Limelight

Chapter Eleven

~~To No One's Standard But Her Own~~

Kendrick Lamar's Pray for me blared through the speakers in a dance hall where the dance crew Light 'Em Up were dancing on an elevated platform surrounded by a crowd of what looked like mostly young college students throwing their hands up and cheering wildly as they performed. To the right of the platform was a table where four older looking people, but still seemed to drip with the same swag as the young people, sat looking onto the crew surveying them with interest, two of them were bopping their head rhythmically to the beat smiling widely as they danced.

Aaliyah and Blair were watching from Aaliyah's bed back in Manhattan. Marcus' older brother FaceTimed Blair's phone and they were seeing their performance through his camera since the girls couldn't travel to New Jersey to watch their performance in person. They were stuck having to attend Madison's small single-release party. Blair argued relentlessly with her father, but he wouldn't budge saying that they had to show their support for Madison's success, and it was in part Aaliyah's success too. Blair insisted that since it was just a small gathering, it's not like it's that important that they be there to entertain a bunch of stuck-up snobs, Madison, and annoying reporters. She also made the point that Madison has had a million single-release parties before. In truth, she'd only had about three, but that didn't suit Blair's dramatic flair. Malcolm then made the point that this was the first one Madison was having signed to Soul Fusion, so it was just as important for them both to be here.

Aaliyah understood, especially since she was on the song too, and Malcolm had said that it would be good for Aaliyah to get some experience with this part of the job, and make the right connections in the industry. She still wasn't entirely happy that she wasn't going to be able to see Light 'Em Up's audition in person. Jacks had been disappointed too, which only made her feel bad, but they agreed to meet later for their first date, and she had shown up to every single one of his dance practices in the last week to show her support. Aaliyah reassured him that she would be able to see his other performances too since she didn't doubt that he wouldn't get into the competition.

Aaliyah watched with fascination and pride and glee as she cheered with Blair as they danced, each movement coordinated and fluid and telling a story. It was beautiful. West was in the front and led the group with his expert body movements, and they were all amazing. The screen was huge so Aaliyah could see everything from Zenith's bright pink braids whipping around to go with her pink cargo pants, to the looks on the judges' faces. Aaliyah grinned as she looked to Blair beside her, "The judges look happy." She observed.

Blair laughed, punching Aaliyah lightly. "Of course they do," She said excitedly, "They're amazing!"

Aaliyah had to agree, her eyes found Jacks, and could only stare completely entranced by his movements. He was out of his usual huge shirt and sweatpants for the audition, dripping with style thanks to Blair in a black longline long-sleeved top that showed off his lean muscles that rippled and flexed with each precise movement under his top and cargo pants paired with white Jordans. He looked great. And his movements made it hard for her to take her eyes off of him, it was beautiful. He was truly a talented dancer, and Aaliyah remembered his words from a few weeks ago when they were on the balcony, "dancing to me is like your music, it's how I communicate the way I feel to the world when everything else fails me." Aaliyah couldn't help but feel all of that when she watched him.

When the song wound down, and they pulled their finishing move, and Christian did a backflip that landed in the middle of the group, huddled in the middle together with different poses. The crowd roared with appreciation and Aaliyah and Blair screamed with them screaming their support the way they wished they could in New Jersey.