"Beautiful, Anabelle," Maxime calls out. "Activate your core muscles better, and then it'll be perfect."
After what feels like an eternity, the music stops. Gasping for breath, I lean on my knees, trying not to let my disappointment show. I gave it my all, yet Maxime ignored me the entire time. I glance forward, where he's currently explaining how body tension affects posture.
"Now, I want to see each of you individually. Thomas and Nadine, you go first," he says afterward. "The others will observe and learn."
I walk over to the mirrored wall, giving them enough space for their rumba. The first notes of the music sound again. The task is to analyze the two of them, but I can't bring myself to look at them. Because I know everyone else is doing that.
There are only a few seconds when I have the opportunity to sneak a glance at Maxime. I lift my lids, our gazes meet, and immediately, it feels like the dance studio is on fire. No matterhow invisible I felt before, that's over now. He shakes his head with a stern expression, and I bite my lip.
Suddenly, it's quiet.
What happened?
Maxime flinches, and I inhale sharply.
Hesitant applause follows. I hurriedly focus on the dance couple, who hint at a bow in the center of the studio.
"Very good," Maxime says absentmindedly as the applause subsides.
Sky nudges me from the side. "Very good?" she whispers. "Did he even look? Did he see anything?"
Um... I awkwardly shrug, not daring to breathe.
"And what about our analysis? He doesn't want to hear that now?" Sky shakes her head. "They were offbeat most of the time. I don't know, it's weird that he didn't notice, right?"
"Yeah, definitely. Weird," I manage to say, relieved that the music starts again. It's so loud that we can't talk.
Slowly, I release the pent-up air from my lungs and keep my gaze fixed on Anabelle and Leon.
All the couples dance their version of the rumba one by one, and Maxime even has some suggestions for improvement for the other students. Gradually, I learn how this can work until I come up with something better.
No eye contact.
Full focus on the dance.
In my mind, I perform the steps with the couples until everyone has shown their skills.
"Alright, that leaves Aurora. Who will dance with her as a substitute today?" he asks, looking around the room with a challenging gaze. There's a strangely controlled undertone in his voice.
I press the nail of my little finger into the tip of my thumb and look at the potential dance partners. Thomas would be mypreference; he would match me well in terms of proportions and is an excellent dancer.
"You should dance with her," Sky says. Is she crazy? "You two seem like a great match, from what I've heard," she adds with a meaningful tone.
Of course, news about our dance during the audition has spread, not only among the beginners. After all, couple number forty-four was already waiting in the hall and saw us. But why does Sky have to bring it up now... We are friends!
I give her a warning glare and nudge her. She shrugs as if she’s not aware of any wrongdoing. She probably even thinks she did me a favor with her suggestion. I can't oppose that without making it too obvious. My breath catches for a moment.
Now, it all depends on Maxime.
How will he react?
He raises his hands defensively. "Out of the question," he says without further explanation. Then he looks around again. "Don't be shy, gentlemen."
No one volunteers. On the contrary, I see women pulling their dance partners closer to them. Only Sky keeps nudging Liam, but he pretends not to notice.
An uneasy silence fills the room. Tension grips my body.
What now?
