Page 109 of I Don't Need Your Love
“I just want to hold you.”
Moreno tells us that we’re one of the first teams to perform. That’s such a relief because we can get it over with quickly and then enjoy the rest of the performances. We immediately start to stretch.
With each passing second, my anxiety levels shoot through the roof. Then I gather everyone in for a huddle and say, “This is it, guys! The moment we’ve been working our butts off for! I know that each and every one of you has dedicated every ounce of your body to this routine, and I appreciate you all so much. I’ve never been prouder of you and I know that you guys are super proud of yourselves. No matter what happens today, we’re winners because we have the best team in the world. I know it might be lame to say that, but I really feel that we have a specialteam, like a family. I want us all to have fun and soak in every moment we’re up there. Lean on each other’s energy because we all have each other’s backs. And the most important thing? Let’s kick major butt!”
We say, “Go Eagles!” and cheer as we break away from the huddle and sprint to the stage, since we’re next. As Ryder passes me, he whispers, “Mega hot,” before winking and running ahead.
When the team before us is done, the audience cheers like crazy. I swallow, trying not to let their reaction get to me. It doesn’t matter how the other teams perform—we need to focus on ourselves and put on the performance of our life. If we manage to nail it, I really feel like we have a shot at first place.
We file onto the stage and get into our starting position. I feel the jitters practically suffocating the stage, but I also feel good vibes, too. As though we’re all trying to pump one another with confidence. I don’t look out into the audience because I want to focus on the routine only.
The music starts to play and off we go. Like the previous performance, each and every one of our movements is sharp and precise, graceful when we need to be and powerful when the occasion calls for it. But what’s different about this performance is that the moves are much more complicated and complex, and I can feel the audience gasp at times, especially when we do this cool hand and foot motion that took us weeks to perfect. I manage to glimpse at a few dancers, including Naya, and see the thrilled and pleased expressions on their faces. None of us seem to be having an off day—we’re all totally and one hundred percent in it.
Our movements slow down as we draw nearer to Ryder and my duet. The rest of the team flits toward the stage wings while the music grows softer and he and I step closer to each other. As he presses his forehead to mine, he whispers, “You’ve got this,my unbelievably talented and beautiful girlfriend. And in just a few short moments you’re going to float.”
I don’t have a chance to respond because our routine starts and I need to concentrate. As my body moves in sync with the music and with Ryder, I feel like I’m actually embodying my character, something I only touched on the surface during practice. But right now? Ibecomethe princess, and Ryder becomes my prince. Each and every one of my movements isperfect, graceful and intense and powerful and elegant. My spins are spot on, my emotional expressions believable, and when Ryder twirls me in his arms, I stare into his eyes like I really am in love with him.
The truth is, I think I am.
The audience is so quiet, you can hear a pin drop. I don’t look out at them, but I can feel just how invested they are in our duet. The charge in the air is so thick, I swear it fills me with even more confidence than I already have.
Before our lift, I clutch onto his body like I’m supposed to and whisper in his ear, “You’ve got this, Twinkle Toes.”
Then I spin away from him and rush toward him. He wears a confident look as he grabs hold of my waist and lifts me over his head as my arms and legs extend in a graceful and beautiful form. The audience oohs and claps, and Ryder and I share a quick smile. He flips me over and we continue our dance.
Each of our lifts is successful, and each one gets more applause from the audience. And then it’s time for the grand finale.
Ryder places one hand on my waist and the other in my hand as we dance side by side. I tear my hand out of his and turn my back to him, crumpling my body toward the floor as though I’m in pain for having to separate from the love of my life. Ryder holds out his hand toward me with a longing look on his face, telling me that we should fight to be together, no matter howhard it is, no matter what evil witch or evil spell or evil monster stands in our way.
I rise to my feet and hold out my hand toward him, too, a look of hope in my eyes. Then I bolt toward my love and he hoists me in the air, keeping me as high as he can as he does a spin and then a few more moves. I really feel like I’m floating in the air, and a huge grin appears on my face. Ryder’s arms don’t falter once—in fact, it seems like he can hold me like this for another thirty seconds. But he carefully lowers me to the floor and then we end the pose in each other’s arms.
The audience goes wild. They cheer the loudest I’ve heard so far. But the routine is not over yet. The rest of the team joins us and we continue the performance. I finally have a chance to peek at the audience and see that many of them are on the edge of their seats. From their expressions, it appears as though they don’t want it to end.
But it eventually does, and the crowd cheers wildly again. We rush off the stage and squeal and gush as we throw our arms around each other. I run into Ryder’s waiting arms and he spins me around, lifting me a few inches off the floor.
“You were amazing,” I tell him.
“Youwere amazing.”
“No, you.”
“Nope.”
“Are we arguing again?” I say with a laugh.
“We sure are,” he says, laughing, too.
The rest of the team crowds around us, telling us how magnificent we were. I exchange hugs with Addie, Naya, and the rest of my team, telling everyone what a phenomenal job they did. Moreno compliments us, too, informing us that we couldn’t have done better.
Now that our performance is over, we get to enjoy the rest of the performances. Addie, Naya, Ryder, and I sit together andenjoy their routines. They’re all absolutely amazing, but they don’t have a romantic pair sequence like we had. That gives me hope that we could win.
After a few hours, the competition is over and it’s time to announce the rankings. I clutch Ryder and Addie’s hands, maybe a little too tightly. They don’t complain, though. And then I see our name appear in second place.
Naya leaps to her feet. “We got second!”
“Oh my gosh!” Addie also leaps to her feet and does a victory dance. With a giggle, Naya joins her.
I just stare at the screen, not believing what my eyes see. Is there really a number two next to our name?
