The next week, Natalia was in Orlando and was set up in a local hotel that was about a block from where rehearsals were taking place.
She was dressed in a sports bra and sweatpants as she stretched out her tired muscles that first day of rehearsals. A couple of the other girls had arrived, but weren't out just yet. A few of the guys were there as well, some were stretching, others just standing around talking.
Natalia leaned forward, her hand easily touching and holding onto her foot. "Hey Natalia."
She looked up, "Oh hi Michelle."
Michelle smiled, sitting on the floor next to her, "When'd you get into town?"
"Yesterday afternoon. You?"
"Last week. My boyfriend lives here."
"Ooohh.."
"You got a boyfriend?," Michelle asked as she began to stretch.
"Nope..don't have time."
"Really?"
"Well..yeah. I was really into school and dancing and never had much time for anything else...plus, I don't have many friends anyways."
"I find that hard to believe."
Natalia sat up straighter, shrugging, "Don't have many to speak of."
Michelle smiled, "So..this is your first tour?"
"Yep."
"Excited?"
"Nervous."
Michelle smiled again, "You'll do great, I'm sure. What time is it?"
"9:40."
"cool..I'm gonna run and get some water, want some?"
"Oh no thanks, I have some in the locker room."
Michelle stood up, dusting herself off, "Ok..I'll be back."
"Ok."
About five hours later, Natalia was about ready to drop dead and hope no one would ever find her. Fatima had entered at about ten and since then, they hadn't stopped once. Finally though, they had an hour lunch break. She had grabbed something from the vending machines and was sitting outside when Fatima came over, "Hey, how you doin'?"
"I think I'm okay...tired..but okay."
She smiled, "It's always rough the first couple days but it'll get better. You all are looking really good."
"Really?"
"Yep..I'm pleased. I talked to the guys and I think that they are going to come in tomorrow after regular rehearsal and we're going to try to learn some of the partner stuff. I've picked you, Michelle, Manda, Cybil, Vanessa, and Jackie to dance with the guys, so I was wondering, is that cool with you?"
"Sure..."
Fatima smiled, "You look so shocked."
Natalia looked up and tried to meet Fatima eye-to-eye, she had a problem with eye contact and plus she was shy as hell, "Well...truthfully, I AM shocked. This is my first tour Fatima..and I had no clue I'd be one of the dancers with one of the guys."
"You're talented Natalia, now I've gotta get back in. I just wanted to make sure you knew!"
"Ok...thanks Fatima..for giving me this chance."
She grinned, "No problem, see you inside!"
Natalia was soon left by herself once more; and all that alone time caused her brain to start working overtime. She was going to be a dance partner for one of the Backstreet Boys. That, somehow, just blew her mind to peices.
Natalia stood alone in the empty dance studio about 9 o'clock that night. She was exhausted but still too wound up from rehearsal to go back to her empty hotel room just yet. She dug through her purse for a cd and plugged up the cd player in one corner. She pulled her dark hair up into a messy ponytail as N'Sync's "Up Against The Wall" began to bump through the room. Soon, the rhythm overtook her, and her body began to move with it. She hoped this would get some of her anxiousness/nervousness out of her and she'd be able to sleep that night when she finally did make it back to her room.
Finishing with three more songs, she finally played "Girlfriend" and sat down on the floor to cool down some. Her head bobbed up and down slightly to the beat as she stretched out her calf muscles.
What she didn't know was that someone was watching her. Not like a stalker or anything like that. Just a very curious person of the male persuasion. His nose crinkled a little at the artist spilling from the cd player, but he smiled nonetheless. She was gorgeous. He watched as she pulled the elastic from her hair, and it fell around her shoulders in dark brown waves. She stood up and went to go stop the cd and get her things together.
He had come there looking for a late night chat with Fatima, but as soon as he had made the long, hour drive to the Orlando studio, he remembered that she was going home to her baby that night and wouldn't be around the studio. It was almost a lost cause until he had spotted a stranger still in the studio they were using for rehearsals. She had to be one of the new dancers, he had finally guessed, and he had stood there watching for a good fifteen minutes while she danced around the room to N'Sync. She was good, like really, really good.
He realized he was about to be caught when he saw her starting for the main door. He ducked around the corner just as she exited, flipping the light off as she closed the door behind her. She walked almost right past him and walked out the front doors, waving to the janitor that had left the studio open just for her.
He followed a minute later. The janitor grinned, "Did you find Ms. Robinson?"
He smiled at the older man, "Nope, wasn't there. Ummm..you don't know who that girl was, do you by chance?"
The janitor shook his head, "Nope, sorry son, all I know is she's one of your all's new dancers. Don't know her name or anything though just yet. Seems nice enough though."
He nodded, "Well thanks anyways. See ya tomorrow?"
"Will do. See you later Mr. Carter."
Nick stuffed his hand into his pocket to get his car keys as he exited the studio and walked through the empty parking lot to his Durango. His mind was filled with images of the woman he had seen in the studio. She looked so intriguing. "That is what I get for trying to go to talk 'Tima and I almost get caught practically stalking some girl I've never met! And now I can't get her out of my mind!," He mumbled as he steered the car out of the parking lot and onto traffic.
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