Center Stage 2: The Sequel
~**~ DISCLAIMER ~**~ I own nothing to do with 'Center Stage'. I own only Linnie Robinson. Enjoy!! =:^)
Author's Note:
As the group inched away from them, Charlie and Jody huddled together. They walked outside into the bright sunlight and kissed again. Jody led him over to a bunch of people excitedly. Charlie walked hesitantly up to them, but soon realized that they were all his friends. Sergei had his arms wrapped around a tall, thin girl and was smiling slyly at her. He whispered something in her ear and she giggled quietly. Charlie wrapped his arms around Jody in a similar fashion and went to whisper in her ear, when she turned her head sharply. Charlie saw the startled look on her face at how close he was to her, and smiled.
"Hey Charlie, Jody. Where's the famous Cooper Nielson?" Erik teased.
"I don't know. And frankly, I don't really care." Charlie stated.
Jody smiled and shook her head. "I think he's still inside. I think we should all get back in there too. I think it's starting to rain. I just felt a drop on my head."
Just then, as on cue, it started to downpour. Jody shrieked and ran off towards the door. Her friends followed closely behind and entered the large building after her. Once inside, they regrouped.
"I can't believe it's raining! It's not fair! This is like the best day of my life and it has to rain!" Jody complained.
Charlie smiled and wrapped his arms back around her. "Don't worry. The days not totally ruined. We still have the party tonight, right?"
"Yeah. Oh! I should get back to the dorms. I'm supposed to meet my parents there in 30 minutes and it's a mess!" Jody announced, pulling out of Charlie's grip.
"I should come too." Eva said.
"Wait! Charlie, Jody, you never met Galina!" Sergei said.
Charlie smiled. "So that's who you are." He said, shaking her hand. "I should have known."
"It's so great to finally meet you Galina. We'll talk later, but I really have to go!" Jody said as she ran off.
"Bye guys!" Eva called as she ran after her friend.
Erik watched them go and sighed. "Ah, to able to run again."
Charlie laughed and shook his head. "So, any of your parents come to see the performance?"
"Are you kidding? They live in Russia!" Sergei said.
"My parents came, but they had to leave a few minutes ago. They planned on staying longer but my dad got a call and was needed immediately back at his job." Erik said sadly.
"Oh, I'm sorry Erik."
"Don't be! And I mean, it's not like they are missing anything. I didn't even get to dance! But, Charlie, what about you? Did your parents come?"
"No way. They are way too cheap to come all the way to New York from Seattle. And especially not to see me dance in a ballet. They don't like it all that much, but they are supportive. They say that they've paid for me to come here, so why should they pay a few more hundred dollars to see a 20-minute performance. But I don't care." Charlie said quietly.
Back in the dorm room, Jody and Eva had changed into jeans and tank tops and were rushing around the small room cleaning up.
"Ugh! They are gonna be here in like 2 minutes. Where does this go?" Jody asked as she picked up a piece of paper from the floor.
Eva snatched the paper and stuffed it in her pocket. "That's where." She glanced around the room and sat down on Maureen's bed. "I think that's it."
"Who's number was that?" Jody inquired, sitting on her own bed.
"Oh, no one special."
"No really, who's??"
"Well, you know that-" Eva was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"They're here!" Jody announced nervously as she got up to answer the door. She hugged her parents hello and let them into the room. "Um, mom, dad, this is Eva. She's one of my roommates."
"Hello Eva. Which ballet were you in today?" Mrs. Sawyer asked kindly.
"Jonathan's ballet." Eva replied.
"But the program said Maureen Cummings." Mrs. Sawyer recalled.
"Yeah, but she backed out this morning. She decided to go to college and, uh, she's our other roommate actually." Eva explained.
"Well, Jody, you certainly seem to have some very talented roommates." Mr. Sawyer remarked.
"Well, I should go back to meet with Erik. He can't get around to good." Eva announced, getting up. "See you later Jody, Mr., Mrs. Sawyer." She left the room and shut the door. Jody's parents turned back to Jody.
"She seem nice." Mrs. Sawyer said as she sat down next to Jody.
"Oh, she is mom, she's great. I can't wait for you too meet my other friends! There's Maureen and Eva, you meet her. And there's Erik, who was supposed to be in my ballet, but he sprained his ankle 2 days ago. And then there's Sergei, and he's from Russia, and his girlfriend Galina who's visiting from San Francisco. And then there's Charlie… and he's so great. He's from Seattle and he was the one in my ballet."
"The blond one?" Mrs. Sawyer asked, smiling at her daughter's obvious favoritism for this Charlie.
"Oh, no. Charlie's the one with brown hair. Cooper Nielson is the one with blond hair. He actually choreographed the ballet and had to take Erik's place when he hurt himself during rehearsal."
"So, did you get in at ABC?" He father asked uncertainly.
"No." Jody said. "But that's ok. See, Cooper Nielson actually got his own company and I'm starting out as a principal!"
"Oh, honey, that's so great!" Mrs. Sawyer hugged Jody and gave her husband a weird look.
Jody entered the ballroom dressed in a long baby blue shimmering dress with thin spaghetti straps. Her hair was still curled and the curls bounced happily as she walked. Eva followed her in and they looked around for their friends. Eva went off to find Erik and Jody wandered off to find the rest. Who she found was Cooper.
"Hey Jody." He said, walking up to her.
"Hey Cooper… have you seen Charlie?"
"Charlie Simms?" Cooper asked sourly.
"Do you know of another?"
"No, I was just wandering why you wanted to find that guy." Cooper sneered.
"He's my friend, Cooper. And he's also my date for this party. So if you've seen him, I'd appreciate it if you'd tell you where he is." Jody said, suddenly aware that Cooper was inching closer to her.
Charlie chose that moment to walk into the party. He saw Jody talking uneasily to Cooper across the room and walked coolly over to them. He put his arm around Jody's waist and glared at Cooper. "Hey Jody." He said, kissing her check quickly.
"Hey Charlie. Let's go." Jody said and turned away from Cooper. Charlie shot Cooper one last dirty look and followed her. "You hate him don't you?" Jody asked playfully.
"Eh, you could say that." Charlie replied as they approached the rest of their friends.
"Hey Charlie, Jody. Where you been?" Eva asked slyly.
"Eva… don't please. We were just talking to Cooper." Jody explained loudly.
"You KNOW the Cooper Nielson??" Someone standing outside their circle over heard Jody's comment.
Jody snapped around to face a young, pretty red-haired dancer. "Uh, yes. And who are you?"
"I'm Linnie Robinson." She exclaimed excitedly, shaking Jody's hand. "Sorry to intrude on your conversation there. But I'm just such a huge fan of Cooper's. How do you know him??"
"Hi Linnie, I'm Jody Sawyer and-"
"Oh my God!! You are Jody Sawyer?? Oh, wow! I have to say, you were so great this afternoon! And wow, what was it like to dance with the Cooper Nielson?"
Jody smiled and glanced at Charlie. "It was great. Um, this is Charlie Simms, he was the other guy in the ballet."
Charlie offered her his hand. "Hey."
Linnie shook his hand and looked him over. "Wow! I can't believe I'm meeting all these people!! Hey… you don't think you guys could introduce me to Cooper, do you?"
"Oh, I'm sure you don't need us to do that. You're really pretty, Cooper will probably spot you out himself." Charlie replied.
Jody hit Charlie's arm and turned back to Linnie. "Sure I can. Come one." Jody led Linnie away from her friends.
"Wow! Charlie Simms said I was pretty! And now I'm off to meet Cooper Nielson! This day could not get any better!" Linnie exclaimed, getting more excited every step. "I'm so nervous!"
Jody laughed. "Do you dance?"
"Oh yes. I've been dancing ballet since I was like 4! I love it."
"How old are you now?"
"I just turned 16. I know, I'm acting like a little immature for my age, but I've just been totally obsessed with Cooper since I was like 10. He's so gorgeous."
"Yeah, he is pretty cute, I have to admit. Where do you live?"
"Oh, just a while away here in New York."
"Well, maybe you'll be able to join Cooper's company in a few years."
Linnie's face was overcome with immense joy. "Oh that would be like a dream come true! That would be absolutely amazing!! To be in Cooper Nielson's company… just think! I think you should be in his company, you were so great."
"Thanks… and yeah, he did offer me a position in his company as principal." Jody announced happily.
"Not fair!! Did you take it?"
"Of course! Well, here he is. Cooper!" Jody called.
Cooper turned around to face Jody. "Hey Jody! Where did Charlie run off to?"
"No where Cooper." Jody said politely. "Um, Cooper I want you meet Linnie Robinson… probably your biggest fan. Linnie, this is Cooper Nielson."
Linnie shook his hand excitedly. "It's so great to meet you Mr. Nielson!"
"Please, call me Cooper." He said slyly as he kissed the top of her hand.
"Bye Linnie, Cooper." Jody rolled her eyes and walked back to her friends.
"Did you warn her?" Charlie asked.
"Charlie! She wouldn't have believed my anyway. You should have seen the way she was freaking out. It was so funny."
"Yeah, well Cooper seems to have taken a liking to her. What'd I tell you?" Charlie asked, looking in Cooper and Linnie's direction. Jody realized he was eyeing Linnie and felt a pang of jealous run through her. She grabbed his arm and turned him back to their friends. "Hey, Jody, wanna loosen that grip a bit? No offence?"
Jody smiled weakly and let go of Charlie's arm. "Oops. Sorry. So, Galina, what's it like to be part of a company?"
Galina started to answer and Jody noticed Charlie's gaze wandering back over to Linnie. She sighed and nodded as Galina spoke. How could Charlie like Linnie? She was a whiney 16-year-old who was obsessed with Cooper… just like I was. That fact hit Jody and her face fell. Charlie was supposed to be her date!
"Hello? Jody?" Charlie waved his hand in front of her face.
"Oh, sorry. I was just thinking." Jody stammered out nervously.
"Come on, let's dance." Charlie took Jody's soft hand and led her to the dance floor.