Tears of Queens

2 - Wyatt

I felt jealous, but I didn't know why. In our showcase dance, Leo and I would partner with Tala and Anna. Most of the time, we would be with the same person, and of course I got stuck with Anna. She didn't seem too happy about it either, but what can you do? Tala was partnered with Leo because she was more experienced than Anna and could help Leo with whatever he needed. The thing is, I wanted to be the one partnering with Tala. I knew exactly how to partner her so she wouldn't be uncomfortable, because I knew she was sensitive to touch like that, but Mr. Kevin decided against it. She just had to be with the new guy.

"Anna, you'll be with Wyatt, Tala, I'd like to speak to you for a moment," he told us before pulling Tala aside and telling her why she was partnered with Leo, which she then told me during our water break.

"That makes sense, I guess," I shrugged when she told me. I still didn't like it. Before she could respond, Leo walked up to us.

"Hey guys, what's goin' on?" his smile lit up the room. Wait. No. Nevermind.

We finished the choreography session about an hour later. Tala made an instant beeline for the homework room, having heard our friends in there. I, however, stayed behind with Leo while Kevin talked to him.

"I appreciate your effort today. This is a pretty intense dance and you did good. I'll see you soon." Mr. Kevin acknowledged me with a nod before leaving the studio. I walked with Leo out into the hallway.

"Come join us in the homework room. It's really chill, I promise," I invited.

"I dunno. I don't think Tala liked me too much,"

"Don't be silly. I'm sure everyone will love you,"

"If you say so," he shrugged. He grabbed his bag and followed me into the small room. The chatter stopped when he entered. Every girl in the room just stared at him. No one said anything.

"Are you Leo?" one girl, Zoe, asked.

"Yeah," he said hesitantly. Zoe and her friend broke out into giggles and Tala had to smack them to get them to shut up.

"Sit down, don't be shy!" Tala offered. Leo dropped his bag on the floor by the couch and sat down.

"Would you like a cookie? I baked them this morning," Zoe held out a plastic bag of chocolate chip cookies in Leo's direction. He shook his head politely as Zoe stood up. "More for them then. Come on, it's time for rehearsal," she told him, and the two left the room after Leo grabbed his shoes. Tala went downstairs to change, leaving me with my friend Sasha.

As we snacked on Zoe's cookies, Sasha and I talked about our summer plans.

"I think my parents are gonna drive us down to, like, Portland, or something 'cause Calvin wants to see this lame baseball game, I guess," she complained. I didn't blame her, though. Baseball sucks.

"Oh, yeah, that sucks. I'm going to Hong Kong for two weeks after the showcase to see family, but that means I'm gonna be a week late to school. I mean, I love my cousins, but I don't want to be that kid, you know?"

"No, I totally get it. My parents took us back to Trinidad like three years ago to see our grandparents and, don't get me wrong, it was awesome, I met my grandpa for the first time, but I was a week late to school and everyone thought I was new. It was so embarrassing."

I was about to reply, but my phone started to ring with a call from my mom. "Hi mom!" I answered.

"Wyatt, la, how long are you at the studio today?" she asked me in Mandarin. I could hear the commotion of the hospital in the background. I replied, also in Mandarin, informing her of my schedule before saying goodbye and putting my phone away.

"Sorry, what were you saying?" I turned back to Sasha, who looked very shocked. "What?"

"Since when do you speak Chinese?" she asked, incredulous. I sighed.

"Since I was literally born in Hong Kong. How did you not know this? You've only known me for, I don't know, six freakin' years?"

"Do you think I listen when you're on the phone?"

I groaned playfully and continued to argue until Sasha's next rehearsal.