Natalia walked into the ‘Step In Style’ dance studios and smiled at a few familiar faces. It had become a second home to her over the past 4 years. An old family friend owned the studios and he had generously allowed her to use one of them in the 6 pm – 7pm time slot. There weren’t any classes scheduled then so she was free to use them at no cost. The fact that he let her use the studio for free was greatly appreciated. If it weren’t for that, she wouldn’t have been there. She didn’t have the luxury of being able to pay out for things like that. It wasn’t a necessity and necessities were about all she could afford right then.
As she passed studio 4 she peeked through the window in the door. She couldn’t help but smile at what she saw. Justin was repeating a dance move over and over but he was just not getting it and each time he sighed angrily before moving himself back into position to begin again.
She continued to watch as another young man, who she didn’t recognise, approached Justin and tried to show him where he was going wrong. Justin put his hand up and waved the person away.
She shook her head. “Stubborn.”
A face appeared on the opposite side of the glass and she jumped back, holding a hand to her chest in fright.
The door swung open and she immediately wanted to run away and dig a hole to hide herself in. She’d been caught spying on Justin and she knew he would hear about it, causing him to be even cockier than he was already.
“Great,” she muttered to herself as she was faced with a grinning man, one of Justin’s groupmates.
“Hi I’m Chris,” he announced, slightly bouncing on the spot.
She smiled slightly. “Hi,” she whispered before turning, planning on a quick escape. If she could get out of there quickly he might be none the wiser.
“Hey wait up,” Chris said loudly, reaching out and grabbing her arm.
She slowly pivoted and smiled nervously at him.
“And who might you be?”
“Natalia,” she heard someone call from behind Chris. “Is that you?”
She inwardly cringed. Too late, she’d been caught. She took a deep breath and mustered up a smile for him. “Hi Justin.”
“What are you doing here?” he asked curiously. His curiosity was replaced by smugness pretty fast. “Oh I get it. You just couldn’t stay away could you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah Justin, you caught me. Got it in one there. I was just pining away for you and couldn’t stand to be away from you any longer.” Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.
Chris tried to stifle a giggle unsuccessfully and was quickly given “the look” by Justin.
“I could do without the sarcasm you know. So what’s happening really?” He looked between Natalia and Chris for an answer.
Chris shrugged casually. “I just caught her spying is all.”
Natalia turned to Chris open-mouthed.
“What?” he asked defensively. “You were!”
Justin smiled smugly. “So did you see anything you like?”
She turned to Justin, equally as smug. “Just you making an ass of yourself.”
This time Chris didn’t try to hide the laughter. “Oh that’s something new,” he finally managed.
Justin threw his arms up. “What is this, shit on Justin day?”
“So you two know each other?” Chris asked ignoring Justin. “Oh wait, don’t tell me you’re one of them!”
“One of who?” she asked in confusion.
“A Justin lover.” He shuddered exaggeratedly.
Justin hit Chris in the chest and scowled at him.
“Let me state this clearly for you. I am not, and never will be a “Justin lover” as you put it.”
“Don’t be so sure of that,” Justin whispered.
“Huh?”
He looked at her, eyes wide. “Nothing.”
“So you’re Natalia?”
“Yeah.”
He studied her for a second. “That still doesn’t help me.”
“She’s Miss Ballerina,” Joey shouted from inside the studio. He gave the confused girl a smile and a wave.
“Ohhhhhh,” Chris nodded in recognition.
Natalia looked on in confusion. She felt like she’d just gate-crashed some secret club where only members knew what the hell anyone was talking about.
Justin pushed Chris through the open door and swiftly pulled it shut. He smiled at Natalia as Chris pounded on the window. “So you were spying huh?”
She looked from Chris to Justin and sighed. “I wasn’t spying. I was merely seeing what was going on. I seem to remember someone else doing the same thing just a few days ago,” she pointed out.
“Yeah whatever,” he muttered, unconvinced.
She turned away from him, shaking her head. “See you later Justin.”
He watched as she walked a couple of doors down and entered another studio. “You can count on it babe,” he called out, laughing.
She poked her head back into the hall, raising her eyebrows in warning before returning inside.
Justin chuckled to himself as he walked back into the room for the continuation of his gruelling rehearsal.
30 minutes later she had pushed herself until she was breathless. There was nothing like pushing yourself to the limit to rid yourself of the day’s troubles.
She walked over to the stereo and pressed stop, instantly the pounding music ceased and was replaced by clapping. She looked up. Justin. The music had been so loud she hadn’t heard his entrance. She had been so lost in herself that she hadn’t felt his presence. How long he had been there she couldn’t tell.
“Very good.” He walked towards her, clad in a wifebeater and cargo pants. “You know we have an awards show coming up soon. We have auditions for dancers next week.”
“Do you?” she replied monotonously.
“You should try out.”
Natalia sipped her ice cold water before answering. “No thanks,” she replied, shaking her head.
“Come on Natalia, you know you’re good. Why don’t you give it a try?”
She shook her head again. “I don’t think so.”
“I don’t understand why you’re not dancing professionally. You obviously enjoy it otherwise you wouldn’t be here now. Is it because of me? Is that why you don’t want to try out?”
She sighed. “It’s not because of you Justin.”
“Then what is it?” he probed.
“I’m busy all next week. Now if you’ll excuse me I only have 15 minutes left in here. I kinda wasted a bit of time earlier,” she said pointedly.
He watched as she turned back to the stereo and changed CD’s. Once again the studio was filled with the heavy beat of a hip hop track. He bit the inside of his cheek, thinking for a second. He finally turned and left her alone in the room.
She glanced up just in time to see his retreating form disappear before once again getting lost in the music.
“Wade!”
“What Justin?” he asked impatiently from where he was talking Joey through a sequence of complicated steps.
“Come ‘ere a sec.”
“Can’t you see I’m busy?” he replied, not taking his eyes off Joey’s feet.
“Please,” Justin begged. “It’ll only take a minute.”
He sighed. “Joey keep on that.” He walked to meet Justin where he stood in the doorway. “Now what do you want? You should be in there with the others.”
“Come see this.” He motioned with his hand.
“This better not be one of your jokes Justin ‘cause I swear I’m not in the mood for it.”
Justin rolled his eyes. “Just keep your hair on, you’ll see.”
Wade followed Justin until he came to an abrupt stop, nearly causing him to collide with the pop star. “Watch it will you!”
Justin pointed.
“What are you doing?” he asked getting increasingly frustrated.
Justin rolled his eyes. “Just look.”
Wade’s eyes followed the direction of Justin’s finger. “I’m looking but I’m not getting.”
“What do you see?”
“A girl.”
“And?”
“A very cute girl.”
Justin hit Wade playfully. “I’m supposed to be the hormonal one here.”
Wade laughed lightly. “Justin can you just get to the point.”
“Okay, okay. So you know that awards show coming up?”
“Yeah,” Wade said warily.
“We’re using dancers right?”
“Uh huh.” Yep, he knew it. Justin was plotting.
“Do you think she’d make the cut?”
Wade turned to look at the girl in question. He’d only watched her for a few seconds but she was good, he could tell that right off.
“Justin this isn’t one of your twisted ideas to get laid is it? If that’s the case I don’t want anything to do with this. The last thing I need is a dancer walking out at the last minute because you’ve broken her heart.”
Justin scowled at Wade. “This isn’t about me getting laid.” He was fed up with the reputation he was getting lately. He was starting to know what Joey felt like. So he had been out on a few dates. He was entitled to, he was young. “Just answer my question will you? Would she make the cut?”
Wade was shocked with Justin’s current mood swing and he nodded carefully. “Yeah I think she’d make it.”
“There’s just one problem.”
He should have guessed. “And what would that be Justin?”
“She kinda don’t want to…or can’t come to the auditions.”
“And?”
“And I was wondering if you’d just take her on here and now.” Justin’s forehead creased as he thought. “That probably didn’t come out right but you know what I mean.”
“I can’t just hire her now.”
“Why not?” Justin whined.
“Because it would be unfair to all the other people trying out.”
“And?”
Wade rolled his eyes and turned his back on Justin.
“Where are you going?” Justin cried. “Wade come on!”
He stopped just short of ‘N SYNC’s designated studio. He sighed in defeat. “Okay, okay. If you can get her to the auditions then I’ll see what I can do.”
Justin smiled triumphantly. “Wade! You. Are. The. Man.”
Chapter 7
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