I laughed softly, almost feeling embarrassed at the looks restaurant goers were giving my best friend, but I raised my glass anyway, her excitement too contagious to ignore. I clinked my glass to hers before taking a sip of my drink. “You’re crazy, you know that?”
The two of us were at The Upper Echelon, the newest members-only restaurant in Beverly Hills, just hours after my audition. Kelsey was adamant that we went out to dinner to celebrate me going into the next round of audions.
The atmosphere inside The Upper Echelon was sleek and opulent with soft, ambient lighting casting a golden glow over plush velvet couches and marble tables. The air buzzed with the low hum of intimate conversations, accented by the occasional clink of crystal glasses, as if the entire place had been designed for a luxurious escape from the outside world.
“No, just very excited about the fact that my best friend is one step closer to her dreams,” Kelsey countered. “Can you imagine if you actually became Titan’s leading female dancer for his tour this Fall? This has been your dream for the last eight years since we were sixteen.”
“I can’t even think that far, Kels.” I admitted, “I’m just glad Zane didn’t call security on me when I demanded that he let me dance for him again.”
I could still picture Zane sitting back in his seat, his expression a mixture of skepticism and mild disbelief as I stood there, adamant in my request for him to give me another chance. His lips twitched in the slightest smirk, but there was something in his eyes, curiosity, maybe, or just a hint of respect that kept me from feeling completely ridiculous.
Well, that, and Nathan’s words of encouragement that circled around in my head as I executed my dance routine a second time around, this time to perfection. When the music stopped, Zane sat up straighter in his seat, paused, then congratulated me on making it to the next round.
I couldn’t believe it.
Still, there was something about this audition that felt different. Dancing for Rhodium had been incredible; getting paid to perform with my best friend was a dream in itself, but it never quite feltearned. Opportunities with Kelsey always came wrapped in her influence, her connections, her fame. People saw me as the tagalong best friend, not the dancer who deserved to be there. But Titan? That was different. If I got this, it would be because of me, my work, my talent, my grit. There’d be no whispers about nepotism or favors. And I wouldn’t just be another backup dancer fading into the stage lights. I’d be hislead. The one who shared the spotlight, not hid behind it. For once, it would be my name they remembered when the curtain fell.
Kelsey studied me for a moment, her expression softer now. “You know, if you get this, things are gonna change.”
“In a bad way?” I asked carefully, setting my menu down.
She shook her head. “Not bad. Just different. You’ve always been my person, you know? My calm in all the chaos. But this,” she gestured vaguely, like she could see the future I wanted “this would make youtheone in the spotlight. The world seeing you the way I already do.”
Her words hit me harder than I expected. “Would that bother you?”
Kelsey smiled, small and sincere. “Only in the way it’ll suck not having you next to me on stage. But if anyone deserves this opportunity Elise, it’s you. You’ve worked for it. You deserve it.”
I reached across the table, brushing my fingers against hers. “Hey. I’m not going anywhere, okay? Even if I land Titan’s tour, I’m still your choreographer. You’re still my girl.”
She laughed at that, tension easing from her shoulders. “Yeah, but you’ll be the cool choreographer who’s too busy touring with a superstar to answer my texts.”
I grinned. “Never. You could be performing in Antarctica and I’d still be the one nagging you about footwork and breathing technique.”
Kelsey’s smile softened. “Promise?”
“Promise,” I said, meaning it. Because no matter what stage I stood on, she’d always be the one who believed in me first.
“Good,” she said, leaning back in her chair with a playful glint. “Then I guess I can share you with Titan. For now.” We both laughed, tension melting like honey in warm tea. “I’m surprised you asked for a second chance. Very unlike you.” She added after a minute. “But I’m proud of you nonetheless.” Kelsey took another sip of her wine.
I didn’t bother telling her it was Nathan who encouraged me not to leave until I showed Zane what I was capable of. She already thinks I have a crush on him.
Which for the record, I don’t.
“Let’s just say I had a boost of confidence.” I hid my smirk as I held up my menu, ready now than ever to order.
Sensing a presence, I glanced up, a smile tugging at my lips as I spotted a familiar figure weaving through the tables with the kind of grace that didn’t belong in a place that served sliders on wooden boards.
Alessia.
She was pretty with long, curly, dark brown hair, hazel eyes, and light brown complexion.
“Hey, you two,” she greeted us like we were old friends, not just the girls who always sat at table twelve who kept ordering the same rosé and splitting one dessert every time we came. “Can I top you off?”
“Hey, Alessia,” I greeted, setting my menu down and extending my near-empty glass toward her. “Yes, please. I could use a top-off.”
She grinned, effortlessly pouring a generous amount of Riesling into my glass but I couldn’t help but notice that she seemed tense and stiff, like she was holding something back.
“You okay?” I asked, giving her a pointed look. “You don’t seem like yourself today.”
