minutes, a girl with long dark hair who looks like she’s a freshman hesitantly walks inside, looking around like she’s lost. I wave at her and say, “Are you here for the dance tryouts?”
A relieved smile breaks out on her face. “Yeah.”
“Cool. We’ll start once more people arrive. You can stretch in the meantime. What’s your name?”
“Naya Jani.”
“I’m Carly Simmons and this is Addie Hayes and Caleb Ashton.”
She smiles again and walks to the side to stretch. I’m so happy we have a freshman hopeful! I love the idea of helping to shape the younger students to be the best dancers they can be, and if our team is successful, they can keep it alive for many years to come.
Addie goes off to stretch, too, while Caleb sits down on the bleachers. I settle down at the table and take out a piece of paper to jot notes. We didn’t have a signup sheet because I want to keep the door open until the last minute. Anyone is welcome to try out.
A few more kids join us as well, and then Raven rushes inside. She waves to me, gives Addie a good luck hug, then sits down next to Caleb on the bleachers.
Coach Moreno arrives. A look of surprise passes over her face when she notices the small number of hopefuls inside the gym.
Honestly, it’s making me very worried as well.
There can’t be more than seven people here, and I doubt each one of them is good enough to be on the team.
Principal Harrington said we need at least five people to make the team.
As much as I’d love to accept everyone, we won’t be taken seriously if some of the dancers aren’t good.
But I’m once again choosing to be positive. Maybe they’ll all arrive in the next five minutes.
“Hey, Carly,” Coach Moreno says as she lowers her bag to the table. “Not the best turnout, huh?”
“There’s still time for people to show up,” I say, wishing my voice sounded more confident.
She nods, but I can’t deny the concern in her eyes.
I guess I should have expected this. I’m not exactly the most popular girl at school—I’m not sure people even know who I am. And dance doesn’t seem to be something kids are excited about, not when we have the cheerleading squad, which of course most of the popular kids are part of.
I swallow when it dawns on me that this is it. No one else has shown up. I was trying so hard to be positive and hope for the best, but wishing and hoping won’t make it come true. Life doesn’t work that way.
“I guess we’ll start?” I say to Coach Moreno.
She nods as she lowers herself on the second chair. “Yes, let’s start.”
I’m about to call everyone to attention when I notice a guy stroll into the gym. The tall frame and blond hair immediately catch my attention, and it takes everything I have to keep my blood from boiling.
Ryder slows down as he looks around the gym with creased brows, obviously confused why there are so few people in here.
Storming over to him, I say, “What are you doing here?”
He tears his eyes from the stretching hopefuls and pins them on me, a lazy smile taking over his face. “Hey, Carly. Am I late? Have you already shot down most of the candidates? That’s brutal.”
“I didn’t shoot down anyone. We’re just about to begin the tryouts. So if you would do us all a favor and scram, that would be great.”
His face fills with shock. “Why would I scram?”
“What do you mean…?” My voice trails off when I notice he’s dressed in his gym clothes, too. “Wait a second. What are you doing here, Ryder?”
He grins as he strikes a pose. “What does it look like? I’m here to try out.”
“No you’re not.”
“Yes I am.”
“No you’re not .”
He frowns as he gazes down at me. “Do you not want me to try out because I’m a guy? That’s discrimination, Simmons.”
“That’s not what this is—”
He snorts. “Unbelievable. You’re discriminating against me because I’m a guy.”
“I’m not discriminating against you because you’re a guy! I’m discriminating against you because you’re you .”
Does he expect me to forget that he called dance club corny this morning? How dare he show up here?
His jaw falls open as he gapes at me. I narrow my eyes at him. I have no idea what BS he’s pulling right now, but I have no time for it. Typical for him to pull this stunt when he knows how much this means to me.
He yanks his gaze from me and scans the gym. “I think you should be a little more open and appreciative. It looks like you need all the help you can get.”
I fold my arms over my chest and continue to glare at him. “We don’t need help from the likes of you.”
He’s about to respond, but Coach Moreno walks over to us. “Is there a problem?”
“No,” I say at the same time he says, “Yes.” I throw him another glare.
“Your captain is being sexist,” he accuses.
“Oh my gosh! I so am not .” I turn to Coach Moreno and throw my hands up. “He’s just here to annoy me.”
“No I’m not—”
“He destroyed my Lego when I was six and—”
“Again with the freakin’ Lego—”
“And one time he dressed up in a lion costume and hid in my closet. When I walked in, he burst out of it and jumped on top of me, scarring me for life.”
His brows shoot up. “Did that really happen?”
“Yes, you sick individual.”
“I was like seven!”
“And the worst part is that just this morning, he called dance club—”
“Carly.” Coach Moreno holds up her hands.
“I have no idea what this drama is about, and I honestly couldn’t care less.
But if Ryder is here to try out, we need to allow him to try out.
” She takes my arm and pulls me aside. “What’s wrong, Carly?
We don’t have the biggest turnout and we can’t afford to tell people to leave. ”
“You don’t get it, Miss Moreno. Ryder’s not serious about dance. I doubt he even can dance. He’s just here to mess with me.”
She sighs and shakes her head, as though she didn’t sign up for this. Shoot, the last thing I want is for her to quit on me. But what else can I do? Allow the cretin to ruin something that means the world to me?
“Carly, we have to give him a chance. If he’s here just to annoy you like you claim, then he’ll bomb his audition and we won’t have to accept him on the team.”
“I guess that’s true,” I admit. “Still, the idea of allowing him to try out gives me hives.”
I exchange a glance with Addie and then Raven. Both of them seem perplexed as to why Ryder is here, but I sense a hint of a smile on Addie. She, for some strange reason, is under the impression that there’s some sort of vibe between Ryder and me. Well, the only vibe we have is one of hatred.
Coach Moreno and I return to the table and she tells me to call the first person to audition.
I ask Addie to come forward and write down her name on my paper.
She puts on her music and starts her routine.
I’m super nervous because I want her to do well, but after a few seconds, my worries fly out the window.
Because she’s killing it! I’ve seen her dance before, but it’s obvious she worked really hard on this routine because it’s the best dancing I’ve ever seen from her.
She’s so determined and focused, and she even steps out of her comfort zone.
My cheeks hurt from the humongous smile on my face.
When she’s done, I force myself to remain planted in my seat because all I want to do is rush over to her and give her the biggest hug in the world. She nailed that routine. Raven and Caleb are on their feet, cheering loudly. Addie blushes as she tries to hide a smile.
“Great job, Addie,” I tell her. “Okay, next we have Naya Jani!” I call.