Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
UNIFORM FITTING
TARYN
“Hmm, I think we need to modify the neckline of the top for you, Taryn. And try on different styles of bras to make sure you don’t spill out of your uniform during a performance.
” Carole muses. “I’m sure our viewers already saw enough during your solo tryout.
What do you think, Ruth? We need to keep Taryn’s assets…
contained, but at the same time, we can’t have her uniform look different from the others. ”
Panic shoots through me. Looking good in your uniform is nonnegotiable if we want to make the team. Carole and Lexi have been crystal clear about it.
The uniform coordinator takes an appraising look at me.
She takes a complete lap around my body before stopping in front of me.
“There are a few things we can try. Subtle enough not to make a visible difference in the way her top looks. We’ll need to go up one size, but I’ll tailor the rest around her shoulders and sides.
We can also position the knot in the front just a smidge higher to get a little more coverage. ”
Carole tilts her head to the side. “As long as she doesn’t look remarkably different from her teammates, you work your magic, Ruthie. Taryn, is all this decolletage you? Or did you get some enhancements that could be reversed?”
It isn’t the first time that someone has asked me if I got a boob job. “No, ma’am. This is all me.”
The team’s director makes a note on her tablet. “Sorry for asking questions that might sound invasive. That’s just a lot of chest for someone with a smaller frame like you, that’s all.”
“I’m afraid it runs in my family, ma’am.” I school my tone into polite pleasantness, but deep down I’m freaking out.
“Hey.” Carole’s tone softens, her hand patting my biceps in a soothing way.
“I’m sorry if that all sounds judgmental.
This part of camp is necessary, and sometimes there’s no way to approach certain things without sounding tough or rude.
The way you take this kind of feedback factors into our final decision on when we’re going to start making cuts. ”
She’s referring to all the scrutiny we have been going through this week; first during makeovers and now with uniform fittings.
I was lucky enough to just get layers added to my long hair to create more movement and a fuller look.
Some of the other candidates were told they needed a dramatic change in hair color or a drastic cut.
Talia comes out of the changing room next to mine, ready to be assessed.
“This is exactly why we wanted you to go blonde, Talia,” Lexi beams. “Your natural brown looked too severe with your fair complexion. But the blonde, in contrast with the light blue of our uniform blouse, lights you up.”
Tucker’s sister smiles, admiring herself in the full-length mirror next to mine. “Thank you. I’m not gonna lie, I had mixed feelings about this change for a second, but now I see what you mean.”
Ruth comes back with a top in a different size. “Try this on, Taryn. It’ll be too big for you anywhere other than your chest. Come out anyway, and we’ll change the fit.” She smiles, showing me a red pin cushion.
I’m still nervous as I close the curtain of my changing room. Not making the team because of a uniform issue would be sad. Aside from the fact that I would need to find a job and a place to stay, stat.
I listen to the conversations that are filtering in from outside as I change.
“Jodie,” that’s Lexi’s voice. “You look perfect. See why we asked you to sacrifice your long hair for a bob? You have such a long, elegant neck. You look graceful and classy.”
My BFF has been unhappy about having to cut her hair. It isn’t just because she’s had long hair her entire life and this was a big change for her. What made it harder for Jodie to accept Carole and Lexi’s decision was the reason for it.
Our directors thought that Jodie looked too similar to Genevieve. With their tall and willowy frames and their dark, long hair, it would be hard to tell them apart in a group photo or in a dance line.
Jo-Jo pleaded with them to have her change color or maybe get a perm. But the whole team in charge agreed that a drastic cut would enhance her natural beauty.
Talia and I have been consoling her by telling her that she looks insanely hot. And we aren’t lying. Jodie is even more striking with her new haircut.
The reason that made the change harder to accept was that no one even tried to suggest that Gen cut her own long, dark locks.
The moment I exit the changing room, Ruth begins pinning my uniform blouse to fit it to my body.
As if summoned by my own thoughts, Gen steps in front of the mirror near Jodie’s.
“This looks pretty good, Gen,” Carole and Lexi gush. “This uniform looks like it’s been designed for you. Turn around, please, and let us see the back.” Carole instructs her.
When Gen turns around, she exchanges a look with Lexi. “I mean, the uniform looks perfect on you. Sexy. But is it too sexy? What do you think, Lexi?”
The chief choreographer taps a perfectly manicured finger over her bottom lip. “I don’t know, they look a tad short, maybe? What do you think, Ruth? Any changes?”
Ruth takes one last pin out of her mouth to adjust some excess fabric under my arm.
“They both look good in theory. But you’re right, they’re too short.
I would suggest a slightly longer skirt for Gen and for Jodie.
I know they’re skorts to protect their modesty when they dance, but if they look short in the front, the back is going to be even worse.
And I’m betting the shorts part doesn’t cover anything if the skirt rides up when they dance.
It’ll take the slightest movement to see everything underneath.
The design is this way as an insurance policy; if their asses are hanging out of it because it’s the wrong size, it’s pointless. ”
“But won’t a longer skirt make us look frumpy?” Gen objects.
Ruth walks behind her. “Shift the way you’re standing.
Point your foot forward as if you were at the end of a choreography.
See what I mean?” she points to the way the pleated hem lifts in the back.
“Your butt is all out. And the shorts are too short too, so half your buttocks are exposed. My design has been tested on different body types; this is just the wrong size.”
“Are you implying that my butt is too big?” Gen’s eyes are narrowed as she challenges the uniform coordinator.
“This isn’t what she’s saying. Chill out, girl.” Jodie snorts with an eye roll. “I actually agree. This skirt is way too thin for me. It’s the right length on Taryn and Talia, but we look like we got these skirts from the kids’ section.”
Gen doesn’t like being challenged. “You’re such a suck up, Jodie.” She snaps. “You’re so eager to look good in front of Carole and Lexi that you’d rather be in a skirt that makes you look like you’re a child wearing her mom’s clothes.”
“No, but—”
Jodie bites her tongue when she sees the horrified looks on our directors’ faces.
“Your personal opinions on the fit of your uniforms are irrelevant.” Carole looks positively pissed off. “What size do you have on? Both of you.”
Jodie twists around to grab the tag sewn into the back of her waistband. “Can you read it, Ruth?”
“No wonder these are short.” Ruth shakes her head.
“This is an extra small, S. Every size comes in S, R, and L; short, regular, and long. You two are what… five eleven? Six feet tall? No one over five nine should even be in a regular and you’re in a short.
Let me get you the right size. I’m also done with Taryn’s top. What do you think?”
I’m relieved when Carole and Lexi approve the way my custom tailored top fits and wait for Jodie to be done trying on the new skirt.
“I look horrid in this long skirt.” Gen shoves the hanger with her new skirt on the rack so hard that the whole thing rattles. “What’s the point of having long legs if you can’t show them off?”
Jodie and I look at each other and sigh. When someone crosses her, Gen is like a dog with a bone.
“If you’re so pissed about it,” Talia challenges her. “Why didn’t you insist?”
“Talia is right.” I bite out. “You can’t bitch and moan behind their back. If you had a problem, you should have argued your point.”
Gen crosses her arms over her chest. “And then what? Get kicked out of camp? You fucking wish. Didn’t you hear them? They don’t care about what we think. They tell us how they want us to look and how high to jump, and they expect us to fall in line.”
“If you know that,” Jodie challenges her. “Why don’t you do everyone a favor and shut the fuck up? You’re giving me a headache.”
“Aww, what’s up, Jo-Jo?” Gen sing songs my nickname for Jodie, her tone taunting. “Are you salty because they made you cut your hair rather than me?”
Jodie flips her off. “No. My new haircut is actually growing on me. You’re just fucking annoying. Just accept that you have to do as you’re told like everyone else.”
Gen turns on her heel, flicking her long hair in Jodie’s face. “Oh, don’t worry about me. Carole thinks she’s in charge here, but it’ll take one call to my daddy and I’ll be back in my short skirt.”
I’m proud of my best friend for not decking our least favorite roommate. “Well done, babe.” I say once Gen is gone and out of earshot. “She isn’t worth it.”
Jodie tucks a lock of her newly short hair behind her ear. “I know. Besides, I’m serious about my hair. It took a second to get used to it being chin length, but I think I look good in it.”
Talia runs a hand through her blonde locks. “Yeah, me too. Carole and Lexi are good at their jobs. We should let them guide us. Gen can dig her own grave if she wants to fight their decisions.”
“I agree. Anyway, enough about Genevieve. I’m starving and I’ve seen that the dining hall tonight has roast turkey and mashed potatoes. I’ve been thinking about a bowl of mash all day. It’s my comfort food when I’m exhausted. Let’s go eat some dinner.”
While Talia agrees, Jodie hesitates.
“I don’t know. I’m not that hungry.”
“How is that possible, Jo-Jo? We’ve been dancing for hours and I saw you go for a run earlier this morning.”
My best friend doesn’t meet my gaze. “I’m just more tired than hungry, that’s all.”
“Jo, come on, it’s me you’re talking to. Our love for mashed potatoes is one of the first things we bonded over when we were disoriented freshmen who didn’t know anyone on a huge campus. Is anything the matter?”
“I can’t hide anything from you, huh?” she sighs. “You know me too well to let me fool you. I’m just watching my weight, and mashed potatoes are full of butter. If I come to eat with you and I see them, I’ll cave. I was going to defrost a chicken breast and pop it in the oven while I shower.”
Talia and I look at each other.
“I’m confused. We use thousands of calories a day with the dance routines, the extra cardio, and the conditioning. You need to eat and you need carbs. Did Carole and Lexi say anything when they weighed us and took our measurements the other day?”
I know I’m right when shrugs, playing with the hem of her shorts to have something to do with her hands.
“No, they said I’m perfect.”
“Then what damage can a little bit of mashed potatoes do?” Talia encourages her.
Jodie sighs. “You met this version of me, Tal. A few months ago, I caught my long-term boyfriend in bed with another girl. I was devastated and I couldn’t eat without feeling nauseous for weeks.
I ended up dropping a lot of weight and two dress sizes.
Our contracts will have that clause about maintaining the weight they recorded when they measured us.
I need to be careful. I can’t go back to the size I was when I was with Andy. ”
I pull Jodie into a hug. “I get that, babes. But you have to admit that we’ve never trained like this. Even before a dance competition, we’ve never spent ninety percent of our day dancing and working out. I don’t think a little mashed potato is going to make a difference.”
One thing Jodie and I have in common is that we’re both stubborn AF, so I don’t really expect her to change her mind.
“Thanks for your support, Tar-Tar.” She gives me a noisy kiss before releasing me. “But for tonight, I’ll stick to my plan. We’re going clubbing this weekend and I’m saving my extra calories to have a couple of margaritas.”
“Are we going clubbing?” It’s the first time I heard about it.
Talia chimes in. “Yeah, it’s Tucker’s birthday on Saturday. And we’re going to the grand opening of a new club right by the pier.”
“Oh. He didn’t say anything.” I can’t fight the disappointment that washes over me. Tucker has texted me a few times since our movie night date, but he didn’t invite me to go out for his birthday.
“That’s because it’s a surprise.” Talia explains.
“Actually, I was going to ask you and Colsen for your help. Ask him to go to the arcade or something like that and then bring him to the club with an excuse. The owner is a friend of our parents, and we got VIP access. We’ll all be there ready to surprise him. ”
The relief I feel knowing that Tucker didn’t ignore me is so huge that I would agree to burst out of a cake and sing happy birthday if Talia asked. “You can count on me. Did you already tell Colsen?”