Curious

Chapter 12

“No f*****g way!” I gasped in shock. “You guys got Mabel as your support act?!”  asked dumbfounded as I saw Mabel just starting her soundcheck. The first show of the tour was tonight and after traveling on a hot sweaty bus with 4 boys all through the night last night, I decided it was best to just chill in the first arena and watch them soundcheck and prepare. There was always a big night out after the first show of the tour and I was really looking forward to it. “I think you’re forgetting something, sweetcheeks.”  Brad’s voice was smug, knocking me out of my thoughts. “We're the biggest boyband in the world right now, we can get anyone.” He continued with an arrogant smirk on his lips. Arrogance was something that normally made me want to punch someone in the throat, but on Brad it was something that made me want to wrap my legs around his waist. 

Shaking those thoughts quickly from my mind before my cheeks could blush, I got up to greet Mabel. “You are amazing.” I blurted out to her. She gave me a warming hug, “Thank you so much.” She replied with a huge smile. She seemed super genuine. “I’m Olivia by the way, Aaron is my cousin.” I said introducing myself and nodding over to Aaron. “He’s a cool guy.” She nodded, a smile tugging at her lips as her eyes wandered over to Aaron. I couldn’t help but wonder if he was more than just a ‘cool guy’ in her eyes. 

“Can we try the dance break for ‘boyfriend’ one more time? Something is missing but I can’t figure out what?” Mabel shouted back to the dancers on the stage, with her hand on her chin. “I’m sure Liv could help you with that you know, she’s a student at LDA and an amazing dancer.” Aaron suggested coming towards us. “I promise I didn’t pay him to say that.” I laughed, putting my hands up in defence. Mabel gave out a laugh but a look of delight came over her eyes. “Okay then, Liv. Let’s see what you got.” She said with a smile tugging at her lips before throwing a wink to Aaron. 

The song started and the dancers started their dance routine, I watched on,  counting and remembering the moves. I could see what Mabel meant, something just wasn't making it pop. I jumped onto the stage, giving myself internal praise for my choice of outfit today. Grey joggers hung low around my hips with both legs rolled up above my ankles, matched with a white ribbed vest top showing just a tiny bit of my toned stomach and my hair shot up in a messy bun. “Can we do it again from the top?” I shouted over to the music guy. I pretty much picked up the routine from the first watch, I was a quick learner and I suppose that’s why I was good at what I did. 

Not missing one beat, I joined in with the rest of the dancers until it came to the bridge of the song. Instead of continuing with the pre-choreographed routine, I performed a little something I thought would make it stand out. I continued to use my own moves into the chorus before returning to the original moves for the next verse. I always got lost in my dances so the fact I was basically dancing for Mabel was forgotten about until the music stopped and I heard her cheer and claps from Aaron. “Yes. That was definitely it!” Mabel praised, jumping up and down. A smile tugged at my lips, hoping she wasn’t just being polite. She jumped back on the stage and stood next to me facing the empty arena chairs. “So from here we go…” She trailed off and I suddenly realised she was wanting me to teach her the steps I had just performed. 

Little beadlets of sweat were now dripping down my forehead. 3 hours I had ended up staying on stage with Mabel for, after she had decided she definitely wanted to use my choreography. The dancers didn’t seem to mind that it had changed pretty last minute and they picked it up straight away, I mean they were professionals. “So call me crazy and I totally understand if you wanna say no but…” Mabel started, looking a little nervous. She put her hands together in front of her as if she was secretly praying. “Please dance with us. Tonight. And the rest of the tour.” She looked up at me with the most pleading look I ever saw. My eyes widened, was she serious? In front of god knows how many people? There was only 4 hours before the doors opened to the raging fangirls outside, who by the sounds of it were already camping out for the best view of their favourite boy. “I-I err- are you sure? What about costumes? I haven’t got one and there isn’t enough time to make one?” I stuttered out, dangerously close to becoming a word vomiting mess. 

Surely she can’t be serious; she barely knew me. “You’re amazing at what you do and you deserve to be on this stage for that. Our costumes are pretty basic, I’m sure we could kit you out. Plus I have this feeling we are going to be really good friends this tour.” She smiled brightly before giving me a bone crushing hug. “Fine.” I said, still not sure if this was a good idea. “But we definitely need a little more practice.” I bargained, whilst shuffling awkwardly. We spent the next few hours going over every fine detail in each of the dance breaks. Boyfriend was definitely one of my favourites, maybe I connected with the lyrics a little more than the others. But then again most of her songs seemed to describe my current situation. 

I could now hear the crowd of teenage girls scream every time the words “The Arrows” were mentioned on the big screen. I made the mistake of peeking out the curtain, gulping at the size of the audience. I had obviously danced in front of an audience before for shows and auditions, but this audience was different. It was an audience where 75% at least would recognise who I was and knew what had happened the weeks prior. Would they be critical because I was close with their idols or would they pity me because of my s**t taste in men? 

My mind shifted to my taste in men. Lewis would not believe what was happening right now and it took everything in me not to pick up my phone and tell him. I wanted to share this moment with him, I was finally doing what I had been trying to do for years. I was always the one in the relationship who was still trying to achieve their goal, meanwhile Lewis had graduated uni as soon as he could and got straight into the business ladder. And then there is me, left school at 16, went to college but didn’t truly know what to do next. 8 years later and I’m only a year into being a student at London Dance Academy.  In them 8 years I had kept dancing but also got a few different jobs to make sure we had some income. The jobs were s**t I’m not going to lie but it helped me save enough to be able to come to my dream school in London. Granted it was a few years later than I wanted to and something always told me this was something that bothered Lewis.

“f**k sake Liv, you have to stop thinking about him.” I muttered to myself with my fists clenched. He sure as hell stopped thinking about me as I hadn't heard anything else since that phone call the night I found out. Unless you count his f*******: official relationship status update with Katie appearing on my newsfeed a few days later. Prick. “Knock ‘em dead, love.” Aaron chimed, giving me a quick squeeze. I hadn’t realised tears had gently formed in my eyes from my earlier thoughts, until one stray one fell down my cheek. “Ey, what’s this all about?” Aaron asked with his brows now knitted together. “Nothing. It's nothing. I’m fine.” I said composing myself. The best thing about Aaron was he knew when to drop matters, and this was one of them. “The show must go on.” I mumbled to myself. 

I had to stop thinking about Lewis.