But if making the dance team meant I had to cheat...
Too soon, before I could decide what to do, the last routine ended. We hit our basic standing pose once more, and I knew this was it. Last chance to sway two of the judges. Just one quick meeting of the eyes with two guys I'd never see again. The effects would only last a day, just like with the algebra boys, just long enough to convince them to give me a better score and help me make the team.
At least, I hoped so.
My gaze slid over the table toward the male judges. They were even sitting beside each other. It was too perfect, too easy. My gaze found their hands, the space separating their bodies, flicked over to the one on the left, slid up his shoulder to his chin...
And then over their heads to the bleachers behind them.
I couldn't do it. What if the gaze daze wouldn't be temporary this time? Both wore wedding rings. If the effect lasted longer than a few hours, could it mess with their families? Their marriages? I hadn't dared meet any male's gaze since that one disastrous mistake last month. Even when I'd wanted to look Tristan in the eye, wrong as that had been. I had no idea if it had gotten stronger with time. All I knew was that my gaze still made my friends look away after a few seconds. And I didn't want to have to cheat in order to be a Charmer.
I'd just have to hope my dancing had been good enough without it.
"Okay, ladies, thank you," Captain Kristi said. "You may exit through the doors now."
It was over.
The line turned, and now I was the one leading the way out of the gym. My chance to sway the judges was gone. Dazed, I left the gym, heard the metal door slam shut after the last group member exited, and then silence.
Wrapped in invisible cotton, I shuffled back upstairs, deaf to all sound.
I slumped down beside my duffel bag. I'd had the perfect opportunity, a real advantage today. Had I thrown it away in some naive attempt to do the right thing?
An hour later, Head Manager Amber dismissed everyone, reminding us to be back at the gym that evening for the new team announcement, and to wear blue jeans and a plain white T-shirt with our audition numbers pinned to our chests.
Lost in thoughts and doubts on my way out, I wasn't paying attention in the foyer and stumbled into someone. Ice-cold hands on my bare arms both shocked and steadied me as I mumbled an apology and looked up at the man I'd run into. He was a stranger, dressed in a tailored, dark-blue suit. His face was expressionless as he stepped away from me toward the gym doors where the judges were inside tabulating scores. I blinked in surprise as he strode right into the gym like he owned the place.
A woman's voice called out from within, "I'm sorry, but no parents are allowed in here right now."
The door swung shut behind him as he continued in, cutting off any further sound.
Amazing. Apparently being a Charmer was an honor big enough to make a father try to sway the judges for his daughter's sake.
Sway the judges unfairly, just like I should have done. I was so stupid. I shoved open the foyer doors, the moist heat blasting my face and then the rest of my body as I shuffled down the cement ramp to the parking lot and Nanna's waiting car.
"Well, how'd you do?" Nanna asked as I threw myself into the air-conditioned car, the sweat on my skin turning clammy as I put on my seat belt.
"No clue. I didn't forget any of the steps, at least." I should have used my gaze on those two judges. Even just swaying two of the five judges would've given me an advantage over the other freshmen dancers.
"Then you made the team, hon." She steered the car toward home, her smile confident.
I couldn't help it; I rolled my eyes. "Aren't you a little biased?"
"Of course I am." She laughed. "But I've also got eyes, don't I?"
Which only reminded me of my dumb decision. "Well, I guess we'll find out in a few hours."
"What time do we need to be back here?"
"At six. But you don't have to come inside with me. It probably won't take long."
Her sharp gaze flicked my way, and her smile disappeared. "And miss hearing my grandbaby's name being called out? I don't think so."
Warmth spread in my chest, and a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. "I think they'll be calling out numbers, not names."
She sniffed. "Same thing. I plan to be there taking lots of pictures for your mother."
My mother, who was, as usual, away selling safety products.
I didn't know what thought was worse to dwell on for the next four hours...whether I'd made the team, made the wrong choice during my audition or performed too well and made the judges question whether I was even human.
I showered, ate a late lunch and listened to my iPod in an effort not to think. It didn't work too well.
At five-thirty, wearing the required outfit, I led Nanna into the gym. We'd arrived half an hour early in the hopes of getting there before everyone else so Nanna could sit on the front row. Her knees were too bad to let her climb up the bleachers.
We should have gotten there even earlier.
It seemed everyone else had the same thought. The entire right side of the gym was packed. It looked like every girl had brought at least one of her parents. Some had brought their entire families plus their grandparents. And the expandable bleachers on the left side of the gym were still folded into the wall. At least none of them were Clann families. Maybe the Clann preferred cheerleading instead?
"Looks like we'll be standing," Nanna muttered.
We stood against the entrance wall near the doors with other similarly unlucky families.
And waited.
Thank goodness Nanna was naturally quiet. Mom would have embarrassed us both by chattering nonstop, most likely about things better left unsaid when standing six inches away from strangers.
But the silence also gave me too much time to think. And wonder. And doubt. And regret.
Just when I thought I couldn't stand the inside of my head anymore and would have to find something to talk about with Nanna, the Charmers director entered the gym.
Funny how fast everyone stopped talking without even being asked.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Elizabeth Daniels, and I'm the director of the JHS Cherokee Charmers Dance/Drill Team." She waited for the polite applause to die away then continued. "Since we're all here for one reason, I'll just skip right to it, okay?"
Someone gave an overly excited cheer, making Mrs. Daniels smile as she pulled a folded sheet of paper from the pocket of her linen slacks.