Lucian looked up from his clipboard when the door to the dance studio opened. He lifted a hand before noticing Luca's expression, and his brows furrowed. "What's that face for?"
Luca let out a sharp exhale, pointing his thumb over his shoulder. "Them."
Lucian looked past him at Rylan and Elaine, who entered after him. He gave a slow nod, patting Luca's shoulder. "Breath. It's a rehearsal, not a funeral," he murmured, stepping passed him. "Elaine. Welcome to the chaos once again. Try not to get hit with anything."
"No promises." Rylan jokingly chuckled.
Elaine smiled, parting her lips to reply; however, a loud yell filled the studio.
"ELAINE!"
Elaine barely had time to react before Casen charged across the room and lifted her in the air, spinning her around. "Hi!"
"Casen!" Elaine yelped, finally laughing, "Put me down!"
"Casen!" Lucian snapped, "For the love of god, put her down!"
Casen froze, staring at Lucian with wide eyes before sheepishly setting Elaine down as Rylan doubled over laughing.
Enzo slowly walked up to the group, crossing his arms over his chest with an unamused smile. "Man, you're going to break her and the mirrors."
"Worth it!" Casen beamed before earning a smack to the back of his head from Lucian.
"Casen. Stretches. Now. Before I tape your shoes to the ground." Lucian warned.
Casen squeaked out something and bolted, causing Rylan to wheeze as he tried to stop laughing. "Totally worth bringing her."
Luca exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. Enzo walked over to him, handing him a water bottle. "You good, man?"
"Define good."
Enzo's lips quirked up awkwardly as he nodded. "Noted."
Lucian looked around at everyone, shaking his head. "Get warmed up, we'll start this show in fifteen."
"Yes, sir!" Casen saluted from where he was on the ground, stretching.
"Got it, boss!" Rylan beamed, walking over to Casen to stretch with him.
Enzo and Luca both looked over their shoulders at Lucian before walking to the opposite wall of Casen and Rylan.
Elaine settled out of the way, watching the five do stretches, making mental notes about ones she could potentially do without any issues. She took her journal from her bag, bringing her knees up to use them as a platform to make notes.
"Alright." Lucian clapped to get everyone's attention after a while. "Starless, section one. Everyone, remember your spacing this time… Casen, that means don'tbody-check Rylan."
"Oh come on!" Casen shouted, "That was one time!"
"It was yesterday," Lucian muttered.
"And the day before that," Rylan added, blinking, "And the day before that."
"Whose side are you even on, Ry?" Casen stared at him from his mark.
"Preferably the one where I'm not eating the floor."
Lucian shook his head, using the remote to start the track. The five moved in sync, at least, for the first few moves.
"Hit the break." Lucian called out, "Three. Two…"
Casen's foot slipped on the glossy floor, and he reached out to Rylan in an attempt to steady himself.
"DUDE-" Rylan yelped, stumbling sideways. Casen went down first with a wail, and Rylan landed with his hands outstretched, catching himself.
Enzo sidestepped the two gracefully, and Luca halted just short of tripping over them with his arms spread to keep his balance as he stared at Casen with a look of utter disappointment.
"...Beautiful." Lucian had his hand over his face. "Truly revolutionary choreography."
Casen rolled from where he landed, sprawled out with his head lifted. "It's interpretive!"
"It's gravity, dumbass," Rylan grumbled, sitting on his knees while glaring at Casen.
Lucian let out a sharp exhale, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Up. Both of you."
"Maybe we need to replace them with mannequins?" Enzo commented.
Luca stepped next to Enzo, resting an arm on his shoulder while watching Casen and Rylan with his head tilted. "Don't tempt him, he'll do it."
Elaine covered her mouth, her body shaking with hidden laughter. The group reset their stances.
"From the top." Lucian shook his head, holding the remote. "This time, at least try to pretend that we're professionals."
The track restarted, and they began again. They glide through the motions up to the bridge before Lucian abruptly stopped the music. "Loosen up, Hunt. You're dancing like the floor is going to eat you."
"Ooh…" Casen grinned, "He called you out!"
Luca glanced at him with a deadpan expression. "At least I'm upright."
Rylan leaned over to Casen, whispering, "He's so upright he's practically a statue." Casen lifted his hand, snickering.
"I can hear both of you," Lucian warned.
Elaine gave an amused smile, watching Luca roll his shoulders, visibly trying to shake off the tension in his muscles. He glanced at Elaine before muttering under his breath, "Loosen up, he says… In front of an audience."
"You got this, statue man!" Rylan cheered, "Just feel the rebellion!"
Luca turned about to make a remark when Lucian put an arm in front of his face, shaking his head. He sucked his teeth, stepping back into position.
Lucian gracefully went back to his, "Alright, that's enough of that. Again, from the top."
Elaine watched them move in sync; they nailed it this go, mostly. Casen had a near slip but recovered in time to avoid Rylan and Luca's movements smoothed out, but he was still slightly tense. Lucian and Enzo were the picture of perfection when it came to the set.
Lucian paused the track, nodding. "That was better." He commented, "Casen, go change into your boots; everyone else, take a quick break."
"Aye, aye."
Lucian lifted a towel off a rail, running it over his face. "Every rehearsal's a circus."
"Yeah," Rylan spoke up, taking a sip of his water, "But we're the main act."
Elaine smiled from where she was sitting, "That was… honestly kind of impressive."
"See?" Casen grinned, lacing up his boots, "She gets it."
"Don't encourage him," Enzo murmured.
Elaine gave an apologetic smile, looking at her phone to check the time. "I should probably head out. I have some projects to work on."
"What? Nooo, stay and suffer through one more take with us." Rylan pouted.
Elaine slowly stood up, laughing. "I think I've suffered enough watching Casen nearly wipe out again."
"Excuse me?" Casen gasped. "That was a stunning tactical recovery."
"Let her go before one of you actually breaks something," Lucian interjected, swaying his hand toward Rylan and Casen.
"You're no fun," Rylan gave a mock pout, half grinning.
"Let her leave, Rylan. She's not one of us." Luca murmured from where he was wiping sweat off his face.
"Yet!" Rylan retorted, "She's not one of us yet. She can be included in the next run."
"No." Elaine glanced between them, "Not happening. I'm going home without breaking my ankle, thanks."
"Boo!" Casen stuck his tongue out, "Party pooper."
Lucian raised a brow, "You do realize not everyone wants to spend their Sunday covered in sweat and regret, right?"
"Speak for yourself." Rylan grinned playfully.
Elaine looped her purse over her shoulder, giving a small smile. "And that's exactly why I'm leaving."
Rylan and Casen grinned from where they sat on the floor, laughing faintly.
Luca tapped her on the shoulder with his water bottle before she could make a swift exit. "Text me when you get home, yeah?" He murmured, bordering on a whisper.
Elaine paused, then gave a small nod. "Yeah. I will." She offered a wave to everyone, then exited the room.
Rylan raised a brow, leaning toward Casen, speaking in a mock whisper, "Oh, he's so obvious."
"I heard that," Luca muttered.
"Oh," Rylan gave a mischievous grin, "You were supposed to."
Lucian shook his head, walking over to Luca, who was taking a drink of water. "She's definitely different, huh?"
Luca glanced toward the door, his gaze shifting back to Lucian with a sigh. "I want to believe that…"
Lucian gave a small nod, lowering his voice. "You already do, Lu. Otherwise, you wouldn't have let her come here."