"HELL YES I'M NERVOUS!"
Lauren widened her eyes and returned her focus back to the road. Brittany took a deep breath and rolled down the window. "I need some fresh air, or else I'm going to throw up."
"Brittany, it's an audition for Pete's sake. This isn't a life or death situation here."
"Shut up, Lauren! You aren't helping!" Britt hung her head out the window, her hair wildly flying. "And I know I'm messing up my hair! Just give me a minute."
Lauren rolled her eyes. "It's Nick, isn't it?"
"I CAN'T HEAR YOU! I'VE GOT MY BLASTED HEAD OUT OF THE WINDOW!"
A wicked grin appeared on Lauren's face. Her left hand went from the steering wheel to the automatic window button. She pressed it for a few moments.
Brittany jumped and screamed. "Are you trying to kill me or what?!? Damn, Lauren!"
Lauren pressed the window lock button. She opened the vents to calm Brittany down and so she could get some "fresh air."
"I want to talk to you for a minute, geez. This whole audition thing has been seriously freaking you out, and today you are really really nervous and I think I hear you hyperventilating." Brittany suddenly stopped breathing. "Anyway, I think the real reason you're so nervous is because of Nick. Am I right?"
"No!" Britt blurted out, all too obviously.
"Brittany, come on."
"Okay, okay, I have a crush on him. But that's not the reason I'm so nervous!" The second the sentence was out of her mouth, Brittany knew she had made a mistake. She knew Lauren would want to know why.
"Okay, why are you so nervous?" Lauren said, looking over her shouler to exit the highway.
Britt sighed. "I don't know."
Lauren rolled her eyes a second time. "Yes, you do know."
"All right, I do know. Lauren, I don't know if I'm into this dancing thing as much as you are."
Lauren appeared hurt. "I didn't know this."
"I know, I'm sorry. I'm just not sure if I want to do this. But, here's some good news, so don't start crying on me." Lauren gave her a weak smile. "Something inside of me is telling me to do this. I don't know if it has to do with Nick or not. But I'm just going to do it. If I make it, awesome. If not, that's okay too."
Lauren patted Britt's leg and squeezed her hand. "Good. Now, I want to talk about something else. Let's say one of us makes it, and the other doesn't. I think the one who didn't make it should support the other, no matter what. Sound good?"
Britt nodded. "Yeah, that sounds good."
"Good." Lauren pulled into the studio. "Well, this is it."
The girls got out of Lauren's car and grabbed their duffel bags. They went into the studio, signed in, and took a seat among about fifteen other girls. A few minutes later, Fatima, and surprisingly, the group of boys appeared before them. AJ waved and Nick winked at Lauren and Brittany. They smiled, and other girls turned around to give them nasty looks. Britt and Lauren shrugged and giggled.
"All right everyone, let's get started. We'll call off the names alphabetically. Each one of you will audition alone in a room at the end of this hallway. I, along with these Boys, will judge you on how accurate the steps were, your facial expressions, and the vibe that you give us. It's as simple as that. The guys and I will ask a couple of questions about you and why you want to do this. Then you will dance the entire song, and then the next person will be called in. Any questions?"
Brittany slowly turned her head to Lauren with a frightened look on her face. Lauren shook her head to calm her, and patted her leg again.
"Okay, Megan Alcott and Julie Cartwright, please come with me. The rest of you , please wait here patiently. We will go as quickly as possible. Thanks again." Fatima and the Boys and the first two girls began to leave the room. AJ and Nick turned around to steal a glance at Lauren and Britt. They waved and disappeared into the hallway.
Brittany and Lauren nervously talked to each other. After a half hour, AJ came back into the room.
"Okay, Lauren Leone and Rita Maynard. You're up."
"Good luck," Britt whispered.
"Thanks," Lauren said. AJ walked with Lauren, while the other girl trailed behind.
"You nervous?" AJ asked.
"Kinda," Lauren said. They came to the audition room. AJ turned to the other girl. "You wait here. We'll call you in a minute." The girl nodded shyly. AJ gave Lauren an unexpected kiss on the cheek. "You'll be just fine."
Lauren smiled. "Thanks AJ." He opened the door for Lauren. The other four guys and Fatima sat at a brown folding table. AJ took a seat between Nick and Fatima. Lauren stood and waited patiently for them to begin talking.
"Okay, Lauren Leone, right?" Fatima asked, checking her papers. Then she lightly slapped her forehead. "Oh, of course! You came for help awhile ago, and then you brought your friend for help too, right? How'd that go?"
Lauren chuckled. "It went great, actually." AJ gave her a wink.
"Okay, sounds good. So tell us a little bit about yourself and why you're here."
"Well, I'm seventeen. I'm originally from Rhode Island, but my dad was transferred here to Orlando. I've been dancing ever since I was three. I've always wanted to do something like this, but my parents wanted my main focus to be school. Now that I've graduated early with my best friend, my parents and her parents know how sick of school we were and how much we want to do this. More than anything," Lauren added.
The boys smiled. Fatima nodded approvingly. "Sounds good. Let's get started." She pushed play on the boom box, and Lauren effortlessly floated through the moves. She had never danced so awesome before! The song ended, and Lauren stared at the floor. She gave a silent prayer of thanks to God.
"Great job," AJ spoke up.
Lauren smiled. "Thanks."
"Stay beside your phone between 4:30 and 5:00 this evening. Stay REAL close," Fatima added with a grin.
Lauren smiled got even bigger. "Thanks a lot! Bye." She walked out of the studio and went back to the room Brittany was in. Britt was a nervous wreck; Lauren could tell immediately. But Brittany put on a mask, and smiled when Lauren came back.
"How'd it go?"
"Really well. Oh Britt, I'm so excited!" Lauren exclaimed. Britt gave her a hug. Fifteen minutes later, Nick appeared into the room.
"Okay, Allison Peterson and Brittany Shannon, you're up!"
Britt looked to Lauren for support. She gave her a hug. "You'll do great," Lauren said. "Good luck."
"Thanks, I'll need it."
Nick walked with Brittany on the way to the studio. She was visibly nervous. Nick leaned his head closer to hers. "Britt, don't be nervous."
"Who, me? I'm not nervous."
Nick shook his head. "Okay. Allison, you're up first. Go on in." Allison opened the door and went in. Nick turned to Britt. "I'm telling you, you'll do fine. Promise me." He reached in his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper and a pen. "Give me your number so we can go out and celebrate tonight."
Britt grinned. "335 - 0186."
"Good," Nick said, scribbling furiously. "I'll see ya tonight." He walked into the room, and closed the door behind him. A few minutes later, Nick poked his head out of the door.
"Okay, we're ready for you."
Britt took a deep breath and walked in. Fatima welcomed her with a warm smile. "Hello Brittany!"
"Hi," Britt replied sheepishly. "I'm sorry, I'm really nervous."
Fatima shook her hand to wave Britt off. "Don't be silly. There's nothing to be nervous about. We're just going to ask you some questions and then you can dance for us. How's that?"
Sounds simple enough, Britt thought. "Okay."
"So, why are you here?"
"Well, I love to dance. I've been dancing to my mom and dad's music ever since I was very young. I've been taking hip-hop classes since I was ten, and I've gone to teen clubs since the day I turned thirteen. I never though about being a professional dancer until my friend Lauren convinced me. She's here today."
"Oh yes, she's a great dancer. She's number one on our list so far."
Great! So we can both do this. Thank goodness. A wave of relief washed over her.
"I think we can get started. Brian, turn on the music please."
Once Brittany started to dance, there was no stopping her. She, like Lauren, was doing the best dancing she had ever done! She didn't make one mistake. She was doing so well! The song ended, and the Boys smiled.
"Nice job, Brittany! Stay beside your phone tonight between 4:30 and 5. If you don't get a call from us, you didn't make it. But I wouldn't worry about it. You'll be getting a call!"
Britt punched her fist into the air. "Yes!"
The guys laughed, and Brittany was suddenly very embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that."
Fatima again waved her off. "No problem at all. We'll be in touch!"
Brittany walked out of the door and found Lauren.
"How'd it go?" Lauren asked anxiously.
"I think we're in!" Brittany squealed.
LINKS
INDEX
Make It Index
Chapter Four
