“That’s where I recognized you from!” Genevieve’s voice makes us turn around. “You were in Bella Snow’s videos.”
“I was,” Jodie confirms.
Genevieve claps her hands, jumping up and down with a high-pitched squeal. “Omg. You’re gonna be selected for sure. Carole and Lexi follow Bella Snow, and they’ll have seen you. Besides, they’re looking exactly for our kinds of body types. They like their dancers tall and thin.”
Her words hit home. My short stature and my tendency to have curves have always been deep insecurities of mine. I’ve always trained hard and watched my diet, but I’ll always have boobs and an ass, no matter how low the number I see when I jump on the scale. And at almost twenty-two-years-old it’s safe to say that five three is the tallest I’ll ever be. Jodie is five eleven and Genevieve must be around five nine. They’re both willowy thin, built like ballet dancers.
“Thank you for the encouragement.” Jodie’s tone is clipped. “But physical appearance is only one parameter. World-class dancers come in many shapes and sizes, and while I appreciate your vote of confidence, this isn’t helpful to other girls.”
Genevieve’s hand goes to her chest, her eyelashes batting in surprise. “Oh, of course.” Her tone sounds fake, almost staged. “Ididn’t mean anything by it. It was just a mere observation. Your bestie and Talia might still be selected, but I would do them a disservice if I didn’t tell them what Carole told my mom. They’re going to select more girls than what they need for the final roster. And cuts are being made not only based on how quickly you can learn the dozens of dance routines they will teach us during training camp. They’ll also assess the way we look in the uniforms they commission from a super famous designer. If your body type doesn’t look right in the uniform, you’re out. No matter how well you can dance.”
Shit.
The implication is that she thinks these uniforms will be designed to suit a tall, willowy figure like hers and Jodie’s.
“That might be true, Gen.” Talia’s resentment is written all over her face. “But I was just telling Taryn and Jodie that they also want team players. And while uniforms can be tailored and adapted, your attitude needs an adjustment that I don’t think you’ll be able to make.”
Shock is written all over Genevieve’s face. “What about your attitude? You’re so rude. I was only trying to be supportive to two girls who are new in town. You can’t even be nice to me and we’ve gone to school together for two years.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “You always choose to misunderstand everything I say. I was just telling Taryn and Jodie what I know about the selection process to help them make the team, not to make anyone feel insecure. But if the shoe fits…”
Talia’s blue eyes narrow as she glares at her sorority sister. “Then I guess we should thank you for all this helpful information. But if I were you, I’d worry about my own performance. After all, you’re still a candidate too. None of us has made the team yet.”
“Ha,” Genevieve giggles, twirling the end of her dark, long ponytail around her fingers. “True. But my performance ofPink Pony Clubhad the judges riveted. Besides, Carole has known me and has seen me grow as a dancer since I was in diapers. And if I needed anymore reassurance that I’m a shoo-in. The mayor and a few of the other guest judges who were invited to help choose the forty-two finalists had to cancel, and my boyfriend was invited to fill one of those spots.”
“Your boyfriend?” Talia’s eyebrows hit her hairline.
Genevieve’s smile widens. “Yup. They needed five extra judges, and Carole asked Coach Harrison to sit on the panel. And since the team will cheer for the Cove Knights this season, they thought it would be a good idea to get some of the players on the panel. The other four judges are Macklin, Nash, Colsen, and Tucker.”
Talia looks as surprised as I feel about the news. “Mack isn’t your boyfriend anymore. Didn’t you break up with him?”
“We were on a break. He wasn’t giving me the attention I needed. But he’s had a few weeks to miss me now. It’s only a matter of time before he begs me to get back together.”
Talia lowers her voice, her tone now softer and full of genuine compassion. “I don’t know about that, Gen. After you stormed out last night, Mack went home with the girl who was sitting on his lap at the bar.”
“I know.” She shrugs. “Olivia told me. It’s ok, that tourist slut means nothing. Mack is just trying to make me work for it. He hooked up with someone else because he knows that I hooked up with the goalie of the Miami Coyotes while I was in Florida on spring break and we had just broken up. But Mack and I have been together since high school. Our families are close; we’re just meant to be. I know it, and he knows it. And he was in awe of my performance. It was written all over his face.”
Talia crosses her arms over her chest. “So you think you’re in because your on-again, off-again boyfriend was one of the judges?”
A catty glint appears in Genevieve’s eyes. “I sure do. And before you get all weird, you should be guaranteed a spot, too. Your big brother will definitely give you a leg up and ask his teammates to do the same.”
One of the staff pops her head into the changing room to give Talia and Jodie their five and ten-minute warnings.
“It doesn’t matter who is sitting on that panel,” Talia decides. “You’re done with your performance, Gen. But the three of us have to concentrate on crushing our solos. And to do that, Taryn, you need a better outfit.”
Tucker’s sister lowers the zipper of the suit bag she’s been holding all this time.
“Holy shit.” Jodie gasps. “That’s gorgeous. Tar-Tar, you have to listen to Talia. You need to wear that for your solo.”
Talia’s bag contains a two-piece red outfit that sparkles under the lights of the changing room.
The halter top has a plunging neckline, and the skirt features an asymmetrical cut that resembles a flame. Micro red crystals are sawn on the garments, making them catch the light with the tiniest movement.
“Talia.” I gasp. “That’s stunning and it must have cost a fortune. I can’t wear it.”
Jodie agrees. “It’s beautiful, but Taryn is right. Why are you offering it to her?”
“Because I ordered it especially for this tryout and there must have been a mix up with measurements. It’s too big around the chest. Unfortunately, I picked it up on Friday morning, and I only tried it on last night. So there was no way to get it fixed in time. I was going to return it, but you and I are the same heightand shape except for our boobs. You will look amazing in this, Taryn. And it should fit you like a glove.”
