Dance Maniacs

“Attention, dancers across the nation.” A voice blasted from thousands of televisions, phones, tablets, and giant screens. A flashy logo spun across the screen before fireworks exploded behind it.

THE ULTIMATE DANCE GROUP COMPETITION!

The announcer’s voice grew louder. “Think your crew has what it takes to become the greatest dance team in the country? Then this is your chance!”

A roaring crowd appeared on screen. “The winning group will take home a grand prize of twenty million dollars!”

The crowd erupted.

“And every official member of the winning team will receive two million dollars each!”

More cheers.

“Groups must consist of five to ten members. Registration closes in just three weeks, while the competition itself begins in eight months. Contestants will face dance battles, choreography challenges, freestyle rounds. Only one group can be crowned ‘Dance Champions!’”

The logo flashed again. “Do you have what it takes?”

“Twenty million dollars?!”

Danielle Brooks nearly dropped her phone.

She sat underneath a tree during lunch break at Westbridge High School, staring at the announcement.

Across from her sat her best friend, Luxury Anderson.

Luxury adjusted his glasses and looked at the screen. “That’s actually insane.”

“No kidding!” Danielle exclaimed. “Do you know what I could do with that kind of money?”

Luxury smiled. “We are rich kids



I’d probably spend half of it on sneakers.”

Danielle pointed at him dramatically. “First of all, rude.”

Luxury laughed. “Second of all, accurate.”

They had known each other for years. Most people at school couldn’t imagine seeing one without the other.

Danielle was energetic, confident and the kind of person who could make friends with almost anyone within five minutes.

Luxury was calmer, quieter and more reserved.

“So…” Danielle said, leaning forward.

Luxury immediately recognized that look. “No.”

Danielle groaned. “What I wanted to say is we should enter.”

Luxury said, “I know that’s what you were going to say and it’s still no.”

“Come on!” Danielle said. “We already love dancing.”

“For fun.”

“And?”

“There’s a difference between dancing for fun and competing against the best crews in the country.”

Danielle ignored the logic completely. “We have eight months to prepare.”

Luxury sighed. “There’s nothing i will say to change your mind.”

“Nope.”

“We don’t even have a group.”

“We’ll, find one.”

“We don’t have choreography.”

“We’ll make some.”

“We haven’t even signed up.”

“Which is why we’re gonna do that before registration is over.”

Whenever Danielle got excited about something, it was impossible not to get pulled along.

“We could actually do this, Luxury.”

Luxury looked at her. He forgot about what they were talking about for a moment. All he was thinking about was the smile on her face.

Then Danielle waved a hand in front of him. “Earth to Luxury.”

He quickly looked away. “Huh?”

“I asked if you were listening.”

“Oh. Yeah. Of course.”

Danielle narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “You zoned out.”

Luxury adjusted his glasses. “I was thinking about the competition.”

Danielle smiled. “Well, start thinking about that team members too.”

Luxury smiled. “Okay.”

Near one corner of the cafeteria, a small crowd had gathered around a table.

“Vintage pencil! Five dollars!”

A teenage boy held up a worn-out yellow pencil. “Used exa three times! Maybe four!”

The crowd stared. “Jay, that’s literally a pencil.”

“It’s a collector’s item.”

“It’s bent.”

“That’s what make it rare!”

Luxury and Danielle looked at the crowd and Luxury asked, “What’s your little brother doing?”

“Oh, him.” she sighed. “Jay can be unpredictable.”

The freshman handed the calculator back. Jay immediately turned toward another victim.

“So honestly, I’d rather not get involved sometimes.”

Luxury nodded. “Smart choice.”

Just then someone approached their table. A teenage boy with an easygoing smile. “Sup, bro.”

He looked at Danielle. “And girlie.”

Danielle immediately imagined Adrien in a suit.

It was Adrien, Luxury’s older brother.

The moment Danielle saw him, her entire posture changed.

“Oh.”

She straightened up. “Oh, hey Adrien.”

Luxury immediately noticed and immediately became annoyed.

Adrien smiled. “Hey guys.”

“How’s life?” Danielle awkwardly laughed. “Everything’s good, man.”

“Cool.”

“I just saw the cafeteria lady giving out food ”

Adrien blinked. “…That’s her job.”

Danielle wanted to disappear. “Oh.”

Luxury covered his face. Adrien looked confused and Danielle looked embarrassed. A perfectly balanced conversation.

Adrien finally turned toward his younger brother.

“What do you want?” Luxury asked.

Adrien placed a hand on his chest dramatically. “Wow. This is how we’re greeting people now?”

“What do you want?”

“I’m having calculus next period.”

Adrien pointed at him. “Mom said she gave you my calculus notebook.”

Luxury reached into his backpack. “Yeah.”

He handed it over and Adrien grabbed it. “Thanks.”

Then his smile faded slightly. “I still don’t get why you’re mad at me, bro.”

Luxury looked away. “I’m not.”

“You literally haven’t talked to me properly for a long time.”

“I’m talking right now.”

“Barely.”

Luxury said nothing.

Adrien sighed, “Whatever.”

He tucked the notebook under his arm. “See you later.”

Then he walked away. Danielle watched him as he walked away.

Danielle snapped back to reality. “Huh?”

Luxury rolled his eyes. Danielle looked at him. “I always notice you and your brother are always fighting.”

“Nothing.”

“Luxury?”

“Nothing.”

That answer alone told Danielle he definitely was not fine.

Before she could ask again, Luxury stood up. “I’m gonna be late for class.”

“Luxury.”

“See you later.”

Then he walked off. Danielle watched him disappear into the hallway. A few seconds later, another figure slid into the seat beside her.

“Sup, sis.”

Danielle looked over.

“Jay.”

“What do you want?” Danielle asked.

“It’s not wrong to talk to your older sister.”

Danielle narrowed her eyes. “You  were eavesdropping.”

“I prefer the term gathering information.”

“You were eavesdropping.”

Jay smirked. “Whatever, and by the way—Adrien’s not interested in you.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m just saying.”

Danielle folded her arms. “We don’t know that.”

Jay said, “No, the signs are really there.”

Danielle pointed toward the hallway. “Go to class.”

Jay stood up. “Fine.”

He left.

Then the bell rang and everyone went to their classes.

Danielle was having geometry classes and one of her last favorite classes, not because she was bad at it, because the teacher somehow managed to make things sound depressing. As she entered the classroom, she spotted a familiar face waving to her.

“Danielle!”

Mira Harper.

Danielle smiled and took a seat beside her.

Mira was one of those people who could never sit still, talked fast, moved fast, thought fast and somehow managed to make every conversation about herself. Yet somehow, Danielle still liked her.

“Did you see the dance competition announcement?” Mira asked immediately—

Danielle laughed. “Word travels fast.”

“So you did see it.”

Mira leaned closer. “In case you’re thinking about starting a team, I can be part of it.”

Danielle stopped. “Mira?”

“What?”

“You can’t be involved in everything in my life.”

Mira placed a hand dramatically on her chest. “Ouch. I’m serious.”

Mira pointed. “Well, excuse me for wanting to spend time with my friend.”

Mira’s expression softened slightly. “I hardly have my parents around anyway. Dad and mom are always working and my aunt’s far away too.”

“I also have two distant parents too.”

Mira looked interested. “Really?”

Danielle nodded. “My dad’s always busy with his manager job and my mom is usually away because of work too.”

Mira gasped. “Oh my god, are they divorced?”

“No. And that’s not the point.”

Mira blinked. “Then why did you mention it?”

Danielle stared at her. Sometimes talking to Mira felt like trying to explain physics to a goldfish.

“The point is I understand.”

Mira nodded and immediately smiled. “So anyways, if you’re making a dance group, I’m so there.”

Danielle groaned. “Mira…”

“I’m already committed.”

“We’ll see.”

Then suddenly a girl walked in. The room grew strangely quiet. She looked about the age with black hair and a serious expression. She carried a notebook under one arm and seemed completely uninterested in everyone around her. Danielle had never seen her before. The girl walked towards an empty desk nearby.

“Hello,” Danielle said politely.

The girl glanced up.

“I’ve never seen you at Westbridge High before.”

She dropped her bag beside the desk. “Bummer.”

“I’ll assume you’re new. I’m Danielle Brooks.”

She sat down and opened her notebook and without even looking up, she said, “Can you stop talking to me?”

Danielle froze while the girl continued writing. “I’m doing something important.”

Danielle slowly turned back toward the front of the room.

“Okay.”

Beside her, Mira looked horrified. “You don’t have to be mean about it though.”

The girl finally looked up and her expression didn’t change. “You’re right. I don’t have to be nice.”

The final bell rang. Within seconds, Westbridge High became a sea of moving students, lockers slammed shut, teachers shouted last-minute reminders. Backpack straps swung over shoulders as everyone rushed toward the exits.

Danielle, Luxury & Jay were among the crowd moving through the hallway. Danielle held her phone in front of her while walking because she was on a video call. On the screen was a woman with long, dark hair sitting beside an elderly woman.

“See?” Danielle’s mother said proudly. “I told you I’d finally get some time off.”

Danielle laughed. “You’re still working, Mom, I know you’re answering work emails.”

“Well, technically.”

Her mother smiled and waved. Danielle, who had inherited more of her father’s features, her mother was unmistakably Korean and currently she was visiting her hometown with Danielle’s grandmother. The elderly woman waved to her beside her.

“Annyeong, Yuna.”

Danielle smiled.” Hi halmeoni.”

Jay immediately shoved his way into view “Hi, mom!”

His mother laughed “There you are, Yu-jin.”

Jay smiled proudly. Unlike most mothers, she always calls her children by their Korean names Danielle is Yuna, Jay is Yu-jin.

“How’s school?”  Their mother asked

“Boring.” Jay answered

“Educational,” Danielle answered.

“Which one of you is lying?”

Immediately grandma laughed. “You two haven’t changed at all.”

Luxury walked beside them, hands in his pocket. He wasn’t paying much attention until Danielle’s mother suddenly noticed him.

“Oh.”

Her eyes lit up. “Adrien?”

Luxury looked at the phone. “Hello, Mrs. Brooks, I’m not Ad...”

Fast, very fast her mother pointed at the screen. “Is this the boy you keep saying you have a crush on?”

Danielle nearly jumped. “MOM!”

Luxury calmly replied, “It’s my brother. She’s in love with Adrien, I’m Luxury.”

Her grandma leaned closer to the camera and stared at Luxury carefully. “Hmm.”

Luxury awkwardly walked in the corner and the old woman nodded. “He seems like a really good boy. I think he likes you—”

“HALMEONI!”

“It’s the truth what I think.”

Just then a familiar car pulled up outside the school gates.

Danielle immediately pointed. “Dad’s here!”

Her mother smiled. “Oh god.”

It was a way to escape the conversation. Then the three of them hurried outside and climbed into the car. Their father was already in the driver seat. He was tall, neatly dressed and still wearing his work badge. His manager job kept him busy most days but he always tried to pick them up when he could.

As soon as he started the engine, he noticed the phone. “Oh.”

A smile spread across his face. “Hi, honey.”

His wife smiled back. “Hello.”

“How’s Korea?”

“Beautiful.”

“How’s your mother?”

The grandmother immediately leaned into the camera. “I can hear you.”

Danielle’s father laughed. “Good to see you’re doing well too.”

And then they were finally home. Luxury went to his place and Danielle, Jay and their father went into their apartment.

That evening, during dinner, Jay practically launched himself across the table.

“Dad! Dad! Dad!”

Their father looked up from his food. “Yes?”

Jay pointed dramatically. “Danielle wants to tell you she’s making a dance group for a competition!”

Danielle sighed. “Jay, you make it seem like we’re entering a gladiator arena.”

“It basically is.”

The father looked interested. “The competition with the twenty million dollar prize?”

Danielle nodded. “Maybe.”

“Definitely,” Jay yelled.

Their father smiled. “Then go for it.”

“Really?” Danielle asked.

“Of course.” He shrugged. “If it’s something you care about, pursue it.”

Danielle smirked. “What if we don’t find enough people?”

“Put up posters.”

“What if nobody joins?”

“Then put up more posters.”

“What if—”

“Danielle.”

She stopped. “You haven’t even tried yet.”

That shut her up. Jay pointed at their father. “See! Dad gets it.”

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

The next few days were chaos. Posters appeared everywhere:

WESTBRIDGE HIGH

LOOKING FOR DANCERS!

JOIN OUR TEAM!

NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!

WELL… SOME EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!

Danielle’s version

Luxury’s version

Mira’s version

At one point there were three different recruitment posters on the same wall. The problem was that they weren’t the only team recruiting, there were influencers, athletes, popular students, dance clubs; everyone seemed to be forming teams. And it was becoming harder every day.

One afternoon, Danielle, Luxury and Mira waited near the gym.

Mira smiled proudly. “I found recruits.”

Danielle brightened. “Really?”

Two grown men who looked bored, one was chewing gum and the other was staring at his phone.

Danielle immediately became suspicious. “You dance?”

One shrugged. “I was paid.”

The other nodded. “Let’s do it, bro.”

Danielle slowly looked at Mira. “You paid people?”

“A little. Recruiting is hard.”

Danielle sighed. “Fine. If they’re good dancers they can join.”

The two boys exchanged glances and one said, “Before we accept, you all gotta rob a bank.”

Danielle blinked. “What?”

“You heard me.”

The second boy nodded seriously. “Bank robbery.”

Danielle pointed toward the parking lot. “We’ll keep looking for people.”

“Fine, no refunds.”

And they left.

Mira looked guilty. “I’m sorry.”

Danielle laughed. “Next time we’ll stick to students.”

A few minutes later, while they were discussing new recruitment ideas, two boys suddenly ran over.

“Hey!”

Danielle turned and saw two boys their age, one had messy hair and endless confidence, the other looked calmer.

“Can we join?” the confident one asked.

Danielle narrowed her eyes. “You aren’t thugs, right?”

The two stared at her.

“Do we look like thugs?”

Mira examined them. “No.”

The confident boy grinned. “That’s the answer.”

Danielle laughed. “Fair enough.”

The confident boy pointed at himself. “I’m Gabe.”

Then the other guy said, “I’m Nelson Junior. Just call me Junior.”

“So we think your group is nice.”

Junior said, “No, we’re only here because there is no other option. All the other groups are full.”

Luxury immediately pointed. “Take it away.”

Then he pressed his phone till music started from his phone. Both boys started dancing, genuinely good.

Their movements were very smooth, fast and creative. Everyone was impressed when they finished, Danielle’s jaw was hanging open. Before she could speak, Luxury stepped forward.

“Let’s think about this thoroughly.”

Everyone stared at him. “They’re good,” he said.

“But let’s do it like they do in shows. You’ll break their hearts first. Then you tell them they’re in.”

Danielle laughed. “Okay, let’s follow Luxury’s plan.”

Luxury nodded proudly. “Excellent.”

Before he could continue, Mira clapped her hands. “You guys are in.”

Luxury froze. “That was not the plan.”

After that, Danielle was happy to have created her group and it’s like the universe heard that she was happy. The day before had been surprisingly amazing. She had somehow passed a pop quiz she hadn’t studied for when the teacher handed back the papers, Danielle spent three whole minutes staring at her grade “I refuse to believe this.”

Meanwhile, her classmates who had already studied were questioning their life choices. Then after school, a package had arrived from South Korea. Her mother sent snacks, gifts and enough candy to last for several months. Even better, dad had managed to clear part of his schedule and spend the evening with them. By the time Danielle went to bed, she felt like she was on top of the world. Because of those feelings, she felt everything would go her way, and she saw Adrian that morning and thought it was a nice time to tell him how she truly felt about him.

There were few students wandering around before classes began. Standing near her locker, she opened her phone. Maybe she should rehearse what she was going to say.

Hey Adrien, I like you.

No. Too direct .

Hey Adrien, I’ve had feelings for you for a while.

Maybe:

Hey Adrien, remember how I’ve been acting weird around you?

Definitely not.

Adrien walked down the hallway and Danielle immediately straightened up. In her mind, she imagined exactly how the conversation would go:

“Andrien, I need to tell you something.”

“Oh my gosh, girlie!”

Fantasy Adrian gaped dramatically. “I’ve felt the same way for a long time, girlie. I love you too.”

Danielle smiled. “Really?”

“Absolutely.”

Fantasy, Adrian grabbed her shoulders. “I thought you didn’t feel the same.”

“And I thought you didn’t feel the same!”

“We wore both wrong!”

Then imaginary fireworks exploded. Somewhere, Jay cried because he couldn’t record it.

Back to reality, Danielle took a step forward and then stopped. Because Adrian wasn't alone, a girl was with him and Danielle couldn't tell who it was, and she turned slightly. It was that girl from geometry class. For a second, her brain refused to process what she was seeing, and Adrian leaned forward and kissed her.

Everything seemed to stop and the conversations around her just disappeared. She stood there trying to understand and then their was a strange feeling settled in her chest. Suddenly, she turned around without any dramatic reaction or crying or shouting, she just opposite direction. The excitement she felt all morning suddenly disappeared.