“Come on over, I saved a seat for you,” Cole unfolded a camping chair for her and motioned for her to sit.
“Oh, you brought me a chair,” she mimicked his tone from earlier. “Someone was thinking about me!”
“Ever since you left the other night,” he replied, unabashedly.
Bri felt her cheeks heating, and quickly changed the subject. “So, I know you like to paint. What else do you like to do?” She took a sip of her Slurpee, and tried to ignore the way her heart picked up as he sat down next to her.
“I like to surf, play sports, mainly football and basketball, hang out at the beach, play video games. And me and my dad like to go camping and boating. What about you? What do you do for fun? Besides reading. I already know that one.”
“I dance.”
“Really?” Cole got a wicked gleam in his eyes. “As in...?” he lifted his eyebrows suggestively.
“Ew, no! Not that kind of dancer! Perv!” She shoved him, laughing.
“I know. I was just messing with you. You wear way too many clothes to be a stripper!” he laughed. She went to hit him again, harder this time, and he threw his hands up. “Okay, okay, no more stripper jokes! So, you do ballet and stuff?”
“Among other things. I was a captain on the dance team at my old school, and I taught at my studio for a couple of years. My dad’s been working the principal, trying to get me an audition for the team here. But he’s getting some resistance. I also like to run, play tennis, and I also like to hang out at the beach. I love the ocean.”
“You in one of those tiny tennis skirts… now that I have to see!”
“Ha, ha! And I’m dying to see you squeezed into some of those tight football pants!” Bri had been joking, but an image of Cole’s butt in said pants flashed through her mind, and suddenly she wasn’t so sure anymore.
He grinned wickedly. “You just name the time and place and I’ll be there! Me in my pants, and you in your skirt. Or, better yet, some of those tight dance pants, the ones that show off your butt!
She raised her eyebrow at him. “I thought we were just going to be friends here. This is coming dangerously close to flirting.”
“Flirting?” he scoffed. “This is totally platonic, friendly banter. I can’t help it if you are trying to flirt with me.”
“Whatever, Cole. You just keep living in that deluded world of yours,” she laughed.
“As long as you come visit me in those sexy dance pants!”
Bri stayed a little while longer before deciding it was time to head home. True to his word, Cole was on his best friend behavior. They exchanged phone numbers, she hugged him goodbye, and drove home.
A couple of hours later, Bri’s dad called her from work.
“Hi Pumpkin, how’s it going?”
“Good Dad, what’s up?”
“Just wanted to let you know that I heard from the principal today. She’s convinced the dance team advisor to give you an audition!”
“Seriously? That’s great!”
“She wants you there Friday at noon, and she wants to you perform one of your routines from your old team. Friday is their last practice before they break for the rest of summer until school starts. So, remind me to send you with a check for fee’s and uniforms, just in case.”
“Okay. Thanks Dad, I know how hard you’ve been pushing for me.”
“Just don’t let me down, Pumpkin.”
“Have I ever done that?”
“Not once! Love you!”
“Love you, Dad! Bye!”
Bri was so excited. She decided to try out the whole texting Cole thing, and let him know.
That’s great! He texted back. You’ll have to come down and show me your stuff. I can let you know if you’re good enough for the team. :)
Yeah right! Like I’m going to dance out on the boardwalk at the beach. People will think I’m nuts.
No way, you’ll totally fit in out here.
He did have a point. She might even make a couple bucks while she was at it.
I’ll think about it.
Just make sure you wear those tight dance pants, or all bets are off for my help!
Friday managed to sneak up on Bri rather quickly. She’d been practicing all week, though she’d declined Cole’s offer of dancing for him on the beach. Although she was confident she would make the team, she walked into the gym feeling slightly nervous. Of course, the twenty or so pairs of eyes scowling at her and judging her didn’t help.
Turned out, her audition was going to be in front of the advisor and the whole team, who were eyeing her disdainfully. Not about to let a bunch of teenage girls psych her out, Bri straightened her shoulders and glided into the gym, her head held high.