If You Let Me Inside Your World

Chapter 2

     ‘Scooter Braun, Projects-full service entertainment & marketing company.’
That’s what his card read.
“I must say, Christina was it? You are very talented.” He complemented.
I was still staring down at his business card, shaking myself out of my own concentration, “Oh, thank you!” I said, my cheeks slightly turning pinker.
“May I ask how old you are?”
I stood there a little hesitant.  “Seventeen.”
     “A little younger than I was looking for…” he quietly said under his breath.
“Excuse me?” I asked.
He smiled back at me. He looked harmless, and slightly familiar.
    “I work in talent management. And I might have a proposition for you”
“A proposition? Like what, a scholarship?” I asked. I was confused by what he meant.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mindy walking up the street, she had the same look on her face that I probably had. Talking to strange older men in Chicago usually never ends well for beautiful young ladies.
But with my hand down at my side, I gave her an ‘okay’ with my thumb, before she tried to rescue me.
      “I work for a very prestigious client,” Scooter continued to explain, “and we’ve recently come to a sort of ‘crises’. We have a tour coming up in some number of months and one of our star dancers broke his foot and won’t recover in time. We’re holding open auditions, but I’m hoping if I get out and scout some young, fresh talent, our chances of finding someone will be greater.” 
I put my hand up out in front of my chest, telling him to slow down. Clients, crises, broken feet. He was going too fast for any of this to make sense.
     “I’m sorry, who did you say your client was?” I asked, trying to make the pieces fit the puzzle.
“Justin Bieber.” I saw him squint his eyes, preparing for me to squeal. Instead, I heard         Mindy behind my back let out a gasp and come running over. I knew she was ease dropping the whole time.
I took a moment for myself to find my breath. My hand clenched my chest while my other hand touched my forehead, which was now spinning.
“I’m sorry did you say Justin Bieber?” I asked, making sure I heard him right.
      “Yeah, did you just say Justin Bieber, as in “perfectly tasseled hair’ Justin Bieber?” Mindy jumped in.
Scooter laughed, expecting the response we were giving, “Yes. Justin Bieber.” He repeated.
     “I would love to fly you out to Atlanta next weekend and have you attend our auditions that we are holding” He suggested, looking back my way.
“SHE WOULD LOVE TO!” Mindy blurted out, before I elbowed her in the ribs lightly.
       “wow..” I whispered.
“It’s just an audition. But I think it would be worth a shot, don’t you?”
Don’t I? I repeated in my head. Well of course I did. This was a chance I had been dreaming of getting since I was a little girl. Dancing as a career? How could I not take this chance?
        “But of course, you are still a minor, so I would have to get verbal permission from a parent or legal guardian.”
“Here, here’s her address! Come, come whenever you’d like!” Mindy said as she wrote down my house number and tossed it to Scooter.
“Well, I’m in town for a few more days; I’ll give you a call before stopping by. It was a pleasure meeting you, both of you.” He said, laughing as he nodded towards Mindy.

We watched as Scooter disappeared down the road before finally letting out a scream.
My head was beginning to feel dizzy again, and I felt short of breath.
“You’re doing this, you have too.” Mindy shouted.
She was right.
My dreams were just standing in front of me, begging for me to chase after them…all the way to Atlanta.