mother knows best

1

"Don't forget your jacket sweetie, it's cold out," My mom says as she hears my feet tap down the stairs.

It's practically spring time. Well, actually it's the 25th of February but, it's close enough.

"Okay mom," I step into the kitchen and give her a hug before grabbing my keys and leaving out the front door.

On my way! I text my best friend Paige as I unlock the door to my blue Jeep.

Luckily the snow from yesterday has melted, though the wheels on this thing can take any type of climate.

Paige lives close to our dance studio, so I usually pick her up every night for practice. I don't have to honk as I pull into her driveway because she's already standing on her porch, wearing a big black puffer coat probably over her leotard. Standing next to her is her boyfriend Michael, who leans down to kiss her once he sees my headlights appear.

Their eyes squint as they walk down the driveway towards my car. I crack the window a little bit, not ready to let go of the heat that's collected in my car.

"Hey Nay," he smirks at me as he pulls his dark curly hair into a ponytail and pulls his hood over his head.

I roll my eyes, "Hey. Let's go Paige or we're gonna be late."

They kiss again and I gag, pointing my index finger towards my mouth. She jumps in my car and I peel out of the driveway before Michael is even in his car.

It has always been weird to me that he never offers to drive her himself. Everytime I drive her his Mercedes is sitting right next to mine in her driveway. "It doesn't bother you, he never offers to drive?"

"We've already been over this, he has to go to work." I chose not to respond as I look through my rearview and see his car still in the driveway.

Practice is in 20 mins and we have a 5 minute drive, but I like to be prepared for anything. Plus, it's like the only time I get to talk to everyone because rehearsals are about to get intense. Our big competition is in August right before school starts. Six months might seem like a long time to prepare but when there's 20 girls, 3 group dances, 6 solo dances at one of the biggest competitions ever, we're actually on thin ice. Plus, 12 people are told they get a solo dance and then a month in they start choosing the actual 6, so whoever is chosen has to work hard to keep their spot. Not to mention there are other small competitions in between there.

The parking lot is full when I get there and I have to park in a handicap spot, which is normal on Tuesday nights, as it's the only group practice of our level this week so we get all the rooms to practice. I practically sprint out of my car to the silver metal doors, puffs of my breath smudging the glass.

"See, this is why you need a jacket. Matter a fact, a coat," Paige laughs when she finally comes in.

"Ok, mom!" I joke as I shiver, rubbing my hands against the arms of my sweater. I thought I'd be fine since I have sleeves on, boy was I wrong and i'll have to admit it later.

After putting my stuff away in my locker, I walk over to Paige who's talking to Lesley and Holly. The four of us are best friends. We rarely fight too, something I think is rare for a group of girls. And we're pretty diverse, two black girls, one asian and one white. That's not common at all here, home sweet home Zionville, Indiana.

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We stretch and warm up for what feels like forever but is really just 30 minutes, before the song reveals. This is the only easy group practice because we really don't do anything. We just listen to the 9 songs we will be dancing to and get to see the first draft of solo and group dancers. It's nothing to get excited over, the lineup changes so often and there's always understudies because it's very common for someone to sprains their ankle or some injury to occur by the time of competition season.