Five a.m.

Five freaking in the freaking morning.

Have I mentioned I’m not a morning person?

“Is napping considered stretching before everyone gets here?” Vinny grumbled as he laid on the floor next to me, putting his BloUp flat bill over his eyes. We were the first ones in the dance studio. “We’ve been the first ones here for five days straight. And you’re the one who gets my sorry up every morning to get here so damn early.”

“Because we’re the ones that have the least experience.” I reminding my brother. I stretched my legs out in front of me and reached forward, touching my toes. “So stretch and let’s practice some of the choreography before everyone else gets here. I need to work on Doom Dada.” I shiver went down my spine when I said TOP’s solo song.

Vinny let out an extremely loud and obnoxious whine. “Nat, it’s going to be fine. We still have weeks until the first concert.”

I was tired of hearing my brother’s whines. His whole attitude since we moved to our apartment (which, by the way, was a tiny two-bedroom, one-bath) was driving me crazy. It was like he didn’t care we actually had a job to do. He was just acting like he was free to do what he wanted. He wasn’t going to sleep early. I was the one that had to wake him up. He hadn’t changed his diet at all; when we had gone grocery shopping, I was sticking to Shawn’s list of approved food while Vincent was throwing Oreos, pizzas, fries, soda, and alcohol (beer and rum) into the cart. In a fit of frustration, I grabbed his hat, threw it, and grabbed him by the front of his shirt, pulling him up to look at me. “Vincent, man the up. I’m tired of you whining. You aren’t even taking this seriously. I’ve been working my off and you are acting like this is no different from our dance classes growing up. This is when we need to be at our best because we are behind everyone else and we are dancing for BIGBANG for crying out loud! God!” I pushed him. “Get it together, man!”

My brother stumbled back and looked at me in shock, but I didn’t care. This was big. And serious. We needed to be perfect. I didn’t want to be as good as the other dancers. I wanted to be better. 

I wanted to be the best.

“Oh-okay… sorry.” Vincent muttered. I had a feeling that was all he could do. I rarely ever went off on him like I just had. He picked up his hat and walked over to the sound system. As I stretched, I watched him pull is phone out of his shorts pocket. “What do you want me to play first?”

I sighed and stood. “Just… I don’t even know. I’m the only one between us in Doom Dada. Maybe Good Boy?” I looked at my outfit in the mirror. My hair was up in a high messy bun, and I had on a black sports bra and black sweatpants. In case things got warm later, I had leggings on underneath my sweats. Any other day I wouldn’t even give a second glance at my tattoos; a colorful dreamcatcher on my right side from my ribcage down to my hip, and a black, rose, and gold rosary on my back (which was mostly covered by my sports bra). Today, though, I was a little more self-conscious. BIGBANG, Taeyang and G-Dragon in particular, were big into tattoos. I was sure they spent hundreds to thousands of dollars on theirs and got them done by well-known artists. Mine were done by two different artists close to our home town.

“Nat, we know that one by heart. That’s probably the last one we need to rehearse.” He looked at me. “Okay, let’s be real here. Are you on edge because it’s our first day with BIGBANG today?”

“And you aren’t?” I looked at my brother. “This is, like the biggest day ever. We’ve gotten feedback from Shawn. Now we get it from them. And what if they don’t like what they see? You remember how short and commanding G-Dragon was during BIGBANG: The Beginning, don’t you?” In the TV series showing how BIGBANG was formed, G-Dragon was hard on all of the members. I’ll never forget when Taeyang hurt his hand practicing for Se7en’s stage, and instead of being concerned, G-Dragon was pissed.

“That was in 2006, Nat.” Vincent pointed out. “It’s 2015. I’m sure he’s changed his ways.”

“Well I don’t want to risk it either way.” I faced the mirror. “Just put on Doom Dada.”

---

“Alright, everyone. Let’s take five. Gather around.” Shawn clapped his hands together.

I had no idea what time it was, but we had practice about five songs, including Good Boy, Doom Dada, Crayon, Fantastic Baby, and High High.

We all sat down around Shawn, me taking a place by my brother. I looked to my left when I felt someone tap me. “Here.”

“Oh, thanks, Don.” I smiled and took the water that dancer Kwon Young Don (yes, THAT Kwon; as in the Kwon Twins) had offered to me. Over the course of these practices, Vincent and I had bonded with the Kwon Twins. Maybe it was a twin thing, but they had helped us with sharpening our steps and feel more comfortable. There was a language barrier because the twins’ English wasn’t so great, but it was amazing how we could communicate through dance.

“Okay, so the guys should be here any minute.” Shawn told us. “If I didn’t think we were ready for them to come in yet, I would tell them to stay away. But you all are ready. I think the guys are really going to enjoy this integrated group of dancers we have for the tour. Veterans and Rookies alike. It’s like how BIGBANG was formed. Jiyong and Taeyang had trained for six years, and then Top, Seungri, and Daesung came in six months before they debuted.” Shawn fixed the flat bill he was wearing. “Now, I don’t quite know how our blocking is going to be, or the pair ups, but that’ll be easier to figure out when the band gets here. I need to see chemistry between the dancers and the guys, I need to see height compatibility, I need to see talent. With that being said, let’s go ahead and keep on going. They’ll be here soon enough. Let’s go ahead and continue with Ringa Linga. All of you, since I don’t know who we’re choosing, men or women.”

I tossed my water bottle over to my stuff, and took a spot on the floor.

“Alright. And here. We. Go.” Shawn announced. At the last word, he hit the play button.

We started dancing, and I focused on my dance moves in the mirror. They needed to be crisp and perfect. Taeyang usually didn’t have female dancers in the performance, but who’s to say that could change? During the last chorus, I heard the door open, but I knew looking to see who had entered would not be a good idea.

We all knew who it was, anyway.

The music ended, Shawn was the first to smile at the men that had just walked in. “Alright, and here they are. Everyone, here is the band that is about to take America by storm. Guys, come on up.”

I wanted to scream. I really wanted to scream. I gulped and put my hands behind my back as I watched Kwon Jiyong, Dong Youngbae, Choi Seunghyun, Kang Daesung, and Lee Seungri walk to stand with our choreographer. “Everyone, this is G-Dragon, Taeyang, Top, Daesung, and Seungri. Guys, this is your dance crew for the tour. As you can see we  got some veterans and some rookies. Is it okay if I introduce some of them to you?”

G-Dragon nodded. “We can see a lot of our old crew, but there are some new.”

Oh, God. Vinny and I were new.

Shawn smirked. “Alright, BIGBANG, we’ve got four new girls and four new guys.” He walked over to us newbies. “Right her you got Nadia, JD, Kenny, Lana, Mikey, Ada, Vincent, and Natalia.” Shawn put his hand on my shoulder when he got to my name.

Taeyang was the first to smile. “Great to meet you. It will be a great concert.”

I was surprised when Seungri pointed towards me and my brother. “Twenty-one right?” He had a smile on his face.

Shocked, my brother and I both nodded. “Y-yeah. Right.”

Seungri looked at the leader. “Hyung, this was the twins we watched on YouTube. The one’s Taeyang and I picked.”

God, his accent was atrocious but adorable at the same time.

Daesung smiled and nodded. He looked at us and gave us a thumbs up. “Yes! You are good!”

Shawn nodded. “They are. I think it’s time to get started. Ji, what do you think we should start with?”

G-Dragon took a step forward and stretched his arms above his head. “We still aren’t sure of the setlist for the concert, so things could change. So let’s work on songs we know we will have.” He looked over at TOP.

Oh my word… TOP…..

I let my eyes follow the leader’s. This man. This beautiful, gorgeous human being. Dressed in a jacket, button up shirt, and black skinny pants, he looked like he was ready for a photo shoot. That, and the fact his hair was dyed black and styled up made me want to pass out right then and there.

I had definitely been not paying attention to what they were all talking about, but snapped back from gawking at TOP when I heard my name. “Okay, I need Nat, Nadia, Jihye, and Aecha on the side. Vin, Kwons, JD, get in your places. I want Kwons on the inside by Ji, Vin on the left, JD on the right. Let’s go. We’re going to start out small, but everyone pay attention. I could add some more of you in.”

I didn’t even know what song we were about to practice. I simply followed the other female dancers to the side.

“Okay, there’s a pairing in this one.” Shawn reminded G-Dragon when he and TOP walked to the center of the room. “Who do we want with who?”

“We already talked about it.” G-Dragon nodded. “Have Jihye with me. Natalia with Top because of their height.”

For some reason, I swallowed my own saliva wrong when he said that. I started coughing profusely, which got everyone looking at me, even TOP.

I felt the color rise to my cheeks and I coughed again, holding my hand up. “S-sorry. I’m okay. Sorry.” I wiped my eyes.

Partners with TOP? For what song?

“So, girls, when it’s your turn, I want it lined up Nat and Nadia in the center, Nat on the right Nadia on the left, Jihye next to Nat, Aecha next to Nadia.” Shawn clapped his hands together. “Let’s go.”

I bit the inside of my cheek as Shawn played the music.

My heart rate started speeding up when I heard it was High High. I had to touch TOP during this song.

I watched them go into action, and was completely amazed by my brother. He did not seem phased by this at all.

The first chorus came on, and all I could do was watch TOP. He seemed completely serious while practicing, which made me more nervous.

While G-Dragon was singing his part, TOP walked over to us, his back to everyone. Without saying a word, the girls and I lined up next to him, facing the crowd. He tuned around, and we walked up to center stage.

I danced as well as I could, keeping my eys on the mirror. During the chorus, I made sure to not get in G-Dragon’s or TOP’s way while they weaved in and out of our way.

Then it was time.

We got in our next positions, my and TOP facing each other as G-Dragon and his dancer did their part. I cleared my throat and looked in the mirror as we did our steps, me going backward. I couldn’t look TOP in the eyes. They were too piercing. Too intimidating. When our part came, my eyes were locked as soon as TOP looked at me. Step forward. I put my hand up. Step forward. He put his hand up to me, and I hit it away. Step forward. I put my hand on his shoulder. Step forward. He batted my hand away.

I just touched my favorite K-Pop idol.

The song ended, and we looked at Shawn. He nodded. “Good first run. Nat, when you’re doing that part with Top, you need to be more playful. Put a little smirk on your face or something. You looked like you were so serious.” He looked at G-Dragon. “I do like that pairing, though. What do you think?”

G-Dragon nodded. “She’s tall, so it wouldn’t look good with me or Youngbae. We want to try her with Seungri, too.”

TOP AND SEUNGRI?!?

How many songs was I about to be featured in for this tour?