THEA
"It's so early," I whined.
"No one said you had to come in this early," Charlie frowned at me as we got in her car.
"The profile photos will be better if you haven't been in class sweating," I mumbled resting my head on the window.
I regularly took photos for 1Millions website and advertising, I had been asked to come and take some new profile photos for each of the choreographers because they had a new one being brought on or something, and they wanted some updated class photos. It had been probably 3 months since I last did it, I guess it was good that they keep everything so updated.
"Why are you even complaining? You get up this early for school,"
"Yeah but I don't have to go to school today,"
"You can get out of the car of you l9ke and go back to bed,"
"No, I'm already awake,"
"Well then stop complaining,"
"Argh, you're so grumpy in the morning," I huffed.
"I have to go and deal with Doobin while trying to not have sex with him,"
"Why don't you just have sex with him?"
"Because he is Shawn's brother and he is 19,"
"He is over the legal age of consent," I shrugged.
"Barely,"
"Well of not sleeping with him didn't work, why don't you just sleep with him a lot until you get bored?"
"That won't work,"
"Why not? That's what you do when you crave something, you have an excessive amount of it and then you get tired of it and don't want it anymore,"
"That... actually makes sense," she frowned.
"Obviously,"
"Except I can't just go sleeping with Doobin while Shawn is there and we can be caught at any moment,"
"Doesn't that kind of make it so much better though, the thought that you could be caught any second?"
"That's beside the point,"
"Oh relax, I'll keep Shawn distracted while you bone his brother," I shrugged her off.
"I'm not going to bone Doobin while Shawn is in the same building,"
"Yes, you are," I rolled my eyes.
"What would you know?" she huffed.
"Can we stop for coffee?" I changed the subject.
"Only if you shut up about Doobin,"
"What even is a Doobin?" I shrugged.
She just shook her head at me.
CHARLIE
She wasn't wrong, I mean I wasn't' sure how I was going to get Doobin out of my system with Shawn and basically everyone else there. Not that I wanted to be caught at all but I especially didn't want Shawn to find out about it. I've tried to just avoid him but apparently, all that does is make me want to sleep with him more like he's some kind of forbidden fruit.
We got to the dance studio after we stopped so Thea could have her morning coffee. Most of the choreographers were in the staff room, of course, Doobin was also there. I reframed from groaning out loud. I had done a pretty good job at ignoring him the past few days, which as just resulted in me having to use every ounce of self restrain that I have to not just jump him in the middle of my class.
Yesterday he had the nerve to wear a sleeveless shirt and take all of the classes I was teaching that day. at one point he had even taken his shirt off and I had ended class early because I was worried that if I stayed in the room too long with a shirtless Doobin I wouldn't be able to keep my hands to myself.
"Hey girlies," Austin greeted.
"Girlies?" Thea frowned at him.
"Ladies?"
"Ew
"Homies?" he tried again.
"Much better," she nodded.
"You're weird," he laughed at her.
"And you're first," she smiled lifting her camera bag into the air.
"Why me?" he huffed.
"Because you're my favourite," she shrugged.
"Liar,"
"You're the only one who looks awake enough to have their photos done,"
"I can go first," Junsun offered, he probably just wanted to get them out of the way.
"No, you're last,"
"Why?"
"Because you're my least favourite," she smiled sweetly.
"Where do you want me?" Austin interjected.
"Nowhere I should have you," Thea winked.
"BM is already mad at you, can he really get any madder?"Austin laughed and got up from the couch.
"You wouldn't think so but knowing him, probably," she shrugged like it was nothing but her face flashed something different.
The fact that BM wasn't talking to her and had been so cruel to her was killing her. She hadn't really been the same the past few weeks. Not that BM seemed to care. I don't really know why he's so mad, I mean I kind of get it but really I don't know why he's surprised, we were all a little surprised that they hadn't slept together. Knowing they had actually made more sense.
They had spent an entire summer together and we were all pretty sure that Drew had liked her even before she lost all the weight.
"Come on, we'll go to the terrace, the natural light with be better," Thea shrugged leading the way.
"She's not going to be able to focus on her job," Junsun smirked.
"What do you mean?" I frowned.
"Austin isn't wearing a shirt under that denim jacket, he plans to unbutton it," Jinwoo stated.
"You realise she sees you all shirtless all the time, right?" I raised an eyebrow.
"She also has no self-control," Junsun pointed out.
"She photographs shirtless guys as a majority of her photography work, she isn't going to be thrown off just because Austin decided to show off some abs," I rolled my eyes.
BM
I'd been counting the money carefully the past few weeks, just to figure out whether someone was stealing or just wasn't doing their job properly. After the first week, there was a substantial amount missing so I was pretty sure it wasn't just a mess up on someone's part. So, at the beginning of the week, called to organise someone to install CCTV so that I could catch whoever it is stealing from the bar. They finally installed it yesterday, so now that I actually had a days worth of footage I could look over it and figure out.
So far I had probably skimmed through about half the day and nothing weird or suspicious. Honestly, I wasn't really sure what I was even looking for, I trusted my staff, if I didn't I wouldn't have hired them in the first place, and I'm here most of the day so If someone was actually stealing from me then I clearly wasn't focusing enough on my surroundings. Maybe someone wasn't charging customers properly? It's a substantial amount to be undercharging.
I sighed getting frustrated with the lack of clarity I was getting on the issue. I almost turned the recording off to give myself a break just as I saw what I have been looking for. I'm not sure who I was madder at, myself for not noticing it sooner, or hiring them in the first place. Or at them for stealing from me.
THEA
"What took you so long? Did you get distracted?" Junsun asked.
"By what?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Austins abs,"
"I've seen better," I shrugged.
"Ouch," Austin pouted.
"I told you, photographing half-naked dudes is most of her job," Charlie stated.
"Yeah, have you seen Yuri?" Jacob nodded smirking.
"Yeah," Charlie and I nodded
"Unfortunately," Doobin mumbled.
"Jealous?" Koosung smirked.
"Of that playboy? No," Doobin rolled his eyes leaving the room.
"You're breaking that kids heart," Jinwoo shook his head.
"He's fine," Jacob, Charlie and Shawn stated. I had to try and cover my laugh with a cough, Charlie frowned at me.
"Who's next?" I changed the subject.
CHARLIE
I was trying to remember who I was teaching a class with this morning, the schedule had been all over the place lately and honestly I'd been busy worry about other things than focusing on which choreography I was supposed to be teaching. It didn't help that Doobin was in every one of my classes, I wasn't even exaggerating. He was like some super attractive, dangerously addictive, stalker student. I couldn't seem to get away from him and it was getting to the point that I wasn't sure that having a class full of students was going to be enough to stop me from jumping him anymore.
I was on my way to check the schedule when I was pulled into one of the dance rooms. Seconds later my back was against the wall and Doobin's mouth was on mine, his hands on my hips pushing himself onto me. He pulled away without warning and my body et out an objective moan without my permission. He smirked at me knowing he was winning.
"See you in class," he winked walking out of the room. I stood there staring at my reflection in the mirror walls across the room trying to catch my breath.
"There you are," Thea poked her head in the door, the sudden noise caused me to jump.
"Did I just scare you? Are you okay?" she frowned at me, I wasn't normally startled by anything.
"What? yeah, I'm fine," I tried to force myself back into reality.
"Did you just jump Doobin?"
"Did I jump him?" I frowned.
"I'll take that as a yes," she smirked.
"I have class," I rolled my eyes.
"Do you though?"
"I have students to teach, yes,"
"That makes more sense, you're far from classy," she teased.
"Shut up and go take your photos," I sighed.
"I was actually coming to take photos of your collab class with Shawn, but it seems like you were a little too busy coming with his brother,"
"Wait. My collab class is with Shawn?" I felt like my stomach relocated to my throat.
"Clearly you're so busy coming with his brother that you don't even know you're own schedule. This is going to be fun," she smirked.
"Not funny dude," I sighed.
"Maybe not for you," she mumbled leaving the room.
THEA
I had never seen Charlie so awkward in my life, she couldn't concentrate on the dance steps and forgot the choreography a few time. I didn't really blame her with the way Doobin kept looking at her, I could barely concentrate on taking photos because I was a too focused on the suspense of the two possibly getting caught out or the conversation the Doobin and Jacob were having about Charlie, of course, they didn't use her name so the other girls in the classroom were getting frustrated with hearing a story about Doobin with a girl but not knowing who it was.
"Why don't we take a break?" Shawn suggested giving Charlie a concerned look.
"Yes, let's do that," Charlie agreed, leaving the room. I followed her out, it's not like I was going to get any good shots of students not doing anything.
"You okay?" I asked when I caught up with her, only because she had collapsed into the couch in the staff room.
"No, I want to jump him and the face he keeps making at me is draining all of my willpower," she sighed.
"It's not like you had a whole lot of that, to begin with," I mumbled.
"Not helping,"
"My offer to distract Shawn still stands, it's probably better if you get Doobin out of your system," I commented.
"Don't say his name," she frowned at me.
"Why?"
"What if someone walks in and you're just throwing his name around? Then everyone would know," she rambled.
"Everyone would know what?" Koosung asked walking through the door.
"Nothing," Charlie gave me look to prove her point.
"You really need to get laid," I shook my head.
"I'm not busy," Koosung smirked.
"Your penis is tainted," Charlie retorted.
"The penis and the taint are two different things," Koosung shot back.
"You're all useless," Charlie shook her head getting up from the couch and leaving the room.
"What's up with her today?" Koosung asked.
"No idea," I shrugged putting my camera on the coffee table.
"Oh, can I look?"
"No, don't touch it, I just need to pee," I glared.
"Lame," he huffed.
I just rolled my eyes leaving the room. As I walked past the men's bathroom a hand came out from the door and pulled me inside. A squeak was all I managed to get out, my back was against the wall, the hands that were on my hips were gone almost as quickly as they were there and I was now looking up at a very mortified looking Doobin.
"Oh my god," he shuttered, his face contorted and he made an action that I thought was him dry heaving.
"What the hell?" I frowned.
"I thought you were Charlie," he defended and seemed to dry heave again. I would be offended if I didn't want to do the same thing.
"I'm obviously not Charlie,"
"I can see that, what are you doing here?"
"I was going to the bathroom, you're the one who abducted me," I retorted.
"Because I thought you were Charlie, she just went in there,"
"What are you doing stalking her to the bathroom you creeper? Also, who wants to be made out within a men's bathroom? That's gross," I frowned, retreating out of there and into the women's bathroom where Charlie was washing her hands.
"What's with your face?" she raised an eyebrow.
"You're illegal just tried to make out with me because he thought I was you," my whole body shuddered.
"He's legal," she retorted.
"That doesn't make a difference,"
"Doesn't it? Hmm, a little different when you're on the other side huh?"
"No, it's not actually. I don't want to jump his barely legal penis,"
"Wait, where did he try and make out with you?" she asked.
"In the men's bathroom,"
"Ew," she frowned.
"That's what I said," I nodded.
BM
The bar was supposed to open in 20 minutes, and no surprise, Austin wasn't here. He was supposed to be here 0 minutes ago to get the kitchen ready, but like usual the kitchen hands were getting everything ready for him. He had been on thin ice for a while now and I had already spoken to him about it.
"Hey, sorry I'm late. Car trouble," he stated casually as he strolled through the front doors.
"Can I talk to you for a minute," it didn't sound like a question and I hadn't intended it to.
"Sure, let me just put my bag down," he nodded.
"Bring it with you,"
"Why?" He questioned.
"Because someone has been stealing, I wouldn't trust your belongings unattended," I watched his reaction but he didn't even bat an eyelid.
I lead him through to my office, I gestured for him to take a seat, he dropped his bag next to the chair he dropped himself into.
"Okay, before you say anything I know you've already talked to me about my behaviour and being late, but I am trying to be better and I do really need this job," he stated.
"Why?"
"Sorry?"
"Why do you need this job?"
"Honestly, for the money,"
"The $10, 000 that you've stolen wasn't enough?" I asked casually.
"What?"
"I've noticed that money has been going missing or not adding up. So I went back through the books and since we've opened $10, 000 has disappeared,"
"And you think I did it?" His tone had gotten defensive.
"I know you did it,"
"You have no proof,"
"I do actually, I had CCTV installed," I nodded.
"It's illegal to install CCTV and not have some sort of signage informing people they're being recorded,"
"It's also illegal to steal, but you're right and that would be why there is a sign on the front door and behind the bar," I nodded.
"There is not, I would have noticed them,"
"You have had verbal warnings, about your behaviour and lack of interest in showing up on time. You were already on thin ice, so just in case it wasn't clear, you are fired and I will be reporting this to the police,"
THEA
I was taking photos of Shawn and Austin's collab class. There was a lot of collab classes today, I think that's half the reason they asked me to come out today. I wasn't sure how the class had managed to learn any of the choreography with the way these two mess around.
"Are you sure you don't want to jump in and learn a few steps?" Shawn asked.
"I'm okay behind the camera, besides I can't really dance," I shook my head.
"Yes you can, you do burlesque which is basically the same thing," Austin stated.
"It is not the same thing, my burlesque routines don't really have any dance structure, I just have to be flirty and sexy. It doesn't require any technique, just a shimmy here and there,"
"Don't downplay your ability, I've seen you perform,"
"So has everyone," I retorted.
"Dude," he frowned at me.
"Now you sound like BM," Shawn also frowned.
"Of relax, it's a joke," I rolled my eyes.
"Just learn a few steps, you do have your one free class voucher thing that we got you for your birthday," Austin encouraged.
I was going to tell them to stop asking because it wasn't going to happen when I noticed Doobin and Charlie out the door sneaking into an empty room. I was assuming Charlie was following my advice so instead, I let out a sigh, turned my camera off and said;
"Fine, but I'm warning you, I can't dance,"
The taught me a few steps with the other students, some of the girls who were clearly only taking the class because of the way Shawn and Austin look bickered to one another while giving me unhappy stares. I had to admit I was doing pretty well, until they wanted us to put all the steps together, rather quickly. Honestly, I probably would have been fine if it was something slower rather than a hip hop class. some parts were manageable but some of them were too fast for me to remember the steps and keep pace.
"Oh honey," Austin laughed.
"I told you," I huffed.
"Charlie has to see this," Shawn stated, heading for the door as Austin tried to teach me the steps to the beat.
I panicked, I knew that Charlie and Doobin were still in that room and if Shawn went looking for Charlie, then he was probably going to find his brother in her and that's not something anyone needs. I couldn't think of anything to say to keep Shawn in the room so instead, I faked a fall, except the fake fall felt like it did some real damage.
I let out a shriek as pain shot through my foot, I was sure that I had heard something pop or snap. I let a few curse words slip out of my mouth while internally cursing myself for getting myself into this situation.
"Let me look," Austin knelt down.
"No, don't touch it," I snapped.
"I can't help you if I can't see it," He frowned at me.
"Austin I swear if you touch me I'll hit you," I warned, the pain was setting in properly and tears were beginning to form in my eyes.
I looked pleadingly at Shawn, I did not want to sit in the middle of a group of judgy girls and cry. I didn't like to cry in public as it was, I definitely didn't want to do it where was right now. Shawn seemed to forget what he was doing and came straight over to me.
"Put your arm around my neck," Shawn instructed sliding an arm under my knees and using the other to support my back.
I wanted to object, I wasn't an infant I didn't need to be picked up. But I was pretty sure that if they tried to help me walk out of here that I would just start crying. I sighed and put an arm around his neck, hiding my face in his chest as the tears started to fall.
"I'll just take her to the staff room and take a look," he told Austin.
"I've got this, just make sure our clumsy little friend is okay," Austin tried to joke.
"Asshole," I choked out.
"Come on you," Shawn started walking out of the room.
He walked me through the building into the staff room where he sat me on the couch. He knelt down in front of me and reached for my foot.
"No," I sobbed.
"Thea I have to look at it," he sighed.
"No, it hurts and if you take the shoe off it's just going to hurt more, what if taking off the show actually does damage?" I rambled.
"Thea, seriously?" he frowned at me.
"What? I don't know I'm in pain," I cried. The initial pain just kept intensifying.
"Fine, I'll go and get Charlie," he sighed.
"No," I stood up to stop him and instantly regretted.
"Why did you do that?" he frowned.
"I don't know," I sobbed.
"Are you going to let me look at it?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Fine," I sighed covering my eyes so that I couldn't see when he was doing it, I knew that if I saw him go to take my show off I would pull away and then he would go and find Charlie and probably find more than he thought he would and me hurting myself will have all been for nothing.
"How is she doing?" Austin came walking in.
"She's only just letting me look at it," Shawn stated.
I felt the pressure release as he pulled my shoe off my foot, there was a sharp pain and I squeaked out which I wasn't very proud of.
"This is so weird," Austin stated.
"What?" I panicked looking at my foot, which had instantly bruised.
"You acting like a girl," He said.
"Don't do that, I thought something was wrong with my foot," I threw a cushion at him.
"There she is," he smirked.
"There is something wrong with your foot," Shawn frowned at me at the same time.
"It looks bad," Austin agreed.
"I think it's broken, but we'll have to take you to the hospital to be sure," Shawn stood up looking around the room.
"I'm sure it's fine, if it's still bad in the morning then I'll go to the hospital," I tried to shrug it off.
"Thea, it's bruised, you're still crying so clearly you're in a lot of pain, and as we speak the swelling is increasing. Were going to the hospital now, not in the morning," Shawn went all parent on me.
"But I don't want to go to the hospital," I mumbled.
"Dude, just take your shirt off, she'll stop talking if she's surrounded by abs," Austin stated.
"You take your shirt off, I need to find a pressure bandage," Shawn frowned at him.
"My abs do nothing for her," he sighed.
"Can we just bandage my foot and take me home?" I asked.
"Sure but we're stopping at the hospital first," Shawn agreed sitting through cupboards.
"Why? It's probably just bruised and sprained. Maybe it's a pulled muscle but I think I fall over enough to know if it's broken or not," I really didn't like going to hospitals, especially not for myself.
"Thea, we're going to the hospital," Shawn stated ad my phone buzzed in my pocket.
"I really don't think it's necessary," I sighed checking my messages.
ChaCha: So, I'm going to Doobin's to test your theory. Keep Shawn distracted for me?
"Thea,"
"Okay fine," 8 sighed again.
Thea: Not a problem.
"Let me just go tell Charlie," Shawn seemed released.
"I would rather you didn't,
"Let's just take her to the hospital before she changes her mind," Austin stated,
"I'll text Charlie," I nodded.