Author's Note: I love High School Musical. I love Step Up 2. As flawed as they both are. So it brings me great joy to be able to refer to one while writing for the other!

Ahem. On an unrelated note…I'd like to shamelessly plug Reuben deFlash's 'Like We Used To'. It deserves a chance! Not because it's Blake/Andie (it isn't), or because she leaves nice reviews (she does), but because it's well written, in character and just generally awesome. So yeah.

That's…all I have to say

Chapter 7: The Start of Something New

Blake

It's five o'clock in the morning when the phone blares on my nightstand. I wake up with a jerk and wince at the obnoxious ring, before reaching out and fumbling for it. Who the hell could be calling at this-?

"For how long were you planning on ignoring me?"

I grimace at the all-too-familiar British drawl. Should've known. Should hang up.

"For how long were you planning on staying?"

"You're not too pleased with me, are you?"

"Is it that obvious?"

A sigh, drawn out and dramatic. "Blake, I really am sorry for turning up out of the blue. But Cybil insisted that it should be a surprise and I could never say no to her. Besides, I didn't want our first conversation in three years to happen over the phone."

"Sorry to disappoint."

"Don't be. Where were you last night?"

"Dinner with friends."

"Which friends?"

"What's it to you?"

"Oh, for God's sake! It was just a question."

I exhale and rub my eyes. "Edie, what do you want?"

"To see you, of course. And I know you want to see me."

"I saw you. You dyed your hair. I didn't like it."

"Well, it's not the only thing that's changed about me. Come on, you're not even the least bit curious to know why I'm here?" Curious? Of course, I'm curious. I'm just about itching with anticipation. "Listen, I'll pick you up for lunch this afternoon, all right?"

"No. Not all right."

"Bye, Blake."

"Edie-"

She hangs up. I curse and do the same, with a little more force than is necessary. I roll back into bed, but any hope of filling my quota of forty winks is gone. So I just lie there for a while, before groaning and getting up.

This won't affect my day. It won't

Andie

"Good morning, everyone."

"Morning, Director Collins."

"Today…" he begins, putting down his bag and water bottle. "We're going to try something a little different." A few heads snap up as we all stretch. "Miss West, Mr. Alexander and…that one…" he jerks his head at Chase, who sticks his tongue out defiantly, "are going to give us some improv in their own styles." My smile flash freezes at this. I look around the class, realize that they're looking at me, and fix my unbelieving eyes on Blake.

These guys have never seen me dance, not seriously. I can't predict how they'll respond when we try to show them what we really do. "And you will work out how to incorporate it into your technique. No need to worry," he adds, eyes meeting mine. I look down and battle the heat creeping into my face. "This isn't about the right way or the wrong way. We're here to learn. Andie. You're up."

I shrug with what I hope looks like total cool, adjust my socks and stand. For about a millisecond Blake seems to smile, before aiming the remote at the stereo. Cherish's "Killah" pounds through the room and I stand stunned for a minute.

"Well…?"

I snap out of it, biting back a grin, and nod to the beat…

By the end of our little showcase they're all pretty impressed, with Moose in particular. They get to their feet and genuinely try to find their way into it. Who woulda thunk?

Halfway through the lesson we come up with something like what Blake and I had a few days ago. Chase nails it, Moose struggles to get the steps, but with a little help I know he'll end up schooling me, Jimmie is a machine, so you could give him a booty-shake and he'd make it work, and the rest of the class just follows his lead.

For the first time, we actually have fun, and by the end we don't want it to end. Alas, there are other lessons to be had. But I hang back as they all pick up their stuff and file out…

"Hey, Andie!" Moose calls. "Let's bounce."

"Go on ahead, homeboy. I'll catch up."

Moose and Chase glance at each other and shrug, before limping out 'gansta' style.

"I've created a monster."

I grin up at him. "I guess all it took was a few hours in the 'ghetto' for you to come around, huh?"

"Guess so. You have a wonderful family."

Family. "Yeah."

"Well, that was convincing."

"What? No. They are like family. I've known Sarah since I was a kid and she was my Mum's friend. I was there when Charlie was born and for all his birthdays afterward. But they're not actually family. I just get kind of…lonely."

"I know the feeling. Or something similar at least…"

He drifts off, all vague like, but I think I get it. From the little that I've seen of the Collins clan, Blake looks like the outsider. He's just not as chilled, not as free, not as happy…

"Is it wrong to feel that way? Or ungrateful or whatever?"

He shrugs. "You can't help how you feel."

"I love them. I do."

"So do I. Love them, I mean. My family. Not…your family. Which isn't to say Sarah and Charlie aren't perfectly lovable. Missy is a bit overwhelming but-"

"Blake!" I snort, placing an index finger over his lips to shut him up. "I understand." He nods and brings his hand up to take away mine. It doesn't register with me until he forgets to let go and I start to feel how warm his palm is. I cough for no good reason. "Um-"

"Am I interrupting something?" a teasing, British voice curls in from the doorway and I pull back.

It's a lot more abrupt than I wanted it to be…

Blake

My God, she actually came. I expect to feel angry about it, but the anger doesn't follow. Only…relief?

"Edie," I deadpan.

"Blake," she mimics.

"Andie," she adds, raising her hand awkwardly and lowering it a second later.

"Miss West, that'll be all for today." She nods mutely, hooks her thumbs into the straps of her backpack, but doesn't move. "You can go."

"You gonna be all right?"

I blink, a little taken aback by the question. She is genuinely concerned and that concerns me. "Of course." Whatever she is to me outside of school, within MSA she is a student. This is none of her business. What was I thinking talking to her about it? "Go. Chase is waiting."

She glances between Edie and me, before nodding and jogging out. We both watch her leave and once she's out of sight I speak:

"You can't show up in the middle of class."

"You weren't in the middle of class. But while we're on the subject…your students look very promising. Apart from for the last two. I mean the pretty one…Andie? And the gawky boy. Are they classically trained?"

"No. They're hip-hop dancers."

"Hip-hop?" she repeats, as if it's a language from another planet. "What're they doing here?"

"Learning."

She smiles, despite my glower, and shrugs. "Well, you're the real thing, aren't you? Director Collins." I shrug. "Right. Lunch. Shall we?"

"No. No lunch. No phone calls. We're done. Go home, Edie."

Her broad grin fades, her green eyes dim, and I wish I enjoyed it more than I do.

"All right," she nods, stepping back. "But I'll be here for a few more weeks, if you change your mind…" She leaves and all of the sudden the anger I was looking for surfaces. Problem being I can't make it through the day with this boiling up inside me. I have performance reviews from the staff to look over; a meeting with the school board…and Chuck is only fifteen minutes away…

"What were you thinking?"

"Good day to you, too."

"I don't have time for pleasantries."

"Oh. Well, let's get to it then." Chuck flops down in his favorite chair and gestures for me to sit, as well. I fold my arms and stare down at him. He shrugs, which only irritates me more. "Your mother and I were thinking that Edie was your first love, your last love so far. We were thinking that you're lonely and need someone in your life. We were thinking that you could have that someone if you weren't so stubborn and afraid- yes, afraid," he stresses when I try to interrupt. "We were thinking that we would exercise our parental right to try and do what's best for you."

"Well, it's a little late for that," I snap.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm thirty-years-old, Dad! You lost your right to interfere in my life a few decades ago." Chuck blinks up at me, at a loss it seems, and I look away, burnt out. "Just…stay out of it."

He murmurs something as I walk out, but I couldn't stop to listen if I wanted to…

Andie

"Does Blake ever talk about his ex?"

"Edie?" says Chase, glancing at me before turning his attention back to the road. "Once. My Mum and Dad were really keen on him coming back to MSA someday, reclaiming the throne. But they wouldn't push it as long as he was happy in London. So when he finally took them up on their offer I knew that something must have made him unhappy. They fed me this bull about not being able to find a suitable replacement for Gordon, but Blake would never give Edie up just to save the school. Turns out she gave him up."

"Wait…" Moose leans in from the backseat. "Director Collins ditched the Royal Ballet because of a girl?"

"The girl. They hooked up in his first year-"

"Halfway through his first year." Chase cocks an eyebrow at me. "At least…that's what he said."

"When?"

"At home yesterday."

"How did he find the time to tell you about it?"

"Well, he kind of…stayed…for dinner."

"Wait…" Moose intercepts again. "Director Collins had dinner at your house?"

"It's a long, stupid story." They both fix me with skeptical looks. "What? It wasn't a big deal. What?"

"Sorry," Moose retreats, scratching his head. "It's just…Sophie raised the point when I told her about Swan Lake." I shrug for him to go on. He grimaces. "She thought it looked like favoritism, like he's not treating you the same as every other student. She didn't get why he only took you. I explained it to her," he reassures when I start to protest. "And I promised to get her tickets for the actual show. She's cool about it now…"

But I'm not. For the first time I am not cool about it. I turn to Chase. "Do you think I'm getting special attention?"

He just shrugs. "I'm not the most objective person to ask. To be honest…I like that you're spending time together, I like that you're getting along. He's my brother and- between you and me- I kind of care what he thinks. He never paid attention to any of my ex-girlfriends. So you must be special."

That's not necessarily true. As far as I know I'm just a student to Blake, one with 'special needs'. But instead of pointing this out I say, like the desperate, clingy chick I'm turning into; "You said ex-girlfriends. What does that make me…your current girlfriend?"

Chase grins and yeah, I want to punch his lights out. "If you want to be."

"If you want me to be."

"Damn it, what about what I want?" Moose exclaims.

I roll my eyes, but I'm secretly relieved for the interruption. "What do you want?"

"Ice cream. My Mum's on this health kick and I can't get the stuff at home. In addition," he grins sheepishly. "I'd love to roll up to the parlor in this sweet ride of yours, if you don't mind, Mr. Collins."

Chase's grin widens as he shakes his head at the weirdness of my friend. "Not at all, Moose. Not at all…"

Author's Note: I think it's interesting that- and I picked this up from multiple, obsessive viewings of the DVD- Moose, who sort of plays 'Gossip Girl' in the beginning, can't tell Andie why Director Collins left the Royal Ballet. He suggests 'some sweet deal to make MSA the next Julliard' but doesn't know for sure. So there's room for interpretation and fanfic writing with that one…

Again, thanks for reading, everyone!