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( CHAPTER ELEVEN: NIGHT OWLS ) March, 1990
❝ I feel like doing something spontaneous. ❞
◯
"Ya damn show-off!" Jimmy yelled, watching as Devon free-styled in time with the blasting beat, the stereo shaking on the coarse floor as the dancers crowded around him, clapping their hands and hollering at the spectacle he displayed. Devon grinned teasingly, his body popping with coordination, taking advantage of the small break that the dancers were given before they were to jump back into rehearsal for the seventh show of the Rhythm Nation Tour. Time flew fast once the first few nights of the tour passed, and Devon found himself quickly adapting to performing in front of thousands of people each night.
In fact, he was starting to love the fast-paced changes, the bulbous stage lights and the hyper-active screams that he would encounter each time he's dancing on that stage. To put it simply, Devon Emmet was starting to get addicted. It was even better now that he was sharing a room with Jimmy for the rest of the tour, now that Jake was out. Devon was relieved, since he was sure Jake would've slit his throat during the night. And as they touched down in Louisville for the show, the dancers found themselves in an easing state.
So, as Devon danced away with the support of his peers, he felt his heart thump with excitement, no doubt enjoying his time in the spotlight as they continued to egg him on. However, the sweet moment was abruptly put to an end once two sharp claps broke through the beat of the music. Devon slowly stilled, a curtain of sweat flinging from his skin as he swung around to face the noise. Janet waltzed into the room with her brows raised, quickly walking to the stereo to turn it off. "Good to see you guys working hard," Janet mused.
"We were just having a short break," Jimmy said, grinning widely. Devon rested his hands on his hips, watching as Janet playfully rolled her eyes before approaching the group of dancers expectantly. "Did you do anything productive when I was gone?" The pop star sassed back, and for a minute Devon feared the hush of silence that would follow after her passive question. Thankfully, Jimmy spoke up before the situation would become even more awkward.
"Yeah, Dev figured out what to do for the new routine," the dancer spoke up, slapping Devon's back. The said man toppled over, his eyes sharpening discretely as he suddenly found himself lost for words. Jimmy was lying, Devon hadn't figured these steps, or anything for that matter since the dancers had spent the passed thirty minutes mucking around. Jimmy just liked to throw him in the deep end, since he claimed Devon was Janet's favourite, even though Devon strongly denied it.
So, as the young man nervously swallowed, he tried to come up with words to say to the awaiting Janet Jackson, who stood there with her hands on her hips and her brow lowered. "Well?" She asked, and Devon's heart skipped a beat. "Uh, thought we should include this," Devon coughed, stepping forward as his mind rummaged hurriedly for some new and exciting moves to show to the pop diva. He settled on moving his upper body slowly, his arms flowing with coordination as he hoped and prayed that she would like it.
