Rehearsals

Chapter 3- Rehearsals 

“From the top!” I yelled.

I stood in my backyard, glaring face to face with the busy street. Ari was on my right and much to his dismay, Jackson was on my left. The fierce wind smacked us in the face but we stood there in performance stance. I ran over to the stereo, smashed my index finger on the play button and ran quickly back to my position. As we awaited for the beat of the song to begin, I could hear both Ari and Jackson’s groans. They wanted nothing more than to leave. I'm quite sure they’d rather be lying, unarmed in a room full of bears than to be stuck here dancing, but I didn’t care. I refused to be taunted and harassed for the rest of my high school years. I seemed to be the only one serious about becoming popular and having a good reputation. I know that this performance will not only go down in Whilimena High history, it will make everyone love us.

The beat began and I mouthed the opening words to myself:

 

I know I maybe young,

But.

I got feelings too.

And I need to do.

What I feel like doing.

So let me go.

And just listen.

Once the beginning verse began, I broke into fierce choreography. Whenever I danced it felt like nothing else mattered, but in the case, a lot mattered. Even though I was looking straight ahead, I could feel Ari and Jackson weren’t in sync with me, or each other. I turned around to watch them and they looked like they were trying to kill a bug off a wall. A really big bug. 

I stopped the music.

 “Right, left, down, up, Jackson your off beat”  I scolded.

 “Chill out, I'm trying!"

“Right, left, down, up! Guys, It's not that hard"

“Easy for you to say” they muttered under their breathe.

“Guys, guys, come on”

“Em! We suck!” Jackson yelled

“We can't have that kind of attitude! With that kind of attitude we will suck! Now from the top!”

“Ugh” Ari and Jackson yelled together.

I ran over to stereo again, pushed play and ran back to my position. 

When the beat began, I mouthed the opening words to myself:

 

I know I maybe young,

But.

I got feelings too.

And I need to do.

What I feel like doing.

So let me go.

And just listen.

We began the routine and I decided to slow it down a bit, for their sake. Once we got to bridge of the song, Jackson stood in the middle attempting the belly dancing part. Jackson hated it so much, he said it was “ way too gay” for him, and he did not want to be caught dead doing it. 

Right when Jackson put his hands in the air and pushed out his belly, a jeep with no roof pulled up right by us. It packed with a group of familiar looking guys. They all got out the car, and walked towards us, all wearing the same varsity jackets. It was Cody and his little posse.

“What up f*****s?” he said, staring solely at Jackson and I.

“What do you want?” I asked him

The boys just looked at us and burst into laughter.

“Where here to dance!”

They all started singing “Hit Me Baby One More Time” mimicking us.

Jackson always said he didn’t care what people say, but I could tell he was embarrassed to the max.

They took out their phones taking pictures. Jackson tried smacking the phone out of one of guys’ hand but they grabbed him, pushing him to the ground. Jackson tried getting back up and fighting them.

“Jackson stop!” I yelled, pulling him back.

“Yeah that’s right, control your boyfriend f*g” Cody said to me

They all turned around going back to their car.

“F**s!” they chanted, then started singing “Hit Me Baby One More Time” as they drove off.

Jackson stormed into the house. Ari and I ran after him.

"I’ll catch up with you in a sec, I left something upstairs" Ari said.

 I didn’t recall Ari ever taking anything upstairs but I didn't question, I just nodded.

 “Jackson!" I yelled "Jackson, don't worry about them, their idiots, don't let them get to you"

"Em, you don't get it"

"Get what?" He shook his head, rolling his eyes. “What?” 

"I don't want to do this.”

"I'm aware of that, but you don't have a choice sir" I said laughing, but from the looks of his face, he didn't find it funny.

"See! That’s it right there!"

"What!?"

"You controlling me, you’re always bossing me around like I'm some kind of slave."

"Imma slaaavvveee for you" I sang, jokingly.

"I'm serious!"

"Jackson, I don’t make you do anything, you have the right to say no"

“If I say no, you'll get mad and start acting like a little b***h."

I jerked my head back, raising my eyebrows. Jackson never called me a b***h before.

"I'm sorry,” I said, “I didn't know you felt this way. I'll make it up to you, Ill cut the whole belly dancing part”

"You’re still not getting it, Em"

"Getting what Jackson?" I yelled starting to get slightly irritated.

"There isn't gunna be a next time."

I paused. I knew if I responded right away, I would've stuttered on every single last word because I was upset. 

"What? We need you!"

"We? Me and Ari don't even do anything, we suck at the routine that you’re clearly better at. You only want to do this so you can be popular, you don’t care about me or Ari!"

"T-that's not true, I-"

"You what?"

“Jackson, please”

"I'll be the laughing stock of the school, if I'm dancing on stage for a fa-”

He stopped and looked away from me. Although he caught himself, we both knew what he wanted to say. I couldn't believe that Jackson was seriously angry with me. Honestly, I've never seen him this mad since that sleep over we had. "I'm outta here" he said, walking out my door.

“Jackson I'm sorry!”

He slammed the door in my face.

I turned around hoping Ari was still in the house so I could tell her what just happened.

 “Ari?” I called

I forgot she mentioned she was upstairs. I walked up and just started telling her everything assuming she could hear me.

“I don't even know what his problem is! I cut out the belly roll like he wanted! Am I missing something here?” There was no response. “Ari?” I called

I went in my room and couldn’t help but notice that it was the same as it was when I left it like four hours ago. Where the hell did she go?

“Ari?” I called “Where the hell are you?”

I knocked on the bathroom door, “Ari you in there?”

No response.

I figured she might have just went home or something, but then a loud noise came from the room on the left. My parents room. I slowly walked over to it, and for some reason my heart started racing. The door had already been opened, so I slowly walked over to it, and walked in. 

“Ari?”

She jumped up so fast I swear I thought she was about to fly out the sealing.

“Oh! Em! Oh hey!” She yelled in embarrassment. Her face was beat red.

“What are you..”

“Oh! I was just looking for umm some of your mother’s deodorant, all that dancing has me smelling awful” 

I stood there in relief, but I didn't know what of. “Why didn’t you just go in my room? I have some, better than this crap”  I said grabbing my mother's terrible off brand deodorant off her dresser.

"Hey what happened with Jackson?" She asked, changing the subject.

"I guess he quit"

"Awe man, I was so looking forward t-"

"Quit the act Ari, I know you don’t want to do it either"

"Whatever do you mean, of course I do”

Her lying was just terrible.

"Am I controlling?" I asked.

"ahhhummm, well you want me to lie? You know how bad I am at that"

"Seriously Ari! Jackson got all mad at me saying I’m too controlling, what the hell is his problem?”

"Well....you did kind of force us to do this talent show...

“I didn’t force you?”

“Well, you didn't even ask if we wanted to do it. But we love you, so we just go along with it." 

I didn't think I was controlling, I thought I was pretty fair. If they didn't want to do the f*****g talent show they could have said something. 

"But don’t worry about him Em, he's just upset, It'll all blow over by tomorrow, Jackson will forget all about it."

I shrugged my shoulders.

"Yeah, I guess"

The next day at school, Jackson was clearly still upset, because he was ignoring me the whole day. I honestly didn’t understand why he so pissed off at me, all I wanted was for us to be perfect. He’s the one always telling me to man up and don’t listen to what people say, yet he’s the one letting people get to him. Why is he such a hypocrite?

Half of the day had already gone by and Jackson still was ignoring me, so I decided to make the first move and just apologize. As I walked through the hallways looking for him, I froze, gazing at the walls in the hallway in agony. Pictures of Jackson doing his much dreaded belly dance, was splattered all over them. Apparently when Cody took pictures of us yesterday, he decided to share them with the entire student body. 

I came across, Ari who was already snatching them off the walls, yelling at people for looking at them and laughing. "Help me take 'em down, Em" She asked me, I nodded. I began ripping off all the pictures and soon enough, Jackson walked by. We met eyes and from the looks of him, he wasn't a happy camper. He talked to Ari a bit, but I couldn't hear because they were a few feet away, I guess he was probably thanking her for taking down the pictures. Soon enough he looked at me then walked the opposite direction.

"Is he mad at me?" I asked Ari, already knowing the answer.

"You’re not exactly his favorite person at the moment, but he doesn't hate you,

he'll get over it, just help me take these down."

I gazed at the floor confused. "What did I do? How is this even my fault?" I asked.

Ari gave me that look, as if I wasn't getting something, she rolled her eyes, continuing down the hallway snatching off the pictures. I pulled on her right arm.

"Ari, wait!"  She turned and looked at me. "Am I missing something here?!"

Her face paused, and became a little irritated. 

"You don't get it Emmy...."

"Get what!"

I had a feeling that Ari wanted to yell at me but the annoying security guard ordered us to get to class. 

"Just leave Jackson alone right now" she said.

I didn’t realize that I was late to fifth hour, and to make matters, so was brown haired boy. He still sported that a*****e-ish smirk on his face. He was the epitome of a d****e, and I couldn't stand him but God was he gorgeous. Those hazel-grey eyes just wouldn't quit, I couldn't stand it. 

We walked in at the same time, and he rushed right in as if he didn't see me.

"Aah my two tardies” Mr.Elzik said aloud “Well you guys weren't here to pick partners, so I put you both down" He handed me the project paper and after looking at it, I saw that brown haired boy's name was Eli Carter. Me and everyone in that room could tell Eli didn't want to be partners with me, even Mr. Elzik, who I believed did this on purpose for his own enjoyment. 

I wanted to know what Eli's deal was, but the vibe he was giving off made it seem like he wanted to beat the s**t out of me, so I stayed quiet and to my seat. He kept looking at me, like he was disgusted. I could hear him mumbling under his breath on how much he suddenly hated this class and wanted change it. I was highly uncomfortable and a tad bit embarrassed, but I knew I'd encounter this type of bullying in some part of my life here. 

After class was over, all I could think about was talking to Jackson. I darted out the room and I couldn't help but feel empty as if I left something. I looked down at my hands and noticed I wasn't carrying my binder, or anything for that matter. I turned around and headed back to fifth hour, but as I walked in I saw Eli talking to Mr. Elzik. I quickly walked out the room but stayed close enough to hear the conversation between them.

"You got to let me switch partners Elzik" Eli pleaded 

"Nope Mr. Carter, all decisions are final."

"But that's not even fair!"

"Should've been to my class on time"

"Can I do it alone?"

"No, this project requires a group of two or more."

"Mr. Elzik please I'll do extra work!"

"Why the hell would I want more s**t to grade?"

 "I can't work with that kid!"

"What's the problem with...?” Mr. Elzik paused, I'm assuming he was looking for my name, "Emerson Dale?"

I felt a relief of some sort, because finally the question I've been burning to ask has been asked and it's even better that someone else had asked it. I waited for Eli's response. I wanted nothing more than just to hear him say it, but he didn't. He gave Elzik a cold stare and dashed out the room.