Free Two to Tango by Sheryl Berk Page B

added.
    â€œYou’re welcome,” Hayden replied. “No one picks on us Divas.”

Chapter 14

Dancing in the Rain

    Anya was up next—and she was more than a little nervous to be up against her former City Feet teammates.
    â€œThey’re just waiting for me to mess up,” she told Rochelle.
    Rochelle knew she wasn’t as good at pep talks as Scarlett, but she did her best. “You won’t mess up. You’re an amazing dancer,” she told Anya. “We’re so lucky to have you on our team.”
    Anya took a deep breath. “You mean that? Because I could totally understand if you guys didn’t want me. I was with the enemy once, afterall. And Mandy, Regan, and Addison are pretty mean to you.”
    â€œAt first, we didn’t want you,” Rochelle admitted. “But you’ve been a real team player. You saved our group dance.”
    Anya smiled. “Thanks, Rock.”
    Rochelle adjusted the veil one last time to make sure it was draped down Anya’s back. “Now go out there and show them what Divas are made of.”

    Anya’s classical routine was mesmerizing.
    â€œI don’t even know what this ballet is about and this dance is making me cry,” Bria whispered. “Anya just pours her heart into it.”
    Rochelle nodded. She watched as Anya stretched her arms to the heavens and twirled effortlessly across the stage
en pointe
. Her face showed pain and anguish—and also hope and faith. She ended—as Rochelle had directed—by picking up the vase and bowing deeply before the audience.
    The crowd gave her a standing ovation. Rochelle saw that Toni sat stubbornly in her seat, refusing to rise.
    â€œWhat’s up with that?” Bria asked. “Toni looks mad. Did Anya do something wrong?”
    Rochelle gulped. “I think I did. I changed a few details of her dance.”
    â€œRock, you didn’t!” Scarlett exclaimed. “You know how much that freaks Toni out!”
    â€œIt was for her own good. It didn’t make any sense!”
    Scarlett shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. Never mess with Miss Toni’s choreography. No wonder there’s steam coming out of her ears.”
    Rochelle hoped that Hayden’s routine would take her teacher’s mind off her edited version of Anya’s dance. He glided across the stage, smooth as silk, and twirled around the streetlamp before letting go of his umbrella. It floated up, up, up over his head. At least something worked! Then she noticed the umbrella hovering right in front of Hayden’s face. The heavy curved handle smackedhim several times in the head as he did his
pirouettes
.
    â€œUh-oh,” Scarlett said, covering her eyes. “I hope he doesn’t get a concussion.”
    â€œHe better not!” Liberty warned Rochelle. “We have our duet coming up.”
    At the end of the routine, after beating Hayden up, the umbrella delicately drifted back down to earth.
    â€œI’m so sorry!” Rochelle said, rushing to apologize. “I don’t know what happened!”
    â€œI’ve never had a rumble with an umbrella,” he said, rubbing his forehead. He had a huge goose egg that was already turning black and blue. “It packs quite a punch!”
    â€œHere you go,” Liberty said sweetly, handing him an ice pack.
    Rochelle growled. What else could go wrong today?

Chapter 15

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

    Rochelle braced herself for the two City Feet duets. She knew Justine would pull out all the stops, and she wasn’t the slightest bit surprised when Mandy and Regan walked onstage wearing neon-blue-and-green tuxedos and sunglasses.
    â€œWhat are they supposed to be?” Liberty cracked. “Disco penguins?”
    The music started, and a blast of Korean lyrics filled the gym.
    â€œOh, no.” Bria gulped. “It couldn’t be.”
    Rochelle grabbed the program and read the name