B5 Just Dance, Unrequited Love Story

Part 13: Please Don't

Latasha

Rehearsals with just Roo and the girls were easy and fun. We could joke around, tease each other and pick up the choreography like a breeze. The boys were to participate with us for the next two weeks and I was nervous. Having calmed it down with Patrick just a few days prior to this I didn't know how we would act around each other.

"Hey guys," I said nervously peering into the room, good, the boys hadn't made it here yet.

"Hm, scared to work with the boys," Elisha inquired of me.

"No more like scared to work with Patrick," Samantha said matter-of-factly.

I awkwardly laugh at the accusation, "yeah," I admit aloud knowing they could see it in my face.

"Wow, so you think it'll be that awkward?" Bridget asked rubbing my shoulder comfortingly.

"Gosh I don't know. I mean, I practically told him to back off after all that flirting, and junk. It's like I'm sending mixed signals. How do you think I feel? How do you think he's taking it?" I spoke then sighed.

After discussing it a little further and stretching the boys walk in and we began warm ups.

*.*.*

Carnell

When we walked into the dance studio I noticed the girls and they noticed us, you could definitely feel the tension in the air. Something was going on between Latasha and Patrick for sure.

Patrick was not his usual self around the house I've observed over the past few days and he hadn't mentioned Latasha plus he ignored anyone that spoke her name. Something was going on between them he just hasn't said so.

Then there was Dustin and the girl he was talking to. The tall girl that called him a pervert she seemed to be acting cold toward him when he greeted her.

Lastly there was Elisha, the girl that Kelly was fan-girling and crushing over. She was frowning when she saw him. I know he was avoiding her, I'd seen him cancel her calls when they came through. He'd been in bad moods for probably a week now, it was a day or so after that silent disco and after party.

No one tells me what's going on and avoid talking about it by all means possible. I don't understand how Patrick and Kelly can pout so long about situations that they seem like they can fix.

I walk over to Bridget while attempting to avoid the tension, awkward glances, and all around sour moods.

"Hey Roo," I say and dap him off while hugging the only, somewhat, cheerful girl in the room.

Bridget was cool people, a nice girl and super sexy but I kept it cool seeing as she has a boyfriend and junk.

"What up Bridge," I greet her.

"Well I'm pretty sure you can tell what's up," she said gesturing towards what was going on in the room. "The ceiling is obviously up," she jokingly replied like a know-it-all.

Roo, Bridget and I laughed.

"Alright let's get this started," Roo announced after warm-ups . "We gon do "Say Yes" first and hopefully after that I'll pair everyone up correctly, but for now let's go by height. So that's Bryan or Carnell with Samantha obviously. And Kelly is definitely with Bridget, no offense," Roo laughs.

Bridget sticks her tongue out at Roo yet complies and walks over to Kelly.

"Um Elisha and Dustin." He says after standing Lastaha and Elisha side by side to measure out the next pair, Latasha was taller by about an inch or so. "Latasha for now you're with Patrick until he steps out and leads. Same with you Elisha. So who's with Samantha?" Roo delegated.

Bryan raised his hand leaving me without a partner at the moment.

"Okay so Carnell and Latasha will partner up when Patrick leads. Then when Dustin leads Elisha you'll be with Carnell, that cool with you Nellz" I nod in response.

*.*.*

Latasha

After hoping to avoid Patrick I ironically get paired with him, just my luck. Gosh I feel so guilty as he approaches me with a sullen look.

"Hey," he monotonously greets.

"Hey," I reply barely above a whisper.

We all line up like Roo assigns and begin the dance when he plays the music. This song makes me feel even more guilty. As I dance I notice, in the full wall mirror, not anyone is putting their all in to it. It's coming out sloppy and Roo is not happy with it. He addresses the problems when the song ends and everyone's posed with the hand outstretched showing all fingers palms out.

"What was that?!," Roo exclaims definitely disappointed. He sighs when he gets no response, "Again, but better," he says pressing play.

Everyone improves a little for the second time around but still Roo is not satisfied with the performance.

Roo's shaking his head in disbelief by the time the song ends again. "I don't know what's going on today but y'all can do better," he sighs looking us all in our faces, "ten minute break, regroup and clear your heads, it shouldn't be this difficult. You were doing well without the pairing and you're all good. I don't know what's going on but you have," he looks at his watch, "nine minutes now," he then walks out the room.

"Well that was awkward," Bridget expresses jokingly.

Patrick was next to me because the dance ends with him there as I attempt to look at Bridget for responding the way she did Patrick and I locked eyes. I freeze at the sudden depressed expression. Unable to look at him for very long my eyes roam everywhere else as I address him.

"Look Patrick, about us-" is all I can say before he cuts me off.

"Please don't," he says stunning me, I look up and see that he's now having the same problem I had, he can't look me in the eye. "You were right, we signed a contract and if we are meant to be something other than dance partners it can wait until after tour." He ended his response looking at me directly. "Sorry I had to get that out there," he says with a small smile.

"Thank you," I say smiling back. "Let's do this right, thank you," I repeat feeling relieved that the struggle in my heart and the tightening in my chest was over, I can breath again. I hug him, out of excitement. "You have no clue how hard it was to just distance myself from such a cool guy like you," I murmur into his shoulder. "So though it feels like a step backwards, friends?" I asked releasing him and putting my hand out from him to shake.

His smile didn't grow and I could tell, just a little, that he wasn't completely happy with the thought. Still, he shook my hand, "friends," he says in turn.

I feel stares and see that the others were watching us carry on.

*.*.*

Elisha

Four minutes left on the clock, I notice when Patrick and Latasha were done being so cute. "If only," I whisper looking down the wall to where Bridget and Kelly were laughing and talking about Latasha and Patrick.

I walk over there on a mission, Bridget sees me heading their way and excuses herself from the conversation. When Kelly turns toward me his face becomes expressionless.

"Kelly, what's going on? Is that why you haven't been talking to me," I try to ask but midway through he walks away leaving me completely clueless and talking to myself. Just like that.

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Author's Note:

Y'all know what I want y'all to do, no don't complain about my two week hiatus..

Comment how you feel about the story.

I can only ask forgiveness so many times so I won't do it this time and hope and pray that there won't be a next time.

Love Y'all!

-ENF2 💋