I walked inside studio A. Everyone were already there, warming up. "Iz, hurry up." Emily called me.
I put my bag inside an empty locker and walked towards Em and Steph. "So what's our thoughts?" I asked them while stretched down to my feet.
"Everyone's good." Stephanie said.
"Not as good as us."
"Boo!" Someone grabbed my waist, lifting me higher in the air. Without even looking I could tell it's James.
"Put me down!" I said laughing.
He put me down and I hugged him. "When did you get back?" He asked me.
"Last night." I pulled out of his hold. "You really thought I would miss A-Troupe auditions?"
"Didn't doubt it. Good luck okay?"
"Don't need it!" He walked towards Eldon.
"I can't believe you can actually stand him." Em whispered.
James and I know each other since childhood. He's my best friend.
I got on the floor between Emily and Riley and we did sit ups for a few minutes and then some leg movements.
"Dolphin tail!" Chris called walking inside the studio and everyone copied him. "That, dancers, was the first Dolphin tail of the year. Congratulations."
Everyone clapped happily.
Don't tell Chris I said that, I don't know how his trick works on everybody.
"So, let's begin audition for A-Troupe." Miss Kate said.
Emily, Riley, Stephanie, Tiffany, Gisele and I stood in the corner of the room relaxing until it's our turn to dance.
Each of us is a member of the 'E girls', it's something Emily started when she first joined A-troupe. It's basically called because each of our names ends with E sound, me being Izzy, if I know Emily, and I do, it's probably because her name starts with E.
"Okay, dancers let's do it. Group 1, Daniel, West, Emily and Stephanie." Kate called the four of them went in the centre.
"Go Em! Go Steph!" I cheered.
Kate played the music and Daniel went first. Daniel is a classic Ballet dancer. His pirouettes are perfect, his technique is perfect. He dances amazingly.
Steph went second. Stephanie is more acro than Daniel. Still leans on Ballet but definitely is more Jazz and it has flips and cool stuff.
West went after her. He's a hip hop dancer. He moves his body unrealistically. He's an acro dancer. He's amazing.
Emily went last out of the four. Em's technique is absurdly perfect. Everything she do is perfect, every move. She's a contemporary dancer, just like me. Her fixability is insane.
"Group 2, Beth, Riley, Charlie and Chloe." Kate called them.
Emily fixed Riley's hair just before she went on. "Good luck, Riley." I said to her running towards James.
"We're on the same group apparently." I told him.
"Nah." He replied with a grin.
"Yep. I'll beat you."
"Not in your wildest dreams, Isabel." He looked to his right and smiled weakly at Beth.
"Seriously?" I asked him.
"She still loves me."
"Yeah, yeah." I walked back to the girls as Riley walked on.
Beth went first. Beth is James' ex girlfriend. She's an okay dancer her technique could be better. If she'll be on the team with me and James I would lose my mind. And then, Beth messed up her flip. It took every strength in me not to laugh.
I'm not in love with James. I just don't like that girl. Also, she's a horrible dancer.
Riley went next. I love the way Riley dance. I could see her becoming better than Emily. She's a contemporary dancer, but she has more hip hop in her more than any of us girls do, except for tiffany.
Charlie went after. I don't know him, he looks good. Not good enough for A troupe.
I saw Eldon walking closer to Emily. Probably asking her out again.
I love Eldon but he has to stop this.
Chloe went next. She's a perfect Ballet dancer. Each of us E girls trained her for like an hour a week in the last few months, she's gonna do great.
Tiffany and two B- troupe members that I don't know their names went on.
Tiff is a straight forward hip hop dancer. She knows how to dance ballet if she has to, but that's her comfort zone.
Everyone clapped when they finished. "Okay final group. Eldon, Giselle, James and Isabel."
Everyone clapped. Emily and Riley squeezed my shoulders for good luck.
I saw a girl I've never seen before walking inside. "Um, the auditions are in here, right?" She asked with a hand movement that made it funny.
Usually the studio only allows B and A troupe members audition.
"Everyone take a five." Kate said to everyone.
"Does anyone know who that is?" Emily asked.
"No." We all said.
Her name is Michelle. That's the only thing I know about her.
'Who's that?' I mouthed James. 'How should I know?' He said back.
Meanwhile Emily was walking inside the office to find out what's going on.
After two minutes Emily came back and informed us she's gonna dance. "Let her audition, she would probably make a fool out of herself." Steph said.
"I need a good laugh." Em said.
Now I'm scared.
When Michelle came back the five of us went to the middle. I took some deep breaths trying to calm myself down. "Hey." James whispered squeezing my arm. "You'll be amazing." He said.
"I'm not scared for myself. I'm scared for you, big boy."
"Oh yeah? Watch me." I laughed softly.
I am a bit worried.
"James you're first." Chris said.
James raised his eyebrows at me and then jumped on the floor.
James is a hip hop dancer. One of the best. He's technique is amazing. His flips are perfect.
He pointed on the wall behind us, we made him space, he ran on the wall and flipped backwards. I smiled to myself.
"Izzy!" Kate yelled.
I walked on stage doing a back flip. I followed that with four pirouettes. I just danced to the music. I felt amazing doing it.
I'm dancing in the next step since I was about 4 years old. I'm dancing because I love it. It's making me feel free from everything.
I spin towards James and jumped in the air in split, in his face. I love that we make this more fun.
"Yes Iz!" The girls cheered me.
Eldon went after me. Eldon is a contemporary dancer. His pirouettes are insane. He did better than any of us in the studio.
Giselle went after him. Her dancing is simple and elegant just like ballet.
Michelle went last. She barely started moving and I knew she was amazing. She belongs in A- Troupe.
And that's it. We were done.
I chuckled softly. I was so nervous before. James high fived me. "Thanks for the kick in my face." He said.
"I barely touched you! You almost fell on my leg when you landed from the wall."
"I did not!"
"So did."
"Iz!" Stephanie jumped on my back. "You were so good!"
The E girls were standing far from the rest and we chatting until Steph came over. "Guys, shush. I have news. I googled Michelle, and she is Miss internationals soloist."
"No way!" We all exclaimed.
She's got to be on the team.
"This means nothing to us except for the fact she's a diva." Emily said.
"What?" Me and Riley said confused.
"Do you want a dive on our team?"
"No." We all agreed.
Unless it's her.
The girls went downstairs to get drinks but I stayed in the studio with James and Eldon.
I like to take a step back from the girls sometimes. I love Emily, but she's a bit much sometimes.
"Alright dancers, excuse me." Chris and Kate brought the list just after the girls came back to the studio.
"You guys were Phenomenal. You were amazing. I could tell you put so much effort and energy into that. Remember if you didn't make it this year, there's always next year." Kate said.
"Ready? Congratulations once again." Chris said.
They turned around and put the list on the wall.
I was one of the first people who arrived at the list. The only thing I did was look for my name. At this time it was me. And that's what was important.
And there it was Isabel Jones. Fifth in the list.
I smiled and step out, making way for more people.
I paced around nervously, waiting to hear from the rest. James was the first one to step out after me.
He looked at me. I could not read his face expressions. "Come on don't do this to me." I said.
"A troupe, baby!" He screamed.
I laughed and ran into his arms.
He put me down and smiled at me. "James." Someone called him.
We looked at Beth. "Can we talk for second?" She asked him.
James looked at me and then back at her. "Yeah sure." He walked away with her.
"Iz!" Riley yelled for me, asking without really asking.
"Sure thing!" I replied.
She ran over to me and hugged me so hard we almost fell on the floor.
Riley is like my little sister. I love her with my entire heart.
She let go of me and I looked over at James hugging Beth. "Jealous much?" Riley asked.
"Absolutely not. He's my friend."
"You guys always flirt."
"Because that's how we are. Come on, Ri, it's nothing."