Chapter Fifteen #2
“Who cares? Just ignore her. If she was smart, she’d keep her comments to herself.
She’s already in big trouble for what she did to me.
My grandfather never forgets a person who wronged him or a member of his family.
Her parents know the kind of power he has and they know how detrimental it would be to be his enemy. ”
“So you think she’ll leave us alone from now on?” I ask.
Addie shrugs. “Who knows? I wouldn’t be surprised if she still finds a way to make our lives hell. But I won’t let her hold me back from living my life and being happy. She’s invisible to me.”
I smile as I wrap my arm around her. “I love that attitude.”
The game begins. I know enough about football because I always went to Blake’s games before ninth grade. Addie (and Raven and Sophie) doesn’t know football that well, so it’s kind of funny trying to explain it to her amid the shouts and cheers.
It feels like forever until halftime, but when it finally arrives, my stomach bottoms out. Oh my gosh, the moment has actually arrived. Are we going to kill it out there or are we going to make a total fool of ourselves?
We pass the cheerleaders on the way to the field, who wish us luck on our performance. Well, everyone besides for Clarissa’s minions. Addie mutters to ignore Tweedledum Luna and Tweedledee Jemma.
Right before we step onto the field, I tell my team to huddle so I can give them a quick pep talk.
“I know it’s super nerve-wracking,” I say as my eyes move from one member to the other, “but I want everyone to have fun out there. Don’t get so caught up in the mistakes you might make.
Just enjoy every minute of it and most importantly? Kick major butt!”
We cheer and run to the center of the field. The crowd claps and whoops as we get into position. I smile at my parents and friends, every part of me filling with warmth and joy and every good emotion out there.
The music begins and off we go.
I can feel the nervous energy in the air as my teammates and I start the routine. Many of us have never performed in front of a live audience before. But in a matter of seconds, the nervous energy is replaced by joy and excitement, and in place of anxiety is nothing but fun.
My movements are precise and graceful, athletic when they need to be and soft at other times.
Even though I’m focused on myself only, I can see from the corner of my eye that the rest of the team is killing it, too.
Naya wears a huge smile on her face and Addie looks like she has light coming out of her eyes.
I can’t see Ryder because he’s behind me, but I swear I feel his pure joy, too.
The two minutes fly like the blink of an eye, and it’s not long before I find myself standing in my final pose.
The crowd erupts in cheers, whistles, and whoops.
I feel like I’m floating up and up as the applause and cheers grow louder, some people calling for an encore.
How I wish we could perform again, but the game has to continue.
We wave and run off the field, each of us wearing the largest smile I’ve ever seen before. I throw my arms around Addie. “We were amazing! Did you see us? We were on fire!”
“They loved it,” Addie says as she squeezes me back. “You did such an amazing job, Carly.”
“It’s not just me. It’s all of us.” I grab Naya and hug her tightly. “You remembered to smile!”
She laughs. “How could I not? The crowd went crazy over us. You think that means we’ll win a medal at the competition?”
“It has to!”
“Thanks so much for doing this, Carly.” She hugs me again. “I feel like I finally have a place where I belong.”
I hug other members of my team, congratulating everyone on the amazing job. Then I find myself face-to-face with Ryder. My arms fall to my sides.
He lifts a brow with a crooked smile. “All hugged out?”
“No…I…” I hold out my hand. “Good job, Ryder. I couldn’t see you, but I know you did a great job.”
He frowns at my hand. Then he puts on a smile. “Of course I did.” He winks. “I’m awesome, remember?”
I’m about to tell him that I never once called him “awesome,” but Coach Moreno, who also couldn’t stop gushing about what a great job we did, ushers us back to our seats.
Addie and I settle down next to each other, and Ryder snags the seat next to me.
I glance at him for a second and he throws me a huge grin.
His close proximity causes a chill to run down my back. I have no idea why. It has to be because of all the emotions coursing through my body, right? Emotion overload.
I ignore it and focus on the game. The Harrington Bay Academy Eagles are owning the other team. When I peek at Ryder, I find him watching the game with a look of awe and longing. It must have been so hard for him to give up football because of his injury. Football meant the world to him.
Before I know what I’m doing, I say, “Is there any chance you could ever play football again?”
His eyes snap to mine, full of surprise that I’m actually talking to him, let alone asking him a personal question. A dash of pain pops into his eyes, but he gives me a small smile and says, “Well, if I want to risk never being able to walk again.”
I look down at his injured leg. “Oh…I didn’t realize it was that bad.”
He turns his head toward the field. “Do you know anything about me?”
I tear my gaze away and watch the game. Of course he’s right. I’ve always been so focused on the fact that he’s my enemy that I actually don’t know who the guy is. But do I want to learn who he truly is?
“I miss it,” he says after a bit.
I look at him and find him staring at the players with the same longing.
His eyes shift to mine and he smiles. “But I’ve come to terms with it. If this is the path I’m supposed to be on, then I embrace it.”
I can’t help but just stare at him. He’s being very mature about it. I know a lot of people would be depressed or angry if their dream was snatched away from them.
“So…what do you want to do in life?” I ask.
He lifts his shoulders. “I don’t know.” He grins. “Maybe join you on your dance journey?”
I purse my lips. “No.”
He chuckles.
The Eagles win! The crowd erupts in cheers again, including Ryder and me. I jump in place as I clap, accidentally knocking into him. It’s such a strong force that I bounce off of him like I’m a ball and he’s a brick wall.
“Careful.” He grabs hold of my arm before I tumble to the ground and steadies me. “You okay?”
“You should come with a warning sign,” I mumble.
The area where his hand clutches my arm burns, and it grows more intense with every passing second. I stare down at it, wondering when was the last time he touched me like this. Maybe never?
I think he doesn’t realize he’s gripping my arm because he glances at it and quickly lets go, muttering an apology.
“You were amazing, honey!” a familiar voice says. I look to my right and see Mom and Dad standing a few feet away.
With a smile, I race over to them and fling my arms around them. “Thanks so much for coming!”
“We’re so proud of you.” Mom kisses my cheek. “Did you choreograph that all on your own?”
“Some of the other dancers had their input and Coach Moreno gave us some pointers, but yeah, it was mostly me.”
“You’re so talented, sweetie.” She hugs me again.
“I’m so proud as well,” Dad says as he kisses the top of my head. “You shine the brightest when you’re dancing, and that makes my heart sing.”
“But…?” I prod.
He shakes his head. “We don’t have to argue about this all the time, Carly.
You know I support your dream to be a professional dancer or choreographer.
It’ll just calm my heart if you had something to fall back on.
You never know what could happen in life and it’s always good to have a backup plan. ”
“I know you’re right.” I sigh as I hug him again. “I just wish you didn’t force me to take an advanced class.”
“You’ll thank me for that one day.”
“Want to bet on that?”
“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Simmons,” Ryder says.
“Ryder!” Mom yanks him into her arms and hugs him tightly, kissing the side of his face. “You were phenomenal, too. I didn’t know you could dance.”
“Thanks. It’s something I did in my free time.”
Dad hugs him, too. “And it’s great to see you and Carly getting along for a change. Maybe you guys can even be friends.”
In the past, I might have snorted. Ryder and me friends? On what planet? But…why does the idea not seem so revolting? I mean, I still don’t trust the guy, but my dislike for him has definitely fallen a few notches over the past few days.
When I look at Ryder, he’s busy telling Mom how much he’s enjoying himself at this school. He’s always been close to my parents, so it’s no surprise that my mom wants to know if he’s doing okay here. Ryder doesn’t look at me once, so I have no idea what he thinks about Dad’s comment.
Addie is hugging her grandfather, who keeps telling her over and over how proud he is of her.
The two of them seem to be growing closer with every day that passes, and I know it means a lot to the both of them.
They’re all each other has now and want to make up for all the years they missed out on each other.
Raven and Sophie rush to hug Addie and me, too, telling us a million times that we were such kickbutts and that they can’t wait to see us perform at the competition.
“You make me want to join the dance team and I hate to dance!” Sophie says.
“You’re not allowed to use ‘dance’ and ‘hate’ in the same sentence,” I tell her.
“You’re getting better every day,” Raven says. “Soon, you’ll be the best choreographer in the world.”
“The universe,” Sophie corrects.
“And whatever is beyond the universe,” Addie adds.
“Thanks, guys.” I grab them all and squeeze the heck out of them.
I notice Naya standing on the side, hugging herself. I walk over. “Did your parents not show up?”
She shakes her head with a disappointed frown. “My mom had a very important business meeting she couldn’t miss.”
“And your dad?”
“Not in the picture.”
I wrap my arm around her. “Maybe she’ll come for the competition?”
She shrugs. “Doubt it.”
“Well, the team will be here for you,” I promise with a smile. “I know that can’t make up for your mom, but we’ll support you in everything you do. I hope we’ll all be like a second family to you.”
A small smile tickles her lips. “I’d like that.”
I hug her one more time before taking her hand and bringing her to the rest of the team. We gush about the performance and the upcoming competition, and it’s not long before the dejected look leaves Naya’s face.
Most of the dancers are from super rich families who never looked at me once before I put the team together. But now we’re united by something much bigger than our backgrounds or birthright. Our love for dance. I’ve always believed that dance can bring people together.
I now know more than ever that this is what I’m meant to do with my life.