Chapter Ten

A week had passed, and nothing was mentioned about the Streets. The guys were still practising, still dancing, but it looked like as if the life had all but disappeared from each move they made, and they didn't understand why. Andie and Chase became more and more frustrated, and Cable disjointedly suggested they give up, that they weren't ready this year, but maybe next year. Smiles reluctantly agreed, and Kido began to twitch when Andie barked "Do it again" without any hesitation. They were going to dance. They were going to do it right.

Camille danced, but her footing became easily lost. She couldn't keep up with them, and apologised profusedly time and again when she tripped over Smiles' feet. Poor Smiles genuinely believed it was his fault, and she felt all the worse for it when his arms came around her and he begged forgiveness. She pardonned herself early more than once and left with tears brimming over her cheeks.

Even though she came to rehersals for the Streets, she felt it was the only remaining link between her, and him. And it broke her heart to see it all fall apart. With Moose there, everything went smoothly, and only when she came back after hearing the news about him last week, did she noice the truth. Even though Moose never met the crew in person, and he only acted in the shadows, for some reason, he was the glue that held the team together. Whenever he was there, the acts came together seamlessly. Each movement and each twist they performed, made each dance they done flawless and perfect.

Without Moose, the whole performance, and even the whole crew, came undone.

She sighed when she sat down on the ground, with all the others around her.

"Come on, Andie, we know we're screwed," Kido softly murmured, while she fiddled with her hair.

"We're falling out of sync, and for some reason, the dance wont come together," Cable commented, running a hand through his sweaty hair. He was breathless, much the same as Monster right next to him.

"We aren't giving up," Andie swore. "We are not giving up."

Each day would be the same, fiddling between curses and promises that this could be their last dance together. No one, it seemed, had the spirit anymore to fight, to dance. Even in the dance hall during classes, Blake began to notice their withdrawal, and shook his head sadly when Andie came out of the perfect pirhouette, only to fall onto one foot and crash to the floor as gracelessly as a bull.

Camille decided to focus on her studies, to try and better herself for her own sake. For some reason, she just couldn't stop thinking about him, her hands fidgeting between wanting to do something and wanting to hold her face as she cried. Tyler saw her breaking down whenever he passed her room, and always wanted to say something to her, as he stood in the doorway, but never once did he ever try.

He remembered what that felt like, to have your whole world thrown apart, and to wonder if it would ever sew itself back together. When Skinny died that night at the party, he remembered how his friend shunned him, and never went near him, that heartbroken expression on his face as clear as day. He recalled those hunched shoulders, the defeated expression on his face. It came to a time when he really considered that never in his life would he ever be able to speak to him again, not after what happened.

But things change, and he changed for the better.

Now, watching Camille, her tiny frame wired to the floor as she pored over her textbooks, that glassy look in her eyes, the tell-tale sign she'd just been crying, and her fingers fidgeting with her pen, Tyler saw himself sitting there, that same figure sitting as lonely as she was. His heart broke for her.

"If you ever want to talk about it," he said at another occasion, as Camille zoned out during dinner with their step-parents, "I'm here, 'kay?" She quietly nodded, and looked away from his eyes. There was too much concern in them, when there should've been more concern for the boy who died.

Again and again they practised in the dance hall, and again and again they dismally screwed up the steps. Andie finally gave up, sweat beading her face. She threw her hands up into the air and gave out a loud yell of pure anger. Cable jumped and Kido stepped back, her hands splayed wide and her expression so remorseful that Camille flinched.

"That's it! I give up! How the hell is this even happening to us?!"

Chase sighed and Camille took this one moment to speak up, feeling that small prick of sadness tip off her chest. "I'm sorry. This is my fault," she said softly. "I keep screwing it up for all of you, and I'm so sorry." She was about to get up, when Andie's hand flung out and tapped her wrist. When Camille looked into her eyes, there was a fire there, one that she herself didn't want to meddle with.

"Stay sitting," she said evenly. "This is not your fault. To be honest, maybe the Streets isn't for us this year." Everyone's faces fell as they heard what she said. Even Camille's.

What would Moose have said if he heard that?

He probably would've probably died.

Her eyes watered, and she gritted her teeth. Jesus, she had to stop thinking about him! She had to stop this, or else she would snap in two and go crazy. Her heart pounded with so much pain. When would it ever stop?! She rubbed at her eyes, just as everyone turned to see her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, wondering if Moose could hear her. "I'm so sorry."

"I wish you'd stop beating yourself up, Chameleon."

A/N::Could it be?... Nah, it couldn't be! Could it?! Hmmm, guess we'll have to find out later... !

Gosh, doncha just love it when there's a cliffhanger? Thanks again to all of you who commented and told me you liked this! *gives air hugs, chocolate cakes, and mountains of hot chocolate... because she loves chocolate...*

xoxox