“Come on, Princess Rachel. Maybe if you got it out of your system, you could focus on the actual practice for once!”

“Okay, girls,” Mr. Han says, stepping in between us. His face is a mixture of disappointment and concern. “Let’s take ten. Grab some water and cool down. It looks like it’s going to be a long one.”

Mina glares at me before grabbing her Hydro Flask and stomping out of the studio. The rest of the girls scatter to get water and snacks, and I head to the bathroom to splash my face with cold water. Mr. Han is right. I need to cool down. I dry my face and look at myself in the mirror, then run through the dance moves by myself. Here, alone in the bathroom, I nail every single one. I can do this. I just have to focus on the routine and not let Mina get under my skin. I have to stay focused. For the sake of the LA concert. For the sake of us.

I head out of the bathroom and down the hallway, hoping I have time to grab a protein bar from the vending machines too, when I nearly run into Mina and her father. I quickly pull myself back around the corner and press myself against the wall, and they’re so engrossed in their conversation that they don’t notice me.

“The investors want to pull their support from your line,” Mr. Choo growls at her. “They saw an eyewear line just drop—with designs that look identical to the ones you’ve been developing. Don’t tell me you’ve been stealing them. Choos are above that.”

“I didn’t! It’s just a coincidence, I swear—how unique can you make eyewear look anyway?” Mina rolls her eyes, but then she shrinks under her father’s withering stare.

Mr. Choo scoffs. “This never would have happened to Rachel Kim.”

“Please, Appa, can’t we just forget the eyewear line? I want to do acting. I’m good at it.”

“No,” Mr. Choo says curtly. “You need to fix this, Mina. Choos don’t lose.”

And with that, Mr. Choo spins on his heel and walks away, leaving an utterly defeated-looking Mina behind him.

I back away before Mina can spot me, giving up on the idea of having a protein bar to boost my energy before practice restarts. There’s an awkward tension in the air as the girls file back into the studio. Mina’s the last one to rejoin the group, an expression of fierce determination on her face. And then, we’re focused on the dance and only the dance. The hours pass by and we slowly get better. I don’t mess up the formation change for the rest of the day, and I feel myself getting sharper and sharper as we go along.