Strictly Dancing: A New Generation

Training For Regionals

2 months have passed and things have changed for Emily. She continues to go to therapy sessions with Dr. Goldman, with Derek accompany her every week and continues to have private dancing lessons with him. 

But not only for her to have private lessons and therapy sessions, Emily gets a full-time job as a waitress at a local diner in the city with Gen and Juliet, before her dancing lessons and therapy sessions. Emily's PTSD has been approved well, with all of success of her therapy sessions. 

Throughout those days, Emily's PTSD hasn't triggered her ever since, and it doesn't bother her at work or at the academy. One day, in her private lessons with Derek, Derek makes a big announcement to her. 

"Emily, as you may know that Regionals is coming up and you are going to participate it.", Derek replied, which surprises Emily. "You'll be performing a duet with me and a solo routine at Regionals.", Derek replied. "Ok, what dance style I'll be performing for each one?", Emily asked. 

"For the our duet routine, we'll be doing contemporary and for your solo routine, you'll be doing hip-hop.", Derek replied. "Interesting.", Emily smiled. "But we need to think of what dance move to do for both routines. So tomorrow, we'll be trying out some moves to put in the routines. Think of any ideas that you want to put in both of them.", Derek smiled. 

"Ok, sounds good.", Emily smiled, before she and Derek leaves the academy and heads to Emily's therapy session. After her visit to the therapist, Derek drives Emily back home. "Thanks for the ride.", Emily smiled. "You're welcome, don't forget to think of any ideas for both routines for Regionals.", Derek called out. 

"I won't. See you tomorrow.", Emily replied, as she prepares to leave the car, when suddenly she receives a text message from Scott, telling her that he's working late and won't be home for dinner. "You ok?", Derek asked. "Umm yeah. It's my dad, he's working late again. I'll having dinner by myself again.", Emily sighed. 

"Oh...that's unexpected.", Derek sighed. "Yeah, it is.", Emily sighed. There was a moment of silence, when Emily suddenly thought of something. "Hey, you wanna come inside and have dinner with me? I mean, we can discuss about our ideas for Regionals.", Emily cried. "Umm, yeah sure. We can do that.", Derek smiled. 

"Great, let's go. I'll cook!", Emily smiled. Derek turns off his car and they both walk inside the apartment building and Emily takes him up to her apartment. Derek walks in and is amazed of the whole modern and unique design of the apartment. "Why don't you take a seat on the couch and I'll start cooking?", Emily asked. 

"Sure.", Derek smiled, as he walks to the living room and sat on the couch. Emily goes straight into the kitchen and opens the fridge to see any remaining ingredients inside. "You want anything to drink?", Emily asked. "Yeah, sure. Water will be great!", Derek called out, looking around the whole apartment. 

"Nice apartment!", Derek called out again. "Thanks!", Emily called out, as she pulls out a water jug from the fridge and pours some water in a tall glass before giving it to Derek. "Here you go.", Emily replied, giving Derek a glass of water. 

"Thanks, Em.", Derek smiled, taking the glass of water in his hand. Emily looks at the fridge and there's nothing much inside. She then looks in the pantry and sees a mason jar filled with dried penne pasta, and it hits her. 

She grab some remaining ingredients from the fridge and the mason jar of penne pasta, and makes Penne Alla Vodka, without the vodka, due to her being underage. After cooking, Emily serves the pasta dish on the dining table. "Derek, dinner's ready.", Emily called out. 

Derek smiles and heads to the dining room, where Emily serves the pasta dish with some homemade garlic bread. "Wow, looks delicious, Em.", Derek replied. "Thanks, it's Penne Alla Vodka, but without the vodka, since I'm only 20. I hope you're ok with that.", Emily smiled. 

"Nah, it's fine. I hope it'll taste good without it.", Derek smiled, as he sat down and Emily sits with him. Derek takes a bite of the pasta dish and Emily looks at him with concern, not sure if her Penne Alla Vodka taste good without the vodka. Derek looks at her after his first bite. "Wow, it's good. It taste good without the vodka.", Derek replied. 

"Thanks, I'm glad you like it.", Emily smiled, as she takes a bite of her pasta. After dinner, Derek and Emily sat on the couch in the living room, trying to think of ideas of what to do for Regionals. "So, Regionals is a month away and we need to think of what to do for our duet and your solo routines.", Derek replied. 

"Well, I did some thinking and I have a few ideas for both of the dance routines and the songs to perform to.", Emily smiled. "Ok, hit me with it.", Derek smiled, as Emily begins to tell Derek her ideas and he seems to be interested in her ideas for Regionals. They spend 2 hours discussing about it, before watching a movie on Netflix afterwards. 

As the movie comes to an end, Derek realise it was getting late and sees Emily already fallen asleep on the couch. Derek turns off the TV and slowly and carefully picks Emily up in his arms and carries her into her room. 

He gently lays her down on her bed and cover her with the blanket and he look at her sleeping peacefully, before he leans in and kisses her forehead. Emily, however isn't fazed by his kiss and Derek grabs his jacket and leaves the apartment. After Derek drives away, Scott arrives home and finds Emily already asleep. 

The next day, Emily goes to the academy for another dancing lesson with Derek and this time, the two are now practicing the dance routines for Regionals. For their duet routine, they'll perform contemporary to "Give Me Your Forever" by Zack Tabudlo, and for Emily's solo routine, she'll perform hip-hop to "Hung Up" by Madonna. 

During the whole entire month, Derek and Emily practice both dance routines as the days are counting down to Regionals.