Brave

I Don't Feel Like a Winner

|Emily's P O V|
As The dance finishes, I feel relieved. I want to go home, lay in bed, and just sleep forever. We walk up to the fromt of the stage and form a line, I feel like I've done this a million times in the past 2 days. Even though this time is completely different than the others, it still feels exactly the same.. I should be nervous, but I'm just not, I don't have the energy to be nervous right now.
"The Next Step!" the judge announced.
Suddenly the reality of the situation hit me, we just won Regionals... but I don't feel like a winner. I feel like a loser.
I feel like everything fell apart, I feel so sad, but I have to pretend to be happy right now, I just need to pretend.
I put on my widest smile, and hug my teammates, celebrate with them, pretending I'm as happy and overjoyed as they are. Miss Kate calls me to come hold the trophy, it's kind of a good feeling holding this trophy, but I can't really focus on the trophy and the crowd and the fact we just won Regionals. My mind is at war with itself, I just want the war to stop so I can be happy. Suddenly I feel a finger touch one of my hands briefly and and elbow brush against my arm. I look to the side, it's Michelle, holding the trophy with me, her smile as big as ever. In that moment, I don't know why, but I rip the trophy out of her hands and give it to Miss Kate, I knew I was being harsh, but something about seeing her be happy infuriated me. She's so happy because she has Eldon now. Maybe that's why I'm being so harsh, I don't want to see her happy because of Eldon. I saw Michelle's face fall. Whatever, she broke my heart first, she deserves it. Our team heads off stage to the dressing room. It seems like everyone except me and Michelle are happy. Michelle stole Regionals from me, I hate her so much, but I love her so much. My feelings for her are so complicated not even Albert Einstein could figure them out.
"Anything you want to say to your team girls?" Miss Kate looked at me then at Michelle, I guess she expects the captains to have some sort of speech. Crap, I have no idea what to say, they're all looking at me, I have to say something.
"Well, I'm really proud of all of you, and I'm glad that we won, you all did amazing."
The team clapped. Really, they bought that?
"What about you Michelle?" Miss Kate said.
"Umm, I'm glad I came to The Next Step, and I'm so glad we won."
The team applauded again,
"Well ladies, can you two gather everything in here and put it back in the suitcase? For the rest of you, I need you to get your stuff and load it onto the bus, Riley and Chloe take care of Michelle and Emily's stuff please. Chris and I will be collecting paperwork, we'll be on the bus in about 20 minutes."
Really? She has to leave me and Michelle in a room together... alone? Right now? I just want to go home.
Everyone left the room, leaving Michelle and I to silently gather makeup, makeup tools and hairpieces and put them into a suitcase. It's so awkward, we aren't talking to each other, we aren't even looking at each other, the room is filled with tension. A part of me wants to walk up to Michelle and kiss her, but I don't think that's a good idea. I'm just so confused right now with my feelings. I know I like Michelle, but I feel like I'm mad at her for liking Eldon... oh god, I'm jealous. That's all it is, jealousy. I like Michelle, but I'm jealous of Eldon because she likes him. I stop for a moment and look at Michelle. Should I talk to her? Should I forgive her and apologize?
"Michelle..."
Michelle looks at me, I can't believe I'm doing this.
"Michelle I'm sorry for acting so harsh... I hope we can put this behind us and become friends."

|Michelle's P O V|
"Michelle I'm sorry for acting so harsh... I hope we can put this behind us and become friends."
Did she just apologize? She doesn't hate me? She wants to be friends? I don't even know what to say, this is so amazing. Just seconds ago I was upset about earlier, about what she said to me, her ripping the trophy away from me, I was upset because I thought she hated me... now I know she doesn't.
"I forgive you, and I'm sorry too, about everything." Emily nodded and walked towards me, and suddenly she hugs me. She feels so warm, so soft, I want to stay like this forever. I can feel her breathing down my neck, I can feel her heartbeat, we're so close, yet so far, the past few days has really shook our friendship, and I'm glad that right now that's all behind us.
Emily breaks the hug, but her arms are still placed around my shoulders, and mine are placed around her hips. Our faces are a few inches apart. Should I kiss her? This feels like the right moment for a kiss...
I feel myself starting to lean in, then I stop myself and let go of Emily. I can't just kiss her now, not after what happened today. Plus she's straight, why can't I just get it through my head that she's straight. Emily smiled at me awkwardly. She put the last of the stuff into the suitcase and tried to close it, but she couldn't. I walked over and sat on the suitcase for her. "Here, try closing it now."
Emily managed to close the suitcase, "Thank you so much." Emily said.
Maybe I should wheel the suitcase onto the bus too. I grabbed the suitcase handle, and only seconds later she placed her hand on top of mine, accidentally probably.
She looked at our hands then quickly took her hand off of my hand.
"Sorry, I just, I thought I was... nevermind."
I could see Emily's cheeks turn a beautiful shade of pink, it was so cute seeing her blush, it was probably because she was embarrassed though, not because she likes me.
Right?