Hiya! This is a reply to the own Dance Is Love Challenge, set by myself! Seeing as I'm a dancer and a writer, it makes sense for me to write about dance.
This story is a collection of oneshots, each one about a different style of Dance. The pairing is Chelsi, and I haven't written much of these, so please be nice:)
Disclaimer: I do not own HSM. Never gonna happen!
Street Dance/Hip Hop: Battle of the Street Beatz
Summary: When the East High B-Ball team is challenged by West High to dance in the Youth Talent Contest, they search for the best dancers and make a dance crew called Streetz 2 Beatz.
When Chad is scouting for dancers, he finds Kelsi, who helps out. Every time they meet at rehearsals, they grow closer. Will romance blossom . . . ? (A.N. That was so cheesy, I'm sorry)
Present
"Hey everyone, Kelsi's here!" announced Jason, as they entered the Bolton's living room.
Those who weren't absorbed in the basketball game on TV, (Gabriella and Taylor) smiled at her. But the face Kelsi was looking for wasn't looking at her.
It was Troy, Chad, Zeke Jason, Taylor and Gabriella. Sharpay refused to have anything to do with the dance crew, and pulled Ryan out of it as well.
Racking her brains for a way to get his attention, she said brightly "Hey guys! You know the dance group I got you guys with, Big Blue Dance Crew?"
Everyone's heads whipped up, looking at her excitedly. He looked up at her as well, making her shiver with happiness, but he looked away quickly.
"What did they say?" enthused Troy.
"They'll come to rehearse at East High tomorrow after school. I think -"
Kelsi was cut off by the others, cheering at the TV for the B-Ball team that just scored. Kelsi gave up and flopped onto the nearest chair.
Taylor got up quickly, and switched the TV off, ignoring the moans. "The point of meeting is to watch dance movies for inspiration, not to watch basketball games! The contest is in a week! Are you that stupid?"
"She's right." Troy nodded. "Let's be serious. It's out of 'Honey', 'Step Up', and 'You Got Served'." More groans.
Kelsi wasn't listening. She spared Chad one last look and she shivered when she saw he was looking straight at her. He smiled, and she smiled back, her heart practically melting.
She had to be smart. Watching him carefully, she watched as he got up, went to the kitchen, and came back with a drink. He passed her, and in one swift motion; she had grabbed his shirt and yanked him towards her, causing the drink to spill.
"Chad! Look what you did!" she said loudly, feigning upset. She rushed out of the room.
Dazed, Chad looked at the others, bewildered. It all happened so fast! Taylor said "You'd better go up and apologize, Chad."
"What for?" Chad protested, but suddenly realisation hit him, and he nodded, sighing for not guessing before. He hurried up to the bathroom where Kelsi was dabbing herself with tissues.
"There you are," she breathed. She kissed him softly and they wrapped their arms around each other.
"You're so stupid! Now you're all wet." Chad sighed, hugging her tighter. "We haven't had a chance to be alone in . . . ages . . ."
"I know. Hey, I'm still wet!" she giggled, whipping her shirt off to reveal a vest top. Chad gave her his hoodie to wear.
As he did so, he added, "I still don't get why we have to keep us secret."
"It's . . . easier. For everyone. And it's fun." Kelsi giggled again, but then became quite solemn. "No seriously . . . after the dance competition . . . we should tell everyone. I think I'm ready."
She looked questioningly at Chad, as if to say 'Are you?'
Slipping he has around her waist, he gave a charming smile. "I'm game if you are."
…HSM…
Past (About 3 weeks before Present)
Kelsi flopped down onto the bench, breathing hard. She hated this. The dance classes the pressure of everything. She cursed herself for coming to this sort of labour two times a week.
But Barvarde was the best place. Being a performing arts school, all sorts of things were taught there, but their basis was Acting, Dancing, and Singing.
She peered into the dance studio. After class it was usually empty, a few dancers still getting ready to leave, the teacher, Emma, locking up the stereo system.
'I should be leaving too,' she thought to herself, standing up, when she heard a voice.
"If it isn't Kelsi Nielsen!" came the laughter, and Kelsi swivelled.
"Chad Danforth!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question . . ." he grinned, sticking his hands into his pockets.
Kelsi bit her lip. "Well . . . Sharpay's making me do these sucky Street Jazz dance classes, because she wants me, her, and Ryan to enter the Interschool Youth Talent Contest."
"Yeah, we want to enter as well – wait, Street Jazz?"
"It's a dance style that's a mixture of Street Dance and Jazz, but the teacher doesn't do any jazz at all. It's pure Street and I hate it!" Kelsi said in frustration.
"Sorry you feel that way," Chad chuckled, sitting down, and Kelsi followed suit.
"Well, you do meet new people . . ." she shrugged, and as she spoke, a bunch of boys wearing aquamarine blue tracksuits walked in.
Some of them looked at her, and smiled, grinned, winked, and the other things that guys with little respect for girls do.
"Who are they?" Chad asked interestedly.
"They always use the studio after this class." Kelsi told him. "They're called Big Blue Dance Crew. They have a performance coming up, and they need a place to rehearse."
Kelsi felt uneasy around so many boys, and she'd usually try to leave before they came. She'd seen them dance and they were amazing. They did break dancing and everything. Once, a boy bumped into her, and apologised. He also said she was cute, which made her blush, especially when the others agreed, right in front of her.
"So, what are you doing here?" Kelsi said, shaking those thoughts out of her head.
Chad sighed, and Kelsi knew this would be a long story. "You know this Interschool Youth Talent Contest thing? Well, we were going to let the Drama department go in for in. I mean, it's your thing. That's fine with us."
He took a breath. "But at the last basketball game, Jason picked a fight with some dude from West High, and they started insulting us. Saying that they had dope dancers, and they would win the contest . . ."
Kelsi snorted. "Let me guess. You couldn't back down from that." Chad looked guilty, and Kelsi threw her hands up. "Your pride and ego must be bigger than your whole body!"
"Either way, we went straight to the headmaster. I was chosen to represent our Dance Crew, Streets to Beats. Sharpay was representing Twinkle Toes."
Keli gave him one appalled look. "Sharpay called our group Twinkle Toes? Oh my God!"
Sniggering, Chad took a pen out of his pocket and doodled a logo on his head which read: Str33tz 2 Beatz.
"The thing is . . . it's only some people from the B-ball and Soccer teams who are doing it; not everyone dances, or can dance. We need more dancers!"
Kelsi watched as he sighed, getting up to greet Troy, Zeke, Jason, and others from the sports teams who had finally showed up. She bit her lip.
She knew of how to help them, but she was nervous. Shy. But this was for East High . . .
Plucking up the courage, she got up and went to talk to Duke, Big Blue's Captain. They called him Big Blue's Big Boi. "Hey sweets. What's up?" he grinned.
Kelsi could feel her cheeks going pink as she stammered, "Can I ask you a favour?"
…HSM… (Still Past)
"You're a genius, Kelsi!" Chad shouted, as soon as she entered the classroom. "Big Blue's Leader called me yesterday, after we left Barvade. He said you . . . I can't believe you . . . you're awesome!"
"They're gonna join our crew! Thanks so much, Kelsi. We appreciate it." grinned Troy, and Kelsi beamed.
"It was you who hooked us up? Woah, thanks!" said Zeke gratefully.
And the whole day, guys she didn't even know were thanking her, calling her name. It was weird to have you name known by so many people. She seemed to just be drifting in a dream state.
When she reached the auditorium, Ryan wandered over. "Hey! heard the gossip." he smile and said awkwardly "Now that Streets to Beats have more dancers, we won't be doing our piece."
"Wha - ? Oh! Oh . . . . I'm sorry . . ." Kelsi said in realisation.
She didn't even think about how that would affect the group she was working with. Sharpay would be furious.
"Why?" exclaimed Ryan, "I'm relieved. Sharpay was going crazy, I think the pressure made it worse. Weren't you sick of going to those classes?"
So Ryan had already guessed. She wanted to say 'no', knowing that Barvarde was like his temple, but there was no point in lying; she wouldn't be going anymore.
"Yeah, I was." she admitted.
…HSM…
Past (About 2 weeks before Present)
Chad took a sip of water and breathed in the fresh air.
Rehearsals were no joke. They were serious. And hard. Equalling seriously hard full stop.
They would warm up, go over a routine they'd already learnt, then learn a new piece, go over the whole thing, and cool down.
The more they learnt, the longer this process became.
"Hey Chad . . ." came a genuinely happy voice, and Chad looked up. He tried hard to swallow the lump that had risen in his throat.
"Kelsi! Um, hey . . ." he said hoarsely, standing up quickly. She looked amazing, totally unlike herself.
She's donned the hat, so her hair fell about her shoulders in curls, and subtle make up emphasised her eyes and mouth. Chad had to bite his upper lip to stop his jaw dropping open. She wasn't dressed casually; she was dressed like she was going out for dinner or something. Where was she going?
"Why aren't you inside with the others? Are you taking a water break?" she asked casually.
Chad, smoothly hiding his look of awe, cracked a feeble joke, "I was rejected," he said shakily, "My hair was just too good for them."
Kelsi giggled, and Chad blurted out, "You look . . . so beautiful, Kelsi."
Kelsi blushed, looking at the ground. "Thanks . . . I'm going to Sharpay and Ryan's house for dinner. Mr and Mrs Evans will be there, but Sharpay won't be. I have to go this way to get to their house . . . how's rehearsal?"
It took Chad a few moments to comprehend what she'd just said. Sharpay and Ryan? Why was she going to their house? Of all places . . .
"Rehearsal? Oh yeah, they're good." But they're better when you're around to ease the tension.
Kelsi gazed at him, like she knew something was up, but then she sighed. "I'd better run. Tell the others I said hi."
"Okay, well . . ." Chad struggled for words, something that wasn't usually a problem. ". . . have a good time . . ."
Kelsi nodded in gratitude and left, unaware that Chad was watching her walk right to the end of the road.
…HSM… (Still Past)
"Congrats dude, you rocked." appraised Duke, Big Blue's Big Boi. (A.N. If you remember from before . . .)
"Yeah, you were pretty fly . . ." replied Chad slowly, starting to grin, "But you ain't got nothin' on me!" The boys laughed, and went their separate ways home.
Chad's footsteps became a steady, melodic rhythm in his head, a pulsing beat, like any moment he would break into dance. He felt oddly light, as if the night air was lifting his soul.
His thoughts drifted to Kelsi, and he began to smile. From the moment he'd seen her at Barvarde, he's seen her differently. And she wasn't so shy anymore . . . did that mean something?
Right on cue, like the heavens were sending him some sort of screwed up sign, he saw her. Kelsi. She was running. And she was crying.
That shocked him right out of his daydream.
"Oh damn – Kelsi!" he shouted, breaking into a run. Faster, faster! she turned the corner, and he followed, now sprinting. "Kelsi, wait!"
She stumbled, dropping to the floor on her hands and knees, and Chad was instantly on his knees by her side as she sobbed.
"Hey, don't cry . . . talk to me. What happened?"
"Chad, it was awful, Sharpay was there! I can't stand her!" Kelsi cried softly.
"What did she do?" pressed Chad, holding Kelsi close.
"We were eating dinner, their parents . . . we talked, and Sharpay burst in, angry . . . " Kelsi gulped, and a fresh wave of tears appeared. "She accused me of being a traitor. Ryan tried to keep the peace, but I felt really guilty, and Sharpay said to get out -"
Chad face set in loathing. Sharpay. Bitch. "Come on," he murmured, pulling her up from the floor. Her make up was smudged, and her eyes were red.
Chad decided not to speak, just hold her close to his side as he waked her home. It would be painful for her tomorrow, as she usually hung out with Sharpay . . .
'Huh. No way. Gotta be freakin' kidding me.' Chad thought darkly as they reached Kelsi's house. She sighed.
"Chad, thank you. Thanks so much for everything. I feel so lousy."
"Well, don't." Chad said, lamely but softly. He desperately tried tyo think of something to make her laugh. "It's good we have say-what-you-like laws here."
Kelsi frowned. "Don't you mean freedom of speech?"
"Same difference." Chad wriggled his eyebrows, and Kelsi giggled. "Hey, I wanted to impress Zeke so the other day I made a beer cake."
"Wow. Does that mean it's got loads of beer in it?" Kelsi asked innocently.
"No," Chad snorted, "It means I was pissed on beer when I made it. You should have seen the 'cake'! Lumps everywhere."
Kelsi burst out laughing, doubling over from the humour.
"Of course, I couldn't eat it; food poisoning was too much of a risk."
"Chad, please," Kelsi spluttered, "Just stop. My sides hurt from laughing!" Chad just wriggled his eyebrows again, which set her off.
When they'd finally calmed down, they looked up at the starts, an unusual activity for them, and then Chad realised he'd better go. He reached for her hand and squeezed it.
"See ya." he smiled, and after a moment's hesitation, he decided to trust his instincts and kiss the girl.
…HSM…
Future (About 2 week after Present)
"And in first place, deeply impressing the judges with their wide range of dance, limitless energy, and – I must say – hilarious gimmicks, it's Streets to Beats from East High!"
Kelsi winced as she sat in the audience, explosions of roars nd applause half deafening her.
She watched happily as Chad, making comical faces, was pushed up to the stage to accept the prizes. She knew the prizes wasn't exactly important to them; it was the fact they they'd won that mattered.
That meant they could dance. And they were good at it!
"Speech! Speech!" chanted the crowd. "Speech?" said Chad indignantly. "Who do you think I am, the President?" laughter. "Saying that, I do look the type . . ." More laughter.
Kelsi rolled her eyes, but she was the only one who knew that Chad was nervous; cracking jokes was calmed his nerves.
"Wow, okay. Thank you's. First and foremost to Big Blue Dance Crew, we couldn't have done it without you. Mmm, rhyming!" Chad said cheerfully to receive chuckles from the audience.
"Next to Sharpay and Ryan Evans. Their piece was scrapped to make way for the Masters of Dance -" laughs from the Str33tz 2 Beatz crew, and evil glares from the Evans twins, "- but their experience of dance was different to ours, and we realised we couldn't rock the show without 'em."
Applause. Kelsi leaned forward, craning her neck to see Ryan smiling happily, and Sharpay with a smug look on her face. Even the East High supporters were congratulating them.
"And last but not least, I want to thank the person who brought us all together and made us realise that dance isn't just movement, it comes with a . . ."
Chad sighed. "I never thought I'd say this in public . . . passion." Laughter. "So yeah, I wanna thank my girlfriend Kelsi, because I love her and she rocks."
The audience's reaction was split into three parts.
One part was cheering loudly for the sake of it. Another part was saying 'Aww'. And the last part was made up of Big Blue and their supporters, and Eats High and their supporters, all of whom had one word on their lips.
"Girlfriend?!"
…HSM…
Future (About 2 weeks after present)
Kelsi crept quietly behind him and ruffled his puffy hair, smiling. Most people in the crew, Troy, Zeke, Jason, Chad (and others), plus Gabriella, Taylor (and others) were just sittin', chillin'.
"Hey!" he said, kissing her briefly. "What's the word?"
"Well, there's a Street Dance and Hip Hop competition called 'Who's Bad?' in about 8 weeks. That's two months." she informed them.
"Wow!" said Gabriella, getting excited. "We should get some girls to dance this time."
"That's beside the point," said Troy impatiently, "Which dance crews are entering?"
Kelsi reeled off, "Swift Feet, the Airwing Street Dance Company, the Clean Beats Squad, and . . . wait for it . . . Big Blue Dance Crew."
"What?!" Everyone exclaimed.
"So this time, they're against us, not with us." Chad frowned.
"We're screwed." said Jason dejectedly, and Taylor laughed shakily, looking at Gabriella,
"And we can't turn to the Musical Theatre experts this time . . ."
Kelsi nodded. "This competition is strictly Street Dance and Hip Hop."
She gave Chad a secretive smile and nudged him. Then she whipped out her phone and started speaking. "Hi, this is Kelsi Nielsen, speaking on behalf of Streets to Beats."
Chad grinned. He knew where this was going.
"Can I speak to Emma? Barvarde's Street Dance instructor? Yes . . ." As Kelsi babbled on, everyone started to grin like Chad, finally catching on.
They knew that they'd be taking home that gold trophy once again.
What did you think? I had NO idea it would be so long, so please don't sue me! Hope you liked it though. Leave a review and lemme know what you think!
The time is a bit screwed up, but it does makes sense. The whole thing goes in order, but I've taken Present out of the middle, and put it at the beginning. If you still don't get it, review and I'll mesage you back.
Star x x x (P.S. Next Chapter is Ballet!)