WE DID IT!

Dolla and I made it to the Dancing under the Stars finale. God, we may actually win this thing!

The other two couples in the finale are Vika and Tony, and Jenny and Tim. We have to perform three dances next week: a freestyle, our favorite dance from the season, and a group Paso Doble. Today we’re all meeting at the studio to practice our group Paso. It’s not going to be easy. Paso is the man’s dance and all the pros left are women.

I arrive at the studio an hour before anyone. No way in hell am I gonna be late like I was for the fitness video. The whole Perez Hilton scandal thing has blown over a tad. Iza still hasn’t spoken to me since our fight. Not a single word. Even last night, when I congratulated her on being named one of People Magazine’s sexiest reality stars. Nada. She just gave me one of her smiles and walked off the set. Genya acted all calm and collected when he was questioned about it during the release party for the Dancing under the Stars video game. He simply said that yes, he and Iza have ended their engagement and that he and I are long friends and former partners who are just exploring the possibility of competing together again. I’m glad the press bought that story. It’s just too bad Genya’s full of it. That’s the only thing we fight about. I’m never ever competing professionally again but Genya won’t let up. And his mom is worse! Sending me flowers and making my favorite food trying to butter me up like hot blini. I just want to know if Genya is in love with me or only wants to win again.

I turn on some Shakira and warm up. It’s kind of nice having this place all to myself. Shakira’s voice vibrates through my body and I just let myself go. This is what I love, being free and just dancing for me.

“Great moves, Sal.”

I spin to the door behind me. Dolla has arrived with his four-person entourage. They’re all just standing in front of me, staring at the sweat glistening on my body.

“You still game for choreographing my tour?” he says. “It’s gonna be slammin’.” His people disperse around the room, like the secret service. They watch Dolla’s every move, just in case he needs anything.

I grab a towel and wipe myself down. “Absolutely. It’s my dream job.” And it’s my nightmare to tell Genya. But I’ll deal with him later.

Jenny and Tim stroll in, holding hands. Two seconds behind them are Tony and Vika, who can’t keep their hands off each other. God, am I the only professional on this entire show not to hook up with her celebrity?

“Let’s get this party started, people,” Tony says.

Vika prances to the center of the floor with him. Jenny and Tim stand next to her. Jenny gives me a cool look. She’s still a little mad that I didn’t tell her how serious it was with Genya.

“So, Salomé, where do you want us to start?” Vika asks.

Is the queen bee asking for my help? “Why do you assume I’m choreographing it? You’re the two time reigning Dancing under the Stars champion.”

She fluffs out her hair. “True. But it’s paso doble. Benny always does my pasos, and unfortunately he’s tied up with your precious Diana right now. And God knows I’m not going to let Jenny here choreograph our paso. We don’t want to get laughed off a stage. This is Dancing under the Stars, not Stumbling around the Stars.”

Normally, I would tell off Vika and defend Jenny. But this time I laugh. Vika has a point.

Tim slaps his hand over his eyes as Jenny goes off. “Listen, Vika, I did make it to the finale. Salomé didn’t help me with every dance.”

“She’s right—just every Latin dance.” Did I just say that out loud?

Jenny gets in my face. “Fine. Just to show you both that I can choreograph Latin, I’m going to make the solo part for the paso doble all by myself.”

Disaster. “Now’s not the time to prove . . .”

She covers my mouth with her hands. “I don’t need your help, Sal. I can do it alone.”

“Okay, fine,” I say. “But I’m going to do the group part. Only because I’m going to win this thing and I don’t want either of you screwing up my victory with your choreography.” I poke Dolla in the abs then wave them all over. “You guys are on your own for the solo. Dolla, Tony, Tim, get behind me. You’ll totally love the Paso. It’s the man’s dance. You’re bullfighters and we are your capes. This is a dance of aggression. Most important thing is to stand up, strong and tall. Chests out, shoulders back. And when you step forward, you are using a heel lead like in the Standard dances. ¿Comprende?”

None of them say a word. They look scared. Oh, boy . . . “Jen, go grab them some sheets in the back room to use as practice capes, will you?” She runs off, without pausing to question me. Hey there, kinda fun being in charge . . .

I go through some basic steps and the men practice walking. The rock star, the rapper, and the NBA b-baller strut across the floor. Sounds like the beginning of a joke. “Why don’t you gentlemen take your shirts off so I can make sure your shoulders are down?” They obediently get undressed. Damn, this is fun. The guys are very masculine and look totally hot doing this dance.

Dolla struts by me for the fourth time, his butt finally tucked tight and firm. He leans over and whispers in my ear. “You’re so great at this, Sal. You have to do the tour.” Yes, I do. This is a total blast. It’s what I was meant to do. Jen can say what she wants about Dancing under the Stars, but I never would have realized how much I love choreographing if I hadn’t done this show.

“Attack it, Jen! Come on!” I harp. She and Tim face off across the floor. “Pretend he’s me this time.” She shoots eyeball daggers at her partner. “Now we’re talking. Good job, you two.” All the tension in this room is working great for this dance.

Two hours later, we’ve finished with all the group stuff. “That’s good for now. Finish up your solos and I’ll put everything together tomorrow.”

Vika and Tony don’t even break, they just launch right into their solo routine. She’s a Latin champ, so her paso will be fine. It’s Jenny I’m worried about. Dolla and I start fine-tuning our paso. He’s great at the flamenco stuff, no worries there, either. But out of the corner of my eye, I spot Jenny sitting at a side table, studying Walter Laird’s encyclopedia of dance steps, Technique of Latin Dancing. Tim’s in the center of the floor trying to copy Dolla’s steps.

“Awesome, Dolla. Do that again and keep your frame. I’ll be right back.” I take a deep breath then head over to Jenny, stopping momentarily to adjust Tim’s back. “You gotta arch it out, Big Boy. There, that’s it.” I slap his butt and move on. Damn, Jen’s got taste, I’ll give her that . . .

I slip into the chair opposite Jenny. “So . . . need help?”

She doesn’t even look up from her book. “No. I was looking up the name of a step. I’m fine.”

“Oh.” I don’t even know the names of half the steps because I learned them in Russian. I sit there a minute, watching as she flips to the next page then flips back again. Tiny creases appear on her forehead, the kind she gets when she’s just about to throw something. I just hope it’s not that book . . . at me. “Alright, Jen. Enough. I’m sorry, okay?” She closes the book and lays it flat, her hands on top, but she still doesn’t look at me. “I never meant to insult you. Really I didn’t. I’m just stressed out about the finale. You know I don’t mind helping you out.” I reach over then hesitate—afraid she’s going to pull away—before resting my hands on hers. She lets them stay. “And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the whole truth about Genya. I just wanted some time alone with him before it got out and I had to deal with the press, that’s all. It’s not that I thought you’d tell anyone. Hell, you’d rip your own tongue out before you’d do that, I know. I just wanted to keep it private, just for a couple of days. There’s nothing private in the dance world. Ever.”

She finally looks up at me, the creases gone from her forehead. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me that you slept with Genya. And calling me out in front of Vika, Dolla, and especially Tim is a bitchy thing to do.”

“It is.” I nod my head.

“Friends don’t do that to friends.”

“They don’t.” I put on my most solemn face and shake my head side to side.

Jenny points her finger at me. “Salomé Maria Sanchez. Are you ever going to lie to me again?”

She’s so dramatic. I didn’t actually lie to her. Not worth the fight, though. “Never. I swear.” I cross my heart and spit in my palm like every good schoolgirl knows to do. “I’ll tell you everything. I’ll even call you next time we’re in bed and give you a play by play.” I stick out my hand to shake.

She shoves my hand away. “That’s disgusting! Fine. You’re forgiven.” She finally smiles the old Jenny smile and gives me big hug. “And thank God for it already—Diana needs saving and that’s going to take both of us. She’s been trying out with Jared. She swears she’s not dating Benny, but I don’t know what to believe.”

God, this girl lives for drama. “Don’t worry, we’ll deal with Diana after the finale. For now, throw that fucking book away, will you? I’ll get your paso up to par.” I wiggle my ass and strut toward the dance floor. “Salomé is In. Da. House!”

I parade over to Dolla and take his hand. “It’s a deal. You have yourself a tour choreographer.” I prepare to shake on it but Dolla lifts me in the air and spins me around.

“That’s what I’m talking about girl. It’s going to be fierce. You won’t regret it.”

He’s right. For the first time in my life I’m going to live my life how I want to live it. Not what my partner, my boyfriend, my parents, my coach, or my friends want, but just for me.