Ambitious (7 page)

“This was supposed to be our year to shine, man. Basketball is what we do. Not Shakespeare,” said Kev.

The three of them continued to take shots at me, and I didn’t know how to defend it. I felt like Benedict Arnold. As if I’d betrayed everyone. Facing Coach Austin had definitely been something I wasn’t prepared for. Before the game, I wasn’t even sure I’d made the right decision—transferring to Premiere. But after my short-lived conver
sation with my former coach and my friends, I knew even more how important pursuing my dream was. If playing a good game didn’t account for anything, as Coach Austin had said, then I was in the wrong place. And if my friends couldn’t support my decision, no matter what it was, then they weren’t my friends at all.

I felt more resolved with my decision as I hopped into the passenger seat of Preston’s car.

Marisol

The
portable stereo was plugged into the wall. Jasmine and I danced to the sounds of Justin Bieber in an empty dance studio. When we mentioned that we were planning to audition for Dance America, J.C. had given us permission to use the studio during our lunch period in order to practice our routine. She thought it was wonderful that two of her students were auditioning for the competition. She even offered to help with our choreography if we needed her to. We took her up on the offer; we could use all the help we could get. With the Dance America auditions in one week, we had a lot of work to do.

J.C. showed us a few of her dance moves; moves that I couldn’t believe she owned. She was graceful, and somewhat funky. She moved as the dancers did in some of the videos I’d seen on MTV, but with style. As we followed her lead, she taught us things that we would never have come up with on our own. With moves like this, we would definitely be taken seriously in the competition. We would look like professionals.

“From the top girls…one, two, three…” she said after slipping a different CD in. She had become our self-appointed choreographer. “The bass in this song is stronger and will work better for your routine.”

In just a short time, she’d switched up our music as well as our routine. I kept thinking about Luz and how she wasn’t able to join us. She would have a lot to learn in just a short time, but I had faith in her. She was not just an excellent dancer, but a quick study. If anyone could learn a dance routine in a short time, it would be her. I would show her every move, just as soon as I made it home from school. I’d already sent her a text and let her know that we were switching things up a bit, but that she would catch on quickly. She didn’t respond, but I knew she would. She wasn’t allowed to use her cell phone during class, but I knew she’d text me back in between classes. I couldn’t wait to bring her up to speed.

As our lunch period ended, I wiped sweat from my brow with a small towel. I tossed the towel to Jasmine to wipe her sweat away. She started panting and coughing, and I couldn’t help but think that it was because she smoked those horrible cigarettes. She’d be a much better dancer without them.

“You ladies really have potential,” J.C. said, “but you don’t have much time to work on this routine. So here’s what I’m gonna do. I’ll meet you here every day this week. Same time, same place. Which means you’ll have to sacrifice your lunch hour.”

“You mean you’ll actually work with… Train us for Dance America?” I asked.

“Only if you want me to,” she responded. “I would love to see someone from Premiere to actually take Dance America by storm. The potential is here.”

Just listening to J.C.’s words had me excited inside. The thought of Jasmine, Luz and I making it to the finals gave me chills. I wished that Luz was a student at Premiere and could take advantage of the lunchtime rehearsals.

“There’s a third member of this group. I wish that she could be involved, too,” I explained. I didn’t know if mentioning it would do any good. You never knew what strings grownups could pull.

“Does she attend Premiere?” J.C. asked.

“No. She attends a public school in Brooklyn—” I decided to reach for the moon “—but maybe we could do this in the evenings, and she could come by here after school.”

“Won’t work. I don’t have much time to dedicate after school. This is the best time for me,” she explained. “She’s probably not going to work out as the third member of your group. Maybe you should consider just being a two-some.”

“Well, we started out as a trio. And that’s how we’re gonna stay,” I said. “I’ll bring her up to speed.”

“Whatever makes you happy,” she said. “You should get dressed and get to your next class.”

“We appreciate your help, J.C.,” said Jasmine as she pulled a pair of jeans over her leotards.

“You’re a lifesaver,” I added.

“Glad to help,” said J.C. as she removed her CD from the stereo and wiped sweat from her face with the sleeve of her shirt.

I put my jeans on and pulled my shirt over my head. Tomorrow I’d sneak my father’s camcorder from its place on the shelf. I would videotape us as we danced our hearts out. With a dance coach like J.C., we truly had a chance at stardom.

I stepped into my advanced algebra class feeling great. My day was going well. I took my usual seat in the third row; fourth seat from the rear of the class. When Drew waltzed into my class and began searching for a seat, I wondered what was going on. He spotted me and took the seat at the desk right in front of me.

“What are you doing in this class?” I asked. We were well into the second week of school and I had never seen him in the class before.

“I got reassigned here,” Drew explained. “They had me in some bogus math class at first. Funny seeing you here. Isn’t this an advanced class?”

“Yes, it is.” I’d always excelled at math.

“Shouldn’t you be in a beginner’s class?”

“I had those classes in middle school last year.” I smiled confidently. He seemed uncomfortable. “Are you intimidated?”

“Of course not.” He placed his palms over his ears. “There’s more than just good looks in between these ears.”

“You mean you have brains, too?” I asked.

“Sometimes I do.”

I found myself staring at the face in between the ears. I was secretly thrilled to see Drew. It was refreshing. My heart pounded a few extra times as he grabbed my pencil pouch from my binder and began searching for a pencil. He wasn’t ashamed to make himself at home with my things. Once a pencil was found, he grabbed my spiral notebook and ripped two sheets from it.

“I’ll probably need this, too,” he said.

“Help yourself,” I said sarcastically.

With Drew in my algebra class, I wondered if I’d be able to concentrate. His presence seemed to distract me. As the instructor shut the classroom door and asked us to open our textbooks, I tried to forget that Drew was in the seat in front of me. I opened my algebra book and turned my spiral notebook to the first empty page. Drew passed me a note. I opened it—careful not to rattle the wrinkled piece of notebook paper.

MEET ME AT MANNY’S AFTER SCHOOL. GOT SOMETHING TO ASK YOU.

Got something to ask me?
Why couldn’t he just ask me whatever it was before the end of the school day? Why wait until we were at Manny’s? I’d go crazy just trying to figure out what it was. What would Drew Bishop have to ask me at Manny’s that he couldn’t ask me in our algebra class?

The fall social was only a few weeks away. From what
I’d heard, it was a huge event for students at Premiere. Everybody dressed in tuxedoes and formal dresses, and sipped fruit punch from fancy glasses. Boys asked girls to be their dates for the evening, and they picked them up at their houses while parents snapped pictures of them with disposable cameras. If Drew was planning to ask me to the fall social, I’d need permission from my parents. I’d never been on a date before, and it would be very awkward for them. Poppy would definitely handle the news better. Mami wouldn’t like it at all. She’d protest at first, but then Poppy would ease her fears; convince her that the world wouldn’t end if I went on a date.

What would I wear? Luz and I would have to go to the mall immediately to pick out a dress. I’d have Grace pull out her nail kit and give me a manicure. Kristina would do my makeup. She’d been the best makeup artist since seventh grade. She’d practiced on us so many times. Luz would do my hair. Besides me, Luz was the master hairstylist. I’d have to decide if I wanted to wear lots of curls or if I’d put my hair up. It all depended on the dress I chose, I guessed.

My cell phone rested on my desk, and when it flashed, I knew that I had a new text message. I looked at the screen. Luz.

Let’s go to the mall 2day. I want those boots.

Can’t 2day.

Why?

Going 2 Manny’s.

Manny’s can wait.

Not 2day. How about tomorrow?

Whatever.

Luz seemed upset. I wanted to go to the mall with her, but there were more important things at hand—such as finding out what Drew had to ask me. After I had a chance to explain everything, Luz would understand why the mall would have to wait. I’d make it up to her.

As the bell sounded at the end of class, Drew packed his things.

“See ya later, kid,” he said then made a beeline for the door.

He was so cute, I thought as I stuffed my things into my backpack. I took my time leaving the classroom; lost in thought. Anxiety had suddenly filled my world. I was anxious to get home and show Luz the new dance steps that Jasmine and I had learned. I was anxious to get back into the dance studio with J.C. and Jasmine to practice again. I was anxious to get to the Dance America auditions. And now, I was anxious to get to Manny’s after school just to hear Drew’s big question.

At Manny’s I ordered a slice of pepperoni and a Cherry Coke. I slid into the booth next to Jasmine, who was already stuffing a slice of cheese pizza into her mouth. Drew and Preston walked into the door and headed our way. They dropped their things into the two empty chairs at our table.

“What’s up, y’all?” Drew asked.

I shrugged; my mouth was filled with pizza.

“What’s up, guys?” asked Jasmine.

Preston gave a wave, and then the two of them headed for the counter to order their pizza.

“I think Drew’s going to ask me to the fall social,” I told Jasmine. I immediately regretted saying it aloud. What if it wasn’t true? What if he had something else to ask me instead? I’d be embarrassed.

“What are you going to say?”

“Um…probably yes.” I smiled.

“You like him like that?” she asked. She seemed surprised.

I hadn’t really shared my true feelings about Drew with anyone, except Luz and Grace. I’d only kept it inside; in my private thoughts—where no one could judge me. It wasn’t that I really liked him all that much. I just liked the way I felt when he was around. It was as if we’d known each other forever; as though we’d met in another life.

“He’s okay. I mean, he’s a good friend,” I said.

“Well, the fall social is a big deal at Premiere. Everybody goes, whether they have a date or not. I doubt that I’ll have a date, but I’m still going,” she explained. “If Drew doesn’t ask, you can just go with me. No big deal.”

No big deal?
It was a very big deal, and becoming bigger by the moment.

Drew and Preston placed their pizza on the table. Preston turned his chair around and sat backward in it as he
always did. Drew plopped down in front of me, stole the extra mozzarella cheese that was stuck to my plate and popped it into his mouth. He seemed to enjoy taking my things without asking; as if they belonged to both of us.

“Guess what?” he said to no one in particular.

“What?” Jasmine and I asked at the same time.

“Yours truly will be playing the role of Walter Lee Younger in the school’s production of
A Raisin in the Sun.
” He cleared his throat. “No applause, please.”

“Congratulations,” I was the first to say. I knew how important that role had been for him.

“That’s fantastic, dude,” Jasmine said. “You should be very proud. I know lots of people who auditioned for that role.”

“She’s right, dude,” said Preston as he grinned at Jasmine. “You should be proud.”

I was proud of Drew, and all the small talk was fine, but I wanted to get to the subject at hand—the big question.

“So is anybody going to the fall social?” I asked. I wanted to get it out there in the open before I burst with anticipation.

Drew looked around the table, as if he wondered the same thing. “What’s the fall social?” he asked.

What’s the fall social?
Did he really ask that?

“It’s one of the biggest social events at Premiere,” Jasmine explained. “The fall social and the spring talent show are two events that you can’t miss.”

“I hadn’t really thought about it. Preston and I might
show up or something, just to see what it’s all about,” Drew said and then turned to Preston. “You wanna go, man?”

“Sure. Whatever,” said Preston.

“When is it?” Drew asked, his eyes moving back and forth between Jasmine and me, searching for an answer.

“It’s in three weeks,” said Jasmine. “The first Saturday in October.”

“Shouldn’t you have a date for these things?” Preston asked.

“It’s just a dance,” Drew said and finished off his slice of pizza. “It’s not the senior prom or anything.”

“People take dates, though, silly,” Jasmine said.

“Do you have a date, Jasmine?” Preston asked. Apparently, he was tired of beating around the bush. He’d been dying to ask Jasmine out.

“Yes, I do!” she exclaimed. “My girl Mari and I are going stag. Right, Mari?”

“Right.” I smiled on the outside but was disappointed inside to know that Drew had no intentions of asking me to go.

I appreciated Jasmine at that moment; rescuing me from embarrassment. I ate in silence. Couldn’t believe I had allowed myself to be so silly, and over a guy who obviously wasn’t interested in me. I wouldn’t put myself in that position again.

“Oh, yeah, Mari. Got a question for you,” said Drew.

Now he’s got a question for me?
What else is there besides “Mari, will you go with me to the fall social?”

“I’m listening,” I said and picked over my pizza.

“It’s kind of embarrassing,” he started.

What could be more embarrassing then expecting a boy to ask you to a dance, and he doesn’t?

“Spit it out, dude,” Preston said.

“It’s all good that I landed the role of Walter Lee Younger. But none of that makes any difference at all if I can’t keep my grades up in math,” he said. “I’m ashamed to say that at my old school, where I was a basketball idol, I didn’t do much of my own homework. Girls came out of the woodwork…just waiting to date someone from the team. They did whatever you asked.”

Was he asking me to do his homework for him?

“And needless to say, he took advantage of the poor souls,” Preston teased.