When He Showed Up

Chapter 14

Chapter 14:

"No, Jess, left foot, not right."

"Oh! Arrasso..."

That was nearly the end of my training for the song called "Lucifer". At first, I wondered why it was called that, but now I think I know. I'm sure that by the time I finish and get home, my body will be screaming in agony.

"Ok guys, that's gonna be it for now. Let's take five, the dance students will be showing up soon," said Jong.

Barely making it to the bleachers, I sat down on the floor (ain't no way I'm gonna try to make it up the steps) and stretched out my aching muscles. Noticing my attempt to stretch, Min Su bounded over like absolutely nothing had happened. She sat down on the floor beside me, and stretched her long, toned legs.

"So, how's it goin'? You enjoying practice?"

"If you call sore muscles and frustration fun..."

Min Su laughed. "Don't worry, that'll all go away once you get back into the swing of things."

"I hope so!"

Just as I was getting up, some of the students started piling in. One girl especially stood out to me. She had on a low-cut tank top, short shorts, a great body (and I mean great! I was totally jealous), and her brown hair was perfectly wavy. She looked like something right smack out of an anime. Basically, she was flawless. I had never actually seen someone who looked like that. Then reality saw fit to slap me once again.

"Jess! Come on! Let's go!" hollered Min Su from across the room, standing next to Tae.

"Right! Coming!" I yelled back, ripping my eyes from her. When I got up, my muscles began groaning in anguish, but there "ain't no way I'm gon' be a sissy," especially since all these amazing dancers are in the room. But as I was walking over to Tae and Min Su, a hand grabbed my arm.

"And just where do you think you're goin', babe?"

"Well, I was going to over to where Tae and Min Su were, but your hand got in the way," I snapped.

Just then, Jong got everybody's attention by shouting, "Ok, everybody! Listen up!"

All the eyes in the room went straight onto Jong, eager and ready to listen.

"Ok! First up, we have a new student and dance member. Come here, Jess."

Great, another awkward "hey-look-at-the-new-girl" moment. I walked up and bowed politely in front of everyone.

"This is Jess, please be nice & everyone be friends with her. She's a really sweet girl," Jong explained kindly.

Looking around the room, I noticed the very familiar stares and protective stances from the other girls in the room. Then, I saw her glancing back at Brie, who was checking out the rest of the group. He didn't seem surprised by anything new, why am I NOT surprised? She then proceeded to walk over to Brie, almost like saying hi. She stood next to him, glanced at him once again, and took his hand. I felt rather annoyed by how easily, almost habitually, she did so.

"Ok everybody! We have a new assignment to work on this month, and I'll tell you about it AFTER all of you pick a new partner!" The groans, sighs and excited squeals echoed around the room.

"Now, now, everyone! Let's go! Come on! I don't want to be here all day!" yelled Jong, laughing. I had started feeling warm when I saw that Brie and that girl were STILL talking to each other.

What is she doing? I wondered, slightly annoyed. Then my senses finally returned. Well hey, common sense! Long time, no see! While we're here, WHY DO YOU CARE?! You don't even like him! I started walking through the crowd to Min Su, hoping she would give me a suggestion as to whom to partner up with. I stopped; she and Brie were standing right in front of me. I exhaled an angry burst of air and strode coldly past. But as I did - surprise, surprise - Brie grabbed my arm again.

"And just where do you think you're going, Partner?" AIIGOOO!! Lord, please, just take me now!

"Partner? Since when was she your partner, oppa [basically babe, or boyfriend]?" As soon as she said oppa, his eyes filled with those animated flames and his neck tensed as he growled, "You have NO right to call me that, Da Hye." Da Hye? Where have I heard that name before? Wasn't that... Ohhh Brie...

"And every other girl here does? That doesn't seem fair!"

"Tough luck," he said coldly. "Come on, Jess..." he said, pulling me to the opposite side of the room.

Well! That wasn't awkward at all!

Finally, Jong called everyone's attention once again to the front of the room.

"Does everyone have a partner?"

The murmurs and nods went through the air, confirming that, indeed, everyone had a partner.

"Good! Ok then! Here's the new assignment for this month. The school is having a dance competition this year, and the school is inviting us to come and perform in the gymnasium downstairs." The "Ooo's" and "Ahh's" echoed all throughout the room. "So! You and your partner will go in the separate rooms here in the dance facility, decide what song you are going to do, do the choreography for it, then perform it in the competition. The winner gets a $1,000,000 in won!"

Everyone quickly got excited, though I was utterly confused. Brie, seeing that I was looking at Jong with a strange look on my face, whispered, "That's about $1,000 dollars in American money."

"Really? Wow!" I said, quickly realizing why everyone was getting excited and becoming thrilled myself.

"Alright everyone! Alright! I know, exciting right? Anyway, here's the catch: You can only use a song that is K-Pop. No American junk this time, guys - er, no offense, Jess! Let's show a little national pride, shall we?"

The angry whines from the students kind of surprised me! I mean, come on! American stuff gets boring. Of course, that's coming from somebody who lived in America all her life.

"You and your partner will be assigned a practice room, and you will get a key to have access to that room for practices. Everybody understand?"

The students answered almost in unison, like it was rehearsed!

"Good! Everyone line up here in front of me and get your room number!"

Quickly, the students started lining up, and me, with my "get there first" instinct, started walking towards the crowded line of dancers. That is, until Brie grabbed my wrist. I turned to him confused, Hello? Brie? Did you not hear your fellow Hyung [brother-figure; best friend]? We're supposed to line up! I don't want to get a crappy room here!

"Follow me..." he said enticingly.

"Where are we going?" I said as he pulled me along beside him.

He walked past hyung, nodded, then walked into the hall. Totally confused, I ripped my hand away, the pain tormenting, and said, "Brie, where are we going?"

"To a practice room."

"We need a key to get in!"

"The gang and I have two practice rooms, specifically for us."

I eyed him suspiciously, but decided to go with him. My curiosity had been piqued, and Brie was rather persuasive when it came to me. Curiosity killed the cat, but at least its desire for knowledge had been satiated, right? Sighing, I thought, I will probably regret this.

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