The dance project: YouTube boyband

Chapter 16

"Ok guys gather round!"

I quickly laced up my shoes and ran over to the rest of the group.

"You alright?" Joe whispered.

"I'm good," I smiled.

"Ok, so today we start our hip hop dance! Obviously we haven't got Taylor with us because of her injury. Find a space then we will warm up!" James shouted.

Joes video had gone live the night before and although I hadn't looked I was curious what the response would be. Obviously I didn't think his fans would appreciate Joe being with a girl. Especially one they didn't already know.

"What was the response like on the video?" I asked Joe as we headed into the centre to find a space.

"Alright," he shrugged not saying much. His demeanour didn't seem positive which worried me a bit.

"Ok let's start," James announced and began playing the music. To warm up he just used a backing track which was just a beat.

We stretched, did some different moves and got our blood pumping ready for the lengthy rehearsal ahead of us.

"I'm tired already!" Joe sighed.

"Come on, man up!" I laughed.

"Ok, so we don't have Taylor so we have a stand in!" James announced.

He indicated to the door and in walked someone I knew too well. Gemma. She was from my studio and was always my biggest competitor. We didn't get on too well either.

"Hi guys," she smiled as she walked in. She then turned her head to me and gave me a fake smile. "Chloe!"

"Gemma!" I said through gritted teeth while Joe stood behind me sniggering. She hugged me and then walked over to James.

"This is Gemma everyone and she's from Chloe's studio," James announced. "Replacing Taylor she will be partner of Jim!"

"Oh no," I sighed.

"You ok?" Said Joe putting his arm around me.

There they were again - the butterflies. Every physical connection and they returned.

"Not really, but there's nothing I can do about it."

We began the rehearsal and continued like usual. I did occasionally notice Gemma glaring at me in the corner of my eye. Her and Jim seemed to get on well but evidently not as well as Jim and Taylor.

"Joe I need to ask you something."

"Anything," he smiled. The music had just finished and I decided now was a better time than ever.

"Has there been much hate on the video?" I asked.

"I'm going to be truthful. Yes there has been some hate - fan girls don't like it as soon as another female comes into the equation wether it involves a relationship or not! They are going to cause drama no matter what."

"Joe!!! I told you I shouldn't have been in the video!" I shouted.

"It's fine! Everyone gets hate!"

"Yeah but I didn't want hate or love in the first place." I sighed.

I was genuinely annoyed. Joe had been lovely to me and done so much but this was bad. I took comments personally.

I used to be bullied in school and still was so even more hate on top of that scared me. Maybe there were things wrong with me.

"Stop! Haters always hate no matter who's in my videos!" He replied.

I was getting more and more agitated and couldn't tell wether I was going to scream or cry. Either way something was going to happen.

"But what if they are right! What if I am fat? What if I am ugly? Huh? They are right and you know it!!!" I yelled in his face.

"No Chloe you are wrong! You are beautiful and skinny, if anything they are jealous of you!"

"Yeah it's fine for you to say! Everyone loves you- perfect Joe who can't do wrong. Joe doesn't get hate because Joes perfect. Joe only ever puts people in the firing line to get hate!"

"No! Chloe stop! Calm down!"

"Easier said than done!" I shouted and quickly ran out of the studio and into the changing rooms.

I left the rehearsal early but I couldn't stay there any longer. I needed a good cry.

I sat in the changing rooms in front of my mirror and looked at myself. I was fat. I was ugly. I had so many pores on my face and my skin was oily and greasy.

My eyebrows were so thin and patchy they weren't really visible and my lips were just the wrong shape. My eyes were a vile colour and I wanted to put colour contacts in there and then. I picked myself down by each imperfection.

I heard the door of the changing room open and I peered in the mirror to see who it was. Quickly I realised it was Gigi.

"What's wrong beautiful?" Gigi shouted coming over and hugging me.

"I'm fat and ugly," I cried warm tears onto her shoulder leaving a wet patch as she pulled away.

"You are not! Take that back! Why do you think that? Did Joe say it to you because if he did I swear-"

"No he didn't! The video just got hate!"

"And what did the hate say?" She asked.

She had a fair point. I hadn't read exactly what the hate said. I only knew it was there.

I made her check the video and she scrolled through the comments. She read each one from the top and read them aloud.

"I hate to say Chloe, the worst comment on here is stay away from my man. Is that Joes idea of hate?" She asked.

"Well mr perfect never gets anything less than love." I sighed.

"Now come on girl cheer up. You are beautiful I promise. Now skip the rest of rehearsal go home and get some rest, tomorrow morning when you feel better get in touch with Joe, ok?"

"Ok," I smiled through sobs.