Noelle | ongoing

Chapter 13

[NOELLE]

   I feel him watch me as I just about dip my foot into the water, I jolt back as it touches, it's cold. Hero walks closer to the pool, "When did you start doing ballet?"

I fully submerge my body in the water, "I've been doing it since I was 4."

He sits on the ledge just putting part of his legs in, "So what do you plan to do after Juilliard?"

"I don't know, it's between wanting to open my own studio, or going to Paris to further my career. Or maybe even both. What about you and football, do you wanna go pro?"

"It's been the plan since middle school."

I will admit I've been mean to Hero, but it's for a good cause. I can't get close to him, especially with this year's winter charity event auditions coming up in a few weeks. I can't have any distractions.

***
It's almost October. The auditions for the winter charity event are in November, I have a little over a month to prepare.

The charity event is supposed to raise money for whatever specific charity the winner would like to donate to. There are only 3 categories, a group dance, a solo, and a duet. I want the solo so bad, it will give me a chance to be noticed.

"Noelle freaking Sinclair," Avery says coming in through the front door, "Where the hell were you when I woke up?"

I quickly explained to her what happened.

"Fucking bitch, if you would just let me spend 5 minutes alone with her I'm telling you, my foot would fly so far up her a-"

I laugh, "Okay Avery," I hug her, "This is exactly why I love you."

"I love you too," she says.

***
It's been 2 weeks since I was left at a club by my so-called sister, my Dad made her apologize which I didn't accept. The bitch thinks she's in a movie.

Anyways I've been practicing for the auditions, and I'm doing really well. Avery, Hero, and Parker say I'm overworking myself, but really it's just hard work that I promise will pay off in the end.

I get up from stretching on the studio floor and go to the speaker to start my music. I back up to look at myself in the mirror.

I begin to practice my routine, I've been having difficulty with 2 of my leaps: my c-jump and the calypso. I don't usually do these, but it's fitting for the routine Ave helped me choreograph. She also wants me to audition for the duet with her, which I'll do.

This also means I have 2 routines to learn, it's okay though, I usually get the hang of them within a week.

"I knew I'd find you here."

The sound of his voice makes me mess up my jump and fall.

I sigh, "Hi Hero," my voice sounding irritable.

"Oh sorry," he comes over to help me up, "I didn't mean to distract you."

"It's alright," I go to shut off the music, "What's up?"

He inhales a deep breath, "Ok so you're probably gonna say no, but there's this frat party Cierra invited me to and it's tonight and I was just wondering if you'd like to go with us, and I know frat parties are like really crazy but you'd be fine cause I'll be there of course and you've been working pretty hard for your audition so, I think it's time for you to take a break, and come with me...please."

Hero finally stops talking so fast and inhales and exhales another deep breath. I giggled at him.

"Don't you think if Cierra invited you that she wants you two to go...alone?"