I'm Not In Love

Chapter Eight

1:00pm

     Miami international airport,

Florida.

         "Mum I'm going to be late".  I told my mum for the fifth time since we got to the airport. All I got was a tighter embrace instead.

I took her in once again. she would miss me and I most definitely will.

      We arrived at the airport with Amy, Summer, and Grace at exactly 1:00pm. As usual, the airport was crowded and busy. Occasionally, some tiny lady-like voice would announce the next arrival or departure.

       My team should be here already. The flight was sponsored by prexus. I called Trev earlier to tell him I was leaving and to thank him for his help. I talked to Dave too,and I think he was crying. I just couldn't laugh all through the call.

      I didn't want to leave any stone unturned. So I called in at my part-time jobs to explain the situation. They all wished me good lucks, which I dearly appreciated.

     It was now twenty minutes to my flight and mummy let go of her hold on me. I looked at her face and she looked pretty bad with that gloomy look on her face .

    "C'mon mum. It's not like it's my wedding day" I joked.

She smiled a little.

"And besides I won't be gone for forever. Trust me. I'll be good".I reassured her

"You are always good sweetheart. I'm just so proud of you."

Amy faked a sniff. And I laughed.

" No no , you've got to be kidding me,Amy. I won't even miss you. I know you'll be in Calif next week , and... before then kill me with calls everyday and video calls. So don't you dare fake those croco tears"

        "Well, you know me", she teased and I smiled.

      I looked at Grace again,she was putting on a smile on her wrinkled,old face. I wish her peace in everyway she needed it.

     "Oh child. Come here",she urged me over and I walked into her warm embrace. "Bless you. May the good Lord be with you"

"Amen" I answered, smiley.

Grace was a devoted Christian. But her granddaughter was a no-no. She released me from her hug,"Now run along child,you don't want to miss your flight."

I looked at summer,she was non-chalant. She didn't look bothered. I was sure she was waiting for me to boot out so she could have a hell of a freedom to herself.

"Be good summer. No bitchy words. No media addictions".

"Yeah yeah. Go on now".

I sighed.

     We heard the tiny high pitched voice call out my flight schedule and that was my cue.

" Okay mum. Bye." I waved at her and mouthed call me  to Amy ,which she willingly nodded to.

     I waved to Grace and dragged my suitcase with me as I went to find my team. I walked till they were out of sight. I got to a checking point, a bulky security guy retrieved my bags for checking. Then I saw team Luke. They were all like looking anxious,like I had bailed on them again.

Well,I guess I'm late... again.

"Oh Anna!", That was Ralph, drinking a milkshake.

"Thank goodness..she's here". Kate said with relief.

"I'm sorry guys, mum delayed me. You know mums". I whined and hugged Kate's waiting arms. And tunner's, Daniel was a no-no,Zak , Ralph and finally Stephen. Stephen had that goofy,cunny look on his face as I hugged him.

"Mummy's girl" , he whispered in my ear.I guess they all picked that, seeing as they are laughing now.

I jabbed him in his stomach and he winced.

          "Team Luke. Are you ready!", I yelled.

    "We were born ready!" They responded.

" Team Luke", I yelled again.

"We 'bout dance!"

          And we all laughed. I love the enthusiasm.

"Alright. Let's go on". I said and we all went into the plane.

   It was a three hour flight to California. It wasn't my first flight nor second though. Dave and my team always travelled out of the country for shows and activities. It was always fun. Thanks to my savings,I was able to make it to California yesterday. But today, prexus was paying.

       The flight to California was fun . Zak was making stupid and funny jokes . Zak on his own was one to not take life seriously, he was always indignant and thought there was nothing much to life. He was a cool guy actually. He doesn't date much too. Pretty simple guy.

     And Kate was updating me about the latest gossip in PRIME. I never knew Starr had a scandal with Nick . And it was official that Trap was a gay.

Eew - I thought. No wonder we never saw him with a lady.

    Ralph listed the amazing recipes he was going to try out, most especially the local one. He would visit the local cuisines or restaurant for some taste. According to him, Calif has a number of delicious delicacies he was going to try out, probably cook for us too.

      And Tunner was the only one who thought Calif girls would be so good on bed. And he ranted on  about how they were so going to find out a hell of a monster he was. The guy was a f*****g dog. He would f**k anything under skirt. I couldn't help but roll my eyes dubiously at him.

      " STD isn't written on those girls faces ,Tunner ", I pointed out.

"Exactly. I bet you'll be pissing blood one of these days", Zak joked

     And we all laughed. Stephen smiled .

" f**k you, Zak. There's condom for some reason,dude",he retorted, glaring.

" Just shut your shitty hole, Tunner. I don't wanna hear anything 'bout  your cassanova ways" , I screamed at him and he winked-smiked at me.

" Aye, captain". He said.

And I scoffed.

       " Hey, check this out, Anna", Daniel showed me list of tourist centers on the little booklets he was reading.

   "Whoa... That's a long list of tourist centers " I was amused at that. Calif sure has beautiful places to see.

" I know right. Hey Zak, where are you going first". He turned to ask zak, who was sitting infront of him.

" PRIME.we have practice today at 5, remember?" ,Zak drawled out.

Right.

We all laughed.

PRIME first.

     We got to PRIME about 20 minutes to five. PRIME was a big company alright, with it's black exterior design exuding fierce and strong. It was about six storeys tall. And I wondered how many offices occupied a floor. I shooked my head in awe.

    I would never know.

By now everyone was fully awake and concious. We marched out of the taxi - taxis, that is, given there were seven of us. We looked ourselves with excitement on our faces. This was really happening.

    After taking in the sheer awesomeness of the big entertainment company, we stepped inside. Took the elevator to the fifth floor, where our dance studio was.

    But first before the dance studio,was  the changing room. We dropped our bags there. Kate and I used the female's room. It was nice, with cream Walls and two rows of lockers. Some of it still looked like someone had used it, I could see stamps and stickers on some of the red lockers.

      "How do you feel , Anna. Do you feel your heart slapping against your chest!", Kate squealed giddily. She was undressing.

   I smiled. " I'm feeling a whole lotta s**t right now,Kate". I said it so enthusiastically so that it matched her mood.

      She chuckled, "exactly girl. I mean you're in prime after all. " . She slipped on a pink cargo pant, and white bring it on oversize top.

      She looked cute in that. Especially with her bright blonde hair in a messy side bun. Her tiny caramel eyes and small,tiny earrings filling every of the two piercings in her ear. Although she looked the b***h-i-dont-give-a-f**k type. She was actually a sweet cute one. She only monsterfied when any girl was flirting with her guy.

     "We are in PRIME, Kate. We all are" I corrected her and she nodded at that.

  I wore a black jean short, which exposed my perfect lean leg, although they are not long, they are as fresh as it gets. And guys would die for 'em, trust me.

        Pulled on a grey and black motif  hoodie. And a sleek black hightop,it's sole in glorious white.

Okay. No one pulls tomboy better than me.

     I  was grinning so hard at my reflection when Kate came at me suddenly with her phone up for a selfie.

       "  First practice day in PRIME selfie!", She screamed happily and took the shot.

         Kate's energy was way up in the sky. Like way up. She really was enthusiastic about this prime thingy.

     I rolled my eyes dubiously at her, pulled my hair gently in a big bun in the center and grabbed a bottle of water. Yeah, and my headphone and Android too.

      "You ready to go break some legs baby" I hit her shoulder playfully,a smile dancing on my pink lips.

     She shot an imaginary gun with her fingers and winked at me.

    "You bet ya fine ass, I am".

With that said Kate and I walked out of the room to the big dancing studio . The boys were there already, stretching out and warming up.

    "What's Zak doing with his legs", I laughed at the sight of Zak twisting his legs in different stupid ways. The funny thing was,he was damn serious.

  "Crazy guys are everywhere these days, Anna", Ralph warned jokingly. He was eating some kind of cookie

     " You're going to wish your f*****g stars you didn't say that, Ralph!. You asshole!". Zak screamed,and started chasing him.

       I laughed the more,so hard that my stomach was hurting. Kate was already taking selfie with Daniel at the far end of the cream walls. Stephen was crouched on the tiled floor staring at his phone. What ever he was looking at, I decided not to  bother myself with.

       There was like five more minutes to practice and Trimix weren't here yet. So I stuffed my ear with the headphone, loud and fast best hit my ear instantly

    Damn,so good.

I was listening to THREE by Trimix. This was last year's, and I just couldn't get enough it yet. Inspiration hit me and dance steps flooded my mind at once. That jeered me and I started moving easily,did a spin once, leg up and slide. Quick reverse moves and tap tap tap.

      Sweet.

I was smiling now, one spin again and I stopped dead in my tracks ,seeing the boy band at the door.

     Asdfghtjklmsdffg!

I was screaming inside me, fighting the whole heavens to open up the floor and let it swallow me. I was embarrassed, my cheeks flushed tomato red. And at that moment I so much wished I had let my hair loose,maybe it would house my blushing cheeks.

      The twins had a full-time amusement in their face, smiling so hard. I wouldn't blame them, I mean they just witnessed the reverse queen herself in her awesome glory , freestyle. Who wouldn't be mesmerized .

   Did I sound like a narcissistic weirdo?

   I calmed down. I was freaking out on the inside,but they would never see that. Not unless I showed them. Which will never happen.

      "Hey barbie. We meet again", Nick grinned at me.

    He was such a cutie doll. I could squish him softly in my hands. But i'ld rather not.

       "I guess I prefer this scene better. This is how we should have met. Yo, what's good people" Nike,the other baddie twin hollered.

   He was even cuter. I thought I almost drool at those identical grey- blue eyes.

  There was a series of "hey" ," hi" and Kate's "nice to meet you". And Zak just had to be stupid, forming cool guy as he said "sup".

     I really had to fight that strong urge to laugh. i***t. If he should make me lose my cool today, I swear I'd cut off his balls.

        They strode into the room and stopped midway. Trap and Nick both sat on the lone black couch by the door.

Trap was so cool. His white hair falling in scattered bangs just before his emerald green eyes. Those dreamy eyes I've stalked day and night on i********:. He was sporting a casual grey cargo pants, oversized blue roundneck and a matching nike sneaker.

     I bet he has mouthwatering collection of sick sneakers.

         I noticed his graffiti tattoo snaking up his arms till it disappeared inside the hem of his sleeves, little wordy ones were sprawled on his right neck. Tiny black ear rings on his ears too.

     This guy was a real baddie. And f**k do I love that.

     No more Anna. Heads up,you don't wanna look like a freak- I told myself and rocked lightly where I stood.

Nike was the one who came forward. He was the dancer amongst them after all. Although trap and Nick do dance , like good dance,Nike was just the expert.

     And we...are the real show.

" I get you're just flying into the country,so I'll be real quick. I bet lot of you been drooling at the thought of perfect hammies or those spicy chicken wings,eh? ". Nike teased and we laughed.

      Stephen was behind me, arms crossed, watching all of us. His smile was up, at least he was still better than Trap-god  who was now looking into the void of nothing.

      What world do they see, when they were not saying anything and looking as good as dead, all emotionless.

I shooked my head and focused on Nike.

     " Well, hammies will just have to wait, cos in two months now we will be holding a concert ,sure you've heard of it."

      We all nodded and murmurings rose up.

     " Hey ,whoa , listen up please. Good. The list is THREE, heaven in a box, strike hard and freedom, ya know 'em ,right"

"Sure man. Freedom was a bomb blast, I'm sure it spread to the north Pole" , Tunner said,grinning.

      "Yeah, and strike hard has literally been my ringtone for a year now" ,Kate was proud to announce.

    I smiled and she wasn't lying when she said that. She made me learn all the lyrics.

      "Hey boys, I see our fans here", Nike announced and chuckled. Nick was smiling and trap was just himself.

    I wish I could just get close and erase whatever evil thing had been letting him build huge, and great walls around him. I wish he would let me get close enough.

       But these are just my wishes. A lowlife girl like me would never get close enough. I really should stop daydreaming and focus on Nike.

     " So we'll start with THREE. I have this bomb steps in my brain, been practicing for a while now. I'll go first with team leader-" He stopped and look right at me. Turning my knees to f*****g jelly,but I held on. I promised not to lose my cool today. " Yo barbie. Bet you have a name ". He said , so cool, like he dared me to tell him

     "Anna" --which I did.

He looked like he was contemplating,"nah", he shooked his head, "barbie it is". And he smiled.

     Will he stop doing this to me. I would f*****g call 911 for an arrest. Probably sue him for being too illegally cute.

       But the cuter guy , the only one that got my eyes wasn't even doing anything and I couldn't do but steal glances . Trap in his glorious form was unbothered about everything. Like he was the only one that mattered.l,that existed.

      "I'll choreograph with barbie here. I get you have a dorm right?".

"Yeah" I replied.

     "Good. Y'all have practices in your spare time. And may I let you know, since Steve hand-picked you guys personally,we want perfection. No mistakes,you'll be going on an international stage, are you up for that?" He asked carefully, looking directly at every one of us as he spoke.

     "Team Luke is 'bout dance and we are more than perfection. Trust us" I reassured him -or the three of them. I could stand anywhere and vouch for my team. And I was pretty proud of that.

      "I like that. Alright,so  I'll go first, yo Trap roll in the song" He waved to Trap  who absent mindedly played the song and focused on us. His features had softened by an inch, I saw a quick, faint smile,that if I looked too quickly I would miss it.

  Or maybe it was just my imagination.

     Nike danced with so much ease and flexibility as if he had been dancing all his life. I knew all of his moves ,just needed to piece it together and follow the dance pattern. He was good at dancing ,rhyming together with the fast beat,his legs and arms working together as if it was meant to do just that. It was a good dance to the fast song. The song itself was maddening.

    "I'll do this one more time ,okay" he said and with the same ease,same easy air around him ,he danced again ,hands flailing in the air and then back to his side,when it got to Trap's rap part the song picked another pace and so did he steps, I memorised and got all of that.

      " Alright barbie, let's see what you got." Nike said to me.

    This time I was the one to give him my killer smile and deep dimples, I was pleased when I saw him raise a brow up as if he wasn't expecting that. I got in the mood quickly, this was dance and I didn't get shy when I dance. Not even if there was a Greek-god staring at me.

      " Trap roll up", I heard Nike say.

The song started and I moved with it, following Nike's pattern rhythmically. Turning deftly,my legs flexible and moving accordingly to the fast beat . Trap's rap part entered and with the same pace, followed Nike's steps and matched the song. I was f*****g feeling myself, and I stopped at the point his steps altered.

    "Okay, that was insane. You picked all the moves so quick and so good ,barbie. Right Nick?"

      Everyone was whooping and clapping while I catch my breath. I was smiling.

    "She one good dancer man. Pretty good", Nick commented.

    Oh God,my head was so swelling right now. If someone ever told me that these two A-list celebrities would be commenting on my moves, I would have laughed at their faces. It was surreal.

         "Well I bet my teams got that too, right guys?"

"You bet we do", Ralph monster-replied

      There was whooping and everyone got in the mood.

"Wow" was all Nick said

      " Roll up trap" Nike said again. He was amused.

     Probably thinking how we could have all gotten that so fast. But that was how Dave taught us. He always gave us two days ultimatum. So we practiced hard, always picked his moves instantly, till it became a part of us. And we became professionals.

         We made formation at once. Me in front, two behind me, two  interlocking, and the remaining in the minddle. In dancing,a good formation always hit differently when there is a group of dancers. Another thing Dave taught us.

    At ease

The song started

Trimix!! - attention.

We banged our feets.

     "1 2 3 " I called.

We moved slightly, docked left, right. Left, left, right.

     The chorus began and we followed up. Same steps, same rhyming pattern.

We followed the fast beat, matching together. It was fun,more fun with my team. The rap part came, the beat was even faster, hitting us like waves,immediately the steps changed and we matched again.

    "f**k you guys are on fire!", Nick, who was now standing, screamed as he clapped.

    I smiled, catching my breath once the dance was over.

The guys were also fighting for air.

    "I may have underestimated you guys a little. That was good" Nike commented.

"Thank you", Kate said, breathing hard.

     I couldn't believe Trap. How could he still pull up that poker face even after seeing a show like that. Was it because of yesterday or was that how he was really going to be all through our stay here.

      " So ya think the choreography is okay?" Nike asked, his arms folded on his chest.

    I noticed he didn't have tattoos or ear piercings, but Nick did. He was the good guy of the twins after all, which made him even more adorable.

  I nodded to that, but I remembered I was dancing to the song before practice. So why not add one of my steps to the ending.

    I raised my hand.

"Barbie. I guess you have something. Go on"

     "Well the choreography is good and all. But I was listening to THREE when you guys came in ".

His eyes widened and he smiled at that.

     " So I was wondering...how about two step formation forward and backwards, middle formation switch. Spin forward and then front formation dock".

        He was lost. I guess no matter how good a dancer he was, he was not farmiliar with the terminologies.so I showed him.

     " Check this out. Ralph,you guys come in".

     And we practiced like that for about three hours. Trap and Nick joined us later on. We made some additions later on and the twins were just too amused and cute while we danced.

    We made formations ,gave everyone a role and practiced again.

   At some point we would relax and make friendly banters. Zak finally succeeded at making me lose my cool, because he made a funny joke about the last time he approached a celebrity.

        I mean why would he dress as a lady, paint his lips and add clothes to pump up his breast just to get an autograph. Trust Zak to do something as silly as that.

    Trap avoided my gaze all through,didn't mind me at all but at least he followed instructions very well.

I guessed  the concert was important after all.

       At the end of practice, I think I tripped on Ralph's cookie wrap and landed with a loud squeal on Trap.

Oh no no, he hates me enough already.

Tension hung in the air.

I was lying on his chest but I could not look at his face.

It was as if I would burn to death if I looked at those glaring  green eyes.

   " s**t. Get off me clutz." He half screamed at me.

I was so embarrassed, I immediately rolled off him and stood up immediately. The guys rushed over to me.

  "Are you okay." ,Kate the ever worried one asked me. Checking me all over. I nodded and mouthed I'm fine to her.

        Trap stood up ,dusted his body and shot me one killer stare." Can't believe you're a dancer. You can't even balance yourself". He said and made for the door.

      Oh no. He did not just question my talent.

     " I can't believe you are a f*****g idol, if you don't even know how to treat people. Behaving childish over just little things. What is wrong with you." I ranted angrily, but I was not done, " you can pick on me, but you will never question my talent. I am a dancer and a f*****g good one at that. You get me! ".

     He was staring at me like he could just rip my mouth off and shut me up. But Nick and Nike came right between us holding hands up.

     "Whoa barbie. Easy there, will ya. I think trap's just stressed out. No hard feelings please", Nike intervened.

     I have a helluva things to say to his f*****g face, but heaven helped me,I held it in. For my team. Prime is our biggest gig so far and I'm not about to run their chances for them, seeing it's our first day and I'm already making  things hard for them. So I held it in.

I f*****g held it in.

       Trap released himself from their grip with a big huff. One last glare at me and he left the room.

    "We're very sorry Anna. Dude,let's go", Nick apologized and left the room.

"We're sorry barbie. "

     Nike left the room too.

And I hugged Kate. "I'm sorry guys I mean it's our first day and -"

    They silenced me .

" Don't be sorry for that jerk. I totally held my monster self ,I would have actually pounced on him for you. But he is not worth it, is he?", Tunner said

   And I shooked my head. "No,he is not".

     "If this happens again,I think I'll have to speak with Steve. Come on. Practice is over,let's go home",Stephen,the big brother said. He carried my stuff and nugded me out of the dance studio.