Chapter 4: Danny

“Well, that was a shit show.” Theo looks over at me a few hours later and rolls his eyes. We’re still sitting in the auditorium, going through potential dancers that had tried out tonight. And while his words are harsh, I have to silently agree. Aside from a very, very small handful of dancers, Theo is right. Tonight was a shit show.

I can't stop thinking about Faith. I don't know her well, but I feel like she could be an asset to our dance troupe. Mark and Theo had been right about her inability to loosen up. She seemed insecure on the stage, wary, like if she messed up it would be the end for her. It was clear to me that Faith had demons, ones that were so severe she took to hiding instead of facing them. But as my friends already knew, we all had demons among us.

“I think we should call Faith,” I say as the three of us pack up our bags and make our way out. It’s dark out now, and very few people are still walking around. Home for us is a ramshackle house off-campus. It’s not fancy, but the rent is cheap and it’s a perfect bachelor pad for the three of us.

“I think you’re delusional,” Theo says, twisting the front door handle and pushing the door open. Mark and I follow him, kick off our shoes, and immediately go to the living room and collapse on the worn and tattered leather couch as Theo goes into the kitchen and returns a moment later with three beers. He hands Mark and me ours then pops the cap on his bottle, taking a hefty swig before belching impressively in my direction.

“Thanks, bro.”

“No problem.”

“We’re not going to call Faith,” Mark says finally, looking between Theo and me. It’s the first time he’s really spoken tonight, and I’m a bit caught off guard by his forwardness.

“What’s the problem?” I ask them, swiveling my gaze between Theo and Mark. “We’ve been looking specifically for a ballet dancer, and as soon as she comes along, you both shun her.”

Theo opens his mouth to argue with me and then shuts it again when I hold up a finger.

“Faith might not have been perfect,” I continue. “But she had a whole hell of a lot more talent than anyone else who performed tonight. And she was passionate about the craft, I could tell. All she needs is some practice. She needs to get to know us and learn how to loosen up. I’m telling you guys, if we shut the door on this girl now, we’re going to regret it. It’s time to step up our game if we have any chance of winning this competition. Ever since we lost Sasha to Xander’s team, we haven’t been the same.” My eyes skip between my two friends, who can’t seem to meet my gaze. Losing Theo’s sister had been a blow; not just professionally, but personally, too. “We just don’t have time to train a dancer from scratch like we did with Sasha,” I continue. “Faith is our best bet.”

Mark sighs and taps his index finger on the top of his thigh, looking pensive. “She’s trouble,” he says. “I know it doesn’t seem like it now, Dan, but she’s going to be trouble. I can sense it.”

“The only reason you think that is because she’s hot,” I tell him. “She intimidates us. But as long as none of us fall for her and keep it professional, there shouldn’t be any issues.”

Beside me, Theo scoffs as he takes another drink. “You couldn’t pay me to hook up with an uptight bitch like her,” he says. “The stick up her ass is probably fossilized by now.”

“Play nice,” I warn. “This uptight bitch could be the difference between winning and losing nationals. We have to face the music, boys.”

“She just doesn’t fit in.” Theo shakes his head angrily, the building vein in his neck protruding like it does when something is pissing him off. “Why not just send her to the school dance team and pick someone else for our team? Her friend with the pixie cut did okay. What about her?”

“Everyone who tried out tonight is good enough for the school team,” I insist. “But only Faith is good enough for us.”

“What if she doesn’t want to dance with us?” Mark demands. “She thought she was trying out for that stupid school team. Would she even join the three of us?”

Before I can answer, Theo’s cell phone rings, catching us all off guard. It’s almost ten at night, and a dark expression crosses over Theo’s face as he glances down at the caller ID before answering it.

“Speak of the Devil,” he mutters. “Sasha?”

Mark and I exchange a look. If Theo’s twin sister is calling him at this hour, there’s bound to be trouble. Then again, the trouble hasn’t stopped since Sasha ditched us last year for the opposing school’s dance team—and their douchebag leader, Xander.

“Slow down, Sash,” Theo says soothingly, his dark brows furrowing in concern. “He did what?”

My knuckles tense automatically. I don’t know what’s going on, but if Sasha is hurt or in trouble, our hackles will rise. Theo, Mark, and I have been friends since middle school, and Sasha is just as much a sister to Mark and me as she is to Theo. We’ve always been protective of her, the younger twin and the thought that Xander might have done something to hurt her again has my jaw grinding.

“We’re coming to pick you up,” Theo says into the phone, and Mark and I jump up to get our shoes on without a moment’s hesitation. “You can stay at our place tonight. Just stay where you are and give us ten minutes.” He ends the call, that stormy look hovering over his features, and follows Mark and me silently out to the car.

“She’s in Xander’s dorm,” Theo says as I drive towards our rival’s campus. “She said he hit her.” Theo takes a deep breath that sounds more like a growl and shakes his head. “Apparently he stormed out and hasn’t returned.”

“Fuck that little bitch Xander,” Mark snarls from the back seat. “I hope he’s back by the time we get there because I feel like breaking someone’s fucking nose tonight.”

Silently, I agree, though I don’t say it out loud. This isn’t the first time Xander has physically or emotionally abused Sasha, and so long as she stays with the asshole, it won’t be the last. But we’ve all tried to get her to see reality, and much to our dismay, it’s done nothing but make things more tense between the four of us.

But we’ll keep trying. Probably forever.

I can sense trouble before we even pull into the parking lot of the school’s dorms, and sure enough, as the lights flash over the asphalt and I pull my car to a stop, we catch sight of a group of people hovering around an SUV in the otherwise near-empty lot. I recognize Xander immediately. He’s sitting on the hood with his arm around a girl that isn’t Sasha, and he has a brown paper bag in one hand that he keeps taking a swig from. There are five people who flank him, and each of their steely gazes lands on us as Mark, Theo, and I exit the car.

“Well, well, well,” Xander muses as we approach. “If it isn’t the three amigos here to save the day.”

“Fuck off, Xander,” Theo seethes. “Where’s my sister?”

“I have no idea,” he says, offering the girl next to him the bottle of liquor. “We got into a little squabble, and she told me to leave. So, I did.”

“What kind of a squabble?” Theo demands. “Did you hurt her?”

Xander’s eyes narrow and he shrugs. “Whatever dramatic crisis your crazy sister is going through isn’t my problem, man. Now fuck off.”

I put my hand out to stop him as Theo steps toward Xander. At once, all five of his crew jump to their feet, flanking Xander like he’s some sort of king they’re sworn to protect. On the other side of me, Mark’s lip curls up in a snarl that sends a shiver of apprehension down my back. My friends are ready for blood, but we can’t just come in here and start swinging. Not for the sake of our careers.

“We’re taking Sasha home,” I say steadily, stepping in front of Mark and Theo. “Is she in your room?”

“I’m here,” says a tired voice from behind the SUV, and a second later Sasha appears, looking tired, worn, and ragged, as though she hasn’t slept or eaten a proper meal in days. At first glance, she otherwise appears untouched, but I catch sight of the hand marks and bruises up and down her lower arms before she can hastily cover them when she catches me staring.

“Jesus,” Theo says, his eyes on his sister. “You look like shit, Sash.”

“Thanks, bro.”

“Get in the car,” I tell her. “You’re spending the night with us.”

“Well, hang on now.” Xander finally rises from the hood of the SUV and jumps to the concrete, shoving his hands deep into the pockets of his jacket as he wheels around to look at Sasha, and then at us. There’s a glint in his eye that almost makes me squirm. Fuck, I hate this guy. “Sasha is our girl,” he says. “She stays with me, and she dances with us.”

“Not while you’re putting your douchebag hands all over her,” Theo snarls, his fists clenching and unclenching by his side. “Sasha, get in the car.”

“Stay where you are, baby,” Xander says as Sasha steps towards us. She freezes at once, her tired eyes conflicted, body tense with anxiety. She swallows a lump in her throat and looks at Theo.

“It’s okay, brother,” she says softly. “I’m—I’m fine. I’ll stay here tonight. I was just a little angry earlier, I didn’t mean to freak out.”

“Get in the car,” Theo says, ignoring her plea. “We’re not leaving you here.”

A moment of tense, eerie silence settles over the small crowd of people, but a second later, someone who has been sitting inside the SUV smoking a joint this entire time flicks on the stereo and turns the music up. A loud, jarring bass rattles from the speakers, drowning out everyone’s voices.

I see what’s happening here. We all do.

“Fuck,” I mutter, and Theo and Mark step back, just a little bit, as the rest of Xander’s crew rise to their feet and step forward, flanking him once more.

“You want to fight?” Xander spits, shrugging his jacket off and letting it fall to the cold ground. “Then let’s fight.”

I glance over my shoulder at Theo and Mark as the bass of the hip-hop beat thrums through my body. My eyes scan the lot as I face the opposing team once more, taking in our opponents, all skilled dancers with fierce expressions on their faces. As the beat picks up, I feel my adrenaline spike, and I begin to move, my body responding to the rhythm as I let the music guide me into the chaos of this battle. My arms fly up, my legs kicking out in a series of sharp, precise movements. Xander steps back, his eyes glinting, watching me. A moment later, Mark and Theo join in, jumping in right on time, their bodies moving to the beat, swaying, jerking in precise movements that would leave the average person blown away. A sheen of sweat settles on my forehead as my blood begins pumping like crazy through my veins.

With a sudden scoff, Xander responds with his own series of moves, his body fluid and controlled as he matches me step for step. We circle each other, our eyes locked in a heated stare-down that sends a prickle of rage through my body.

The crowd behind Xander cheers us on, urging us to go harder, faster, and better. Sweat drips down my face as I push myself to the limit, my body moving in ways I haven’t attempted in months. With each passing second, the intensity grows. We dance harder, faster, each move more explosive than the last. The beat drops, and we both hit the ground, executing a series of lightning-fast spins and flips.

As the song comes to an end, we both freeze in place, staring each other down. No one speaks, but we all know who won this battle. I can feel the energy coursing through my veins as I step back from Xander, victorious. Mark and Theo high-five me, and behind Xander, Sasha is beaming.

Xander and I face off for a moment, our bodies glistening with sweat. The tension is palpable as the parking lot falls silent, the only sound the low hum of the music. Finally, I tear my gaze away from Xander and look at Sasha.

“The car,” I tell her. “Now.”

She doesn’t argue this time, and her head droops as she passes by us and slides safely into the back seat of my car. Xander’s eyes are on her back the whole time, and I don’t like the way he’s looking at her, but I try to ignore it. The quicker we can get out of here unscathed, the better.

“Until next time, assholes,” Xander says through gritted teeth. Before I can react, let alone stop him, Theo whirls back around and swings his fist forward, hitting Xander square in the jaw. The guy stumbles backward with a shout, blood seeping between his fingers as he scowls at us. I tense, ready for a fight, but he doesn’t advance on us. Thank God.

“That’s for my sister,” Theo snarls. “Keep your filthy hands to yourself next time, asshole, or a bloody nose will be the least of your worries.”

“Let’s go,” I say softly, and we flank Sasha as we make our way back to the car. Xander gives us the finger as we pull away, and the ride home is mostly silent as Sasha shivers into Theo’s arms in the backseat.

“I just don’t understand it,” he says, shaking his head as he holds his sister. “He’s a piece of shit, Sash. Why do you stay?”

She takes a deep, slow breath before answering. Tears fill her eyes as my gaze meets hers in the rearview mirror.

“Because I love him,” she says weakly, and Mark huffs and shakes his head. So does Theo.

“One day it will be worse than this,” I tell her. “One day he might hurt you beyond repair, Sasha. And then what?”

“I won’t let it get that far.”

“Just come home,” Theo insists. The desperation in his voice is evident, and my heart skips a beat for him. We all love Sasha, but the two of them are twins. There’s no escaping their bond.

“I like my team,” she says, though not as confidently as she once did. “I like my team, and I love Xander. Why can’t you get that through your head?”

The rest of the ride is silent, and it’s started to rain by the time we pull up to the house and race inside. Sasha goes straight to the fridge for a beer, and we do the same before taking seats in the living room, listening to the rain patter softly on the roof above our heads.

“You had auditions today, right?” Sasha asks as she takes a sip of her beer. “How did it go?”

Mark and Theo scoff at the same time, and Sasha looks at me. I shrug. “A few decent ones. A few bad ones.”

“Anyone you guys want on the team?”

Theo and Mark shoot me a glance as if to tell me to keep my mouth shut, but I ignore them.

“There’s a girl I think is excellent,” I admit. “But Mark and your brother don’t like her.”

“Why?” Sasha asks, glancing at the other two. “Is she good?”

“Very good,” I insist. “I think it’s personal.”

Theo and Mark exchange a glance, rolling their eyes. “She’s going to be trouble,” Theo says. “I just get that vibe from her.”

Sasha ponders this, taking another drink of her beer. “Xander is determined to beat you guys this year. He’s got Electric Motion practicing three hours a day to rival you at nationals.” She pauses, looking between us. “He’d kill me if he knew I was spilling the beans to you, but I’d suggest if you find some decent dancers, you take them on. You’ll need all the help you can get if Rhythm Renegades want to beat us this year.”

Theo’s lip curls up in a snarl. “We beat them last year. Why would this year be any different?”

Sasha laughs. “Because I’m on the team this year.”

“Watch yourself, sis,” Theo says. He’s teasing, but I can see the jealousy behind his eyes.

As I lay in bed that night, I can't stop thinking about Faith. I know that she's the key to our success, and I can't deny that I'm attracted to her, but do Theo and Mark have a point? Would Faith be more trouble than she’s worth?

I think of her flawless face and curvy hips again, and I start to get hard under the blankets. It’s been a long time since someone has invoked such a strong physical response from me.

With a soft moan, I grip my cock under the sheet and begin to pleasure myself, imagining that Faith is next to me in bed, her long, slender legs wrapped around my waist, plump pink lips kissing my neck, my chest, and my dick. As I reach climax, Faith’s face flashing before me, I make up my mind.

We’ll invite her to be a Renegade dancer. And if we’re lucky, she might even say yes.

I get up and hop in the shower to clean up before coming back to bed. I pull out the notepad from my backpack, the one that has Faith’s name and phone number on it from the earlier audition. Then I reach for my phone, input her number, and text her a message.

We’d love to have you on the team if you’re still interested. Please let us know ASAP - Danny

With a smile of contentment, I fall back against my pillow and set the phone aside, hoping for a quick answer but knowing I probably won’t get one. Just as I’m about to drift off to sleep, my phone dings, and I grab for it, squinting at the screen.

I’ll think about it.