Worse for Better- Book #1 in the WF Series

Chapter 7: Rehearsal

♡  Alaiya's POV:  ♡

I walk out of English class and make my way to dance the next day. I chose it as an elective because I enjoyed dancing when I was little and I didn't want to lose the work I had put into it. Plus, it's something I have fun in and enjoy. I walk into the room after getting dressed and see Skyler giving me a weird look. I act like I didn't see it because it could be my imagination.

I sit in my position to get warmed up.

Mrs.Lambert comes in with our outfits in her hands by looks of it. We've tried them on before for fitting and all that, but we still have to get used to them and perform in them which is why she hands them over to us. My dress is a beautiful short burgundy princess dress and is absolutely stunning. The dress is made for dancing and the period we're set in so it's perfect for this number. Of course, we have to wear ballet shoes under so we can do the ballet number and just move easily in general, but they also don't look bad underneath the dress and kind of match. Riley and Sammy have the same kind of dresses as me, it's just Riley has a dark blue shade, and Sammy has a light green one.

"As a rehearsal, we have the football team coming in to watch us," Mrs.Lambert says out of nowhere and all our eyes widen.

What?

My heart drops because that would mean Carson would have to see me dance with Dylan. He would go ballistic. If he finds out about Dylan...heck no!

"I want you to get used to having a crowd watching you, small or big. I also want this entire dance to be perfect, so you have time to practice now. The team will be here in an hour," she informs us in a no-arguing back assertive tone, so we have no choice but to agree with her.

Everyone goes to get dressed in their outfits and I feel like throwing up because of how nervous I am.

The dress pushes up my boobs a little, so I try and tug it up so that nothing is shown. Riley and Sammy love the way it shows off theirs, and they honestly look gorgeous so why wouldn't they. The dress is pretty tight around the waist in its comfortable material. It has to be so it doesn't fall or rip during the dance number. That's also why we wear black shorts underneath.

I play the confident role in this dance, though I have no idea how I'm going to do that with the pressure of Carson on me. I don't want to screw up because he's sitting out there, but I'm a part of a team so I can't just back out.

I only have one option.

Go through with the dance and just deal with what Carson does to me later...even if I end up getting hurt.

I imagine what he'll do to me, and I know it'll be much worse because I'm trying to limit my thoughts to make myself feel better. I imagine him yelling at me and maybe a slap, but it's going to be much more than that. I know it.

We practice the first time with our uniforms on and get over a hundred wrong-doings from Mrs.Lambert's criticism. My waist being too far from Dylan's reach, Sammy's leg being not spread apart enough, Emma's waltz not being "glamorous" enough.

She also adds some new moves or replaces some, but since we have to perform them, we learn them quicker from the pressure. We get told to sit out for the last ten minutes before the team arrives, and my legs begin to bounce from nerves. The minute Carson even sees me go near Dylan, he's going to lose it and I don't know what's going to happen to me.

Ivy walks in and speed walks towards me with news I'm guessing. I look at her confused as she pulls my arm and takes me to the side where no one is around.

"Carson said he had to meet his group for English and can't come," she explains.

Right as those words come out, my stomach feels that sickening feeling disappear and my shoulders feel the ability to relax again.