"Ale, dear, are you almost ready?" Sophie asked, knocking on the door to the bedroom. The team was getting ready for the first day of the con and Sophie was over-the-moon. She had a good feeling about this one, and so did Nate. In fact, the whole team was excited…all except Eliot.
He had been avoiding Ale like the plague. Where ever she was he tried to be as far away as possible—but not so far that he wasn't a part of the team.
Ale came out of the bedroom, her hair tied in a French braid.
"Sophie, I cannot go to the studio in this outfit. If I am joining, I can guarantee that Tonnie is going to make me dance. And I cannot dance in this dress. It's like a tube sock for my body."
"But the cardigan looks so cute with it," she sighed.
"It does. But I really cannot move."
"I don't know why she just can't believe that you are a good dancer."
"That's not how it works, Sophie, and you know it," Ale sighed. "I'll just go get changed into some skinny jeans, combat boots, and a tank top. It will be fine."
"You are ruining this," Sophie whined.
Eliot, who was sitting in the corner reading, finally looked up. Ale did look perfect in her dress, couldn't help but laugh as Sophie pouted about the fact she couldn't dress Ale up how she wanted.
"Sorry Soph. I can always leave. I'm sure you could find out another way to infiltrate Tonnie's studio," Ale sang, going back into the bedroom.
Not even five minutes later Ale came out in her outfit, looking like she was a ballerina on break. It was perfect. Sophie smiled, glad that Ale had stood up to her…the look was so much better than what she had originally planned.
She was also happy with how young Ale looked. Her face was a bit washed out due to some make-up, and her hair also made her look younger.
"Are we ready now?" Nate asked impatiently, fastening his cuff links. His suit made him look very sharp, yet a bit uncomfortable.
"So long as you stop fidgeting, we are," Sophie replied.
"Okay…well, the happy family is off. See you all later. Uncle Eliot, are you coming?" Nate sighed, raising his eyebrows at Eliot. He grumbled something in the corner, closing his book and standing. Ale grabbed her dance bag, slinging it over her shoulder.
The four of them walked down to the lobby of the hotel, the valet pulling up the extremely expensive two door-car Nate rented. He smiled, slipping in the front seat.
"Alright, kiddos, into the back," Sophie said, looking at Eliot and Ale. Ale slid in first, putting her bag on the seat between her and Eliot. As soon as he slid in Ale took out her phone, slipping on some head phones and listening to her music. Eliot watched her as she closed her eyes, her hands and arms moving slightly to mimic a dance.
When they pulled up to the studio she stopped, opening her eyes.
"This is the studio where I am dancing?" Ale asked, amazement in her voice.
"Is that okay?" Sophie asked, smiling.
"Um, it's more than okay. I'm sure they have, like, the most perfect floors. This is beautiful!"
And it was. The large building was located on a hill, over looking the ocean. The studio looked to be mostly windows, figures moving around in different rooms.
"Alright, Jane, let's get going. Dad has to get back to work," Sophie chirped, moving her seat so Eliot could slip out. Nate moved his, too, offering his hand to Ale. She got out of the car, wincing a bit as she stood.
"You alright?" Nate asked, raising his eyebrows. Eliot and Sophie both looked at Ale, concern in their eyes.
"Just my knee. Every once and a while I get a little twinge. I'm fine," Ale smiled. She went to reach back into the car to grab her bag but Sophie told her to leave it.
"Don't want to be too eager, darling," Sophie smiled.
The all headed into the building, a bunch of children running around the lobby. Ale smiled at all of them, Eliot watching her as she talked with some of them.
He was playing Nate's younger brother, who Nate, Sophie, and Ale were supposedly staying with until they could move into a new house. He was pretty successful, too, and had to dress up for the job.
He was wearing dark jeans and a dress shirt, almost exactly the way Quinn did on a regular basis.
"She always finds someone to get along with," Nate laughed, Sophie nodding and walking up to the counter. Ale followed, staying a bit behind her, looking perfectly nervous and bored—as well as a bit annoyed.
It was perfect.
"Can I help you?" a young man asked, looking mostly at Ale as she waved at a little girl who was staring at her.
"Yes. My daughter, Jane, is here to enroll in classes. We need to get her dancing as soon as possible. She had to take a week off for the move and if she doesn't get going again she will start losing technique," Sophie chirped, the man nodding slowly and smiling.
"We can stick her in some classes," the boy nodded. His name was Jason, and he was Tonnie's son. Ale and Sophie had done extensive research in him and found out that he was loving his life of luxury, and loved his life surrounded by girls in spandex all the more.
"My daughter doesn't just get stuck in classes. I expect her on your competitive teams. We have goals, you know, and they can't be achieved by just being 'stuck' somewhere."
"Right," Jason nodded, Ale shooting him an apologetic look that was almost a cry for help.
Sophie was so proud.
"I am going to go get Tonnie, the owner, and we will see what we can do," Jason smiled, winking at Ale. She pretended to blush, Eliot rolling his eyes.
Jason came back in the room, a woman trailing in behind him. She was wearing a designer dress and platform heels. She didn't look like she had danced a day in her life. She was gorgeous, but Ale could tell she wasn't a dancer. Someone as prestigious as Tonnie supposedly was should look like a prima ballerina, not some trophy wife who is playing dress up.
"You must be Katherine," Tonnie smiled, her eyes lighting up when she saw Sophie. Ale did her best to bite back a smile, noticing Nate doing the same.
"The one and only. And you must be Tonnie. It is so wonderful to meet you. I am so excited to be here…you will do such great things with Jane, I'm sure. She is so eager to learn from you, isn't that right, Jane?" Sophie babbled, Ale forcing a smile.
"Absolutely," she said, Tonnie looking her up and down.
"Well you are just a little thing. How old are you, sweetie?"
Ale shifted in her position, Tonnie's eyes like a hawk's. She knew she was being watched and she had to make the perfect impression.
"Seventeen."
"Well you look like you can fly high. I understand you want to be in the competitive company?" Tonnie asked, Sophie nodding.
"We have big plans for Ale, and they can't be achieved if we don't have the right training."
"You look like you would be a wonderful addition," Tonnie smiled. "Small enough to throw and strong enough to leap. I will need to see you dance, of course," Tonnie said, turning on her heels. The team followed, Ale starting to get butterflies.
She was confident in her dancing, but she had never danced for any other teacher than the ones back home. And she definitely hadn't ever had to dance in order to save hundreds of people thousands of dollars.
"Just in what you are wearing, why don't you go show me something, yes?" Tonnie asked, Ale looking at Sophie with raised eyebrows. Ale nodded, very aware of Tonnie and Jason's eyes on her, as well as the teams.
She ignored it, though, plugged in her music in the small practice room, and danced.
Nate, Eliot, and Sophie couldn't help but notice the look on Tonnie's eyes as Ale danced. She was staring at Ale as though she was her winning ticket to the lottery. The team could see her calculating how they could best use Ale, and, although it bothered them, they couldn't blame her.
Ale was amazing. Even in her street clothes, she was breath taking. Her movement wasn't hindered and even seemed more spectacular.
Eliot also couldn't help but notice Jason's eyes on Ale, wide and hungry. He would have to keep his eye on him.
When the song ended Tonnie smiled, looking at Sophie with wide eyes.
"Katherine, she is simply brilliant. The best dancer I have ever seen. I can offer her a full scholarship if you would like," Tonnie offered, grabbing Sophie's arm.
"That won't be necessary. As much as it takes, we can handle," Nate interrupted, Tonnie noticing him for the first time, as well as Eliot.
"My brother and I own an oil refinery. We have nothing to worry about money wise," Nate continued.
"Yes sir. Why don't we go to my office and talk about some figures. Jane can start today," she smiled.
"I'll go get my bag from the car while you guys talk, if that's alright," Ale said timidly, Sophie smiling at her.
"Of course, darling."
"I'll go with you, if you would like," Jason offered, Ale blushing again. Eliot growled a bit under his breath and Sophie rolled her eyes, jabbing Nate in the side to give Ale the keys. He did so, Ale and Jason disappearing down the corridor.
"Please, follow me. This is going to be so wonderful," Tonnie sang, leading Eliot, Nate, and Sophie up to her office.
Sophie smiled to herself—with Ale on the team, it sure was.