To Catch Your Fall | Heathoah

9. What She Has To Offer

Heath

All of a-troupe are standing in studio-a, waiting for any of our teachers to actually tell us what we are doing here. We were supposed to have the day off, since it's a Sunday, but Emily sent a message into the group-chat telling us to come in immediately. For the last 15 minutes, all we've done is watch Emily and Michelle (who none of us expected to see) make awkward conversation with each-other, while Noah just mumbles to himself as he scrolls on his phone. Don't blame him. I'd do the same if I had to work with either of the two in that relationship right now. 

"Sorry I'm late everyone! The limo driver somehow burst a tire. What a moron." A sultry voice cuts across the room. All eyes look up as Maria Manfredi walks in. I can see a few of my teammates get excited at seeing her, but I really couldn't care less. Sure, she's famous. I mean, she's running the tour Michelle is on right now. But, even through her peppy attitude that she shares around the world, to me she's always seemed like her head is up her own ass!

What is she doing here? Guess this connects to Michelle's spontaneous visit.

"Ah great! You're here, Maria!" Michelle goes over to her boss and raises her arms, but clearly thinks better of it and just shakes her hand instead. Maria barely even reciprocates this and looks like Michelle just shit herself and the smell is travelling towards her. 

After that awkward exchange, Michelle just stands next to her, but at-least she finally tells us what we are doing here. "Okay guys, so, even though I'm obviously not your Studio Head anymore, I have still been talking about you all and the studio with Maria here. She'd heard of us before, I mean...most people in the dance world have, and I was able to put in a good-"

"Yes, yes, thank you for that, Michelle. But, I think I'll just cut right to the chase here." Probably the only time I'll agree with her. The tension in the room is getting painful. "Here is what is up. As you must all know, while I'm not on tour with my many, many clients, I am one of the main judges on the hit tv show DanceMania."

Anyone dancer that is anyone knows that. I don't tend to watch it myself. While it is mostly a competition set in LA built for a chance to go on tour with Maria or one of the other judges, there is also a heavy tone of 'reality tv' in it. As you should know by now, I hate that kind of shit. Still though, even I have seen a few episodes. 

"And as you also should know, our new season is coming up in a couple months. So, we need some people to compete, and Michelle has told me that your group would fit that role perfectly." There are gasps around the room at this reveal. I can see Piper and Amy holding hands and jumping around in a circle, while the boys are talking about how much money they could get if they win. Me though, I don't know how to feel. 

I get it, this is an amazing opportunity for some of the team. Becoming professional dancers is what, I assume, all of us want to do in life. But, all I've wanted for years now is to go to a competition like Nationals. And if we do this, none of us would be eligible to do that. It seems I'm not the only one that feels this way either, as Emily approaches Maria.

"Um, this is great and all for them, Maria. But, we're supposed to be going to Nationals this year. Which we can't exactly do if all of them become professional dancers before the-"

"Nationals?! Are you seriously trying to tell me that that competition for a bunch of nobody dancers is a better opportunity than this?!" Maria asks her in a condescending voice. Fucking bitch! "Oh sweety, you need to get your priorities in check. Look at how delighted they all are at this news." She points to the rest of me team, who are all still hyping each-other up like we're a bunch of kids, instead of 18 or 19 year olds. Pretty sure I'm the only one out of us still listening to what's going on here. 

"How about this." Maria continues. "I'll give you until the end of next week to decide, and then you can message me when you've made your decision? For the sake of everyone here though, I hope you know what the right one is." And with that, she struts right out. Only shouting to Michelle that she'll see her on the bus tomorrow.

At the mention of her girlfriend, Emily grabs onto said girl's wrist and drags her into the office, clearly ready to berate her for causing this mess. Fucking wonderful. All I can do is go over to Noah, and since I have no energy, I don't care about anyone seeing me press my head into his chest. Neither does he though apparently, as he wraps his arms around me, and rests his chin on top of me with what sounds like a defeated sigh.