Chapter 2: 02. Close but so far away
"I'm always on your side, even if that means going against everything I believe in."-M
Maribel was just released from class and her head is in a thousand places right now because of her morning with Syd.
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"Don't ignore me." Syd whispered to her he sounds vulnerable and he wants her to let him in.
She just looked at him deeply as there was no space between them.
Their breathing was heavier than it was before and this isn't innocent in the slightest and they both know it.
Their noses brushed together so often, this moment was the hottest and most intense thing ever.
But Maribel's phone breaks the compulsion between them, she bites her lips as she takes her eyes away from him and checks her watch. "Shit." She said under her breath.
She looked back at him and put her hand on his chest, "I have to go."
[Present day]
Maribel walked across campus to where the practice is being held; she had to stop at the coffee café again to get herself an iced coffee to deal with the bullshit that was ahead, as they had a performance at a ball for one of the donors for the school.
That meant the leaders were under a lot of pressure, and that is why Maribel and Syd needed to be on one accord.
*
Maribel walked into the dance studio; she was early, like always.
She drops her other bag and grabbed her dance one and heads to the bathroom to change into a white t-shirt and some gray shorts and put her hair in a low bun.
She comes back to the studio and plays the song that she and the girls would be dancing to.
She ran through the dance about three times and she always has to catch up on the walk to get back in formation.
Maribel would have to talk to her coach about that later when she talked to her on FaceTime.
Maribel heard her phone buzz and she stopped and checked it, and while looking at the message, she drank some of her water.
The message was talking about there would be a solo with the direction prodigy and the main majorette dancer would be Maribel, even if she shared the title with someone else she was the most experienced.
So now her and Syd would have to add that to the agenda as well, two months away.
Maribel looked over the message and saw the routine along with the song as she shared the dance moves and the song to her notes and returned to work.
She would soon have to meet everyone in the Gathering Area for them to go over the plan.
*
Maribel left the dance studio to the gathering area, to meet the rest of the band. She was slightly dreading going but made her way there anyway.
She arrived five minutes later and was greeted by Ava, "Hey Mari, have you been here a while." She said while hugging Maribel.
"Yeah, I have been here for about half an hour practicing the routine for the Ball."
Ava and Maribel moved away from the embrace and continued to talk until they were in the gathering area with the main band, Syd, and Antonio.
There were a few missing from the main band and some from Auxiliary.
Maribel looked around the room, to see if everyone was there, so they could start with their goals for today. She looked at Rose and asked. "Where is Lena?
"Haven't seen her." Rose tells her as she gets the stands to go on the last row.
Maribel nods before walking away.
*
Maribel waits five minutes before she looks at Syd, and he is already looking back at her. She walked over, Syd had a smirk on his face, and she wanted to slap it off, but right now that didn't matter; it was time to play her part and not raise any red flags.
You could call it the dollhouse act, if you will.
Maribel took another look at the clock. She looks back at him and clears her throat; She was done waiting; whoever was late was just going to get PT.
She was not in the mood for games.
"All right, let's get into weekly goals and announcements." She walks over to the board and pulls out her phone and looks at notes that were labeled: Bands Goals & Announcements.
Maribel looks at the crowd, then began speaking again, " Auxiliary, we will continue work on the routine that I sent to your google drive and by the way, when we get back in formation it does feel rushed, so don't be too hard on yourself if you are little back behind.
I will talk to coach Anderson about that later, and we have to come up with a show tune for the ball as well, and I was just notified that I will be doing a solo with the drum major at this year's ball so if I'm more strict than normal.
The reason is I won't be around to watch all the time in these coming weeks. I will be working on my solo. But I will be having an open line of communication with my second in command, if you need anything call me, and please be on your best behavior." Auxiliary responded with a "Yes ma'am."
*
After she went around the room to the different leaders and asked about any new goals or announcements. Later, Syd did a practice run-through with a warm-up song. Maribel and her girls went back to the dance studio and began practicing the routine and having water breaks in between.
Shortly after the third run-through, she left them to practice by themselves.
Meela and the other two girls came after the meeting had ended and Ava caught them up on the latest; Maribel put in her reminders to talk with them about showing up late to practice.
Maribel walks down the hall, and she stops at the door where the band was playing, and she just watches for a minute, because at this moment Syd wasn't being a jackass.
He was consumed by the surrounding of music, and nothing else mattered because as long as every note was played with perfection.
That look on his face would stay, it reads peaceful, like no one could ruin this; his shoulder wouldn't be so damn tense like they were early, and she loved seeing him like this.
Seeing this version of him reminds her why she also let him back in and why she stayed even when he didn't deserve it.
But that moment was short-lived; Syd's eyes locks with her.
Syd told Amir to take over for him and walked over to her.
"Mel, what's up?"
" Nothing I just came down here to hear the band that's all."
" Are you done avoiding me?" Syd said this while leading Maribel into another, more private room.
" Syd I said this once before, I'm not avoiding you." Maribel said tiredly like she didn't have time for this, and she went to change the topic at hand.
"Did you get the information about our Solo?"
" I got the song and the routine and I'm guessing by your face you got the same."
"Yeah, so after today's practice we can work on our solo where is Amara I thought she would be here at practice today."
" She is- "
Something clicks in Syd's head when Maribel asks; he knew what she was doing.
"Mari, getting me to talk about her or change the subject won't get you out of telling me why you are so damn distant." Syd said, this starting to get frustrated; Maribel looks him up and down for a second, just analyzing him.
" Why do you care so much?" She said this while moving away from him, but she didn't get far because he grabs her hand and shifted her to look him in the eyes, but she wasn't the first one to break the silence between them.
"Because I'm your best friend, and it's my job to care, Mel."
Syd didn't want to let her go. He was dying to know why she was so mad at him.
He wanted to break down all her walls; see what was truly troubling her, and have a solution to make her happy.
But he didn't get a chance to respond because someone was calling for them to tell them the band was going outside to practice for the rest of the remaining time.
While that was happening Maribel let go of his hand and left the room.
Syd knew that he would have to get her completely alone for her to pull down her front.
He was going to need her more than ever over these next few weeks and the pressure was on thick.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone