Dancing to the Beat

Chapter 3

               “You’re going to be on what?”

             “Make em’ Dance. You know the show you are obsessed with when you aren’t training.”

          “I can’t believe this! I’m so jealous. I’ve been dying to get on that show! Plus, I’m such a better skater than you.” Justin laughed at the last part. He always loved to tease me.

          “Ha, better skater! Don’t make me spit out my Cheerios. You know I had more finesse on one hand than you had in your whole body. Frankly, you’re lucky I’m out of the skating business because if I went solo I would have way more medals than you.” I joked back. Actually we both knew that we were amazing together, and if I hadn’t gotten hurt we’d still be the golden pair skating to the Olympics.

        “Yea, yeah whatever. Anyway when you get there could you hook me up with one of those dancer girls. They are so hot!”

        “Ew, please don’t share that stuff with me.” I said as I pushed my unfinished bowl of cereal away from me.

        “Hey I didn’t say anything bad, but please come on, you’re the one chance I have of meeting them.”

        “Or you could conveniently lurk around till security chases you off the property.” I countered.

        “Yea but then there is a lot of police paper work, and that could interfere with my road to gold. So that leaves me with you as my only source for dance hotties. Help me Addy-won you’re my only hope.” I could picture his puppy dog eyes and pouty lip through the phone.

        “Fine I will help you meet your future dance wife.  But you have to show up to at least one of my shows okay? Who knows I may only make it on one show and then you won’t need to trudge over to the studio to see me again.”

        “Hey I would trudge anywhere to see you. And I know for a fact that you will make it farther than the first round.”

        “Oh yea how?”

   “Because you’re Addy Fisher America’s Skating Sweet Heart!” Justin performed his best impression of Valerie Alexandra, or at least what he thought she sounded like.

        “Yea well that was skating, this is dancing.”

        “So what? One is on ice with sharp blades, the other is in high heels. I’m pretty sure you can handle dancing on a wood floor rather than ice.”

        “Well I will certainly try my best.”

        “Have you found out who you’re dancing with?”

        “Uh yea it was in an email she sent with all my itinerary.” I said the last word as fancy as I could. I was trying to make it sound as fabulous as Valerie, but I think I failed.  I flipped open my laptop and searched through my emails. Wow, Valerie sent a lot more since I last checked.

        “Here, it says Alexsei Mer-ko-vich? I think that’s how you say it."

        "Alexsei Merkovich! Oh wow, you got the bad boy of dance.”

        “The bad boy?”

        “Yea he is pretty strict. At one point in the show he yells at his partners, sometimes they cry. He’s really good though very passionate about what he does. But he definitely doesn’t hold back! One time he got into an argument with one of the judges because he was defending his partner. Which I guess is good, he’s loyal. He’s a complete playboy though. All the girls drool over him because he takes his shirt off all the time. There are also rumors that he dates his dance partners, but you know rumors, you never know what’s true or not.” I already started blushing at his words. I don’t think I could handle that. I wasn’t ready for all of that. What did I sign myself up for?

        “Aw geez. Can I change partners? I don’t think I want to be paired with all of that.”

        “He may seem extreme, but he is really good. He’s come second in the contest many times. He always get’s beat by James. Poor guy, I would hate to come that close and lose over and over.”

        “Who’s James?”

    “James Horton. He’s this amazing choreographer. I know he has been working part time with the U.S. coaches to create awesome routines for the figure skating team.”

        “Aw he sounds cool. Why can’t I have him?” At that moment I really wanted to email Valerie and ask to be swapped. I wasn’t sure if I could work with a bad boy, mostly because I don’t have the patients for all that drama.  I am the type of person that if someone is a douche or sarcastic to me I will be sarcastic back, just to knock them down a few pegs. But I’ve never had to dance with one.

        “Yea I don’t think they let you swap. That’s the point of the show, to be a surprise almost. I remember on one of the shows some of the professional dancers were so upset when they saw whom they got. Some really want to win the trophy, and then they get stuck with an old person or someone who can’t clap to the beat.”

        “But what if Alexsei hates me? Great I think I feel sick.”

        “Addy I doubt any man could ever hate you. On that note don’t fall for any of his tricks. Okay? I don’t want you to be another notch.” I blushed again. I hadn’t even considered sleeping with Alexsei. Not that the thought would ever cross my mind. I had never even had a real relationship; let alone sleep with anyone. I so wasn’t ready for all of this. But I don’t think I could have that discussion with my brother.

        “Look at my little brother taking charge. Don’t worry I will be fine. Besides he doesn’t look like he even wears a belt.” I joked as I looked at some pictures of Alexsei online.

        “What? I thought you didn’t know who he was.”

        “I didn’t, till Google informed me. You’re right he does take his shirt off a lot.” There were tons of pictures of Alexsei’s perfect bronze six-pack abs in all their glory. I found myself wondering how it would feel to run my hand on them. And with that thought I shut the laptop. I hadn’t realized that there was a long silence over the phone.

        “Well I guess I’ll leave you alone with your search. But remember not another notch.” Justin laughed and hung up the phone before I could counter his stupid remark. I sat there on the couch in silence. Alexsei and Addy. Addy and Alexsei. I wondered if he was that tan in person or was it just all spray tan for the show. God, what happened to me? Why was I even considering this? But then my hand had a mind of it’s own, and I scrolled through the image results. I was lost in my thoughts for another half an hour.