| Chapter 2: Center Stage ~~Going to lunch~~ "Ray, wait up." Fatima said as I walked out to the parking lot. "I really want to talk to you about that dancing." She said as she finally caught up. "There isn't anything to talk about Fatima, I'm not a dancer." I told her firmly. Nick, Brian, and Carrie then came up behind us. "So did you ask her?" Brian said right away. "Ask me what?" I stopped walking. "You didn't ask her yet?" Nick barged in. I glanced over towards Carrie; she just looked at the ground. "Ask me what?" I repeated. "Oh for Pete's sake. We want to know if you'll join us as a new dancer!" Nick blurted out. I stared at Fatima is disbelief; she simply nodded, as did Brian and Carrie. "I don't…." I began but trailed off. I started again, "I don't… I don't know if… I'm not sure if I could get the time off of work." I said without thinking it over. Smiles quickly grew across all of their faces. "Thank God. We could use some talent on this tour." Brian said sarcastically as Vegas and Melissa walked by with their noses in the air. "Shhhhh." Brian said very loudly. We all cracked up. "So where are we going to eat?" Nick barged in. "Starrs. I'm meeting Alexia there." I said as we arrived at Fatima's car. "Ok, Nick you ride with Ray and Fatima and me and Carrie will drive separately." Brian directed. "See ya there." Nick said as he jumped into the back seat. Fatima had a pile of papers in the passenger's seat so I also climbed into the backseat and sat next to Nick. "Spill it." Nick said as we headed on our way to Starrs. "Spill what?" I questioned. Fatima laughed from the front seat. Nick turned slightly towards me and said, "All I know is that your name is Raygn, you're from Chicago and you think you can't dance when you really can." "Oh, so you want me to tell you me life story is that it?" I smiled. He just nodded. "I'll tell you a summarized version How's that?" I paused then continued, "I'm 23, a DJ, and I've lived in Chicago almost all my life. And I can't stand nosey little blonde boys." I finished. "Hey! I'm not nosey!" Nick jumped in. "But you are a little blonde boy!" Fatima added. We all laughed. Nick folded his arms over his chest as if he was pouting. "Oh, k, you're right. You're not a nosey blonde boy…" I started, Nick looked up, "You're pouty blonde boy!" I laughed. Fatima chuckled to herself in amusement. We then arrived at Starrs, shortly after Brian and Carrie pulled in behind us. Alexia was already waiting for us inside. "Hey girls!" Alexia greeted Fatima and me. "Heya Alex. This is Carrie and Brian, and that pouty blonde boy is Nick." I joked. "I'm not pouty!" Nick declared. "Aww, just sit down." We all sat and ordered. Carrie and Nick were talking; Brian and Fatima, and Alexia and I were catching up. "You're not working?" I asked her surprised. "No, remember how I told you about that boss, the asshole one?" She questioned. I nodded. "Well it got out of hand so I quit. That's why I called you. Is there anything at the station?" Alexia asked intensely. "You'd relocate to Chicago for a desk job?" I asked because I knew the only opening was as a receptionist. "If I have to, yeah I will." "Well, I'm going on tour with the Backstreet Boys and after that you could come on out if you wanted too." I told her as Brian over heard some of our conversation. "Uno problemo Ray! Rent! I won't be able to stay in my apartment for long with out paying the rent." Alexia said, now everyone was listening in. "Oh dear, well I suppose I could let you stay at my house, but I won't be there." I said trying to figure out another living situation for her. "There's one more spot on tour." Brian said with a smile. "What?" Both Alexia and I asked at the same time. "Every time we go on tour, there are 3 people per bus. One B-boy, a dancer and a guest." Nick explained. "Right. So you could tag along if you want." Fatima spoke up. "I don't want to intrude, or be a bother." Alexia said unsurely. "Naw it's no problem, you could bunk up with Nicky boy here." Brian patted him on the back. "Well, I guess so…" Alexia started. "Great! That's settled." I barged in. ~~Back At Rehearsal~~ "Vegas… you know this one… take Ray out in the lobby and teach it to her." Fatima said as we started to go over the moves for 'Larger Than Life'. As soon as we were out of earshot of everyone else, Vegas turned to me and said, "I don't know what the hell you are trying to do, but you betta stop!" "I don't know what I'm doing either. I'm just dancing." I said stretching my legs a little. "Exactly. Stop." Vegas snapped. "No, I was invited to join the tour. Not by you, so you can't tell me not too." I argued back. "Fine, but if you think you can just master the moves and take over my spot light, you're wrong." Vegas said putting the CD in the player. "I'm not taking over anyone's spotlight! I'm just dancing!" "That better be all you're doing, don't you dare think this will get you a date with one of those guys." Vegas said flipping her red hair over her shoulder. "I don't want to date any of them. What the hell is your problem?" I yelled back. "My problem is little bitches like you, who think that just because you're young, you can do what ever you want." Vegas shouted in my face. "I can't do what ever I want! I'm a DJ, not a dancer, and I know that, you know that. Just drop it and teach me the fucking dance routine." I said back. "Fine. Follow me, I'm only gonna show you once." Vegas said breaking into the moves. ~~Meanwhile… in the other room~~ "I'm not so sure that was a good idea Fatima." Carrie said from off to the side. "Why's that?" Fatima asked. "Come over here." Carrie motioned, she then whispered to Fatima, "You know how Vegas can get, well think about it, some inexperienced girl walks in here, there's gonna be a bitch fight breaking out!" "Naw, they'll be alright." Fatima said turning back to the rest of the dancers and the Boys. "What are we waiting for? Let's dance!" |