Watch Me

Chapter 8

"Happy Friday all," Jesse said as he and Robert came into the rehearsal hall. "I have good news for some and bad news for the rest of you. The good news is everyone will be getting out at the same time today." He turned and looked at Zoe and Colton. "You guys caught on to stage one quickly enough that we're going to let you join group today and show you how you'll be incorporated and run your routine on this stage today. So, no need to stay for the extra hour today." He looked back at the rest of the group. "So, we'll be spending a bit of extra time on the first of the group routines today, which means the rest of you will be here a little later than normal, depending upon how it looks when we add Zee and Colton."

"Is that the bad news? We'll be here later?" Nadine asked.

Jesse laughed. "No, the bad news is you'll be dealing with Phil, Grace, Olivia, Robert and myself during rehearsals. So, no pressure or anything. See everyone upstairs in 30." They turned and left, leaving everyone in the company murmuring to each other.

Zoe looked at Colton. "Oh no, we'll actually get to leave at a normal time."

He laughed. "How will we deal with all that extra time?"

"Before I forget," Zoe said as she looked at him. "I reserved Studio 2 for 7am every Wednesday for the next 5 weeks. Is that okay?"

He nodded. "Sounds good to me. I'll pick you up at 6:45 then."

She smiled. "I may even be nice and bring you coffee." She looked at him. "You do drink coffee in the morning?"

"I'm not an animal, Zee," he said as they laughed. "Ready to head up?" She nodded as she grabbed her bag.

"All right everyone, places." Robert said as they started the group rehearsal. "Colton and Zoe, why you don't you come down here for now while we run it the first time and then we'll show you where and how we want you to enter, ok?" They nodded and walked off the stage, sitting in the front row together.

Zoe watched as the group danced together as the song began. There was no lead, but they all seemed to stand out. She noticed a certain part of the song in which the group stayed away from center stage. That must be our entrance, she thought to herself. The music had started to slow significantly, and she nodded as she watched the group finish.

"Very good everyone," Jesse said as he approached Zoe and Colton. "Did you figure it out?"

"We come in towards the end, when everyone starts dancing off to the sides." Colton said as Zoe nodded in agreement.

Jesse smiled. "Ok, so now Grace and I will show you how you'll enter. Colton to the right, Zee to the left. You'll both run out from each side and meet at center stage, join the choreography with everyone else for two eight counts. Once the song slows, you'll be doing something else while everyone finishes. Grace and I will do it with everyone to show you." He turned back to the rest of the cast. "From the top everyone."

"Ok," Robert said. "Colton and Zoe, with everyone else. And this time, after the group number is done, you'll go right into your routine." He looked at them. "You ready?" They both nodded. Once the song began, Zoe watched and counted, waiting for their entrance. She looked across the stage as Colton looked up at her. He gave her a smile and a wink and made her stomach flutter with anticipation, not only for the performance, but for his touch. Their cue came up and they both ran out on stage.

Once Zoe and Colton finished their duo, Robert and the others stood up and clapped, all with big smiles on their faces. "That looked fantastic everyone. Great job." He looked at Zoe and Colton. "You two have got stage one down. Monday we'll start stage two. Everyone else, we'll start our separate group rehearsals on Monday." He looked down at his watch and smiled. "And it looks like you'll be able to enjoy your Friday a whole lot sooner." He looked back at everyone on stage. "We're done, everyone. See most of you, if not all of you, Sunday night."

Kristen and Natalie ran over to Zoe and Colton. "Holy shit, you two. That looked so hot," Kristen said as she grabbed both of them.

"Seriously." Natalie said smiling. "You guys are going to crush this performance."

Colton smiled. "Thanks for the confidence, ladies." He put an arm around Zoe. "Guess it just takes the right partner."

Zoe smiled. "Yeah, I can carry a lot of dancers on stage."

They all laughed. "And there goes my ego again," Colton said as he bumped her, causing the four of them to laugh again. "Hey, who's got plans tonight?" he asked as they all went to grab their things.

"I'm not doing anything. Why?" Kristen said.

"A few of my brother's friends are in a band and they have a gig tonight. Anyone interested in going?" Colton asked as they walked to the locker rooms.

"Live music?!" Kristen shrieked.

"Oh no," Natalie said, smiling and shaking her head.

"We're going out tonight everyone!!" Kristen shouted.

Colton looked at Zoe who was laughing as they walked. "Umm..." he said to her as he pointed to Kristen who had run up to a few people ahead of them.

"She loves live music. It's her peanut butter cookie," Zoe said.

Colton laughed. "Got it. So, I take it that's a yes from her." He looked at Zoe. "How about you? Want to hang out with me tonight?"

She looked up and smiled at him. "Sounds like fun."

He smiled as they reached the bottom of the stairs. "Great. I'll pick you up at 6 then." He gave her a wink and jogged towards the locker room. She smiled as she watched him go before heading into the locker room herself.

As she went in, Kristen greeted her at the door. "So, I was too excited to get details from him. When and where?"

Zoe laughed. "Don't know. Let me text him." Zoe put her bag down and took out her phone. She shot him a text as Kristen was giggling.

Colton heard his phone buzz as he put his bag down. He pulled it out and smiled as he responded. He put his phone down and looked at the rest of the guys. "I don't know who didn't hear Kristen, but if no one is doing anything tonight, my brother's friends are playing a gig and I'm inviting everyone out."

Mack laughed. "Yeah, Kristen wasn't exactly quiet. I'm in."

"Count me in," Adam said.

"I'll be there," Davis said.

"Who else is going to be there? Does anyone know yet?" Mack asked.

"Well," Adam said as he started to get undressed. "We all know Kristen will be there. So, we can assume Nat will also be there."

"If Davis is going, Sarah will most likely be there too." Mack said.

"I don't know if Zee's going to want to go out tonight though," Davis said as he grabbed a few things from his locker. "I know she has dress rehearsals tomorrow."

"I'm picking her up at 6," Colton said as he wrapped his towel around his waist. He turned and saw the three men staring at him. He smiled. "I asked her while Kristen spread the word."

Adam smiled. "So, is this like a date while out with the rest of us or are you still pretending not to have a thing for her?"

"I may test the water tonight," Colton said.

"You know," Mack said as he grabbed some things from his locker. "There's a sure-fire way to know if the water is safe or not." He looked at Davis. Davis looked at him with a question in his eyes. They widened as he realized what Mack was suggesting. "Come on man, you're her roommate's boyfriend. You have to know something."

Adam and Colton stood there, looking at him. Davis laughed as he stood up. "Oh no. If I won't break bro code for her, I'm not going to break her trust for you."

"So, she did say something to you," Adam said.

"Nope," Davis said as he headed for the showers. Colton laughed as he watched Davis walk away.

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Kind of short, but it was the best cutoff point or else this chapter would have been REALLY long. Putting up the next chapter...NOW!!

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