The Contract // Ricky X OC // ZB1 ✔️

4. Near Miss

We finally had the whole of our debut mini album ready, all songs had been written and recorded. We even had the name of the title track sorted out. 'Near Miss'. Now I know what your thinking, out of all things why would you ever make a song called 'Near Miss' but listen the song has a lot meaning to us. Near Miss was about our journey through the show, every time one of us was up for elimination but made it through we counted it as our near misses. We were able to see it through to the other side. The whole choreography process was going pretty well too. Which was a relief.

"So what's the next part?" Geuroo asked us as we were going up to the dance break. The line to start it off was my iconic line. Well it wasn't iconic yet, but it would be.

"At this part it's Aella's part. So this is her one line before the dance break gets initiated into the song. So, we've just had the repeated beat of 9. At this point we're going to create kind of a v shape. Aella being the center and the rest of us being her wings. This is how it's going to go. We'll show you." Aree said to them all and I could tell that they were trying to follow what she was saying. But at some point they got lost.

"You think you got me but guess what..." I said before putting my hand to my face near my lips. "...you missed." I whispered before I started laughing before the music changed into the dance break part.

"Just like that." Azumi said to them all. We then started teaching them that part. It was definitely my favorite part of the song. Along with my small part in the rap section.

"Aella, I think you made me fall in love with you. Again." Nemy said making me laugh and fall to the floor.

"Nella is at it again." Katsuki said to us all and I couldn't help but laugh more.

"Nemy. We need to focus but I love you too." I said to her and she started running around the room. It wasn't long until every had that part down and better than that. They even had the dance break down as well. Which only left two sectors of the whole thing left.

"So what's next?" Jihye asked us all. Of course we'd been having break in between so that we could rest up and we'd had our time to catch our breath and have a snack. Of course some of this was being recorded as well for the vlog so we were all being chaotic but there's no change there.

"The next thing would be the bridge. So for this part where it's Dalrae and Hyunjoo's part we want them center. So say, Aree is Dalrae and I am Hyunjoo." Azumi said as they both then started to do the part that Dalrae and Hyunjoo will be learning.

"The rest of you guys. Follow me to the other side of the room and I'll teach you your part." I said to them all as we went to the other side of the studio.

"How hard would you say it is?" Katsuki asked me and she'd been asking this for almost every segment that it was kind of irritating now.

"I mean the part where the build up is to get to the modified ending chorus is a bit difficult but it's easier than the dance break." I said to her with a reassuring smile and she nodded at me.

"Don't worry we got this." Nemy said to us all and I was happy to know that she was there to motivate us all. I then started teaching away. A couple hours later everything had been taught and we were all relaxing. When everyone started to leave it was just the triple A's left in the studio. As we tended to refer as the office.

"What b-side are we giving a choreography?" I asked them, it was down to us to make the call.

"Well, seeming as the title is quiet dark in a way I think we should go for our sweeter song. And we've only got two of those Carnival Games and So Sweet." Aree said to us I went to get a piece of paper out so that we could write things up.

"I think Carnival Games would be better, it's the kind where we can showcase a lot." Azumi said to us and I looked at her.

"But then again So Sweet will be the song that will get people addicted because of the pre-chorus being repeated and with the melody as well." I said to them and just like that we had a case for each song.

"I think we should do both. Think about it, we could do all three for showcasing and then we could do the other for stage performances." Aree said to us and I looked at her with a nod.

"I think then that So Sweet should only be for the showcase. Carnival Games Will a nice b-side for music shows." I said to them and just like that we'd made more work for ourselves and we had exactly two weeks before our showcase so we had so much to do in little time. A week for each I'd say.

"Which one do we start with a when?" Azumi asked us and I looked at her. We had to make sure to keep doing Near Miss along with the others but we had to get this done as well.

"I say So Sweet. It's the shorter song and we can put together a cute and minimalistic routine for it." Aree said to her and I nodded at her. Just like that we had a salad to eat and from then on. We started choreographing the first half of the song. Overworking ourselves like we usually did. I was glad to be doing Carnival Games as it was something that meant something to me.

16 year old Aella

Ricky was taking me out to a carnival. It was a surprise he hadn't told me until after school that day. "So, what would you like to do first?" He asked me as we walked around hand in hand. I was taking everything in.

"How about we hit up the games and go from there." I said to him and he smiled at me as he looked over in that direction.

"Then I'm not leaving the stand until I win you any prize you want." He said to me as we then made it to one of the games. It was one of those coconut shy games. And we all know how impossible they are. "See anything you like." He asked me as he wrapped his arms around me and putting his head on my shoulder.

"I want the panda." I said to him and I pointed to it on the wall. He then kissed me cheek.

"I will win it for you." He said to me. Let's just say after fifteen minutes he still wasn't having any luck.

"I'm going to sit on that bench over there. I'll cheer you on." I said to him as I pointed at the bench behind us. He nodded at me.

"Trust me, I feel good about this time." He said to me before I went over to the bench. Where someone decided to join me. Great. Even worse it was this guy called Gerry. He was in our year and he hated Ricky. It was a jealousy thing. Gerry had a crush on me for a few years and hated the fact that Ricky was the one to get me.

"Hey Aella." He said to me as he sat down beside me.

"Hi Gerry." I said to him. I was just focusing on Ricky.

"Are you here with anyone?" He asked me and I nodded, still not looking at him. I'm not going to lie when I say that this guy made me uncomfortable.

"Yeah, I'm here with Ricky. He's currently winning me a panda." I said to him before I saw Ricky walk over with two pandas in hand.

"Look, I told you that I would do it." He said to me and I stood up to hug him before he handed me the panda.

"Ricky." Gerry said nodding at him. Ricky knew I hated being around Gerry so he made sure to keep his arm around me.

"Gerry." He said back to him.

"I should get finding my friends." Gerry said to us before standing up.

"You do that." Ricky said before we watched him walk away. Ricky then sat on the bench and made me sit next to him.

"I'm going to name him Patrick." I said to him and he started to shake his head at me. "What? He's Patrick the panda. I will treasure him forever." I said to him and he kissed my cheek.

"You are just the cutest. Now, I need to know what to call mine." He said to me and I looked at the panda.

"She looks like an Aella." I said yo him and he looked at the panda before back at me.

"I think she does as well." He said to me before I rested my head on his shoulder. "Remember your in charge these evening. Where would you like to go now?" He asked me and I looked up at him.

"I think the Ferris wheel." I said to him and he kissed me. I guess that was the right call to make. In this moment I wish that the carnival was our forever place. But of course they don't last forever.