After a long night, the last thing I wanted to do was go to school the next day. But that's where I was on this fine Monday morning. I go to the Maryland School of Arts, or MSA for short. I majored in ballet even though my friends said I could sing. I wasn't convinced, and because I was too nervous to even stand on a stage, I refused to do anything other than stay in the background and practice ballet.
I sighed and threw my bag onto the floor of the dance studio. I was one of the first few into the room, and I had my headphones in, blasting Pink. Mr Collins wouldn't arrive for a few more minutes so I decided to just sit by the wall, styling my hair into a ponytail. I was startled by a hand on my shoulder and I looked up to see a familiar face. It was the girl from the club last night who battled Tyler Gage. She obviously didn't know me.
"Can I help you?" I said sweetly, taking the headphones out of my ears.
"Uh... yeah." The girl said nervously. "This is Contemporary Ballet, right?"
"Yeah." I nodded, pushing myself off the floor. "Oh, uh, I'm Talia Russo."
"Andie West." The girl smiled. "I'm new here."
"That's cool. I've been going here since I was 14." I wrapped up my iPod, shoving it into my bag. "I major mostly in ballet."
"You look really familiar." Andie furrowed her eyebrows. "Have you ever visited The Dragon?"
"You mean the club down on 5th Street?" I tilted my head. "I wish. That place is for awesome street dancers. Ballet wouldn't fly there."
"I'm sure it'd be great." Andie laughed.
"Hello everyone." Mr Collins greeted as he walked through the studio doors. "I'm Director Collins."
Andie and I got into line with all the other dancers in the room, hoping not to get called out in front of the class. Andie looked down at my shoes, noticing they were ballet flats and that she was wearing high tops. She quickly shrugged them off her feet and threw them to the studio wall, right next to my bag.
"I hope you've all stretched this morning." Mr Collins smiled. "We have a lot of work to do today. I'm sure that everyone has heard of our plans to move MSA into a new state-of-the-art facility. Well, to encourage the donors, we're throwing a fundraiser. You guys will perform to show what a good investment you are. It should be a wonderful event, and yes, you are all required to participate in one way or another."
"Sophie Donovan will be a leading act." I said under my breath, hoping that Mr Collins wouldn't hear.
"Let's begin with some improv, shall we?" Mr Collins continued. "Jimmy, you're up."
I sat down next to Andie and we watched intently as a dark male came up to the front and started to dance very passionately in time with the music. We turned our heads to see a muscular blond boy speed walk through the doors. It was Chase Collins, infamous bad boy and brother of Mr Collins.
"You're late." Mr Collins snapped. "Not being on time won't fly in the real world."
"Come on." Chase complained. "Already with that stuff, Blake?"
"That's Director Collins." Mr Collins chastised.
"Yes, your majesty." Chase bowed sarcastically. I hid a smile behind my hand.
"Chase, show us what you got." Mr Collins gritted out, his jaw clenched.
A more upbeat song was played over the stereo and Chase jumped right in, his limbs flailing about in a series of calculated moves. He spun a lot and it made me dizzy to watch him, even though I could handle a lot of spinning.
"Good, not great, could do better." Mr Collins spat, looking down at his clipboard.
"Does this guy ever smile?" Andie whispered.
"No, he has a permanent stick up his ass that doctors can't even remove." I joked.
Andie started giggling profusely which didn't go unnoticed by Mr Collins. I had a large grin on my face as he stopped and stared at us.
"Something funny, ladies?" Mr Collins raised an eyebrow.
"No, Director Collins." I coughed, trying not to laugh.
"Good." Mr Collins. "Andie, you're up."
Andie laughed at the slow song that Mr Collins put on and decided to make fun of it by dancing very fast and passionately. Mr Collins didn't find it funny as she shook her ass all over the place. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Chase's face light up in amusement.
"Stop!" Mr Collins ordered.
"Did I do something wrong?" Andie teased, an innocent smile on her face.
"Do not test my patience, Miss West." Mr Collins growled. "Class dismissed."
I sighed, pushing myself up from my position on the dance floor. I skipped over to my bag and pulled out my silver high tops. I quickly unlaced my flats and shoved on the sneakers, feeling relief as I did so. I laced up my sneakers and shoved my flats into my bag, picking it up and following Andie out of the building.
"Just breathe." Chase shook us both out of our reverie. It was only a few minutes until lunch and the both of us just stood outside. "First day is always the worst."
"I was just-" Andie started.
"No, it's okay." Chase cut her off. "I come out to the front steps to meditate sometimes too."
"What?" Andie asked in confusion. "I was not-"
"It's just..." Chase interrupted her again. "You had some pretty big balls back there in class. It was impressive."
"Oh gee, thanks." Andie said sarcastically.
"You're welcome." Chase smirked.
"So, what's your deal?" Andie looked him up and down. "Boyband is making a comeback?"
"Yeah, they have a course on it here." Chase played along. "I'm getting straight A's."
"That wouldn't surprise me." Andie shrugged. "Look, it's been interesting bonding with you, but I'm starving."
"Going to grab lunch with some friends?" Chase glanced at me.
"Might be." Andie bent down to grab her bags.
"You mean your crew?" Chase raised an eyebrow.
"What would you know about that?" Andie deadpanned.
"I knew it. I saw you at The Dragon." Chase grinned. "You're with the 410, aren't you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Andie sighed.
"Listen, I've always wanted to compete there, I've just never had an in." Chase complained. "Can you hook me up?"
"Hey, Chase. We're going to grab some lunch." Sophie Donovan startled us all. "You coming?"
"Yeah, I'll be right there." Chase shrugged her off but she stayed put. "Sophie, I'll meet you in the courtyard."
"Okay." Sophie sighed, her jaw clenched as she turned and went back into the building.
"Look, the Streets is about where you're from." Andie growled. "It's not some school talent show. There's no spring floors. There's no spotlights. You use what you got and... what makes you think you got it?"
"Come on, Andie." I spoke up. "Let's just go get something to eat."
Andie just rolled her eyes and stomped up the steps, while Chase just smirked.
"I've seen you before too." Chase stopped me. "Do you dance at The Dragon?"
"That place is for renowned street dancers. All I do is pirouettes and demi-pointes all day." I sighed, knowing he probably saw through my facade. "Listen, I'm going to catch up with Andie. You just stay in your own circle of people and talk to Sophie."
I patted his chest and then went inside.
Andie and I had found the loser table - one that was right by the garbage cans that nobody sat at. Usually, I sat with my small group of friends but I decided to sit with Andie because she needed company.
"You're in my seat." A short curly-headed boy walked over, talking into Andie's ear. She simply stared at him. "I'm kidding. I mean, this is my seat, but I'll give you a pass for today."
The kid sat next to me, throwing his tray onto the table, only managing to knock over his drink. He laughed and pushed the bottle upright.
"I'm Robert Alexander III, but you can call me Moose." The kid introduced himself.
"What's up? I'm Andie." Andie supplied.
"Talia." I nodded.
"No, you gotta blow it up." Moose commanded after Andie had given him a simple fist bump. He held his fist out again and she tapped hers against his. He made an explosion sound and she followed. He brought his hand back and made a sound like he was wounded.
"Cute." I commented.
"You're not eating?" Moose questioned.
"You call this food?" Andie raised an eyebrow.
"Tofu dogs are both nutritious and delicious." Moose grinned, taking a bite of his food. "Tastes like candy canes at Christmas."
"You got stuff on your face." I pointed at his lip.
"Where?" Moose looked confused.
"Here." I grabbed a napkin and pressed it to his mouth, successfully wiping off the sauce. "There you go."
"Thanks." Moose grinned. "You're friends with Sophie, right?"
"No." I shook my head. "Her and I are in different social circles."
"Too bad." Moose shrugged. "She seems fun to talk to."
"Aw, you have a crush on her." I pouted my lips and he shoved my shoulder.
"Anyway, you need my help, Andie." Moose stood up.
"And what makes you think I need your help?" Andie sassed.
Moose simply reached out and grabbed Andie's schedule, flipping it over so it was the right way around. She just rolled her eyes.
"Trust me, I have what you need." Moose smirked.
This was an extra long chapter because I felt that I needed to develop Talia a bit more in this stage. She's a good ballet dancer, but it's not what she wants to do in life. She already knows most of the crew she's going to be dancing with, but they're just simple acquaintances. And her friendship with Monster will definitely develop in the further chapters, meaning that they will definitely get together. And I am totally planning to include her in my Step Up 3 and Step Up 5 fics. Also, something that bothered me about Step Up 5. I hate the relationship between Sean and Andie. He just seems way too douchey for her. He tried to force her into doing a move she was way too paranoid about and he yelled at her. Now, Chase never did any of those things. His eyes lit up when he watched her dance and he defended her with everything he had. Sean and Andie just seemed way too forced to me. I'm guessing the producers just wanted another relationship and decided to form that trainwreck. Ugh, terrible. Anyways, please review and thank you for reading!
Rocky Rae: Thank you!
luakinaga: I love Vanessa too. She's flawless. And I think I will keep with the first person. You have a nice week too!