Pretty When She Cries - Black Mountain Academy

At least there’s one friendly face in the crowd. Courtney is smirking back at me, enjoying the showdown just like she promised she would. She’s not even remotely into school spirit, and she looks more than a little uncomfortable in the uniform, but she showed up like only a good friend would. This summer, I gave her an intensive crash course in dance over video chat. I had to twist her arm and promise her the world to get her to do this for me. But she’s here, and I’ve never been so grateful to have someone on my side.

“Hey, everyone.” I step forward and square my shoulders. “As coach mentioned, I’m Kailani.” Or as you all like to call me, the demon slut. “I’ve been dancing for thirteen years, and I have a background in hula, samba, jazz, and Polynesian fire dance. When I was twelve, I traveled with a professional dance troupe for two years, performing all over the world.”

“Yeah, only because of your mother.” Audrey nearly snaps her neck from the dramatic eye roll as I drop my credentials.

I offer her a fake ass smile like she offered me when she pretended to be a friend. That was the first and last time I’d ever trust one of these girls.

“I have a lot of ideas about incorporating fresh routines into the Cougarettes legacy,” I continue.

“That’s not what the Cougarettes are about.” Audrey crosses her arms and glares at me. “You wouldn’t know that because you’ve been here for like five minutes, but our traditions are sacred. We perform the routines that have been passed down through generations because they are classics. And I can assure you the alumni won’t tolerate this sort of mutiny.”

Coach Lopez gives me the side-eye, leaving me an opportunity to handle this on my own. Audrey is flexing the muscle of her family name to stake a claim. She’s not going to make this easy for me. I don’t doubt she will involve her mother and half the other parents in this matter. But I came here expecting as much, and I won’t back down regardless of what her last name might be.

“You were captain of the junior team last year, weren’t you, Audrey?”

She stares laser beams into my head like she hopes I’ll spontaneously combust. “Your point?”

“Did you make it to championships?”

The vein in her forehead pulses, and someone in the back snickers. Audrey whips her head around to see who it was, and I use the opportunity to take back my power.

“The point is the Cougarettes haven’t made it to a championship in three years. And the year before that, the performance was a hot mess at best. We can do better, and we will. Coach Lopez has already approved the routines. If the alumni wish to be heard, they have that right, but ultimately, how we perform is up to us—”

“You can’t be serious about this, coach,” Audrey huffs. “She’s going to desecrate everything we stand for!”

“Audrey,” Coach warns her. “You can either get on board or ship out. Nobody is forcing you to be here.”

Everyone holds their breath while they wait for the toddler-sized meltdown Audrey is known for. But she surprises all of us when she schools her features and an eerie calm washes over her. I’m not fooled for a second. She’s biding her time and plotting my destruction. I just put a giant target on my back, and I’m going to have to watch it every second.

“I’m not going anywhere.” Her voice is syrupy sweet as she offers an apologetic smile. “I was just having a moment. I’m here for my team, coach.”

“Alright, then.” Coach grabs her clipboard and glances at her notes. “Then let’s get started.”

We spend the next forty minutes breaking down the first routine. Following Audrey’s lead, the girls refuse to make eye contact with me while she seizes every opportunity to make a snide remark about my moves. The battle lines have been drawn. It’s teenage warfare, and I’ve got an army of two. But it’s worth every second of discomfort to witness the agony on her face when she’s forced to listen to my directives.

I smile at her like we’re besties as we wrap up the session, and under her breath, she hisses. “I give you one week before you’re on a plane back to Hawaii, demon.”

“Don’t hold your breath,” I tell her. “Or, on second thought, maybe you should. It’s much nicer around here when you just don’t talk.”

She glances over my shoulder and smirks. “Oh, look. Here comes my boyfriend. You remember him, right?”

I follow her gaze to Landon and the rest of the footballers as they head for the locker rooms. Audrey has already imprinted an imaginary ring on his finger. In her mind, there is no other alternative. They’ll get married and spit out a couple of perfect kids who look just like them. Little does she know I have plans to destroy them both.