Worse for Better- Book #1 in the WF Series

Chapter 9: Change

♡  Alaiya's POV:  ♡

"Mrs. Lambert wants to change the entire dance," Riley says, and my eyes widen immediately.

She wants to what!

"I believe that this dance is too short and not big enough for the entire campus to see," Mrs.Lambert explains herself with her arms folded.

We can't argue back with her because that's a death wish, but all of us really want to internally.

"I want intensity." She uses her hands to illustrate for us. "I have a couple of ideas, but I want all of your input so everyone turn their thinking caps on and think," she urges, and we nod and begin to shoot out ideas.

I have no inkling as to why she's doing this to us. We're performing in under three days and she just now wants us to create a whole different dance after yelling at us for the previous one consecutively.

Sammy gives out the idea of a normal ballet routine and I think Mrs.Lambert almost laughs at that suggestion. Skyler suggests a beautiful waltz, but again, Mrs.Lambert shoots the idea down.

"What about an enemies to lovers plot-line?" Riley suggests.

"How would you incorporate that?" Mrs.Lambert asks back.

"We can start with the regular waltz, but in this one, Alaiya will be staying away from Dylan and Dylan will be trying to peruse her," she paints the picture of her plan.

"We can make Alaiya dance with everyone but Dylan. And it'll be like he's in a trance as she spins around the entire room," Sammy adds.

"And then Alaiya can do her solo in the middle of the waltz like we had before, and in the end, she'll walk up to Dylan and show him that she's not to be messed with. Leaving him all alone," Skyler adds the ending with a little bit of sadness.

Mrs.Lambert seems to like that idea, but we really can't tell by her tone or expressions. All she said was a blank "okay" so I guess we'll never know.

We decide that we'll spend our time here the entire weekend, and I hate that idea because I won't be able to spend time with my parents. Though, I also know my mom wouldn't ever let me back out.

I drive back home after we've figured out our schedule for our rehearsals, and when I walk through the hallway of my apartment, I see my parents and Carson laughing and having a great time. I'm glad they like him so much. They were pretty strict on my dating rules in high school but never had an issue with me dating him. I think that was the main reason we began dating in the first place. Both our parents were so close we thought we had to give it a try, and it worked out.

"I have rehearsals all weekend," I say sadly, and they both awe, matching my disappointed tone. "But I'll be back in the evenings," I promise, looking on the bright side.

They shrug, trying to stay positive about it like me, and as I'm standing outside the kitchen, Carson strolls over and kisses my cheek. I gleam at him, but my expression falls when I see him stride over to the cabinet and grab a bottle of whiskey with two glasses.

He can't drink in front of them.

My dad is also a recovering alcoholic, but over the years he's learned self-control and knows how to handle himself. My mom is always there to make sure he doesn't fall off the deep end again, so usually, there's no issue. We all take a seat on the couch together and Carson and I sit beside one another as a bottle of nerves flutter inside of me. Carson takes a sip of the whiskey in his glass and my leg begins to bounce faster and faster.

My parents ask me about all my classes and everything that's been going on, and I answer as truthfully as possible while keeping my eyes on Carson the entire time.