38A steady rap beat pounded through the gym as the small high school population bounced as a unit to the beat. Madison and Jessica convinced Spike and Kody that the best spot was right in front of the speaker. Spike held Madison close as they moved to the beat the best they could without looking stupid. Kody didn't deny that he couldn't dance and awkwardly bobbed his head as Jessica revealed her hidden passion for dance. She had spent the past three years signing up for dance team try-outs and never building up the nerve to actually go. She watched all their performances carefully, and then when she got home, would practice their moves in front of her mirror. Though her outfit limited her mobility, she had enough moves to put the dance captain to shame.
Madison watched as her friend mimicked the dance team performance from the homecoming assembly the day before. Jessica had practiced the routine for hours after school and was excited to hear the song played by the DJ. A few students stopped to watch her, including a few members of the dance team. She closed her eyes and pictured each action in her mind as she felt her body move through the steps. When the last beat sounded, the students who had been watching applauded. Jessica opened her eyes and saw a circle of people around her. She felt her face go red.
"I didn't know you could dance like that," Madison said with a huge smile.
"Well I, um-"
"Excuse me, dancing girl?" the dance team captain asked, getting Jessica's attention. "Are you new?"
"No, actually I've been going to school with you for a few years now."
"Jessica Hills? Oh my god, you look amazing. I didn't know you could move like that."
"Thanks, I guess."
"Do you want to be on the dance team? I mean, you'd have to try out officially and everything, but we could definitely hold a spot for you."
"Um, I don't-I'm not-"
"She'd love to," Madison answered for her.
"Madison-"
"Great! Well, I'll catch you in the hall sometime and give you details. We could really use someone like you."
Jessica turned around, completely embarrassed. "I can't believe that just happened."
"What?" Madison asked, not sure what part of the past three minutes she was referring to.
"Ann Phelps hasn't talked to me ever. She's the captain of the dance team, and the reason I haven't tried out. And now, out of nowhere she wants me to join," Jessica explained. "It just seems surreal."
"Are we going to stand around and talk or bust a move?" Kody asked, as he bobbed to the next song that was playing.
"Dance with me Kody," Jessica said, finding a new-found confidence.
Madison went back to her date. Spike held her waist close against his and kissed her unexpectedly. She gave him a 'what was that for' look, he responded with a 'just because' smile.
"You're so beautiful."
"Thanks. You're not so bad yourself."
The night continued at a quick pace. Spike held Madison as close as he could all night, too afraid to let her go. Madison caught herself searching the vicinity for Jay and Amy, then pulled her eyes back to Spike and smiled, knowing she was happy now. Her heart melted when he sang 'Take My Breath Away' into her ear, as it played as the last slow song of the night. Madison felt a tap on her shoulder and lifted her head to see Kody.
"May I cut in?"
Madison looked at Spike for a response. He gave a weak smile and stepped back, letting the two old flames dance to what he thought was one of the most romantic songs written. He watched them dance a bit, then decided it best if he helped himself to some refreshments instead. Jessica was leaning against the punch table, watching the crowd of dancers.
"Hey, having fun with Preppy Boy over there?"
"I'd be having more fun if my date hadn't spent the last hour staring at your date," Jessica replied coolly.
"Ooh harsh."
"I mean, I wasn't expecting him to be a total Prince Charming, but he could at least pretend to be interested in me."
"Yeah, well, if it makes you feel better he just stole my date."
"How is that supposed to make me feel better?"
"I'm not sure," Spike laughed. "I guess if I shared my pain, we could both feel pathetic."
"We're not pathetic, ."
"Well, I'm not going to be dance-less for the last song, so will you dance with me?"
"The infamous Spike Dayton asking me for a dance," Jessica joked as she wrapped her arms loosely around his neck, "I thought this day would never come."
- - -
Monday at school, the whole senior class congratulated Summer on her victory of Homecoming Queen. Kody left for New York that morning, leaving Madison both heart broken and relieved. She felt she was finally ready to move on. She knew the only way she could get past all her old feelings was to focus on her few ones. There was something in the way Spike looked at her that made her feel perfect.
Madison headed into the library for yet another lunch alone, when Spike stopped her at her locker.
"Hey beautiful."
"Hey, what's up?" Madison asked with a sweet smile.
"Were you about to go eat in the library?"
"I always eat in the library," Madison admitted.
"Well not anymore, you're my girlfriend now, so I'm sorry but you have to hang out with me."
"So that's it? Two dates constitutes as official girlfriend status around here? Demanding aren't we?" Madison asked sarcastically.
"Come on, you know you want to," Spike said with a boyish grin.
"I wasn't exactly saying 'no'."
Spike kissed her cheek. "Did Preppy Boy leave?" he asked as he took her hand and led her through the emptying hallway.
"Yeah, this morning," Madison said nonchalantly as she followed Spike. "Is it wrong that I don't really miss him?"
"Sounds fine to me. But then again, I'm a little biased."
"I'm sorry I put you through that."
"It's totally my issue Madison, don't worry about it."
"I just feel-"
"Don't. I will not have my girlfriend feeling anything but utter happiness."
Madison looked over at him, and for the first time in a long time, felt at home.
The couple sat down on the front steps of the school, soon to be joined by Jay, Amy, Mike and Alex. Madison set her diet coke and small bag of graham crackers down next to her. She opened the soda and took a few sips, too nervous to eat. She had become comfortable with Spike, but every time she saw Jay and Amy together she felt sick.
"See, this is where the cool people hang out," Spike said, as his group of friends sat down around him.
"So by association, I'm now cool?" Madison joked.
"If I think you're cool, then you're cool," Jake said with a smile.
"Glad I got your seal of approval." Madison leaned in and gave him a quick kiss.
Jay didn't say anything to Madison as he sat a few steps above her, Amy glued to his side. Mike and Alex sat below Spike, but turned to face the group. Madison felt like the center of attention, and her anxiety grew. She sipped on her coke, while staring at her feet.
"Babe is that all you're having?"
"I'm not really a lunch person," Madison answered.
"But you're still an eating person right?"
"Yeah," she answered slowly.
"Good, 'cause I dated this chick once who was anorexic and it totally creeped me out."
"Crept," Madison corrected.
"What?"
"It totally crept you out."
"Heh, yeah.I feel dumb now."
"Well, that's because you are," Mike said.
"Yeah, try to work a little harder on your low self esteem you stupid freak," Alex laughed.
"Ha ha, how 'bout you shut up."
"Or what? You're going to kick my ass?"
"I might just have to."
"Ladies, please," Jay interrupted. "Don't shed blood on the steps of such a fine institution."
"Ooh, busting out the SAT words," Mike joked.
"Institution is not an SAT word," Amy said.
"Hence my joke," Mike rebutted. He had never liked Amy. He thought she was too young, too fake and too dumb to hang out with them, even if she was Jay's girlfriend.
Mike Lexing, Jay and Spike had been friends since the fourth grade. They did a class project together on their favorite toy, their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figure set. Instead of actually making their presentation, they spent all of their preparation time playing. Mike's first overnight was with Jay and Spike. Ever since, he had not only been their best friend, but he felt a certain need to make sure they didn't make any mistakes when it came to girls. The fact that Madison showed up to his party gave her 'brownie points' from the beginning, because he respected that even though she didn't know anyone, she still made the effort.
Alex Strohng didn't join the group until middle school, when he moved to Pleasanton. Mike befriended him at a video game tournament held by the school's AV club. He was a closer friend with Mike than he was with anyone else in the group, but was still welcomed, for his video game skills have yet to be matched. Spike often referred to him as the 'token nerd', but all in good fun.
Madison watched as the group continued making fun of each other in the way she missed making fun of Amanda and Kody. Though she was well into her first month at Pleasanton High, she still missed her life back in New York; and for the first time in what seemed like a long time, she thought about her mother. She actually kind of missed her.
Though Madison and her mother were never really close, they still had a relationship. Every tennis match Madison played in, her mother was there for encouragement. Every unexpected, yet highly urgent, trip to the mall, her mother stepped up to take control over. Every A+ that showed up on Madison's report card, her mother was there to give a small smile. Though in her presence, Madison always felt she wasn't good enough for her mother, but deep down she knew she was overreacting. She thought about how her mother looked at her when she pierced her nose. A look of disgust, disappointment, and disapproval all rolled into one, spread across her normally calm face. Madison momentarily felt bad for going against her mother's wishes, but in a way, it seemed the only way she wouldn't become a total clone of her. Madison couldn't let that happen, so she used every escape she could, but now she wondered if her mother really was just trying to make her a good person.
"A very interesting coke bottle?" Spike's voice brought Madison out of her thoughtful trance.
"Huh? Oh, I was just-I was just thinking."
"'Bout what?"
"Nothing really."
"Like, why it's called 'cargo' if it goes by boat, but a 'shipment' if it goes by truck?" Alex asked.
"Um, not exactly." Madison said quietly.
"Or like, who was the first person to go up to a cow and say 'hey, I think I'll squeeze these little dangly things and drink the first thing that comes out'?" Mike pondered.
"Or how it's like, like how the sun is always in your eyes, even though you're like, totally not in the same place?" Amy questioned in her annoyingly high pitched voice.
Everyone turned to face her, and for a split second, Madison thought she saw Jay roll his eyes. She smiled sweetly and responded with "Yeah, something like that."
- - -
Jessica wiped her sweaty palms on the thighs of her jeans. Her breath was shaky, her hands trembled, and her anxiety grew. Ann Phelps had asked her earlier that day if she was available for an audition, and without thinking how nerve-racking it would be, she said yes. She stood outside the empty gymnasium an hour after the last bell. Jessica looked over her shoulder constantly, searching for Madison. She went over in her head the steps she had rehearsed during lunch. She had asked Madison to watch and lend support, knowing she'd need it.
"Jessica?" Ann seemed to come out of no where.
"Um, yeah?" Jessica stammered.
"Are you ready?"
Jessica checked over her shoulder one last time before following Ann into the gym. A small gasp escaped her mouth as she looked around the practically empty room. It hadn't occurred to her that she would have to audition in front of the entire dance team. Forty, skinny, athletic, experienced dancers were sitting in the first two rows of the bleachers. Roughly ten girls from each grade stared back at her with judgment in their eyes. No one wanted to train a new person, even the freshman.
"Do you have your music and everything?" Ann asked, in an almost professional way.
"Um, yeah," was all Jessica could manage as she rummaged around her messenger bag for her mixed CD.
Ann took the CD and placed it in a small boom box plugged into the wall.
"You can change now, if you'd like. I suppose you won't be dancing in jeans," Ann almost laughed at the thought.
"Um, yeah, okay." Jessica put down her bag and nervously pulled off her baggy Duke sweatshirt. The cold gym air pierced her bare skin, revealed by the small tank top she wore underneath her sweatshirt. Her eyes fixated themselves on the floor as she slowly unbuttoned her loose jeans, revealing a pair of very short, very tight athletic shorts. She took her hair down out of its normal twist and put it up in a tight, high ponytail. Out of nervous habit, she cracked her knuckles, hoping the next four minutes would go by quickly.
Ann pressed the play button and a steady beat streamed from the speakers. Jessica made her way to what seemed like an appropriate place to perform. She closed her eyes and let the intro of the song wash over her, preparing for the routine she was about to do. The first real beat hit and she nailed it. "Strong arms, head pop, cross, spin, jump-pop-pop," Jessica thought over and over. Her body had gone cold from her nerves. At one point, she let go of her tension and let the music take her body over. Eight count after eight count she performed perfectly. Her muscles stretched in ways she thought almost impossible.
Jessica felt her eyes open as she hit the last eight count. The dance team starred at her in awe, they had never seen talent like hers. Small beads of sweat had formed along her brow and she wiped them off as she returned to her pile of clothes. As Jessica began to dress again, she caught a glimpse of Madison standing in the doorway, giving her a big smile.
"That was amazing," Ann said.
"Thanks, I've been wanting to try out for a while."
"We could really use someone like you. Can you be here tomorrow morning at six thirty for practice?"
"Six thirty? In the morning?" Jessica was used to waking up ten minutes before she had to be at school.
"It's the only time we can get the gym all to ourselves."
"Um, it's kind of earlier than I'm used to."
"Six thirty take it or leave it."
Jessica looked back at Madison who gave her an 'it's up to you' look.
"Six thirty tomorrow, I'll be her."
"Great."
Jessica hurried over to Madison. "I can't believe I actually did it."
"It's all part of the new you," Madison said with a smile.
"A new hair do, a new crowd of friends.a girl could get used to this."
"Just wait till we make-over your wardrobe."
Jessica linked arms with her new best friend. "Madison, you're awesome."
"Thanks, I do what I can."