Page 33 of I Don't Need Your Love

“I can put in a good word,” Ryder says. “She likes me.”

I roll my eyes. “Of course she does.”

“I think the words you meant to say were, “‘Who wouldn’t like you?’”

I roll my eyes again and Naya giggles.

“Great work, everyone,” Coach Moreno calls. “Same time and place tomorrow. I think we can totally hit our goal.”

As Addie and I head to the bleachers where we stashed our backpacks, she says, “You know, you’re a really good dance instructor. People listen to you when you talk. It’s like you have this aura around you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. You’re totally meant to do this.”

“I hope so.”

“Are your parents going to come to the competition?” she asks. “Theyhaveto see you dance and the routine you put together. Your dad will know this is the right path for you.”

“They’re supportive of my dance, so I’m sure they’ll come. And my dad will still insist I go to college even if I choreograph an award-winning routine. He worries a lot about me, so I totally get it. I just wish he had more faith in me, you know? What about your grandfather?”

“I’m sure he’ll come, too. He has years of making things up to me, and a dance competition is the perfect way to do it.”

“For sure. Let’s drop by the vending machines so I can grab some snacks. After today, I deserve a treat.”

“Don’t you have a stash of candy and chocolate in our room?” she asks.

I blink at her. “What’s your point?”

She laughs as she wraps her arm around me and leads me there.

Chapter Twelve

Carly

Raven and I are hanging out in her room after dance practice on Tuesday. Sophie is still tutoring and Addie and Caleb went out on a date. Technically, I should be doing homework, but I’m so not in the mood. I’m on such a high from another successful practice and all I want to do is continue to dance until my feet fall off.

Still dressed in my gym clothes and a little sweaty, I stand in the center of Raven and Sophie’s room and do the routine, making sure I have it downperfectlyso I can teach the hardest parts to my teammates tomorrow. We need to be ready for the game on Friday. But if the moves are too difficult, we might just scrap that part. Friday’s game will be our debut and we want to wow everyone.

It seems Raven isn’t working on her homework, either. She’s writing lyrics. She’s so private about her songs and hasn’t shared them with me or the others. She’s promised us she will one day, but I always tell her it’s okay. As curious as I am, and as supportive as I want to be, she’s entitled to her privacy.

One time, Sophie accidentally saw some of her lyrics, and they were a love song about a guy Raven met at camp after freshman year. She refuses to admit it, but we all know she’s still secretly in love with him.

“So practice is going well?” she asks as she puts down her pen and focuses on me.

“Yep,” I say as I continue doing the routine. “The team knows the first half of the dance perfectly. The only question is whether or not I should incorporate some of the harder moves into the routine for Friday’s performance. A lot of the team’s parents willbe there to cheer us on, and we don’t want to make total fools of ourselves. Plus, the whole school will be there.”

“Hey, it’ll be okay,” she says in a reassuring tone. “Of course you’re super nervous, but you’re like the best choreographer in the world. From what I’ve seen so far, the routine is fire.”

“Thanks.” I walk over to the kitchenette and grab a bottle of water. “Want a drink?” I ask her.

“Yeah, thanks.”

After grabbing another bottle for her, I plop down near her on the bed and hand it to her. Then I chug half of it down. “Ah.” I wipe my mouth. “I didn’t realize how thirsty I was.”

“Be careful not to overwork yourself,” she says. “You don’t want to get hurt.”

“I know.” I lean my head against the wall and press my lips to the mouth of the bottle. “I can’t stop imagining what it’ll be like to get out there and perform in front of everyone. I’ve been dreaming about this moment since Addie gave me the idea to put together a dance team. But now I can’t stop picturing myself showing up to the game in my gym clothes instead of my uniform.”