Masked Risks

Chapter 13

“Try it again,” I sighed with frustration.

Since that day at Kevin’s when we started preparing choreography for the competition. I’ve seen those hip hop movies and always wondered how they were all ready and in sync after just getting the crew totally days before. Then I remember it’s Hollywood behind it and I’m back to reality.

I wanted to have a large amount of choreography prepared for the battle round. We needed to have at least ten minutes altogether of choreography with music prepared in case we made it to that round. We needed to have a playlist ready for the people behind the music so that they can start and stop it as a real battle takes place.

I was excited, but we started spending more time in the studio and, even though they’re my friends, I was getting annoyed with everyone.

It was a Thursday evening at the studio. At the moment, I was working with Avery and she was having trouble with these two eight counts. She’s an awesome dancer, but she seemed to have two left feet every time we went through it together. I had no other way to help her and I was frustrated as much as she was.

“Calm down,” she snapped at me. “I’m sorry I’m having a little trouble.”

I was probably PMSing or maybe I was getting annoyed with everyone looking at me like a leader when I was trying to share the power a choreographer usually has in a crew.

“You need to calm down. I’m just frustrated because I have no other way to help you. It’s not that hard, it’s just a freaking waltz,” I snapped back.

“You know what, don’t even bother. I’ll work on it myself later,” she dismissed me with her hand.

Everyone else in the crew was dispersed around the room, working on other parts of the routine, but I knew they were all listening to us bicker like children.

“I don’t mind helping you,” I softened my voice.

“I don’t want your help,” she glared at me.

“But you’re having trouble-”

“Just shut it, okay, Olivia? I’m tired of you trying to be some fearless leader of this crew. We’re all in this together,” she gestured to the people around the room with a big arm movement. “And last I checked, no one appointed you as the leader of this crew.”

My mouth fell open. “What are you talking about? I never said I was. I’ve been letting other people choreograph and we’ve all been working together.”

She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “Oh, come on. You always act like some princess waiting for the rest of us to bow at your feet. Not just here, but everywhere. You’ve always been so selfish.”

“I’m selfish?” I asked, shocked. “Then why am I always helping you out? Why am I always listening to your constant whining about miniscule problems? Why do I let you borrow money and give you clothes?”

She threw her arms out. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about! You always need credit for your precious little deeds. You always pity me because I don’t have everything handed to me like you do.”

“You know I could care less about that stuff,” I tried to reason.

Again, she rolled her eyes. “Yeah, you say that but you never mind reaping the benefits from it.” Her eyes met mine as something occurred to her. “And you know what, if anyone should be ‘leading’ this crew, it should be me because this is my aunt’s studio. We wouldn’t have a space to dance if it weren’t for me.”

I was done fighting. This was stupid and I didn’t need to waste my time with this petty drama. I looked around and noticed that everyone had stopped pretending to work on stuff and were openly looking at us.