Diary of a Danceaholic

Entry #13: Duet Damnation

I opened the door to the studio and predictably, Stacy was already sitting there waiting. Jodi asked me to come in early, and Mackenna didn’t have a class for at least another hour. Why the heck would they be here so early? This was a bit extreme, even for them.

Jodi opened the door to the biggest studio. “Oh, good. You’re here. Get in here,” she said.

“Yes, ma’am,” I said, not wasting any time. Uh oh.

I stepped inside and Mackenna was already there warming up.

“So, it seems Mackenna would like to do a duet with you at VIP next weekend,” Jodi said.

My eyebrows shot up and I stared daggers at Jodi, silently pleading with her to say no.

“And I think it’s a great idea,” she said, staring defiantly back at me.

I clicked my tongue. “Mm-hmm.”

I knew better than to argue with Jodi, but I already wanted to punch Mackenna in the face.

I knew what this was about. All the attention I’d been getting lately between my rivalry with Reece and my dancing with Will; it was making poor little Mackenna very jealous. She wanted a piece of the pie and since her solo flopped, she needed another way to get attention.

“I’m thinking contemporary,” Jodie said. “But a slower, more soulful feel than both of you might be used to. It’s not going to be easy, but I expect it to be clean by Friday. We’ve got 4 days. Hour-long rehearsals every day, along with all your regular technique classes and solo rehearsals. Mackenna you’ve got your groups, too and they need work, so if this duet gets in the way, at all, I’m pulling it.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Mackenna said confidently.

She was a slow learner. I’d seen it. There was no way this duet was happening. I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes so that I wouldn’t offend Jodi.

“Okay then, let’s get to work,” Jodi said, clapping her hands.

By the end of that first hour of rehearsal, we had one minute of the two-minute piece done. I had the choreography down, but Mackenna was still riding the struggle bus and I was about ready to slap her. I couldn’t take any more.

“Ballet in 30 minutes. Good practice, girls,” Jodi said, leaving us alone.

“I’m out,” Mackenna said.

I scoffed, shaking my head. She really should take those thirty minutes to review the choreography if she actually wanted this duet to happen, but obviously, she was just that full of herself that she didn’t think she needed any extra rehearsal. No skin off my back. I didn’t want to do this duet at all, so if she wanted to sabotage herself, she could go right ahead.

I grabbed my water bottle and headed into an empty studio to review on my own until ballet, but not even five minutes later, Mackenna barged in and jumped into the dance, fumbling her way through the choreography.

“Do you want to walk it through?” I asked impatiently.

“If you feel like you need it,” Mackenna fired back.

I was tempted to tell her that I was not the one who did, but I bit my tongue.

“I do,” I said shortly.

I had effectively shot myself in the foot. By the end of the thirty minutes, Mackenna finally had a good grasp on the choreography. We were going to have to do this duet after all. Joy.

Two insanely long hours later, I threw my bag on the floor in the middle of the living room.

“Easy, Honey,” my mom said.

“I hate Mackenna so much!”

“I know, Honey, but why now, though?”

“I have to do a stupid duet with her! And Stacy is doing our costumes! Mom! Stacy! I’m going to look like an i***t. An ugly idiot.”

My mom laughed at my indignation, “I’m sure that’s not true, Pumpkin.”

I stared drolly at her. “Mm-hmm.”

“Take your bag to your room, and get started on your schoolwork, Honey. It’ll all work out.”

“That’s what you always say.”

“And I’m always right,” she called from the kitchen.

I texted both Will and Asher in a group chat.

[Me]: A duet! A duet with freaking Mackenna!

I couldn’t concentrate on my school work. I’d much rather bask in my misery. And misery loves company.

[Asher]: NO! How’d you get roped into that?!

[Me]: No choice. Jodie said I’m doing it, so I’m doing it. You don’t question the master.

[Will]: Sounds like a blast. Who’s Mackenna?

[Me]: Oh, my dear heavens, she has Reece’s attitude with half the talent. She’s the dark-haired girl that came in 9th last weekend.

[Will]: Peachy

[Me]: Tell me about it.

[Will]: You can do this. You can do anything

A huge cheesy grin spread across my face.

[Me]: Thank you. I needed that.

[Will]: What comp is this for?

[Me]: VIP in Redondo Beach in 2 weeks.

[Will]: Live stream?

I quickly looked it up and sure enough, they have one!

[Me]: Yeah, they do.

[Will]: I’ll be there!

The huge grin came back.

I sent him the blushing emoji and he sent the wink back.

Knowing he’d be watching, even if it was from thousands of miles away, suddenly made it a little more bearable.

[Asher]: Lucky! Mine doesn’t do live streaming. Wish you could watch this weekend. My groups are awesome this year. Me too!

An idea hit me.

[Me]: Which comp?

[Asher]: Mark of Excellence

[Me]: Oh, That’s a good one!

“Mom!” I yelled from my bed.

“Yeah, hon?” she yelled back.

I got up and headed out to the living room.

“Can we go to Kansas this weekend?”

She frowned at me like I was crazy. “Why?” she asked slowly.

“I need a break and I want to see Asher dance with her studio.”

She eyed me for a second before replying slowly, “Let me talk to your dad.”

“Yes!!” I jumped up and down. That was not a flat-out no, and my dad hardly ever said no. This would be the first time I’d ever get to go to a competition just to watch it.

“Can we keep it low-key?” I asked tentatively. “Maybe not tell anyone I’ll be there?”

“Sure honey, but let’s wait and see what your dad says first.”

“Can you call him, now?”

She frowned at me, again, “Why so excited?”

“I don’t know. I need to get away from Mackenna?”

My mom just chuckled, “It’s only been one day, Honey.”

“Yeah, and by this weekend I’m really, really going to need a break from her. Come on, please? Call Daddy?”

“Okay, okay,” she said pulling out her phone.

“Let me talk to him.”

My mom handed me the phone and walked into the kitchen.

“So, can we go, Daddy?”

“I already told your mother it was fine. You deserve a break, Sweetie.”

“Thank you, Daddy!” I squealed in delight. “I love you! Come home soon!”

“I will, sweetie. I love you too.”

I hung up the phone and handed it back to my mom, then ran to my room to tell Asher the good news.

The rest of the week passed in much the same way as that first day with Mackenna. I barely made it through the rehearsals without wanting to strangle her and Mackenna barely made it through the rehearsals, period.

“She is such a slow learner,” I complained to Jodi after a particularly annoying rehearsal.

“And the trouble is, you’re too quick,” she teased me.

“All I gotta say is; it’s a good thing we have another week before we have to compete this stupid duet.”

Never again. That was for sure.