Chapter 43

       D.A.N.C.E ended up making it into the finals, so we were all really excited. We had practiced our final routine even more than the semi-final, so there was no doubt the dance was going to be even stronger.

       Ever since Echo and I beat the team that had won five years in a row, most people, if not all, were saying we were going to be the winners this year, and I had a strong feeling that we were going to be.

       I was going to be more happy for Dad if we did win. He was the owner of the studio, and he tried working so hard in training us to win even Nationals, but it hadn't happened for over a decade. All his hard work was finally going to pay off and he definitely deserved it. While he wanted us to win, he cared more about us dancers than to win.

       If any of us ever got hurt during a dance and caused us to lose, he wouldn't be mad, or even upset. He would just be worried for us and do anything he could to help us heal. And not just any of his family members. Any of the dancers. 

       We were like a family.

       We were going to be performing second, so we had more time than the other team to get ready. However, we still got ready as quick as we could so we could see what we were up against. That team was extremely good, and I found out earlier they were usually in the finals against the other team that always won. We had strong competitors and just because we took out the other team, it didn't mean we would for sure win.

       We still felt confident about winning.

       After the team we were up against ended their dance, they got a standing ovation, which wasn't too surprising. They were extremely good, and they definitely deserved it making this far. Honestly, if D.A.N.C.E didn't win, I would still be happy for them because they had always come so close to winning Nationals. They would deserve it just as much as us.

       They got off the stage, then the curtains lowered so we could set up the stage with our props. to go with our theme: the circus.

       Once it was set up, we all went to our positions and Dad, who was watching from the sidelines, told them we were ready for the curtains to raise. As it did, my heart began to beat faster. This was the last performance of Nationals and it was going to determine if we were going to go to Internationals or not.

       The dance started off with a small solo for Zayden, since he was the dance captain and put in a lot of work helping Dad with the choreography, as well as being in charge of cleaning the dance.

       We had rows of two and at one point of the song, we switched so those in the front would be in the back and vice versa. Echo and I were in the front at first, but now we split the centre in the back to prep for our duet portion.

       Right before our duet, everyone gathered to the centre before getting into low positions as Echo and I moved to the front for the duet while the others moved slow motion-like.

       We were all dancing our hardest and the more we danced, the more confident I was feeling about winning this. Even if we didn't, I had way too much fun dancing with everyone to be too upset about losing. 

       When our dance ended, we got a standing ovation as well and we gathered to one side of the stage while the other team got on the other side of the stage. Two members of the National came onto the stage with the trophy while the judges tallied the scores.

       While we were waiting, Echo wrapped her arm around my waist and I wrapped mine around her shoulder. "We got this, right?" Echo asked.

       "Hopefully," I said, giving her a side hug.

       The judges finally finished tallying up the scores and handed them to the announcer. "Ladies and gentlemen," she said. "The winner of this year's National competition and the team moving on to Internationals is....D.A.N.C.E!"

       Our whole team started cheering, as well as the audience. The first thing I did was pull Echo into a hug. I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for her. She was the one who made me feel comfortable with dance, and she was the one who convinced me to join the team.

       I was really happy I had her in my life to help me start coming out of my shell. Without out her, there was no way I would have gotten on the stage again after performing the solo for Zayden. That, I was pretending to be him. With Echo's help, I was dancing as me on stage.

       After receiving the trophy, and celebrating a bit more, we got off the stage where a lot of our family members were. Dad immediately pulled me and Zayden into a hug. "I'm so proud of you two," he said. "All of D.A.N.C.E, but especially my two sons."

       "Me more, right?" Zayden asked.

       I normally wasn't a sassy person, but I just had to be right now. "I'm sorry, who scored perfectly their round?"

       "Alright, no arguing, you both did exceptionally well," Dad said, before looking at Echo. "Come join the hug too, since you technically are family."

       "Dad," I said.

       "What? She's your girlfriend and she has been living with us for the past couple months," Dad said, holding out his arm towards Echo. She smiled and joined the group hug.

       "Echo?" a voice behind us said, and we all pulled away to see her mom standing there.

       "You came?" Echo asked.

       "Of course I did," Janelle said. "You danced....absolutely beautifully on stage, and I've never seen such a strong bond between two dancers during your duet. I'm so proud of you."

       Looks like someone had a change of heart.

       Echo smiled softly. "Thanks, Mom."

       "And, I'm hoping you would be willing to move back home," Janelle said. "I promise, no more training at home unless you want it, and I definitely am not going to stop you from seeing Rhys. I was biased before because he's a Prince and I don't have the best relationship with them, but I can see how much you two work well together, and not just with dancing."

       An extreme change of heart.

       It made Echo will happy though. "Yeah, I'll come back home. I honestly miss it a tiny bit, and thank you, for letting me be with Rhys."

       "Thank Ryder," Janelle said. "He talked some serious sense into me."

       "Well, anything for the sake of my future daughter-in-law," Dad said.

       "Dad, seriously."

       Why did parents have to be so embarrassing at times?

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I'm in love with the song I chose for their final dance. THE NEXT STEP FOR THE WIN AND I NEED IT TO COME BAAAAAAAACK. I miss Ozzy and Piper and I still ship them HARD.

Just like how I ship Noah and Richelle but I know they're never getting together rip.

I think this book is going to end on chapter 43, and I'm not entirely sure if Rhys will get another book. Zayden gets the next one and most likely Kingsley after. Idk though because it will be so weird for me to write Dad and Papa instead of Nolan and Jerome.