Chapter 9

       After winning Internationals, there was a lot riding on D.A.N.C.E for the upcoming state competition. We were the team to beat this year and if we didn't place first or second, we wouldn't make it to Nationals then Internationals to defend our spot.

       We really had to impress the judges this year.

       Unfortunately, one of our dances left to go to university so we were a dancer short. Dad assured he was going to find someone as soon as he could, and the state competition wasn't for another three and a half months so that should leave us plenty of time.

       I was leading the warm up and was starting to get really annoyed because Rhys and Echo wouldn't stop talking to each other. They were talking quietly but I was the dance captain; I heard and saw all. And I was very much hearing their nauseating flirting.

       Eventually, I got too annoyed and walked to where the were in the back of the dance studio. I grabbed my brother's arm and pulled him to the front. "You, stay here," I said. "You're not longer allowed to stand with Echo during warm up."

       Rhys only scowled as I went back to my spot to continue the warm up. He could scowl all he wanted for all I care.

       Dad walked out of his office and into the studio right as I ended the warm up. "Okay, so as you all know, the male solo competition is coming up," Dad said. "And I decided that the dancer who won it last year will compete for it again. Rhys."

       Wait.

       What?

       "Hold on, you can't be serious," I said. "I need to defend my title."

       "Yeah, but you technically didn't win the title last year since Rhys danced in your place," Dad said.

       "But nobody else knows that," I said. "If I don't dance this year, all the other teams are going to think I chickened out."

       "Yeah, why exactly do you want me doing the solo?" Rhys asked. "It's Zayden's thing. It has always been his thing. He'll probably kill me if you give it to me."

       "Or lock you in a closest and put on the fake glasses so it looks like I'm you when I'm really me," I said.

       "Yes, that too," Rhys said. 

       "I was only kidding," Dad said. "Zayden, you'll be doing the solo. But Rhys, I want you to be the alternate for it so just make sure you have a solo ready then just in case."

       "By alternate, do you mean him pretending to be me just in case so I still don't lose my title?" I asked.

       Dad snorted. "No. If you, by chance, can't perform, Rhys will be performing as himself. We're not going to do what we did last year again because that's kind of, you know, cheating."

       "Show me the rule book, Dad," I said. "Because there isn't a rule against your identical twin taking your place so everyone still thinks it's you."

       "Just go to studio minor and getting started on your solo," Dad said. "The rest of us will start throwing ideas around for the state competition routine."

       Dad only wanted me to leave because he knew I was right; there weren't any rules against my identical twin brother dancing in place of me so I could keep my title and my ego.

       I brought my bag with me to studio minor just in case I needed my water bottle or my cell phone. And it was a good thing I did bring it with me because my cell phone started ringing. I never kept it on silent because I didn't have any friends to call me and interrupt the dance class.

       I wasn't going to answer the call since I just wanted to work on my solo but once I saw that it was Dagny requesting a video call, I couldn't help but answer it. She was lying on her bed in her dorm room, looking extremely exhausted. "Ugh, I think I just made a terrible mistake," she said.

       "With what?" I asked.

       "Video chatting you. Your ugliness just burned my eyes and they already burn from tiredness."

       "Okay, wow, I regret answering my phone," I said. "I could hang up now if you want me to."

       "I was kidding," Dagny said. "You're in your dance studio now? Am I interrupting rehearsals?"

       "No, you called at the perfect time," I said. "I was sent to another studio since I'm going to be the competitor in the upcoming male soloist competition. I hate to brag but I've won every single year since I've been competing in them."

       "Don't lie," Dagny said. "You love to brag."

       "Well, when you're as talented as I am, bragging comes naturally."

       "I can see. When is the competition?"

       "Just over two weeks from now," I said. "It's not next Friday but the Friday after."

       "Then I'll be first to wish you good luck," Dagny said with a small smile. "I know you'll kill it. And I should really be going. I'm tired from school but I wanted to see you. I'll call you later tonight though, okay?"

       I smiled back. "Yeah, okay. I'll talk to you then."

       After we hung up, I did feel a bit more energized and ready to work. Dagny really did call me at the perfect time.

       I didn't have any ideas yet for my solo so I sat down in the middle of the studio, scrolling through the music on my phone to try to see if one of the songs would stand out to me that I could dance to. While a lot of dancers just did some choreography and made it work, I liked focusing on a story more.

       That way, I was able to get as much emotion as I could for the dance and perform the best I could. Emotionally dances were always easy for me.

       However, I was having a hard time choosing a song. I couldn't see myself dancing to anything right now.

       I huffed and laid down on the floor, resting my arms over my eyes. I had two weeks. Two weeks to choreograph this solo and perfect it for the competition but right now, I was stuck. I couldn't think of anything.

       I better come up with something fast.

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thank the next step for making me update this woo. they're actually airing episodes here in canada now :O despite it being a canadian show yet airing elsewhere first. 

anyway i'm loving the season because it's giving me so many gifable moments of rhys, so here is a gif of rhys:

mood

ugh i'm sad piper and ozzy won't be getting together, but i'm also happy because i love the other ships they're a part of this season. i'm torn.