(This chapter has been modified to fit Lindsey and her interests)

Lindsey's POV

Staring at my arms in the mirror is one of the saddest sights you may ever see. Both of my arms were covered from my wrist all the way up to just underneath my armpit. I just can't stop, one cut leads to two, two leads to three, and it just keeps going.

Whenever I try to stop, I think about my father and his words that make me cry every time. I spend thirty minutes attempting to cover my scars and cuts with makeup every day and it gets harder and harder. So glad I have many long sleeve shirts.

A part of me thought I would stop when I told Max I loved him but that did nothing. It just makes me feel guilty and how much he'll be upset with me when he finds out.

Today, the school was having auditions for a dance team and I wanted to be on it. This dance team is a hip hop team, so the dance teacher is looking for hip hop dancers.

Hip hop isn't my favorite style, but I'm pretty good at it. Hip hop is more carefree and alongs the body to move more compared to ballet.

I was talking to some of the members of the hip hop dance team and asking them what type of moves they were looking for. Majority of the team were girls and they had one boy, Nate Lockhart.

He makes me so mad. He's such a prevent and flirts with every girl in school and doesn't care about our feelings at all. He's the worst.

After I finished talking, I went over to my boyfriend and a Phoebe.

"Hey." I greeted and Max kissed my cheek. I looked at the bench and saw a cute picnic set up. "What's this?"

"I set up a picnic for us for lunch." Max told me and I smiled at him.

"Aww." I giggled. "I love it."

"Linds, I didn't know you were into hip hop." Phoebe chimed in and I shrugged.

"Yeah, it's not my favorite but I still like it." I told her. "I want to be on the team, but I also don't."

"Why?" Phoebe asked.

"It's Nate." I told her and glared over at Nate who was checking me out. "I hate him. He's such a pervert."

Phoebe and Max gave me a look of confusion.

"What did he do to you?" Max asked me and I shook my head.

"Nothing, but I heard he flirts with all the girls on the team and does everything he can to get them to show him their body." I explained and shivered. "It's horrible."

Max's eyes wandered over to Nate and he glared at him.

"That's disgusting." Phoebe mentioned and I nodded.

"Yeah."

The bell rang which means it was time for lunch and Phoebe left as did most of the kids but Max didn't move.

"Max." I said and snapped my fingers in front of his face. He blinked and came back to reality.

"What? What happened?" He asked and I chuckled.

"You were staring off into space. Are you okay?" I asked him, caressing his cheek.

He gently lowered my hand and nodded. "Yeah."

I can tell he's lying, his eyes shift to the side when he lies and I can feel it.

"Max, what's wrong?" I asked him and he scoffed.

"Nothing."

I rose my eyebrow and he gave in.

"Nate was checking you out the whole time and it bugs me." He admitted with a low voice. "I'm the only one who can do that."

I rested my hands on his chest and kissed him. Max immediately kissed back, resting his hands on my back.

I pulled away moments later. "I'm yours, okay? Nobody is gonna take me away from you."

Max seemed to relax at my words and smiled softly.

"Good, because I won't let anyone take you." Max told me in a soft voice and I blushed. "I love you."

"I love you too."

——

The next day it was auditions and I was nervous but ready. I knew the routine we were supposed to learn and I was ready to kill it. Phoebe was auditioning too which confused me because she doesn't like hip hop and said that Nate disgusts her.

Max was backstage watching me and he gave me a big smile before I walked onto the stage.

"Name." The teacher said.

"Lindsey Earnest." I told him.

"Whenever you're ready." He told me and I grinned before going to my beginning spot.

The music started and I did the dance routine to the best of my ability. I finished the dance and the people in the audience applauded.

"Thank you." The dance teacher told me before I walked backstage.

Phoebe was up next and I was going to watch her but Nate decided to bother me.

"You did great out there, Lindsey." He told me but I ignored him. "I had a great view."

I knew exactly what he meant and I mentally growled.

"Name." The dance teacher said to Phoebe.

"Phoebe Thunderman."

"Whenever you're ready." The teacher said and Phoebe went to her beginning spot.

"Hold!" The teacher shouted and he turned to one of the girls on the team. "You call that a hip hop jacket? I've seen my grandmother were a cooler jacket."

The girl became sorrowful and pouted.

"Pencil!" The teacher was handed a pencil and wrote something down.

Suddenly, Phoebe's body began to move around and she seemed confused. What is happening?

"Woah! What is happening?!" Phoebe exclaimed right before she did a side aerial.

The teacher turned to her and watched her body move. From this angle it actually looked like she was dancing and it didn't look terrible.

"I've seen enough!" The teacher shouted and Phoebe's body stoped moving.

Phoebe chuckled. "No! That wasn't-"

"Next!" The teacher dismissed and Phoebe sighed, walking off the stage upset.

——

The following day, we were gonna find it who made the team.

Max and I walked over to the board that told us who made it or not.

"Oh, I'm so nervous." I told Max.

"Don't worry, you killed it yesterday." Max assured me.

"You look." I pushed him toward the board and he checked it.

"Yay." He weakly cheered. "You made it."

"Really?" I giggled and he nodded but he seemed unhappy about it

"I got in!" Max and I turned to see Phoebe standing there with a huge smile.

"Of course you did!" The dance teacher remarked to her and pulled her aside.

"Max, you're not upset I got in are you?" I asked Max. "Because I can feel it."

"I'm happy for you, darling." He told me, sincerely. I smiled at him and kissed his cheek.

"Well, I'm glad you're happy for me." I told him . "You're a great boyfriend."

"Absolutely, you're my girl." He winked, grabbing my hand.

"Well, I'm just glad you're okay with me possibly having to dance with Nate as a duet."

It's true. The newest members of the team usually have a duet with the boy so they can get comfortable.

I wasn't stroked about it but if it means getting on the team then I'm okay with it. Even if I hate him.

I hugged Max and kissed his cheek before walking away.

——

Later, Phoebe and Nate were practicing their duet. We both were gonna perform the duet for Mr. Howard to see who got it and I think I might get it. I don't want to dance with Nate, but I want to make the team.

Mr. Howard was cringing at Phoebe's dancing for a good minute before he interrupted.

"Stop!"

The music stopped and Phoebe and Nate froze.

"I mean, take five."

"Why do we always take five during my dancing?" Phoebe asked.

"Because I can see you without my glasses." Mr. Howard said and put his glasses on his face.

"Lindsey! You're up!" The teacher called and I walked on.

Nate winked at me and I grimaced.

"Lindsey, please try to enjoy dancing with Nate." Mr. Howard begged and I gave him a fake smile.

"I hope you get the part." Nate whispered to me as I stood in front of him for our beginning pose. I felt uncomfortable feeling his hands on my hips and I wanted to cry.

"Keep dreaming." I snarled quietly.

The music started and we began to dance. I tried my best to avoid Nate without making it obvious but we were suddenly interrupted when a prop fell in between us and I yelped.

"Whoa! That was weird." I heard Max say and I immediately knew he did this. "Lindy, are you okay?"

"Max? What are you doing here?" I asked him.

"I signed up to be a stage hand to support my girlfriend and your dancing buddies." Max grinned and I didn't bother arguing with him. The jealously is radiating off him. Max looked at Nate with a deep glare. "Nate."

Mr. Howard interjected, "excuse you! We're trying to rehearse this seductive hip hop duet. Step aside stage hand!"

Max walked off.

"Let's take it where Nate holds you close and runs his hands down your body." Mr. Howard suggested and I quietly gagged.

My favorite part. Yay.

"Music!"

Nate and I got into position and I mentally cried as the music started and we danced together with his hands over my body.

I jumped when a bucket fall right in between us and I mentally thanked Max, but I wanted to kill him for lying to me.

"What the heck is going on?" Nate asked as I moved away from him.

"Amateurs, am I right, Mr. Howard." Max asked as he walked onto the stage.

"What are you talking about?" Mr. Howard asked him.

"Well, I don't need to tell an experienced dancer and theater person like you it's obviously bad luck to rehearse the most...important parts of the dance before opening night. You know, the dance curse? I mean, look what just happened." Max explained, gesturing to the bucket that landed next to me.

Mr. Howard laughed. "Of course, the dance curse. One of the biggies! I know all about it because I didn't lie about my dance experience to get this job."

"So, we aren't rehearsing the duet?" I asked with hope and relief.

"Keep up, amateur." Howard mocked. "No duet till opening night!"

"So, did Phoebe or me get the part?" I asked out of curiosity.

"You." Howard quickly replied. "It's obvious."

"The director has spoken." Max exclaimed before walking off the stage.

My mood just got ruined. Now I have to feel Nate's gross hands on my body.

——

It was opening night and I was not thrilled about. I was looking forward to our group performance but the duet ruins my excitement.

The group performance is first and the duet with last. Phoebe quit the team because she is not into hip hop which made sense because she can't do hip hop. She should stick to ballet.

I currently doing my makeup backstage and I was minding my own business until a familiar face appeared in the mirror.

"Nate." I said and put my eyeliner down. "What do you want?"

"Just wanted to practice our special part in the duet." He smirked, getting closer to me. I backed up and felt the vanity hit my back.

"We have rehearsed enough." I stopped him. "Please, leave me alone."

"Don't be like that." Nate shook his head and slowly moved his hand down to my chest, almost touching my breast.

I swatted his hand away and tried to leave but he grabbed my arms and squeezed them. I yelped in pain due to my scars and cuts on my arms.

"Don't you dare leave." He snarled and my eyes went wide in fear.

"You're hurting me." I told him, struggling in his grasp. I couldn't use my powers because I can't expose them to him.

"I think it's time someone appreciated you more." He chuckled devilishly before attaching his lips to my neck.

"Get off." I snapped, attempting to push him off but he was too strong. His grasp on my arms were probably making my cuts bleed and it hurt like crazy.

"Hands off my girlfriend."

Nate and I looked to the side to see Max standing there with an angry look. The amount of anger radiating off him is insane, he is furious.

"Just trying to show your girlfriend a true man." Nate told him, letting go of my arms. Nate wasn't looking my way so I took this time to use my powers.

I froze Nate with my ice manipulation and gripped my arms in pain. Max pushed Nate to the side and grabbed my face gently.

"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" Max asked, worried.

"I'm fine. He just squeezed my arms really hard." I told him. His grasp didn't hurt me, it was the bleeding scars.

"Let me see them-"

"No!" I cut him and he leaned back confused. "I mean, it's okay, don't worry about them."

I saw the anger in Max's face as he looked back at a frozen Nate. I rose my hand to his cheek and turned his face to me.

"I'm fine." I assured him and he was still upset.

"He hurt you." Max told me. "And I wasn't there to protect you."

"I can protect myself." I told him and Max rose his eyebrow, thinking about what just happened. "Most of the time I can." I sighed and lowered my hand. "Why didn't you tell me you were jealous of Nate? I would have never auditioned if you told me."

"Because I knew how much this meant to you and I didn't want to jeopardize it." Max admitted.

"And look where that got us." I reasoned, gesturing to a frozen Nate.

"I'm sorry I got so jealous." Max apologized. "I just can't help but feel like you'll leave me for someone else."

"Are you kidding me?" I chuckled. "We've been dating for over a year and I made it very clear that I find Nate revolting." I grabbed Max's hand and gave him a soft smile. "There is no one else in this world that I want to be with. I love you, Maxie."

Max gave me a goofy smile. "I love you too, Lindy."

I leaned up and kissed him softly. Max happily kissed back, pulling me into his chest. My arms found their way around his neck and his went around my waist. We kissed for a good minute before we pulled away and I looked at Nate.

"So, what do we do with him?" I asked Max, gesturing to Nate.

"Just leave him." Max shrugged and I gave him a look.

"I'm not opposed to that idea but we have to tell Mr. Howard about it and cancel my duet." I explained to Max who nodded.

"Alright, I'll tell Mr. Howard and you finish getting ready." Max told me before he ran off.

I finished my makeup and hair before I went over to the girls on the team. The group performance didn't have Nate in it which made me happy.

Before we went on, Mr. Howard had an announcement.

"Ladies and gentlemen we have unfortunate news. Our duet with Nate Lockhart and Lindsey Earnest will not be performing tonight due to unknown events, but the show must go on."

Max and Phoebe ran up to us.

"Good luck, Linds." Phoebe hugged me and I smiled at her. "Thank god you don't have to perform with Nate."

"Same." I chuckled.

"You'll do great." Max told me and kissed my cheek. It's nice to know he got passed the jealousy with Nate and he's back to his normal self.

"Please welcome our hip hop dance team!'

The audience applauded and the team and I walked out and got into position.  The music started and we began doing our dance routine.

The audience loved it and we did awesome.

Once we finished, the crowd rose to their feet and cheered for us. I saw my brother, Hank, Barb, Billy, and Nora cheering for us and smiling.

I glanced back at the others and saw Max and Phoebe clapping for us.

Despite all my flaws and problems that are going on, dancing is my one escape.

——

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