What If?

.19.

I had been choreographing a new routine for the last hour. I thought I was one of the first on but turns out I'm last so I have a little bit more time then I thought I would have
"How's it going?" James asked coming into the room we had booked, I looked at him and offered him a smile
"So, I take it there was a past?" He asked and I shrugged
"Hey I thought we agreed to talk" He reminded me
"David is my ex, Beth was my best friend" I said
"and i take it they.." He said trailing off and I nodded
He sighed before walking over and hugging me
"I swear James if you are in here distracting her!" I heard Caiden yell before hearing Ellie laugh, I looked past James to see Caiden and Ellie stood there with Michael
"Mikey!" I replied with as smile
"Hey Tike. What's this I hear you are wanting to change all of the routine music" he said raising his eyebrows. Michael is the man behind the magic, he does lights, music, timing etc
"Yeah, well not all.. Just 4" I said with a smile in the hope it help
"4 out of 5 and I hear you want to work with lights for the 5 person?" He asked and i nodded
"We booked the stage tonight and was wondering if you could help us with that?" I asked
"Only because It's you" He chuckled
I've known Michael since I started competing at the age of 6.. He's kind of like an uncle in my opinion anyway

The Solo's were closing up and every second that past I could feel the nerves creeping up. I was stood on the stage line watching as Beth performed. Of course she would be right before me
"You've got this" James said placing his hands on my shoulder as the whole team approached me
"She's improved since I was there" I replied watching as I could see the technique slowly creeping through
"Are we still sticking to the plan?" Caiden asked and I nodded just as her music finished
"Beat that" She said pushing past me
"I plan to" I replied before shaking off all of her added pressure
"Good Luck" James said pressing his lips against mine before joining the team a few feet back

"Now this final Soloist is the reigning Champion of Miss National Soloist four years running? Can she make it a fifth? Please welcome Miss Natalie Phillips" The Host said causing the crowd started clapping, I took one more look at me team before smiling and walking on stage
I was winning this for them and only them

That was it, it was all left on the table for the judges to decide
"That was amazing" Kieran cheered as the rest of the team were thrilled, James instantly picking me up and spun me around
"If you can come up with that in an hour, I wonder how amazing your other routine was" Caiden laughed
"How long till we find out about Miss National Soloist?" Jodie asked
"Can the following Soloist return to the stage" The Host yelled a few seconds later 
"Nadia Anderson, Beth Richards and of course Natalie Phillips" The Host repeated. Now was the now or never moment, I looked at the team once more before heading on stage
Luckily Nadia was stood in between Beth and I so she can't continue to chat shit
"In Third place we have Nadia Anderson!" The Host yelled before someone handed Nadia her trophy allowing her to come back to us
"You're going down Phillips. Your reign has come to an end" Beth whispered yelled
"Can the remaining two step forward" The host yelled getting Beth and I to obey immediately
"For the first time in this competition" He started causing me to look back stage with everyone's hopeful smiles 
"Congratulations to our Miss National Soloist Natalie Phillips! 5 Years in a Row!" He yelled making my team and everyone in the crowd roar with excitement as I was handed the crown and the Trophy that i now own 5 off

Without a second thought I ran off the stage only to be engulfed by the team as soon as I was out of sight of the crowd. This puts us in first place in the competition so far. From now on we are awarded points and we have an additional 20 to start us off with not that we will need it. I have total faith in us

--

"So remind me why we are changing it so last minute?" Annabelle asked making all the girls look at me
"I know that the one thing my old studio can't do at this level, is Hip Hop. A lot of studios can't.. They'll be playing it safe with a contemporary or a jazz. So when the judges see this? It'll be stuck in their heads the entire time" I smiled
I had already been through the Trio with James and Kieran and I was now working with the girls. Michael is working on lights for us and over all when it's done, it'll be outstanding
"The idea of a competition is for it to be clean though" Jodie said and I shook my head
"Not all the time, especially in this kind of routine, it's supposed to be messy" I reminded them
"Girls, stop doubting Nat. She's the only one who's been this far before" Kelly said
"And if we want to make it to the Finals. Then we need to listen" Ellie continued
The rest of the girls nodded before we started again

After our time slot had ended the girls and I went back to the hotel to meet up with the boys. They were all in Caiden and Ellie's room of course messing around
"Hey" I smiled at James as I sat by him, he smiled back kissing my cheek placing an arm around me
"So did we miss anything interesting" Jodie asked
"It's the boys, of course not" Ellie laughed earning looks from the boys. They most certainly didn't expect that
"Um.. Nat that door is for you" Caiden said looking out the door, I looked at James a little confused but none the less i got up followed by James
"David?" I asked as soon as I saw him, James and Caiden stood tightly next to me
"Can we talk Natalie" He whispered bowing his head
"about what?" I asked
"What happened" He replied looking at me
"Oh where you helped Beth cheat?" Caiden asked raising his eyebrows
Caiden had grown very protective of me since I joined this team, he is another big brother figure I didn't know I needed
"Can we talk alone" David then asked
"fat chance" James growled
"please Nee" He whispered using his old pet name
"no David, you made your bed now sleep in it" I replied
"Nobody forced you to cheat, nobody made you throw everything away" i replied before walking back into the room allowing the boys to slam the door in his face
Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with James. I couldn't be happier but seeing David and Beth here.. It stings a lot. Just knowing what happened