Practice makes prefect

Noelle’s Outfit

-x-

Noelle walked into the theater building, her boots clicking on the floors as she did so. She passed by a few people, many whom she recognized but others who she didn’t. She wore her brown hair back in a high ponytail, and a black crop top and jeans. Perhaps it didn’t seem like the most practical outfit for dance practice, but given that her attire for the dance was something similar, that was what this was for! Practice dancing out of her sweats. She already had the routine down, of course.

She had her earbuds in as she opened the door to the theater with her butt, not noticing anyone inside. She danced along to herself as she walked down the aisle before she looked up and saw a boy up on stage. She blinked, caught off guard by his presence. Who was he?

”Ah! Oh, do you have this room reserved?” Noelle asked sheepishly. She had not reserved the room and had simply thought it would be vacant at this hour on a Wednesday. ”I can leave if you want, I was just trying to practice some dance is all. The show’s coming up! You should definitely come watch! Oh, if you like watching dances that is!”

Noelle smiled warmly at his invitation.

”Oh, good! My dance is hopefully inspiring! I hope so, anyway.” she said. She hopped up onto the stage and then was met with another conundrum. ”Oh, I need to play my music. Do you mind if I do? I can’t really dance with headphones in! I can keep it quiet so you can keep doing your thing! As for coffee, uhmmm, I think I’m free!” She could really go for a mint chocolate right now!

She glanced over at him when he seemed like he wasn’t going to continue on his music and would instead watch her. Maybe he was just bored of playing right now and wanted to observe! Well, Noelle was happy to entertain. ”Oh, the dance is the school one! I taught the swing dance but oh! I’m also in a few others. I believe it’s cheap for students, five dollars or so! But it’s really fun to watch. All the dance students put one on each semester!”

She hummed and put her iPhone onto the little iHome stand, waiting for permission before she started playing her music.

”Ooooh, kay.” Noelle said, though she found it slightly odd that Mason didn’t want to play his music right now. But, then, he was probably taking that break she’d thought he’d been on earlier! ”Your manager? Does your manager do your whole schedule too?” she asked, though her tone was teasing. She always took the classes because she loved to dance! But, then, that was why she was a dance major!

Noelle put on Talk Dirty, the routine she was practicing for. It wasn’t her number but this one, though the simplest of all her routines, hadn’t gotten nearly as much practice out of her as the others had. She Moved her body to the song and realized she was slightly off tempo – moving slightly faster than she was supposed to. She slowed her movements down slightly but by the end of the number the routine was still sort of off! Once she got this down it wouldn’t be too hard, but it was always the timing that was the worst!

She glanced over to Mason then, noticing him still watching her. Her iPhone skipped to another song after but she ignored it for the time being. She assumed he was writing notes for his next song. She must have not heard the comment about his ex while she was dancing and focused on the music, because the prospect of getting a drink made her light up. ”Ooooh. I know what I’m getting myself! A mint hot chocolate. Nothing more Christmasy than mint, am I right?” she smiled. ”So, working on a new song?”

”Well that’s weird! Unless you’re like, in high school! IN which case that’s probably cool, that you have your own manager!” Noelle said. Ah, now she got it: he was a high school kid. He seemed a little old to her to be one but she didn’t know! Maybe he was like that guy she knew, Todd – he’d had a manager ever since he enrolled in the school, one who dictated everything for him. That was odd that he’d dictate some kind of dance course unless this guy was a dance major, too. But that was impossible! Noelle knew every dance major and minor, and didn’t recognize his face. And there was no way he was a freshman.

”Oooh, a song? Nice! What style do you do? Country, pop, blues, jazz?” She asked. Without the music she retraced some of the steps of the song, sashaying her hips to a nonexistent beat as she timed herself by thinking ”1, 2, 3, 4” over and over in her mind. She smiled at the idea of mint hot chocolate and licked her lips. ”It certainly does! It’s so festive – I love anything festive!”

Hmm, so he was older than High School, huh? Oh well! Noelle could see him being in High School but she could see him being out of it, too. When he wanted to learn dance moves from her she snorted.

”Oooh, really? I’m actually a teacher! I’m totally going to teach again next semester – you should sign up for one of my classes!” She said. When he tried to mimic her she laughed at him. ”Oh, this is Issy Romero’s choreography! I don’t think I should teach you this! I have to practice since I’m in her number.”

She rose her brow at his comment about George. ”Oooh. Well, dancing is a lot of fun! It’s definitely worth it,” she made a face when he said he was stuck with his ex and her friend. ”Ick! That doesn’t sound like fun! I would never take a dance class with Jared!” the very thought was enough to make her blood boil!

When he asked to go for hot chocolate, she blinked. ”Oh! Uhm, well, I just got here and was actually hoping to rehearse...” she glanced at her iPhone, ”But I guess I can go to get a drink and then come back right after! I’m free today until my class in the evening!”

Noelle smiled warmly when Mason introduced himself and said he’d love to take her class.

”Amazing! I’ll make sure to teach a really good one next semester! This semester it’s Christmas themed, but next semester the show will be in Spring, so I might go for a summer theme instead! Ooh, like dancing on a beach.” She was already wondering what mix to do! She already knew who’d be teaching classes she’d want to take next semester – Giovanni for sure – but what should her theme be? She had to think about it.

”Oh it’s okay, I’ll be here for hours so I’ll just go grab a snack now! I need to keep energy for rehearsing after all.” She said. When he immediately made the assumption that Jared was her ex, Noelle frowned. It was so obvious, wasn’t it? Noelle and Jared, now completely done. Jarelle had become a laughing stock, as had she. It was surprising that he asked what happened with him – everyone knew if they knew Jared was her ex – but she decided he didn’t want to assume too much. Noelle grabbed her things and headed out of the auditorium.

”How do you not know? It’s literally all over the gossip page! He cheated on me! And then I dumped him and now it’s all a big funny joke,” She rolled her eyes and pouted at that. ”You know I totally thought I’d marry him someday! He was so sweet... or so I thought.” She shrugged and looked at Mason. She already knew the story about him and Amy but figured it was only polite to ask. ”How about you and yours?”

Noelle laughed.

”Well you’ll have to pass my audition first!” She said. When he asked where they should get the drinks from, Noelle tapped her finger to her chin. ”Hmm It doesn’t matter to me! I drove here so I can just drive us to whichever! I kind of want to go to the mall but then I’ll spend all day shopping!”

As he described his relationship with Amy’s downfall she blinked. Flirting with another guy? That was news to her! Most of the rumors didn’t mention that! Oh well – Amy was really popular, it wasn’t surprising that rumors were skewed in her favor. It sent a twinge of anger down Noelle’s body to know that! ”Oh that’s no fair! I never heard that! Not that – okay, well, you and Amy are kind of like, hot gossip.” She said, waving her hand. ”I never heard she flirted with someone else though! Oh well – she’s kind of a player isn’t she? Gosh, what is with all of the players in the world! Does no one want a serious relationship? It’s so tiring!”

She led the way towards the packing lot and gestured towards her car. She unlocked it. ”Slide right in and pick a stop – café or mall!”