Keeping Up With Cassandra (Completed)

Week Nine: Choreo

I wake up Monday and head to studio 13. I stretch out trying to keep my mind blank. I watch as Lane comes in. He starts stretching out. I know I've kept him in the dark about a lot and I know that I'm very thankful he hasn't pushed me about them. It's just one of those things that I'm not sure if I'm ready to tell him. I've only known him for eight weeks and some of those I didn't even like him for.

Our choreographer comes in and welcomes us. "So this week we will be playing with a military theme." He starts off. "You Lane will be going off to war. Cassandra as his love you are heart broken and don't want him to go." He tells us. I try to get out of my head.

We start the choreography. I work so hard and try to focus on everything. The choreographer helps us get the feel of the music but I'm trying not to feel anything. After we are dismissed for lunch Lane walks with me to the meal hall.

"Cassie you okay?"

"I'm fine." I tell him. He gives me a look and I know I'm not ready. He doesn't say anything else as we get our lunch. I'm silent and find that I'm not that hungry. I let the conversation drift around me as I pull back. I don't say a single word at the table scared I'll give everything away.

Before lunch is officially over I go back to the studio by myself. I keep reassuring myself that I can get through this week. I can do this. I will make it past this. This week will be a cake walk.

But as soon as the choreographer comes back I can't do it. I try and try to work through the routine but I can't. I do it over and over. Going over the steps in my head and trying to make my body do them but I just can't. I can't focus.

"Lane." I say aloud and that's the last thing I say.

Maybe it's because I didn't get enough sleep, or drink enough water, maybe I should have eaten something at lunch. Any one of those things could have prevented what happened next. But I sadly didn't do any of those things and that's why after lunch around one fourty I fainted in the middle of studio 13.

I was taken to the health building. Luckily Lane caught me before my head could bounce off the floor. I don't remember a lot. I remember being overwhelmed before it happened. When I wake up I'm in the hospital building. This is one of the only buildings I've never been in.

"Cassandra?" I can hear the nurses voice.

"Cassie please wake up!" Lanes voice feels louder, closer. I open my eyes to meet his chocolate ones. He looks so concerned and lost.

"What happened?" I ask him.

"You fainted in the studio." He tells me. I see the nurse talking to our choreographer. "Cassandra what's going on?" Lane asks me and I flinch at my full name coming out of his mouth.

"It's just I can't right now." I tell him.

"So your willing to risk your health and our spot in this competition for whatever is going on in your head?" He gives me a look I haven't seen since the second week here.

"Lane its more complicated than that."

"Your my partner Cassie."

"I know I'm just not ready Lane. It's something very personal."

"Come on Cassie! It's not like I'm a complete stranger!" He gives me a look. We have the attention of both our choreographer and the nurse.