ℒ𝒾𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒪𝓃 𝒯𝒽ℯ 𝒟𝒶𝓃𝒸ℯ ℱ𝓁ℴℴ𝓇 [𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟏]

𝟏.𝟎𝟐- 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞

˚✧.⋅₊˚ ‧ 🩰⋅୨୧ ⋅🦢  ‧₊˚ ⋅.✧˚

["Dance To Express, Not Impress"]

Monday night, the atmosphere in the living room was unusually calm. Katie and Steve had finally managed to negotiate some terms and, for the moment, their arguing had ceased. Emily, bubbling with excitement, was eager to share the results of the recent competition.

"We did great at the competition!" Emily began, her eyes shining with pride. "Our group dance, Party, Party, Party, placed third. Rag Dolls won first place. And our trios-Pin-Up Girls got first place, and California Girls came in second."

Katie and Steve exchanged a pleased look, clearly proud of their daughter's achievements.

"That's amazing, Emily," Katie said, her voice full of genuine admiration. "You worked so hard for this. We're really proud of you."

Steve nodded in agreement. "Yeah, kiddo. I'm sure you did fantastic."

Emily beamed at their praise, basking in the rare moment of family harmony.

"At cheer I got put in the front," Molly added to the things to be happy about.

"Congratulations, Mol," Katie told her daughter genuinely.

Derek sneezed and Molly scooted away from him a little, "Are you still sick? Because if so I'm gonna go to bed. I can't catch you germs before dance," Emily said to her brother.

Derek rolled his eyes, "I'm fine," he said.

Just then, Katie's phone rang, interrupting the moment. She glanced at the caller ID and frowned slightly. Emily was the only one to recognize the name.

"It's Jeff," she said, answering the call. "Hello?"

Katie listened intently as Jeff spoke on the other end of the line, her expression shifting from curiosity to surprise, and finally to concern. After a few minutes, she hung up and turned to Steve, her face tense.

"That was Jeff Collins," she began, her voice steady but serious. "They want to film five more episodes of the show at the ALDC."

Steve's face immediately darkened. "Five more episodes? I thought this was just a one-time thing. We agreed to one episode, Katie."

"I know," Katie replied, trying to keep her voice calm. "But I signed a contract last week. I didn't have much of a choice."

Steve ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident on his face, "This puts a real strain on everything we've been trying to work out. You know how I feel about this show."

Katie sighed, clearly torn, "I understand, Steve. But we're bound by the contract now. We have to see it through."

Emily and her siblings watched the exchange silently, feeling the tension rise again. The brief moment of peace was slipping away, replaced by the familiar unease of her parents' disagreements.

Molly then took her plate and stood up, "Come on, guys. Let's give mom and dad some room to talk," she said to Emily and Derek.

Emily and Derek both sighed. They had thought the "talking" was over. Whenever their parents needed to talk they just argued. It was none stop before, but the past few days had been quiet. Their dad wasn't sleeping on the couch anymore. Or at least they had thought he wasn't.

The three kids washed their plates and then went upstairs to get ready for bed. None of them were super tired, but they didn't want to be there while their parents were arguing.