Three Shots || Jaden Hossler

10. Phone Call

Rye's Point of View

"Competition will be tough tomorrow, don't blow it!" Our dance director yells at me. That's what happens when I change a step because I forgot part of my dance. But hey, at least I didn't stop dancing.

"You're dismissed." She says and I do the walk of shame outside of the room. We get yelled at almost daily, I don't get embarrassed anymore but I'm the only soloist tomorrow so I have a big pressure on my shoulders.

"What happened in there? What's with the screaming?" I get asked by Joshua's mother who's standing next to her son. "I forgot a step and I did something else." I explain.

"But did you stop dancing?" Lucy asks. "No." I respond. "There's no need to yell at you like that then." She walked away to go in the room, mad.

"Are you okay? I tried calling you yesterday." Joshua asks.

I have a feeling he heard the yelling and told his mother, that's very nice of him. We all get verbally abused my our choreographers and director all the time, I never talk back so I'm the target always. They like to criticize our bodies, the way we act, the things we eat... it's mentally exhausting.

"Yes." I simply answer. "I just- had a bad night and kinda broke down."

"Oh, you needed space, I get it." He says. "I was calling you because I needed your help with something."

"My help?"

"Let's go eat something and we'll talk there."

____________

Bryce balls: olivia just told me you know what happened yesterday

Me: oh yeah that you slept with
my mortal enemy

Bryce balls: it was for jazz

Me: good for you, its still disgusting

Me: as if i slept with kio, you
wouldnt like that bryce

Bryce balls: youre right im sorry

Bryce balls: come home lets talk

Me: im with a friend ttyl

Kio is my Olivia in Bryce's life. They had a huge fight at a party once, Bryce got arrested and I had to go pick him up from jail. Bryce hates him and so do the other boys.

I put my phone away and brought back my attention to Joshua. We are at Chili's. He wanted to go somewhere nice but I'm not dressed decently so I suggested this place instead.

"Is everything okay?" Joshua asks. "It's Bryce, he's apologizing for what happened yesterday."

I already explained to him all the caos from yesterday. He was blown away by it and told me that living there will drive me crazy. Little does he know, I'm beyond insane at this point.

"That's good." He comments. "Anyway, I wanted to ask you something." He began. I feel so nervous about this.

"Which is..." I say.

"Okay, so you know how I got this role, right? I found out that it's a theater show for Netflix."

"What? Netflix? That's so cool!" I say excited. That's huge.

"Yeah, that means I will have to work hard and I will barely have time for Hunter. Audrey works full time which is why the baby is with me every time."