Making Our Mark
Chapter 11: Published
"Will you quit staring at me like that, Johnny?" I snapped, looking up from my half-eaten salad with annoyance. "It's quite creepy."
Johnny, who was hunched over in the armchair of his frat house's living room, continued to study me with his two judgmental eyes like he had been doing since I had stopped by the house earlier in the afternoon. "Something's wrong with you."
"For the twenty-sixth time, bro, my mind is as sharp as ever," I reminded him with an exasperated sigh.
"Twenty-sixth?" Johnny questioned in disbelief.
"Time you've questioned my sanity since the start of the semester," I informed him. "Believe me, I've kept track."
Johnny tilted his head at me in puzzlement. "Can you blame me after this second home-cooked meal in a week?"
"Hey, you said you were craving something Greek," I noted, pointing my fork at him. "I figured some meaty gyros and a Greek salad with rotten feta cheese would satisfy that."
"And satisfy it did!" Bruiser exclaimed, licking his tzatziki-drenched claws from his place on the couch. "Best gyro I've ever had!"
"Thanks, Bruiser," I said with a kind smile before giving Johnny a pointed look. "At least someone appreciates my efforts."
"Hey, I never said I didn't," Johnny pointed out. "I'm just surprised."
"Oh, you hear that, Rios?" I asked, turning to the monster with whom I shared the loveseat. "This is the second time in a week that I surprised Johnny."
"I better call the Campus Roar," said Javier as he pretended to lower his plate of food in a hurry.
"Ha ha," said Johnny mockingly. "Seriously though, this is the second home-cooked meal that you've made since last weekend when you warned me that this wasn't going to be a regular thing."
"What can I say?" I said, shrugging my shoulders. No one needed to know that the monster sitting next to me had me smiling since the night before. "I'm in a good mood lately."
"Well, if that good mood lasts throughout this weekend, how about dumplings?" Johnny suggested, wiggling his bushy eyebrows. "You didn't spend three months in Cryna and learn nothing."
"Ooh, dumplings!" Chet piped up eagerly from his spot on the floor in front of the couch.
"I could go for some," Sulley chimed in from atop the couch's chaise.
"Her eel-stuffed ones are the best," Johnny bragged to his frat brothers and frat brother-to-be.
I rolled my eyes, only for them to fall onto the analog clock on a nearby wall and I was alarmed to see that it read quarter to seven in the evening.
"You okay, sis?" Johnny asked, seeing me bolt off of the loveseat.
"Yeah, I just lost track of time," I said, placing my bowl onto the mahogany coffee table in front of us. "My advanced-level Latin Fusion dance class starts in fifteen minutes and I still have to set up."
"How are those going?" Chip asked curiously. He seemed to be one of the only two RΩRs, with the other being Javier, who genuinely cared about what was going on with my newest undertaking.
"Great so far," I answered, slipping my messenger bag over my shoulder. "I had about a dozen students come to my beginner-level class and about half of that come to the intermediate-level one."
Chip nodded. "How many are you expecting tonight?"
"Just one as far as I know," I replied with a subtle look at Javier.
Javier winked at me before casually taking another bite of his gyro, giving his frat brothers the impression that he was in no hurry to be anywhere.
"Well, hope that monster shows up on time," said Johnny. "No one keeps a Worthington waiting."
"No one takes advantage of a Worthington's cooking skills either," I told him with a smirk, "but you just love doing that lately, don't you?"
Johnny chuckled heartily. "Get out of here, sis."
"I get it, you've gotten your food, so I'm no longer needed here," I sighed dramatically before heading for the door. "Later, guys."
"Thanks for the food, Danica!" Bruiser called out through a mouthful of chewed-up meat.
"No problem, Bruiser," I laughed. Meeting Javier's eyes again, I gave him a meaningful nod before exiting the house and shutting the door behind me.
One mad dash from Frat Row to the fitness center later, I found myself in Studio D with my dance shoes strapped on, my laptop hooked up to the speakers, and my jacket and bag tucked into one of the cubbies. Flipping open my laptop, I began scrolling through my playlists of Latin music, wanting to get into the zone before my first lesson with Javier.
As a blend of electronic and Latin music began pumping from the speakers, I walked onto the middle of the floor, pulling my hair into an upper ponytail with my claws and securing it tightly with a scrunchie that I wore on my wrist. Gazing forward with smouldering eyes at my reflection in one of the mirrors, I jumped straight into improvising a fun and spicy Latin jazz number that reflected the fusion of music genres in the song that I had chosen.
From performing various salsa steps to tilting into side splits, I easily danced to the beat of the song. The lyrics that flowed from the female singer's lips were as enticing as the melody, both which motivated me to move my body in more tantalizing ways. I put an additional twist into my hips, did slower and more deliberate body rolls, and found a few occasions to sharply whip my ombre waves. For every brief pause in the melody, I would strike a different pose, each as bold as my personality.
Although fully aware of the sudden presence of another monster in the room, I continued to move confidently around the floor as though I owned it. I could feel eyes on me as I performed a series of slow cha chas to the beat, putting a greater emphasis on my hips and my toned backside. When the song neared its end, I executed a quick spin and stopped to face the entrance to the studio, my arms slowing to a fluid stop in the air before gradually descending.
"Dios mio," said Javier as he crossed through the open doorway, "I sense that I'll be in for quite the challenge in this class."
"I hope you're up for it," I teased, resting my hands proudly on my hips.
"Well, I already signed up and paid the fee for the semester," said Javier with a casual shrug of his shoulders and a playful smile, "It's too late to back out now."
"I guess you're stuck with me then," I told him with an evil grin. "Don't expect me to go easy on you."
"I know you won't," said Javier as he tossed his duffel bag against one of the walls.
"I see you're dressed for the class," I remarked, alluding to the red buttoned shirt with long sleeves and a collar that he had donned rather than his signature RΩR cardigan.
"Anyone who has taken a ballroom class knows to dress classy, even for practises," Javier explained.
"Did Johnny question why you left the house dressed like that?" I asked.
Walking over to me, Javier shook his head and said, "I changed when I got here."
Tilting my head at him, I smirked. "Are you trying to impress me?"
"I don't have to try, chica," Javier told me, smiling victoriously. "I already succeeded."
"How can you be so sure?" I questioned with an inquisitive gaze.
"You've haven't threatened to kill me in weeks," Javier pointed out.
"Give it time, Rios," I warned him playfully.
Javier chuckled. "Well, until then, shall we get started?"
"We shall," I answered. "Since you're my only student for this class, I hope you don't mind having me for a partner."
"Trust me, I don't mind," said Javier, grinning slyly.
"Of course you don't," I murmured knowingly with a smile. "Well, let's consider our runs to get here the warm-up and move on to the dancing. I would like to start off by seeing how much you already know."
"What do you wanna know?" Javier asked.
Reflecting on my laid-out plans that I had drafted for the class, I asked, "How good are you at the tango?"
"Fairly decent," Javier answered nonchalantly, though the smirk on his face betrayed his feigned humbleness.
"Hmm," I hummed in curiosity. "Can you show me?"
"Claro," said Javier, offering me his upper right hand.
I smiled before stepping forward and allowing him to take my right hand in his left and rest his right around my back, just past my spine. I positioned my left hand around Javier's upper right arm, so it was pressing upwards from underneath.
"What do you want to do, chica?" Javier asked, shifting his left arm so his elbow appeared sharper.
Trying to ignore the feeling of my body being pressed so intimately against his, I said, "Let's start with a progressive link, followed by a fallaway whisk."
Javier nodded and turned his head, so he was facing diagonally to the wall on his left. He looked unfazed by my use of partner dance terminology, which told me that he knew what he was doing and not pretending to make himself better in my eyes.
"On my count," I told him, backing diagonally to the wall on my left.
After counting us in, Javier quickly shifted his left foot forward into the contra body movement position, keeping his heel flat and his alignment diagonally to the wall. At the same time, I moved into the same position as his, except that I moved my right foot back in a ball heel step, maintaining an alignment backing diagonally to the wall.
On the second step, we transitioned into promenade position; Javier moved his right foot to the side and slightly back against the line of dance, keeping his left knee turned inward while I stepped slightly back to the left and pointed my right knee inward, all in time with his steps.
With both of us in the promenade position, we executed the fallaway whisk; Javier moved his right foot forward, compressing his body in a turn to the right. I placed my left foot forward, my alignment now pointing diagonally to the wall and my body facing the line of dance, before following him into the turn. Javier then shifted his alignment by moving his left foot back and slightly to the side, so that it was backing diagonally to the wall while I moved my right foot forward, continuing in the turn, so that I was now facing diagonally to the wall. Going into the fallaway position, Javier moved his right foot to the side and slightly forward, his alignment now pointing towards the line of dance. I allowed him to guide me into the fallaway position as I shifted my left foot back and slightly to the side, changing my alignment diagonally towards the wall again. To finish off the fallaway whisk, Javier crossed his left foot behind his right in the fallaway position, keeping his toe turned in and his alignment pointing diagonally to the wall. I moved into the same position by crossing my right foot behind my left.
"Back corte with open ending," I instructed before counting us in.
For the first step, Javier moved his left foot to the side, turning his shoulders firmly to the right, so that he was facing the wall. Keeping up with him, I moved my right foot to the side, turning my shoulders to the right equally as strongly, so that I was facing diagonally to the center. We then moved together with a slight turn into another contra body movement position, with Javier moving his right foot back and me moving my left foot forward. Javier moved his left foot to the side and slightly forward while I moved my right foot to the side and slightly back. We completed the turn with Javier's right foot closing to his left foot and my left foot closing to the right.
"Outside swivel with closed ending," I followed up.
After counting us in again, Javier and I moved into another closed contra body movement position; he moved his left foot back, keeping his toe turned in and his right foot in front while I moved my right foot forward and then closed my left foot slightly behind without adding weight. In the same position, Javier moved his right foot forward and across while I moved my left foot forward and across, our alignments diagonally to the wall and to the line of dance respectively. To finish the turn that we were doing, Javier shifted so that our knees were veering inwards, with him moving his left foot to the side and me moving my right to the side, both without adding weight.
Pulling away from Javier, I gave him a quick look-over and nodded my head approvingly. "You're pretty good, Rios."
Javier chuckled, gazing at me with interest. "You're not so bad yourself, chica."
"I should hope not," I quipped, resting my hands on my hips again, "or else Violet would have to reconsider hiring me."
"If she does, I would probably quit," Javier admitted.
"Was that supposed to be a compliment?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Take it however you wish," was Javier's response, yet his wink at me confirmed that I was right.
"Only if you can take a little constructive criticism," I told him with a grin.
"For what?" Javier asked with an amused smile.
"Well, for starters," I began as I took his left hand with my right and rested my left back under his upper right arm, "you need to work on your frame."
Following his first Latin Fusion dance class of the school year, Javier darted into one of the building's changing rooms to slip out of his dressy attire while I packed up my laptop and dance shoes. By the time we left the fitness center at ten after eight, Javier was sporting his RΩR cardigan and had his duffel bag strapped to his shoulder, giving any passing monsters the impression that he had been to the gym rather than to a dance class.
"I gotta say, Rios," I began as we walked, "I'm pleased that you were open to my constructive criticism."
"It's nothing different from Professor Knight correcting me on my scaring techniques," Javier pointed out.
"I do it because I want you to be aware of where and how you can improve," I explained gently.
"Professor Knight is the same way," Javier mentioned, "but you're nicer when giving feedback than he is."
I laughed at that. "Am I?"
Javier nodded. "Let's just say that Bruiser's ears will never be the same again."
"What did he do?" I asked, gaping at him in surprise.
"Not too sure," Javier replied with a shrug of his shoulders. "It's hard to tell what that guy says sometimes."
"Very true," I agreed, remembering my own previous conversations with him, some which were muddled at times.
"All I could make out was that Professor Knight yelled at him for something earlier today," Javier continued.
"He seemed okay during dinner," I remarked before biting my lip in concern.
"That's because he's tough," Javier assured me. "He's a RΩR."
At the mention of Roar Omega Roar, Javier and I spotted the members of it approaching the point at which the roads to the fitness center and Frat Row intersected ahead. Johnny, having seen us, called out to me and hurried in our direction. Bruiser, Chet, Chip, and Sulley were hot on his tail, literally and figuratively.
Javier chuckled at his frat president's behaviour. "He seems happy to see you."
"And I don't have food in my hands," I murmured with raised eyebrows. "That's a first."
"Hey, sis," said Johnny once he was within hearing distance, "why didn't you tell me that you wrote for the school paper?"
If my eyebrows rose any higher, they probably would have fallen off of my face. "I don't."
"Then explain this," said Johnny, handing me the newspaper that was in his hands.
Accepting the copy of the Campus Roar, I studied it closer and noticed that it had been flipped to the front page of the culture section, specifically the page on reviews. My heart sank when I spotted a passage of words that I was more than familiar with.
Love and Human Remains: Simplicity at Its Finest
By: Danica Worthington
Monsters University's production of Love and Monster Remains by Brad Fearser can be described as a harmonious fusion of comedy and dark thriller that takes viewers along for the ride in the characters' quest for love and purpose in a city plagued by a serial killer. What is remarkable about the production is the usage of minimal lighting and a simple set design, both which draw attention to other components of the production. Without that simplicity, the production would unfold to an exaggerated degree and overshadow the strengths exhibited by the performance space and the cast. The cast, through an extensive use of performance space, portrayed a group of friends and lovers who are candid in their hearts' desires and strong-willed in the face of challenges.
Vulnerability of the strong appears to be a major theme in this play and is exhibited by all of the characters, but most notably by David and Candy. Although these ex-lovers appear to be bold and tenacious near the beginning of the play, the heart-wrenching struggles that they face over the course of a series of events unveils the extent of their vulnerability as monsters; they simply want to find love with people who will love them in return.
The open performance space features a white, multi-level stage that contrasts with the black backdrop, the latter used to reflect the dark thriller genre of the play and the events that would unfold during it. The vast amount of performance space accommodates different settings in the play and are easily distinguishable from one another based on the groups of white furniture that remain in place throughout the entire play: the futon and coffee table showcases the living room of David and Candy's residence while the table and two chairs on a different level nearby serves as the restaurant where David works. A white comets streaks across the dark backdrop for the duration of the play, seemingly symbolizing David and Candy releasing their bottled-up desires to find love and purpose in their lives as the play progresses. The lights, a simple selection of orange and aquamarine blue, casts a soft glow over the performance space that adds either a dose of intimacy or an ominous mood depending on the context.
From my seat three rows from the stage, it was easy to view all seven cast members at once. Even when they were together on stage, the character to focus on at a given moment, whether the character is narrating or acting, is the one bathed in yellow light while the other characters simply remained motionless and bathed in the blue light, clear indications of who is in the scene and who is not. What characterizes a strong performance of a character is the cast member's ability to elicit emotions from the audience in attendance. Taylor Brimner, who plays Jerri, uses a mixture of body language and tone of voice to portray her character's obsessive love disorder to the point that it elicits sympathy one moment and annoyance and hatred the next. Cole Reid's performance as David stood out the most; the manner in which he projects his voice throughout the vast performance space promotes an air of power that surrounds him while his sharp and witty tongue brings dashes of comedy to different events throughout the play.
Overall, Davies' production of Love and Human Remains is a prime example of simplicity at its finest. The set, although basic in design, evokes a lot of symbolism with regards to the theme of the play and draws attention to the talent possessed by the cast. The top-notch acting of the cast and their extensive use of the performance space capture the attention of the audience. This comedy-dark thriller fusion keeps you on the edge of your seats and leaves you desiring more.
"This is my assignment for my Pedagogy of the Arts class," I whispered audibly.
"I didn't know you planned on submitting it to the Campus Roar," said Javier as he peered over my shoulder at the publication.
"I didn't," I told him, wondering how the campus's press got a hold of my assignment. Aside from me, the only other monster who possessed a copy of my critique was Professor Guindon. It then hit me what her 'stop' was prior to attending a showing of the play the night before.
Javier must have been studying my facial expression because he said, "But you know who did, don't you?"
I nodded a bit sadly. "My professor for the class. That conversation that we had the night before, she asked me if she had my permission to share it."
"It's too good not to be shared," said Johnny with an air of satisfaction. "I'm glad she shared it."
"I thought she would share it with her colleagues, not with the entire campus," I groaned, staring at my published work as though it would be set aflame if I stared long enough at it.
"You're should be thrilled, sis," Johnny told me, either oblivious to how I was feeling at the moment of aware of it and deciding to shrug it off. "Do you know how many people try to get their work published in the school paper?"
"You pretty much have to bribe the editors if you want something that they think is crap published," Chet explained.
"And I know you're not one to do that," said Johnny, "meaning you got your work in by your own merits. Do you have any idea how proud that makes me?"
"Word on Frat Row is that tickets are selling out fast, especially since this is the last week that this play is being performed," Sulley shared.
"My sister is taking names!" Johnny proclaimed in absolute delight. "Way to show everyone what a Worthington can do!"
"I was lucky to score a set of tickets for tonight's show," Chip spoke up. "Any of you guys interested in checking it out?"
"Hey, it would look terrible on me if I didn't see something that my sister wrote about in the school paper," said Johnny. "Count me in."
"Me too!" Chet chirped, clearly game for whatever Johnny wanted to do.
"I'll come," Sulley added.
"Want to join us, Jav?" Chip asked.
By that point, I was quite the distance away to hear whatever Javier's response was to Chip's question. I had no set destination in my clouded mind; I simply let my feet carry me off without as much as a goodbye.
The sun began setting on the horizon behind the campus clock tower, creating a fusion of warm hues in the sky. This led to a slight drop in temperature, making the weather noticeably cooler, yet still warm for an early October.
I sat by the river near the troll bridge, hugging my knees to my chest and resting my head atop them. Looking across the river, I could see Sonia, Nancy, and Nadya from Eta Hiss Hiss seated together on the grass, peering over a copy of the Campus Roar. A glance at the bridge told me that the two frat brothers for Gamma Roar Roar leaning against it were also reading the newspaper and I sighed. Chances were the entire campus would know about my last name come Saturday morning, meaning that my time spent in obscurity would soon be coming to an end.
A light gust of wind blew, causing the newspaper that was sitting on my bag next to me to fly into my face. I angrily wrenched it off and glared at it. The printed words from my performance review stared back at me, mocking me, reminding me of the impending fame that I didn't want and wouldn't be able to get rid of. Growling menacingly, I chucked it to the side, only for it to collide with a familiar pair of purple feet.
Reaching downward, Javier picked up the paper and met my eyes.
"Sorry, Rios," I muttered.
Javier flashed me a small, reassuring grin. "At least it's not a human child."
I sighed again. "A human child wouldn't broadcast my full name across the campus like a bullhorn."
Javier's grin faded as he lowered himself to the patch of grass next to me, placing his duffel bag in front of him. "Is that why you're pissed off, because the campus now knows who you are?"
"And if they don't, they will soon enough," I said with a groan. "I wish I was better prepared for how to cope with this."
"Cope with what?" Javier asked. "The attention that comes with being a published writer?"
"No, the attention that comes with being a Worthington," I elaborated, spitting out my last name as though it was toxic. "I mean, I knew that monsters would find out my last name eventually. I just didn't think it would be so soon."
"Why does everyone knowing your last name bother you?" Javier inquired curiously.
"Because that's all monsters care about," I explained bitterly. "Worthington is popularity to aspiring Scarers, free publicity to businesses, and a vast bank account to wannabe friends and partners. Do you have any idea how many monsters have only wanted to hang out with me because they thought I would pay for everything or open doors for them?"
Javier probably sensed that my question was a rhetorical one, so he simply shook his head silently in response.
"Johnny relishes in everything that our family name brings him because all he cares about is fame and being liked and well-known like the Worthingtons before us," I continued, staring ahead at the river in front of me. "He's the heir to the Worthington name and wants to live up to it."
"No kidding," Javier agreed.
"But I don't want to live up to anyone or anything," I added rather passionately. "I don't want to be liked for my last name. I don't want to be liked just because of the family that I was born into."
"So that's why you've purposely not mentioned your last name whenever you meet new monsters," Javier murmured understandingly.
I nodded as much as I could with my head on my knees. "It's been hard meeting new monsters and trying to figure out who genuinely likes me for me. I figured if they don't know my last name, they'll treat me normally and get to know me for me."
Javier paused before asking, "Does it work?"
"Yeah," I answered. "Take Brynn for example. We met during our first class and got to know each other over lunch, and she seemed to like me. Even though she learned during that lunch that I was a Worthington, she insisted that her perception of me didn't change."
"She learned what your last name was that soon after meeting you?" Javier asked, sounding slight surprised.
I let out a small laugh. "She thought Johnny was hot and I had to explain why I disagreed."
Javier laughed.
"Anyway, she hasn't treated me any differently since," I continued. "If anything, I think we've gotten closer."
Javier smiled. "Kind of like we have?"
I cracked a tiny smile of my own as I turned to look at him. "I suppose you can say that."
"If it makes you feel any better, I liked you the minute I saw you on that first night," said Javier, nudging me gently.
"Before you knew I was a Worthington?" I asked, quirking an eyebrow at him.
"Sí," Javier answered honestly. "You could have been Danica Smith and I would have still hit on you like I did."
"Well, if I was Danica Smith, I would have still given you the claw," I admitted openly.
Javier chuckled. "I wouldn't have expected anything less."
"I suppose being Danica Smith would probably have been much simpler compared to being Danica Worthington," I mused. "Don't get me wrong, I'm proud of who I am, but my name makes it more challenging to be my own monster, to be just me."
"This is you," said Javier, holding out the newspaper, so my published passage was facing me.
I hesitated to take the paper into my hands as though it was a lethal toy ball belonging to a human child that would corrode my flesh down to my bones if it came into contact with me.
"This is a reflection of you," Javier told me, giving the paper a light flick. "Not of Johnny Worthington the First, not of Johnny Worthington the Second, not Johnny Worthington the Third, but of the one and only Danica Worthington."
For the first time in a very long time, I smiled at the mention of my full name. Most of the time, it was said in fascination, with a sneer, or knowingly. From Javier's mouth, it sounded different, more endearing, and precious even.
"She's a talented dancer, incredibly brilliant, fiery when she wants to be, and beautiful from the outside down to the core," Javier continued, gazing down at me rather admiringly. "I think those things and more make her pretty damn special."
"And more?" I asked, eyeing him in interest.
"I don't have all night to go on, chica," Javier teased.
"Shame," I said with feigned disappointment before glancing back at the paper. "Do you think Johnny will mind if I keep that?"
"I doubt he'll miss it," Javier told me, slipping the paper into my waiting hand. "He already has the bragging rights."
"Thanks, Rios," I said, "for the paper and for the talk."
"De nada," Javier replied, watching me. "You okay?"
I nodded. "Better than I was five minutes ago."
"Good to hear," said Javier as he grabbed his bag and pushed himself back to his feet.
I tucked the newspaper into my bag, hoping to save it for my portfolio, before I graciously accepted Javier's outstretched hand and allowed him to pull me back to my feet.
"So, with the RΩRs off to see that play, it means I'm free tonight," said Javier, keeping my hand in his. "How about I treat the talented, brilliant, fiery, and beautiful chica to some ice cream?"
"Chocolate claw cookie dough?" I asked hopefully, suddenly craving for it something fierce.
"Whatever you want," Javier promised, squeezing my hand affectionately.
As we took off on a leisurely stroll towards the closest ice cream parlour to campus, a thought crossed my mind that, finally, I was not afraid to deem as true: I was falling for Javier, and Goblin, I was falling hard.