How I Saved Harley Matthews

Chapter Four: The Hokey Pokey

"Okay ladies! We will begin regularly scheduled practice on Thursday nights." My eyes shifted up from the glossy wooden floors to my dance teacher.

A trail of males were on her flanks grazing over every one of our crew's bodies. "The boys will be joining us from today until the end of our season." She said as she waved her hands to them. A few of the girls snickered at this statement.

Did they want us to get in trouble? I rolled my eyes and started to walk back to the dressing rooms, hauling my duffel bag on my right shoulder.

"Get changed ladies! We have a lot to do before the Winter Show!" I rolled my eyes once more.

We had just barely finished our Fall Show. Our dance teacher was probably the best in southern Alabama. Why she decided to settle down here was absent from anyone's knowledge.

She was the best, and she only trained the best. Therefore she had to whip us brutally into shape. Strict water and protein diets accompanied with harsh workouts. To play the part you had to look it as well.

She didn't have many controlling rules except that no boys were allowed. If she found out you had a significant other, you were toast and most likely kicked off the team.

This had never been a problem for me considering I kept my distance from males except for Max. But as for the other girls, they came and went like thunder storms. I was the only consistent dancer that coach actually tolerated.

Black walls surrounded me with giant yellow lights hanging from the ceiling. Lockers decorated the walls with sparkly names pained across them. I slowly walked towards mine.

Audin was written in bright gold letters, shimmered and glistened in the hot flood lights.

"I'm so excited we get to work with the boys finally!"

"Me too! Maybe we will get partners!"

The girls giggled as I unpacked my bag into my locker. I had always loved dancing, but I had a low tolerance for anyone who thought they could dance when they actually had the same level of dance moves as the hokey pokey.

Dancing was something I took seriously, and if you didn't like it, sorry? When I danced I went to my own little world away from every problem I had. And considering the last few days I've had, this is just what I needed right now.

I've been dancing here since I was little, and it's the only place in town I don't have to deal with drama because everyone keeps to themselves and leaves me alone. It doesn't bother me that nobody really talks to me at dance because I had my three best friends, and they were all I needed.

I finished unpacking my bag, and I stripped my clothing to replace them with my fresh dance clothes.

I was the first one dressed in my tight leggings and fitted to-shirt with my hair in a high ponytail, and I was out on the dance floor before anyone. The boys were sitting in a large semicircle chatting a laughing.

I went to my usual warm up spot in the far left corner of the dance studio. Beginning with my legs I started stretching. "Hey sweetheart!" A thick country accent called making me pause half way though my quad stretch. "Hey baby I'm talking to you." He continued to harass, earning cheers from his friends.

Slowly I dropped my leg and turned around to face the pricks. "What's your name sweetheart?" The cowboy said as he stood up. He had dark short hair and was bulky built. Kinda odd for a dancer.

I scoffed and shifted on my feet. "It's Audin Bellarose, but sorry sweetheart I'm not into your... type." The room fell to silence as more girls began to file out of the dressing room.