Snapshots

11. Winnie

Winnie's kind of the head of the gossip chain at the studio. Any time something major happens, she's the first to find out. Poking her nose where it doesn't belong and snooping around in her older brother's business for years has trained her for this role, but it also helps to have sources in the right places. (Heath making A-Troupe is seriously the best thing that ever happens for her career.)

Piper and Finn have been a hot topic amongst the younger troupes all year, and the two of them don't even seem to realize it. In the season leading up to Regionals, Winnie and Heath see them in Shakes and Ladders together all the time. One day, while she and Heath are playing Checkers, Piper and Finn are sitting a few tables over, sharing a basket of veggie chips and chatting like there's no tomorrow, both of their eyes bright as they sit in the other's company.

"Look at the two of them. Flaunting their love for the whole world to see. It's sickening," Winnie sighs. Her chin rests dejectedly in her hand as she lazily double hops her checker over Heath's and snatches his up. Today's one of those days where she's decided to swear off love forever because Ozzy's barely given her the time of day since they danced together at prom. Boys suck. Love sucks. What's the point of it all?

She'll likely change her mind tomorrow, of course, when she gets to make eye contact with Ozzy as she passes him on her way to Wednesday rehearsal, but for now, she holds her ground. Romance is dead, and love is a waste of time, and couples like Piper and Finn should show a little more discretion and respect for miserable singles like herself.

"Who's flaunting their love?" Heath asks, sounding particularly disinterested all while knowing Winnie will tell him anyway.

"Piper and Finn," she scoffs, "They're so in love, it's making my eyes bleed."

Heath slides one checker diagonally then sits back. Her move. As Winnie slides her corner checker forward, her companion says, "How do you know they're dating? I haven't heard anything about that."

Granted, most of the A-Troupers don't give them much of a second thought so it's not like anyone would have informed them of Piper and Finn's relationship status. Ozzy's the closest thing either of them to have to a source on the competitive team, and he always seems to forget of their existence completely until Winnie reminds him that yes, they are still at the studio, and no, he is not superior to them just because he made A-Troupe before they did. One of these days, she'll finally make A-Troupe too, and then Ozzy will have no choice but to acknowledge her existence again.

But that's a story for another day.

"It's obvious. Look at the way they look at each other."

Heath pauses, forgetting it's his turn as he observes the couple. Winnie does so as well since she can't make her next move until he does.

If life were a romantic comedy, Piper and Finn would be the stars. They're the textbook definition of the perfect couple. Finn gets this dopey look in his eyes every time Piper so much as opens her mouth, like whatever she's saying is the most interesting thing in the world. Piper's much more subtle. Every time Finn makes a goofy gesture or tells a joke she finds funny, she gets this tight smile on her face, like she's trying to hide the fact that she actually thinks it's funny.

And there's also the fact that they both blush every time they make accidental hand contact, which has happened at least three times today as they share their veggie chips together.

Given all the blushing going on over there, Winnie's fairly certain it's new love, puppy love, but love nonetheless.

Heath doesn't seem as convinced, but he seems to take her word for it anyway. He gives a shrug of the shoulder, turning back to their game. "I guess they do seem pretty cozy together."