Page 48 of Pride High 3: Yellow

“Yes, ma’am,” Keisha said, seeming amused as she hit play.

The girls—twin sisters by the look of it—bobbed their heads a moment before launching into action. They began a synchronized dance routine that managed to convince Mindy almost immediately, but they were full of surprises as they picked each other up, twirled around, and even did handsprings across the stage.

“I want to dance with them so bad!” Whitney said, squirming in the seat to Mindy’s right.

“You’ll have your chance,” Keisha said over the music. “They’re definitely in!”

“Agreed,” Mindy said in awe. “We might have our Maria. Or Marias?”

“Let’s find out,” Keisha said, stopping the music. “Very nice. Can you sing?”

“No,” the girls answered in unison.

“What about availability?” Ms. Deville asked from the end of the row. “Are you in gymnastics?”

“We were,” Faith said.

“Last semester,” Hope clarified.

“Then we tried out for cheerleading team,” Faith continued, “but the captain turned out to be a real bi—”

“Hard ass,” Hope interjected before blanching. “Hard butt?”

“Hard nose,” Mindy suggested while stifling a smile. Her sister was the captain of the cheerleading team, and yes, Jessica could indeed be a bitch. But in a way that Mindy had a lot of respect for.

“So we have time after school,” Faith concluded.

“We’ll definitely be in touch,” Keisha said.

This was confirmed by an entire row of nodding heads. The auditions went on, but without any other breakout performances . They had found some competent dancers, but not nearly enough.

“Don’t get discouraged,” Ms. Deville said. “Musicals are always difficult to cast. I’ll coordinate with Mrs. Hammond, the choir teacher, for a larger pool of talent. For now, we’re off to a decent start. Great work, everyone. I’ll see you all tomorrow!”

Mindy gathered up her things and rejoined Keisha, who was her ride home. When leaving the building, they were laughing about the guy who did chorus line kicks. That’s when Mindy saw someone who made her blood run cold—Troy Mitchell, the jerk who had taken her on a date and gottenwaytoo pushy. She still saw him in her Spanish class each day, but felt safer there than in the school parking lot, where he stood now… while talking to the twin girls who had just auditioned!

“Look!” Mindy hissed, pointing in his direction before she grabbed Keisha’s arm and dragged her back inside. “Did you see who that was?”

“Troy,” Keisha replied. “Don’t worry, girl. I’ve got your back. He won’t bother you.”

“But did you see who he was talking to?”

Keisha nodded. “The Song sisters.”

“Exactly!”

Her friend made a face. “Exactly what?”

“Do you think I should warn them?”

“Oh.” Keisha looked toward the exit doors. “I mean, they’ll probably figure it out soon enough.”

“But what if they end up in the same situation as me?” She remembered fleeing from his car, and how he kept driving it back and forth to block her path while insisting she get inside again. “I have to say something.”

“Yeah. You probably should. Let’s go.”

They went back outside again, but the scene had changed. Troy was gone. The Song sisters were walking away. Mindy hurried to catch up with them, calling out as soon as she was close enough.

“Hey!”