Chapter Twelve: Audition
Eating the lunch food at the university wasn't too bad though, Alessia did like Su's cooking better. She had finally finished her five page essay for Professor Beifong's class. Closing her book and placing it back into her bag. She smiled at Kuvira who finished eating as well.
"Ready you guys?" Alessia asked as Korra, Bolin, and Kuvira all nodded their heads. They all stood up and headed towards the gym. Alessia sighed lightly while Korra was trying to talk to her. They arrived in the gym where both of their professors were waiting.
"Alessia, can we talk please?" Korra asked while grabbing her sister's wrist. Alessia yanked her hand away.
"Save it Korra." She snapped before standing next to Kuvira who had her arms crossed.
"Alright. Pair up for sparring. No bending! Kuvira and Bolin, Alessia and Korra." Lin snapped. Alessia sighed and stood away from the other two. Korra was in front of her. They each took a stance. Bolin didn't last two seconds against Kuvira. She smirked proudly at her friend before turning her attention onto her sister. Korra took the first move. She jumped into the air with a fist and slammed it towards her. Alessia turned with ease as Korra missed. Watching Korra throw punches and kicks. Alessia kept side stepping and turning. Her goal was to wear Korra down before she took her moves.
"Come on! Stop stalling!" Korra snapped. Alessia could feel all eyes watching them now. Korra threw another round kick and Alessia ducked under and jabbed her sides of her sister. Watching Korra skid across the floor and did another round kick. This time, she shot fire from her feet. Hitting Alessia square in the chest and sending her flying. Feeling her body hit the ground and rolled.
"I said no bending!" Lin snapped. Alessia stood up and brushed herself off. "Bending is forbidden for the time being on campus grounds!" Lin barked at Korra.
"Really? That's not what my bending professor told me." Korra spoke looking confused.
"What?" Kuvira, Bolin, and Alessia said in unison.
"Professor Katara has still been teaching me." Korra spoke up.
"But..but Dean Raiko said classes were canceled." Bolin spoke up.
"Yeah, but not for the avatar!" Alessia snapped as eyes faced her. "She gets special privileges." Alessia rolled her eyes.
"Class dismissed. I can't look at you right now." Lin shook her head as Korra and Bolin left.
"Come on. Auditions are gonna start." Kuvira whispered while grabbing her friend's arm and pulling her away.
Alessia sat down on the bleachers next to Kuvira. Lin was sitting at the button near the end. Hearing the other dancers talk excitedly before sitting down as well. Su wasn't here yet. Raising a brow at her friend.
"Something held her up?" Alessia asked as Kuvira shrugged. She pulled out her phone and was about to text Su.
"Sorry I'm late my dears!" Su's voice came as the professor came into the gym. She was frowning. Alessia felt her heart sink as she gave Kuvira a worried look. Both of them stood up and moved further down the bleachers to sit closer.
"Dean Raiko canceled the auditions." Su finally spoke. There were some gasps and protests. "Due to the fact that our team is small and he said if we do not perform the opening at the championship match, he is disbanding the team." Su added.
"We only need one more dancer! He set us up for failure!" One of the ladies protested. "If he canceled the auditions, then we won't be able to have a dancer for the performance!" She added.
"Even if we found the dancer, we won't have time to teach them the routine." Su added with a sigh.
"Wait! What about Alessia?" Jay-Lee's voice spoke up. All eyes went to Alessia who was now turning a bright pink.
"Come on. You're the only one who knows our routine." Another voice spoke.
"Alessia?" Su's voice was so soft and gentle it made Alessia's heart swell. She turned to face her professor and took a deep breath.
"I'll do it. I'll join." Alessia spoke as the other ladies all shouted and gathered around her. "No! Stop! No hugs! Gah!" Alessia shouted while she was all tensed up from the hugging from the other ladies.
Welcome our newest dancer Alessia! We now have a full team and an opening show!" Su beamed as the other dancers kept patting her shoulders and hugging her. Everyone had gotten up and taken their positions.
"I'm glad you joined." Kuvira nudged her friend. Alessia smiled and nodded her head before taking her usual window spot as they had begun their routine. Su had joined in to show them the new parts of the next dance. Kuvira and Alessia were the only two who had gotten down by the time the hour was up.
"Alright my dancers! Have a lovely night!" Su spoke as they all gathered their stuff and left. "Alessia, I need you for measurements." Su added as Alessia stayed behind.
She found herself in the locker room while Su taking her measurements.
"You and Korra need to talk." Kuvira spoke while crossing her arms as she sat down. Lin was writing the measurements down.
"No way. I'm not going to try and talk to someone who has everything handed to her." Alessia spoke with a sigh. Holding her arms up and out as the tape measure went across her arm.
"Well. She is your sister." Kuvira added.
"Sometimes I feel like we aren't." She frowned at her friend. Alessia had always felt out of place and for once she felt like she belonged somewhere, Korra was always there messing things up.
"Well, you are whether you like it or not but I still think you two should talk things out." Her friend said again.
"We always seem to be fighting now. We have different opinions and viewpoints. Didn't you see how angry she was when I didn't join the task force?" Alessia felt Su wrap the tape measure around her middle and measured from shoulders down to her waist.
"Okay fine. I'll talk to her but I can't guarantee anything. You saw how she was in class." Alessia warned while feeling her legs measured next.
"That's it." Su smiled and patted Alessia's shoulder.
"One for you and one for me." Lin spoke while handing Su a copy.
"Why does professor Lin need a copy?" Alessia crossed her arms.
"Oh we forgot to mention. After the opening performance, you are joining her for security details." Su added.
"Okay, I might as well apply to become an officer." Alessia said sarcastically.
"Wait. That's a good idea." Su beamed.
"I was kidding?!" Alessia asked with her brow raised.
"No, the city needs more officers! You and Kuvira would both be perfect officers!" Su piped up while clapping her hands once.
"Right. Dinner anyone? Alessia is buying." Kuvira spoke while grabbing her stuff and stood up.
"Hey!" Alessia crossed her arms and they all chuckled. "Fine. Meet you back at our place." She spoke to the Beifong sisters before taking her leave.
Alessia had arrived at Kwong's Cuisine and smiled while pulling out her wallet. She had given Lin's and Su's orders at the last minute so she had to wait a bit longer.
"Name and reservation time?" The host asked.
"Oh no, just pick up please." She spoke and gave him her name. Grabbing the bag with the food in it and left the restaurant. Humming softly while texting Kuvira that she was on her way back. She had arrived to find the door unlocked. Hearing chatter as she shut the door and locked it.
"I'm home." Alessia spoke as she went to the dining room. Setting the food down and took her usual spot between Kuvira and Lin.
"Oh, it looks delicious!" Su smiled as they dug in. She waited until everyone had their food as she took a small portion to eat. Listening to the lovely ladies talk about the performance tomorrow.
"Why are we eating early?" Alessia asked while setting her fork down.
"Well, Lin and I have something we want to talk to you about." Su spoke as she set her fork down as well. Kuvira and Alessia both looked at each other then to their professors. "After dinner, we are taking you two somewhere." Su added.
"Not suspicious at all!" Alessia spoke while sipping her tea.
"Spirits Alessia! After all this time, I thought we had something!" Su crossed her arms with a smirk and nudged Alessia.
"I'm kidding! I do trust you." Alessia chuckled lightly.
"Good! Because we are training you both in metal bending starting tonight. I need to teach you the basics before the match." Lin suddenly spoke.
"That's tomorrow!" Kuvira spoke as her eyes widened a little.
"Exactly. You two have much to learn. Though, being the prodigies that you are, it should be no problem." Lin added. Alessia raised her brow in question.
"Um. Last time I checked. I'm just a simple earth bender." She spoke while eating again.
"You are the avatar's sister." Lin added while drinking her tea.
"Is that all anyone sees me as?" Alessia felt like snapping but kept her cool.
"No sweetie. What she means is that you are stronger than you give yourself credit for." Su touched Alessia's shoulder and squeezed it.
"Right. I don't know about that. Though, I apologize, Lin." Alessia spoke softly as her professor nodded at her.
Alessia cleaned up dinner before following the others out of the apartment and into Lin's Sato-Mobile. Sitting in the front seat as Kuvira and Su sat in the back. Alessia stole glances at Lin everyone once in a bit. Hearing soft giggles in the back seat, she saw the love birds close to each other and whispering sweet nothing into each other's ears. Alessia smiled slightly at her friend before looking out the window. They had come to the edge of the city. There was no one around.
"We're here." Lin spoke. Alessia got out and looked around. It was an old building.
"So… Do I run or what?" Alessia asked in a teasing voice. It got her the famous eye roll from Lin. Su chuckled and pulled Kuvira close. Alessia felt a small hint of jealousy but shrugged it off. She was the last one to follow Lin inside. They went down a few flights of stairs and came into a rather large arena-like room. There was metal everywhere. Alessia could feel just by tugging at the old rusted bars.
"This is the old pro-bending arena. It was an illegal area that was shut down several years ago. No one comes here." Lin explained as she invaded Alessia's personal space by placing a belt on her waist. Seeing they were cables used by the police force. Seeing Su did the same to Kuvira.
"Take your stances." Lin spoke as she and Su stood together on the other side. Alessia took off her shoes and was barefooted now. She could feel the earth speaking to her.
"Okay, now what?" Kuvira asked as she and Alessia took a stance.
"Give us everything you've got." Lin spoke as she and Su took a stance facing them. 'Shit.' Was all Alessia could say. She could feel her friend's movements. Alessia stomped pretty hard as earth shot up. High enough for Kuvira to round kick it. It was easily dodged. Seeing metal plates shot towards them, Alessia reflected them. Feeling one slightly cut her cheek. Her eyes went wide while sidestepping. She jumped up and kicked her right foot up. Causing earth under her professor's feet shot them up. Lin had flung her cables and landed with ease. Su simply turned and landed elegantly.
"Yeah…um…We aren't going to win this." Alessia spoke to Kuvira who nodded.
"We can try though!" She flung her arms forward and shot several metal plates towards them. Su deflected them with ease when she pulled a metal bar from the side. Su was smirking at them now. Alessia gulped. Taking her chances with the cables. She sent the lines flying up above and shot herself up. It felt like she was flying. Sticking above on the ceiling. She could feel eyes on her as Kuvira tried distracting them. Alessia kicked her foot on the ceiling, causing a small quake against the earth roof as rocks began falling. Watching her professors knock the earth out of the way. Feeling cables wrapped around her body. 'Uh oh.' Was all she could say before feeling the force pull her down. Feeling her side hit the ground and then dragged straight to her captor. Feeling her face flush red with embarrassment before yielding. Sighing in defeat. Alessia could feel how close she was to Lin. Her heart was beating rather fast and was lucky no one could hear it. Seeing her friend Kuvira in the same position as her but in front of Su.
"Kuvira, good use in movements. You are fast and deadly. Alessia, good use of the surrounding area. Definitely good for defense and people won't see you two coming." Lin spoke as Alessia stood up and pulled the cables off of her. Seeing Su smile and peck Kuvira's lips with her own. Alessia blushed and looked away. She dusted off the dirt and what not off of her. She needed a shower now.
"Let's head back." Su spoke softly as they all nodded in agreement.
Feeling the hot water run down her body made her sigh a relief. Rubbing her side where the scar was. There was no pain now since Kya called her out on it. Once cleaned and dried, she changed into her silk green nightwear. Tossing her clothes into the laundry.
"Kuvira, clothes please." Alessia spoke while popping out of her room. Seeing her friend's door closed, she shook her head. "Wanna take a shower?" Alessia asked Lin who was finishing some tea.
"No, I'm heading home for the night. I assume Su is staying." Lin responded as Alessia nodded. She was not going to be getting any sleep. They already heard the sounds coming from the other room. Alessia locked eyes with Lin's. Those green eyes again. She started blushing and turned away.
"Have a goodnight. Be safe." Alessia spoke.
"You too." Lin spoke as Alessia left, heading to her bedroom and closed the door behind her. She heard the front door open and then closed. Lin had left. Her heart was racing. Hearing Kuvira and Su was making her blush hard. She pushed the sounds away from her thoughts as she laid in bed. Putting in her earphones and began to listen to music. Ignoring everything else. Her mind was wandering about the sparring match they had from earlier. She couldn't believe she let herself get caught. Humming to the tune before sighing. Sitting up and walking out of her room. The lights were off and the only light was the moon shining through the curtains on the windows. She unlocked the patio door and went outside. Leaning against the rail and closing her eyes. Leaning her head back a little while absorbing the moon's light. She had the urge to dance. She climbed up the side fire escape ladder straight to the top of the building. There was a light breeze in the wind. The cool crisp air was hinting that winter was coming. Changing the song to one of the routine songs and she began to dance. With no one watching, she freed herself from any worries that she had. Then, in her mind, she was dancing with someone. Staring into the green eyes as they moved in perfect sync to the music. She could feel her heart swell. Stopping while blinking a few times and taking out her earphones. Her face was blushing. Feeling the heat from her cheeks as her heart was racing. She was dancing. With Lin. Shaking her head to push the thoughts away. Taking a deep breath before heading back inside to finally go to sleep.
Once she laid in bed, her thoughts were racing. It seemed that Kuvira and Su had finally gone to sleep. Alessia placed a hand over her heart. It was still beating rather fast for her liking. She closed her eyes and took a couple deep breaths before turning onto her side. It felt like hours before sitting up. Turning on the small lamp and pulling out her personal sketchbook that Su had finally given it back to her. Su had left a note on the inside. Praising her artwork. She came to a clean sheet of paper and began to sketch out the picture she had in her head. Not wanting to make it look obvious. The two dancing figures were blacked out like shadows. There were dark buildings in the background and she drew the moon in many details.The light from the moon in the picture was the only thing that showed off the dancing shadow figures. Finally, she yawned lightly. Setting the sketchbook on her desk before turning off the lamp. She laid down and watched the moon.