Page 64 of Pride High 3: Yellow

Diego leaned close to Mindy. “Good thing we aren’t trying out for that role.”

Mindy’s eyes went wide, her lips pressing together.

“Right?” he pressed.

“I know you can dance,” she squeaked. “Omar told me.”

“Omar?” he asked incredulously. What did he have to do with any of this?

“Very good!” Keisha shouted before stopping the music. “I don’t suppose either of you can sing?”

The couple on stage shook their heads.

“That’s okay. Make sure we’ve got your contact info, please!”

Diego glanced around, despite having already seen enough. “This is a freakingmusical?” he asked incredulously.

Mindy nodded. “About rival street gangs. Knives are involved. And a gun!”

“Whatever,” he scoffed. “That still doesn’t make it cool. I’m out of here.”

He was rising from his seat when Keisha called out another set of names. “Mindy and Diego? You’re up!”

He turned to look at her in surprise. They were supposed to dance? Together? Mindy withered beneath his stare before turning to Keisha.

“Sorry,” she said. “I don’t think we’re going to—”

“We had a deal,” Diego said. “You’re not backing out of it now. Come on.”

He tromped down the aisle, only glancing back when he reached the stage. Mindy was clearly mortified, but she continued up the steps with him, even though she did so stiffly.

“It’ll be all right,” he murmured as they stood side by side. In a louder voice, he called, “Do you have any music that doesn’t suck?”

“We’re using a song from the play,” the theater teacher, Ms. Deville, replied.

“That didn’t answer my question,” he shot back.

Ms. Deville didn’t seem fazed. “In that case, no, we do not have music that doesn’t—according to your standards—suck.”

He turned to Mindy and shrugged. “Worth a shot.”

She shot him a desperate smile before turning fearful eyes toward their auditorium seats. Keisha started the music. That was all the direction they were given.

Diego picked up on the beat and turned to Mindy, who seemed frozen in place. He shook his shoulders and let the motion work its way down to his hips. Mindy began bending her arms at the elbow, like someone doing a very poor imitation of a jogger. Her head was still turned toward the audience even though her body was facing his.

“Hey,” he said, gently touching her chin so she would look at him. “Forget about them. Just pretend that everyone died in a fire.”

“That’s horrible!” Mindy hissed under her breath.

“Fine. They all drowned in a boat accident out on Lake Integrity. After the boat caught fire.”

Mindy spluttered laughter, which seemed to loosen her up.

“It’s just me and you,” he repeated. For his own benefit as much as hers, because this wasn’t his idea of a good time. Although he did like to dance. When the beat was strong enough, his body needed to react, and he didn’t give a shit what anyone thought about it. He just didn’t want to dance so on stage for a lame school play, but he also didn’t want Mindy to blame herself if they failed. “Come on now,” he said. “Look at my dumb ass go!”

Mindy shook her head… along with her hips. “You really are a good dancer!” she said.

“Omar told you my secret, huh?” he asked, mostly to keep her mind off the audience.