Soulest

Prologue

"Hello India!" My dance teacher yells as I walk into the dance studio. All the jealous ass females turn around and mean mug me but I pay them no attention. Rich Homie Quan taught me to tell these motherfucker's to get the fuck out my face. Tuh!

I wave at Ms. Richardson and cop a squat on the floor in the far corner against the floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall mirror. I throw my duffel beside me and begin to stretch my legs and arms like everyone else. Once I'm done, I take out my earplugs and wrap them around my Galaxy SIII and put that into my duffel bag.

"Okay girls take your places!" I assume my position and Tinashe's 2 On comes from the radio seated on a wooden stool beside Ms. Richardson.

I zone out everything and everyone except the music. All I see is the mirror with only me dancing in it, keeping up with the counts in my head. Watching my body move like liquid to the rhythm. All my anger has been converted into energy and my energy is moving my joints, swaying my hips, flicking my neck, fluffing my hair. The works. I get to escape my nightmare of a life when I dance, and I love every second of it.

The music stops and we all stop moving. I place my hands on my hips and try to catch my breath. All the girls around me are on the floor panting like they just ran 100 miles.

"Girls that was great but," Her eyes land on me and a smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. "I want to try a new line up." Everybody starts whispering in excitement and I know it's about who's going to be in front. Mainly lead. Ms. Richardson starts calling names and moving girls to different positions. Last standing is me and this chick name Atavia, who I can't stand and vice versa. Fuck that bitch. But I see what Ms. Richardson did, she put us in the shape of a '2' and is going to make us battle for the lead spot which is the point at the bottom of the curve. "I think you two know what's about to go down."

A devilish smile crawls its way onto my face and I tie up my hair to let Atavia know, shit is about to get real. She eyes me before kicking off her shoes and damn her feet was on loud! Shit made me start gagging on some real. While Ms. Richardson flipped through songs, the rest of the girls sat with their backs against the mirror and me and Atavia stepped a few steps away from eachother to give some space. Then Ms. Richardson landed on Episode by E-40. I don't know how many times I have danced infront of my mirror to this song but lets just say it was over 20 times. Atavia better come strapped up 'cause I'm about to pow pow kill'em!

"Oh yea Ms. Richardson. I got 'er!" I roll my eyes and get ready for the intro to end and the words to come through.

Once they do, I start slaying her. I had everything moving to the beat and I forgot it was even a battle to be honest, I was in my zone. Those 3 minutes and 53 seconds felt like an eternity to me. All too soon it was done with and the song was done. Atavia was in some trying-to-be-cute pose while I was finishing the last dance move. Everybody started hooting and cheering, but of course none were calling my name. Psh I know I slayed that so I'm cool.

"Well ladies! You showed up and showed out for that spot. Girls, who do you think took that?" Everybody screamed Atavia's name. Surprisingly, my name was shouted by two people. Geesh. "Well everybody says Atavia. So, I'm sorry In-"

"Bullshit! That's fuckin' bullshit Ms. Richardson and you know that! I slayed that bitch and I didn't even have to touch her!" I shout while punching my fist into my other hand. Ms. Richardson looks taken back, the girls are quiet, and Atavia is taking her earrings out her ear and and tying up her weave. "And bitch if you feeling froggy jump hoe!" I shout while stepping to her but she cowers back. Ms. Richardson buts her ass right between us.

"Bye India! I do not tolerate disrespect in my dance studio especially towards me. And you know I don't do fighting either, so step!"

"Old lady please, you talking about how you DON'T DO this and DON'T TOLERATE that but I got something for your bird built ass." I stand up straight from getting my bag and get right in Atavia's face. "I DON'T DO unfairness, bitch. I'll catch you slipping boo." And with that, I walk right out the doors I came through.

I don't depend on anybody and I'm not going to descend my stoop to bow down to nobody. I may not be dancing for Ms. Richardson anymore but I don't care because that shit wasn't cool not one bit.