Page 230 of Barinov

“Alright,” she calls. “Every one of you have received the choreography videos Knox sent out weeks ago, correct?”

Eight hesitant nods answer her.

“Good.” She claps once before picking up her own clipboard. “Then show us what you’ve got. Hales.”

Haley takes her cue. “So we’re going to do this in two groups. If I say your name, you’re in group one and you need to stay right where you are. If I don’t say your name, go sit for a bit.”

As she reads off the names, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out, scowling at Marisol’s name on the screen.

“What?” I say, nowhere near caffeinated enough to deal with her this early in the fucking morning.

“Good morning to you too, sunshine,” Marisol deadpans over the line. I can hear the distant murmur of the television in the background on her end.

“I’m busy.”

“Well, I need you anyway,” she snaps back.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, letting out a heavy sigh. “What do you need?”

“A favor.”

“Fresh out.”

“You’re hilarious,” she chuckles, though her tone quickly changes to something more demanding. “Seriously though, I need you to pick someone up at the airport for me.”

The heavy bass of the opening track booms through the studio speakers as Knox cues up the freshmen’s trial set, practically vibrating the wooden floor under my boots.

“I’m at Ashmoor,” I say, raising my voice slightly to compete with the Latin beats.

“So leave,” she says, completely unfazed.

Cade’s head snaps in my direction at the tone of my voice. “What is it?” he whispers, his eyes narrowing as he shifts in his seat.

I shake my head at him, standing up from my seat. I pace over to the quietest corner of the studio near the back exit and press my free hand over my other ear so I can actually hear her. “Can’t do that, Mar.”

“Well it’s important, Lex,” she whines, her voice dropping some of the attitude.

“You’ve got a car.” I lean my shoulder against the cool brick wall. “Why can’t you go to the airport?”

“Because I’m at Monroe’s with Zeke.”

I huff out a deep breath, dragging a hand down my face and scratching the back of my neck. “When the fuck did you become the annoying sister I never wanted?”

“So you’ll do it?” she beams.

I glance back across the room. Bella is leaning in towards Ellie as the two of them dissect one of the freshmen’s timing. She looks focused, alive, and completely in her element.

“Lex!” Marisol yells, snapping me out of it.

“Text me the flight and the name of the dude I’m grabbing,” I grumble.

“Her name’s Ivy,” Marisol says, her voice regaining its usual smugness. “And she’s not a dude.”

I wait until the dancers finish their set before weaving my way back through the maze of folding chairs to book it straight for our girl.

“Baby.”

She turns immediately, concern flashing across her face. “What’s wrong?”