𝐔𝐩 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝙎𝙊𝙎𝙎 𝙊𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙨

Chapter 9

4:49 pm

Everyone was emptying the auditorium. The Dunns and The Campbells eventually made it out of the crowd. They were standing in the "lobby".

"I have to go get Harper, I'll be back," Jess said to the group as she walked away

"Do you still want to dance? Topher asked Zoey.

"I mean yeah, I guess," Zoey said

"You do realize how long dance classes are, right?" Wyatt asked his sister.

"They're only like 45 minutes" Topher pointed out

"Do you know all the things you could be doing in 45 minutes?" Wyatt said to Topher

"No way there 45 minutes, Harper's at dance longer than that," Zoey said

"That's just cuz' she takes more than 1 class" Griffin butted in

"How do you know?" Zoey asked

"Isn't it obvious? She's like trained in every style of dance" Griffin said

"You like that about her? Wyatt asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Huh," Griffin said, he could feel his cheeks getting hot

"Oh drop the act, we all know you're all flushed because your girlfriend's a dancing sensation," Zoey said

"She's not my girlfriend" Griffin mumbled

"Ok," Wyatt said with a wink.

Griffin rolled his eyes.

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5:02 pm

Sulphur Springs Dance Studio had won Nationals once again. They were overly joyed as the Team walked back to their dressing room. Harper is still admiring her trophy. They made it to their dressing room, only to see their parents waiting for them.

Once they opened the door, the team and the parents all cheered again

Everyone ran over to their parents to hug them.

Harper slowly walked over to her mom, not trying to put too much weight on her ankle. Once Harper made it to her Mom, she hugged her tightly.

"You won, Babe," Jess said as they hugged

After a while, they pulled away.

"Mom, look," Harper said, pointing to the base of the large trophy.

"Wow" Jess breathed out as she saw "Miss Up Stage 2020, Harper M. Dunn" on it

"Guys, come here real quick" Coach Lotus said to all the dancers.

Jess kissed Harper's cheek before she slowly walked off over to him

All the competitive team stood in a circle listening to what their coach was going to say

"I'm impressed" Coach Lotus started

"There's so much talent in this room right now, I can barely even process"

" I mean, we had 2 winning numbers today, despite an injury," Coach said

"And Harper, you even got crowned Miss Up Stage," Coach Lotus said to Harper as she smiled

"Alright, everybody hands in," Coach said, putting his hand in the middle. The team followed

"Harper?" Coach said

Harper nodded

"1-2-3"

"WE OUR SULPHUR SPRINGS" the team chanted departing their hands to the air.