Betty’s POV
The studio echoed with the sharp rhythm of shoes squeaking against the polished floor, but the choreography felt disjointed. Movements were mistimed, transitions sloppy. Lucy’s voice cut through the air like a whip, sharp and unrelenting.
“Again!” she shouted, clapping her hands loudly. “From the top, and this time, hit your marks!”
I leaned against the back wall, my arms crossed tightly over my chest. The tension in the room was palpable, the team’s energy scattered and hesitant. But it wasn’t just them—I could feel my own focus slipping, my thoughts spiraling away from the present moment.
Carlos, standing near the mirror, finally threw his hands up in exasperation. “You’re micromanaging, Lucy! Let them breathe for a second!”
Lucy turned to him, her expression fierce. “And you’re being too soft! They need to nail this if we’re going to make an impression.”
Their argument felt like a thunderstorm brewing, and the rest of the team fidgeted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact. I pushed off the wall and stepped forward, raising my voice to cut through the noise.
“Break!” I said firmly.
Everyone froze, the weight of the word sinking in. Lucy turned toward me, her eyes narrowing as if she’d been personally challenged. “What’s your problem, Betty? You’ve been off all day.”
I sighed, dragging a hand through my hair. The truth was, I didn’t even know what my problem was. Everything felt off, like we were trying to force pieces of a puzzle that no longer fit together.
“I just… I don’t know,” I admitted, my voice quieter. “Everything feels off.”
Lucy’s expression softened for a fraction of a second before her usual intensity returned. “Because you’re distracted,” she said bluntly, crossing her arms. “We need you, Betty. You’re the glue holding this together. If you’re not locked in, none of us are.”
Her words landed harder than I expected, like a weight settling on my shoulders. I nodded slowly, forcing myself to meet her gaze. She wasn’t wrong. As much as I wanted to point fingers or make excuses, the truth was that I hadn’t been fully present. And the team could feel it.
“You’re right,” I said finally. My voice steadied as I spoke again. “Let’s regroup. We’ll get it together.”
The tension in the room eased slightly as everyone took a collective breath. Lucy stepped back, and Carlos gave me a small nod of approval. I glanced around at the team, their tired but hopeful faces reminding me of what we were here to do. We weren’t just a group of individuals. We were a team, and it was time to act like one again.
“Five-minute break,” I called out. “Then we’ll start fresh.”
As everyone dispersed, I stayed rooted in place, letting the moment sink in. Lucy’s words echoed in my mind: You’re the glue holding this together. I didn’t feel like glue right now. But if there was one thing I knew, it was that this team deserved better. And I wasn’t about to let them down.