Dance With Me (Step Up 2)

Chapter 5

I walk up to my front porch grinning to myself. Moose and I had dinner together at a cute little cafe downtown. Every time our waiter turned his back to us, Moose would make silly faces at him. I was laughing throughout the whole dinner. It was definitely my best night ever.

The wooden swing bench creaks and I turn to look at it. Andie is passed out on the bench. What is she doing here? I bend down and gently shake her awake.

"Andie, wake up." I whisper.

Her eyes flutter open and she sits up slowly. "Can I stay at your house tonight?" She asks.

"Of course." I answer quickly. "Come on. Let's go up to my room." I grab my key from my pocket and unlock the front door. Andie follows me inside my house and trudges up to my room.

"Was that Andie?" Beth sits up from her spot on the couch.

"Yeah. Could you call her foster mom and say she is here?" I ask dropping my bag on the floor.

Beth nods her head. "Where were you?"

I smile to myself. "I was out with a friend."

Beth narrows her eyes at me slightly. "Come to me when you want to talk about him."

"I will." I giggle. I jog up the stairs to my bedroom and find Andie in a pair of my pajamas. "So, uh, why are you here?"

Andie plops down on my bed getting comfy. "I got kicked out of four one oh."

My mouth drops open in shock. "What? Why?" I kick off my shoes and toss them in my closet.

"They got tired of my lies." Andie runs her fingers over my comforter.

"I'm sorry, Andie." I say automatically. I grab a pair of soffee shorts and a tank top. "What about the Streets? You really wanted to do that."

Andie sighs quietly. "I know. I'm not in a crew, though."

I step in my bathroom and change quickly. I brush my teeth before walking out. "So make your own crew! You don't need Four One Oh."

"No one would want to be in my crew." She says.

"I can think of three people." I drop my dirty clothes in my hamper. "Moose, me, and Chase. You may be a complete douche bag, but I think he really likes you." I jump on my bed next to her.

"No. He doesn't like me." Andie denies. "Where were you this evening? I know the hospital visiting hours end at eight."

I blush slightly. "I was with Moose. I took him to see Abbie then we snuck into MSA to dance and we went to get some food." I shrug.

"You went on a date with Moose!" She sits up quickly.

"What? No I didn't." I shake my head. We went as friends. That's it.

"I could tell he liked you!" Andie exclaims. "Where did you eat?"

"The little cafe downtown." I answer.

Andie's face brightens up. "That's where couples go!"

"And friends." I correct her.

"And soon to be couples." Andie winks at me. "I've seen how you act around him. He is always touching you somehow. You took him to see Abbie! You never let anyone see her." She explains.

"I trust him. That's it." I reply.

"Nope. You like him. I'm going to get you two together." She determines.

I shake my head at her. "That won't happen because he doesn't think of me that way."

"But you think of him that way?"

"Yes. Wait! No! I meant no!" I correct myself quickly, but Andie is grinning like a little kid on Christmas.

"I knew it!" She yells. "I could tell you liked him. I am getting you two together before the end of the year."

"I'm going to bed!" I change the subject quickly. I get under my covers and turn my back to her.

"Moose and Callie sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First-"

I grab a pillow off my bed and whack her in the face. "Go to bed."

*

"Don't be such a grump!" I scowl at Andie. She pushes past the crowd of students to the cafeteria. I shake my head and stroll to my locker. She woke up this morning in such a bad mood. I guess she fully realized she is out of Four One Oh. She shouldn't let something like that put her down.

I put my combination in the lock and pop it open. I stuff my books for the classes I need today in my bag. My locker slams shut and I see Moose leaning against the other lockers.

"Hey Moose." I greet him.

"Hey." Moose starts walking down the hall. "Why are you wearing a jacket? It's ninety degrees outside."

I self consciously fix my hood. "I always wear a jacket."

"Why? Because you don't like being compared to Tyler?" Moose asks.

"No. I feel comfortable in jackets." I lie.

Moose yanks the hood off my head quickly. "You like hiding from people. Who cares what people think of you?"

"I don't. I just don't like being compared to him constantly." I explain.

"I'm best friends with Callie Gage and no one should compare her to her older brother! She's her own person!" Moose yells in the hallway causing everyone to stop and stare at us.

"Moose!" I gasp. "I can't believe you did that!" My phone vibrates in my jacket pocket and I take it out.

'Can you meet me in the dance studio?' Andie texts me.

I look up to see Moose checking out his phone. "Did you just get texted by Andie?"

"Yeah."

"Let's go see what she wants." I say as Moose puts his arm over my shoulder. "Oh no, you don't. I'm mad at you for yelling that." I shrug him off.

"Awh. Come on Callie." Moose follows me down the hallway.

•••••••

AUTHOR'S Note:

So, what do you think of it so far? Comments are appreciated even though no one comments.