The Nerd Can Dance

Boot Camp

Boot Camp was crazy. They broke us down into groups. Of course, Lucas ended up in my group. Hearing Mia was in another group made me happy because then I wouldn't have to get pissed. Andy was in my group as well and we stuck by each other mostly. Everyone in the group danced mainly hip-hop. They brought in a Lyrical and Contemporary choreographer.

We learned a small piece and then at the end of the day, we showcase it to the judges. That was Friday a few got cut. Saturday, my group took on Jazz. Sunday was hip-hop.

"1,2,3,4 the instructor yelled." One step at a time when the music reached the right part. Andy and I stood near each other. Neither of us could stop smiling. When the dance ended he passed the music and clapped. "Amazing! Now I want to see some pairs and small groups. First up is...You." He pointed to Lucas and he stepped up. "And...you." I looked at the instructor, Dannie, as his finger was pointed at me. My mouth dropped. "Let's go."

"Go." Andy pushed me and I walked over to near Lucas. The thirteen other people moved to the side giving us enough room to dance. Dannie told us what changes we needed to make so it was a better paired dance. We moved to center stage and he started the music. "Have fun with it." Lucas said. I rolled my eyes with a smile at the randomness of the comment. We moved to the music doing whatever we wanted till the right beat hit. It started and my body took over. Doing the routine I learned just over an hour before. It was as easy as breathing. When it was over Lucas kept dancing and couldn't help but laugh and then he stopped.

"Perfect. Letting the music and dance take over you." Dannie said as he walked by. "Forget about what others think, just let it take over you." He gave us both high-fives. "Next pair."

I walked back over to Andy but Lucas followed. "Hey," he said I we sat down.

"Hey." I said.

"I'm hosting this dancing thing for the thirty that pass through to the live shows. It's at a friends studio in the middle of the night Monday."

"We don't know who's getting through." I said.

"I know you two are. Trust me. You two are some of the best here. They'd be dumb to not put you guys through."

"Sounds good to me, count us in." Andy said before I could say anything. I nodded my head.

He left sitting with a couple new friends. We watched group after group go till it was time to showcase the routine to the judges. We left around 4:30 and I did what Dannie said. I put everything into it. We left for dinner while the judges determined who would be cut. They're leaving ten extra people to show off during the private solo showcasing. Then the top 30 will go from there to the live shows. Then when we reach the live shows it's pairing up with a partner. For the rest of the show.

Three went in at a time. I went in with Andy and a kid named James.

"The one we're sending home is.." I hate this part. They always wait. Always make us more nervous than we already are. The part where they look at each of us, waiting. "James. We're sorry. You're an amazing dancer. But you need to work on your ability to put uniqueness in the choreography. We need dancers who will stand out from everyone and show why they love and want to dance. "Good luck." Andy and I walked over and hugged him. He took it like a champion. He walked out with a small smile and waving to use. We walked to the back where the rest of the dancers were waiting for us to walk through the curtain.

We Walked through and the small glorious ran to us screaming. They all let go and I looked over to Lucas who walked over to me. "Told you." he said.

***

Going back to school seemed like the first day back all over again. Lyla by my side but then Lucas walking up to me right after he saw me. "Hey, Skylar, you still coming to the dance thing tonight?"

"Dance thing?" Lyla asked.

"Something I'm holding at a friends studio in the middle of the night. Wanna come too?" he asked.

"Sounds awesome to me," Lyla said making me stop so the three of us stood together.

"I'm not sure If I'll make it. I've got...homework."

"That's the worst excuse I've ever heard." He said. "You're coming." He handed me a sheet of paper and I just took it." I expect you there or I'll find your house and I'll kidnap you myself."

"She live's on 159 Riverbend." I elbowed Lyla in the ribs.

"Thank you, that makes kidnapping her easy now. See you tonight." he walked away and I turned to Lyla. She just smiled.

"You'll love me later.."She turned and started to walk away. "At the wedding."

"YOU-!" I started to chase after her but she started running too.

At school, people took pictures of me, with me, and even videoing me asking me to dance. It was weird to one week being unnoticeable. The next week everyone surrounding me. And now all of them...acting like I'm Oprah walking down the hallway.

My brother...Every time he saw me wore a look I've never seen before. A almost blank face. Chase is something else. Maybe a little part of me was hoping now that everyone else is noticing me that maybe he would too. Right now all I see is the disappointment. He walked in front of the door I was about to leave through.

"What?" I asked.

"I'm giving you a warning. Mom texted me said she needs to talk to you."

"About? Why couldn't she tell me herself?"

"I'm thinking she saw this." Chase pulled out his phone I saw a picture of me, Lucas and the other people who made it through to the live shows. It was about the show. I saw a gif of Lucas and me dancing in the middle too. "I'm guessing they found out." I gave him his phone back. Something inside me hurt. Chase makes me want to yell. My family makes me want to scream. I've been holding my anger back about my family for so long maybe I should. I'm finally doing something for me for the first time ever. Everyone who's supposed to love and support me me no matter what want's to take it away. Makes me wonder...if they ever even have loved me. "What?" Chase asked.

"Nothing." I walked passed him and outside.

"Sky? What the hell. You were normal then boom looked like I killed your dog." he said. I stopped in my tracks in turned around. I can't hide anymore.

I danced for so long in secret...I hid who I really was from everyone because I was scared...of what people thought. Of my parents. If this competition has taught me anything it's that I don't need to be scared anymore. I don't need to fit into my parent's mold. Chase certainly doesn't need to be an asshole. He was once my brother. Once someone I told everything I told Lyla. High school came and he became my parent's playdough. Molding to what they wanted.

Me I'm the kid who does everything with a fake smile and does everything to please her parents. I need to start pleasing myself and stop feeling like I'm screwing up because I don't fit into their molds of what they want.

"Screw you, Chase." I crossed my arms and just looked at him. "Screw you."

"For what? Giving you a heads up? Fine I'll step out-"

"No!" I stepped forward my finger pointed him. "Don't even try it. Chase, I want my brother back. I don't want the robot our parents created. I want my brother, the boy who pushed me out of the way of a falling bookcase when he was six. The boy who beat up a kid because he called me stupid and weird. You aren't my brother anymore. Watching me all these years, knowing what I go through every day and saying nothing. You are a coward. You aren't my brother." I stopped and walked away. Hard to say but needed to be said. He wasn't the boy I could rely on anymore.

Now going home wasn't something I was looking forward to. I finally told my brother off after all these years. Why not take on my parents?

The new found confedence feels amazing.