Chapter Fifteen
Carly
I’ve performed in front of an audience many times throughout my life.
I used to take dance classes up until ninth grade, when I started to attend Harrington Bay Academy.
We got a good deal at my old studio because they liked to accept kids from all different backgrounds.
My parents knew how important it was for me and were happy to pay for it.
But it’s different now. The studios nearby are much more expensive.
My dad told me he would be open to paying for dance classes as long as I did well in school, but I don’t want to be such a financial burden on my family.
So I’ve been keeping up with my dancing in my free time, making sure to practice every day.
It’s been a while since I danced before an audience and I feel like I’m going to puke.
This will be our debut, and if we do a terrible job, I worry we’ll lose all confidence for the competition.
The morale of the group is pretty high because we’re super pumped about our routine, but anything can happen once we get out there.
“Focus on the fact that you look cute,” I say as I spin around in the girls’ locker room and touch the hem of my dance uniform.
The team and I are so thrilled with how they came out.
The blue color is so pretty and it looks amazing against the white and the “Eagles” lettering.
There’s a bit of sparkle on them as well.
When I put on the uniform, I felt like I put on a second skin. It’s part of me now.
Some of the other dancers are chatting excitedly as they add last-minute touches to their hair and makeup. All of our hair is pulled into a high ponytail or a bun and we have sparkly blue scrunchies with ribbons that match our uniforms.
Addie is nowhere to be found. I think she snuck outside to hang out with Caleb.
Even though her life is no longer in danger, Caleb still likes to stay close and keep an eye on her.
She feels safer with him around, too. I internally sigh as a bit of jealousy engulfs me.
Of course I’m super happy for my friend, but sometimes I wonder what it would feel like to have a loving boyfriend like Addie has.
What would it feel like to be someone else’s world?
To know that there is someone out there who goes to sleep every night with me on his mind, and who wakes up every morning with me on his mind?
And he would be on my mind twenty-four-seven, too.
But like I tell myself a million times, there’s no way I’ll meet my perfect guy here. So I might as well just enjoy my single life. I’ll meet whoever I’m meant to spend my life with at the right time.
But I want to ask Addie if my makeup looks good, so I leave the locker room and search the area. Hmm, they don’t seem to be here. I bet they ran off somewhere to make out.
“Man, Simmons,” someone says from behind me. When I turn around, I find Ryder standing before me. “Looking good, kid.”
I can’t help but gape at him. He looks smokin’ hot in his dance uniform. I mean, he looked really good in his football uniform, but his dance uniform fits him perfectly . Like it was designed just for him. And his hair is just the right amount of messy.
“What are you doing out here?” I blurt.
He raises a brow before chuckling softly. “Waiting for the rest of my team? In case you haven’t noticed, that is a no-guy zone.” He nods toward the door behind me.
I turn my head and realize he’s referring to the girls’ locker room. Well duh, Carly.
With my cheeks blazing, I turn back around. “Right.”
The game should be starting soon, and the team needs to get out there. But the rest of the girls are still fussing over their appearances. I hope they come out soon because I don’t want to come late to the game.
Ryder’s eyes search mine for a few seconds before he steps forward. “You look really beautiful, Carly. I thought you looked cute in the school uniform, but this is a whole new level.”
My cheeks heat up even more and a swarm of butterflies invades my stomach.
“You look beautiful, too.” The words pop out of my mouth before I can stop them. Oh my gosh, why am I so nervous around him all of a sudden? I’m never nervous around him. Is it because my nerves are already wound up because of the performance?
Surprise passes over his face, but I can see he’s really glad—and maybe touched?—to hear that. “Thanks, Carly,” he says. “This doesn’t just happen.” He gestures to himself.
“Oh, please. I bet you hopped into the shower for five minutes, dried yourself off, and then threw on your uniform with barely any effort. Now this?” I gesture to myself. “ This took effort. The hair and the makeup and the…”
My voice trails off when he takes another step forward. I back away. He continues to move closer until my back hits the wall. Leaning so close that his warmth and scent surround me, he moves his lips to my ear and murmurs, “Well, the effort paid off.”
My body is frozen. I don’t think he’s ever been this close to me before. His soft breath is on my ear, and while nearly every part of me yells at me to push him away because he’s Ryder , another part of me wants to pull him closer.
He lifts his hand to tug on one of the ribbons of my scrunchie. “I can tell you’re nervous about the performance, Captain,” he says in such a soft tone that it’s barely audible. “But you shouldn’t be. You’ll kill it out there.”
“You’re too close,” I whisper, keeping my eyes on his broad chest.
“Am I?” he whispers back.
I slowly lift my eyes to his and notice that there are so many emotions swimming in there.
He always puts on this cool and confident appearance, like nothing can hurt him because he’s the Ryder Bennett.
But right now? I see a lot of raw emotions.
A lot of pain, too. Just like I saw the other day when he mentioned my parents loving me.
What has happened in his life to cause all that pain?
“Carly, I know I’ve hurt you many times in the past—”
The door to the girls’ locker room bursts open and the rest of the team piles out.
I gently push Ryder away from me because the last thing I want is for anyone to see…
whatever that was. What was it, exactly?
I don’t have time to try to make sense of it because the team ushers Ryder and me toward the bleachers.
Coach Moreno is there waiting for us, along with Addie.
We settle down at our designated spot on the bleachers, the team chattering excitedly about the game and our performance.
Well, they are. I wrap my arms around myself at the chill and turn my head toward Ryder.
He’s at the other end of the row, talking to one of the freshmen on the team.
“You okay?” Addie, who sits next to me, asks.
“He’s just messing with me.”
“Huh?”
I blink away from Ryder and glance at Addie. “What?”
“I was asking if you’re nervous about the performance.”
“Oh! Yeah, I’m super nervous. I hope I don’t puke.”
She squints at me. “What did you think I was asking about?” Her eyes trek toward Ryder. “Or should I say who ?”
I tear my gaze away and shake my head. “It’s nothing.”
“Are you sure? Because you look bothered. And you shouldn’t be bothered before our debut. Do you want to talk about it?”
“It’s just hard for me to figure out what his intentions are. I know he likes to mess with me, and he’s a player. He’s never serious about anything.”
“Okay…?”
I shake my head. “Never mind.” I put on a smile. “Don’t worry, I’m good. Pumped for the performance. We are going to kick some major butt.”
She grins. “You bet we are.”
“Carly!” someone calls from behind me. It sounds like my mom. I stand and look out at the people on the bleachers. And then I notice my mom and dad waving at me.
A huge smile tugs my lips as I wave back.
It feels so good that they’re here to see me dance, especially my dad.
Blake has a game tonight and he assured my parents he was okay with them coming to support me.
I insisted they go to his game because they’ll be at my dance competition in two weeks, but he insisted as well because this is my first performance.
I thought my dad would choose to go to Blake’s game because of how he feels about my dance, but he chose to come support me. That means so much to me.
They’re sitting next to Raven, Sophie, and Caleb. They also wave and wish me and Addie lots of luck on our performance. We wave back and I blow kisses at them.
I sit back down and smile at Addie. “I’m totally ready now.”
“Me, too! Did you see my grandfather?”
“Oh my gosh, no! He made it?”
“He’s there.” She points to a spot in the front, where an older man in a suit and tie sits.
Nathaniel Bradshaw looks out of place because football games don’t seem to be his thing, but there’s a sense of peace on his face, like this is the only place he wants to be right now.
It’s so sweet that he came to support Addie.
He has graying brown hair and intense brown eyes, the same shade as Addie’s. I don’t know him well or anything, but I can tell that he’s a much happier person now that his granddaughter is in his life.
“It’s so awesome that he made it,” I tell Addie.
She nods with some tears in her eyes. “It makes me feel so good that he came. And I feel my parents here, too. Maybe that’s weird…”
“Of course it’s not weird!” I take her hand and squeeze it. “I know they’re here and that they’re super proud of you.”
She quickly wipes away a tear threatening to roll down her cheek. “Thanks.”
I give her a quick hug, careful not to ruin her hair or makeup.
“Did you notice someone in the bleachers?” she whispers.
“Who?”
She nods toward the section where the popular students are. There, right in the center of the group, is none other than Clarissa Thomas.
I scowl at Addie. “She’s back?”
“Looks like her suspension is over.”
“Ugh. And she had to come to the game? She’ll make fun of our routine for sure.”