| ZAC: I was watching, almost bored, waiting to see Jess. I knew she'd get this place rocking. I saw her at the gym that night and if that was just practice...I almost didn't hear the announcer introduce the next competitor, all I caught was "Better known to us as Watts.." Then I heard the opening bars of The Offspring, no less. Holy fuck! She was doing this routine to Come Out and Play. I watched the stage to see this girl as she came flying out from backstage. I elbowed Tay. "What?" He leaned over giving me a dirty look. "Who the hell is that? She's almost as good as Jess." I asked. Taylor laughed. "She's a friend of Jessie's, Robin Watson, but Jess calls her Watts. She's cool. Now shut up and watch." he grinned. I sat back in my seat and did as Taylor said. A friend of Jessie's huh? I had to get Jess to introduce me to her, if she was her friend she had to be as cool as Jess. |
| JESSIE: I watched as Watts tore up the stage and a thought occured to me. I grabbed Jake's arm and leaned toward him, "Jake..I gotta change something or I will not win this thing..go get Tay's shirt out of my bag...it's a red button up..and gimme that hat.." I said and snatched his baseball cap off his head. "JAKE...hurry up...get me that shirt..' I urged putting his cap on my head and pulling my ponytail through the opening in the back. He looked at me again and did what I asked. Thank goodness I had forgotten about that shirt until now. He left it behind in all the mess of my half-packed apartment, I found it as Jake and I were taking care of last minute stuff, so it wound up with my travel bag. I willed Jake to hurry as I watched Watts do her ending, a double back flip into a split with her head down on her knee. The crowd exploded and I looked around to see Zac, looking awed and applauding heartily. "Traitor..' I giggled to myself. Damn! Jake had arranged good seats for them, they were close enough that I would be able to see their expressions when I took the stage. "Here, Jess. Hurry you're up next.." Jake said, handing me the shirt. "I KNOW.." I grinned and put it on, only buttoning one button at the middle. "Kick ass, Jess." Jake said and slapped me on the ass as I took a deep breath and gave him a sideways grin. "OK..next up we have or last, BUT NOT least, competitor. Newcomer, JESSIE LEE..." I walked onto the stage with my back turned to the crowd, stopping in the center and raising my arm. Then the music started. I heard the opening notes of In The City and I was ready to go. As the first drum beats sounded I lifted and lowered my foot as if tapping, then as I heard Tay's voice cme through the speaker.. WHEN I SEE YOU WALKIN' OUT THAT DOOR.. I spun and faced the crowd, whipping the hat off and tossing it back to Jake. My eyes met Taylor's and I smiled and spun again, doing a front flip. AND YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T HIDE NO MORE... I took a step forward and turned slightly to the right swaying my hip, and then did a series of flips across the stage, winding up with my back to the crowd. I could hear them yelling and clapping and I grinned. It had to be the music because I hadn't even started yet, really. IF I ASKED YOU NOW, I KNOW YOU WOULDN'T GIVE IT UP.. I did a few dance steps sideways across the stage, turning my back to the crowd again. I reached behind my head and grabbed my ponytail holder and ripped it out of my hair as I spun to face the crowd again. I tossed it into the crowd, not knowing where it would go. I met Tay's eyes again as he caught the damn thing. I grinned at him and kept on going. I turned and did another series of tumbles as the music blared on. IF I ASKED YOU NOW YOU'D GIMME THAT LOOK TO KILL KNOW IT GIVES YOU A CHILL BUT OH IT GIVES ME A THRILL TO SAY |
| Two loud drum beats sounded as I turned and ripped the shirt away and tossed it backstage toward Jake.. DO YOU LOVE ME DO YOU LOVE ME DO YOU LOVE ME LITTLE PRETTY... The crowd cheered and clapped. I saw Zac hollering at the top of his lungs. I saw Tay, almost dumbfouded, as I was tossing that shirt toward Jake. Lacey leaned over and said something to him and he grinned and folded his arms over his chest. I smiled at all of them and turned my attention to the rest of the crowd. I flew through the rest of the routine, my feet barely touching the ground. The end was another series of flips, ending in a split my head down on the next to last beat and back up on the last one. I flipped my hair out of my face and smiled, searching for Taylor's eyes. Mine met his and I saw him on his feet with the rest of my future family cheering and hollering wildly. I got myself up and left the stage waving and smiling at the crowd, my last gaze meeting Tay's. |
| I smiled and winked at him as I waved to the rest of the crowd on my way backstaged. Jake grabbed me and spun me as soon as I was close enough. he kissed me on the cheek and hollered, "HOLY SHIT JESS!! I know that that is not the routine you practiced...if you ever hire another choreographer I will kick your ass. Damn!" I giggled and kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks, Jakey. I have to go change into my swimsuit now, you coming?" I asked. "Yeah.." he said looking around. We started back toward the dressing room when I was all of a sudden grabbed from behind. I turned to see a blond haired, blue eyed over excited Watts smiling at me. "Jessie that was so good..that wasn't what you practiced though.." she looked sideways at me. "I know WATTLEY..." I teased. "You gave me a run for my money, woman, I hadda do SOMETHING.." I laughed and hugged her. "You rocked!" She hugged me back, then Jake chimed in, "Yeah, yeah, yeah... neither one of you will be bringing home any money if you don't get your asses in there and CHANGE.." he gave us both a shove toward the door. We giggled and did as we were told. "Kinda bossy ain't he?" Watts teased. "Yup! That's why I keep him around. He's the best.." We went our separate ways and got changed. Watts emerged wearing a really nice two piece bathing suit, also royal blue. It was a good color for her, I could see why she picked it. She also had had some kind of sparkly stuff added to it. Her tan was even and not too dark, she looked really good. "You look great Watts.." I told her. "Thanks, so do you," she said, "but I hate this part.." "I know but whaddaya do? We are being judged on symettry...this is the closest they can get to checking us out naked.." I giggled. "Thank goodness.." she grinned. |