ℒ𝒾𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒪𝓃 𝒯𝒽ℯ 𝒟𝒶𝓃𝒸ℯ ℱ𝓁ℴℴ𝓇 [𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟏]

𝟏.𝟎𝟔- 𝐃𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

˚✧.⋅₊˚ ‧ 🩰⋅୨୧ ⋅🦢 ‧₊˚ ⋅.✧˚

["Dance To Express, Not Impress"]

The Coopers returned home from the recital, their spirits dampened by Steve's absence. As they walked through the front door, they found Steve passed out on the couch, an empty beer bottle on the floor beside him.

Katie's face tightened with anger. She marched over to Steve and shook him awake, "Steve! Get up!"

Steve groaned and rubbed his eyes, "What the hell, Katie?"

Katie's voice was low and furious, "Where were you tonight?"

Steve squinted at her, "Why?"

Katie's patience snapped, "Emily had her dance recital tonight! The one you promised you'd be at!"

Steve rolled his eyes and slouched back into the couch, "Some things are more important than a dance recital, Katie. Emily needs to learn that I'm not always going to be there for her or any of the kids."

Emily stood frozen in the hallway, her heart sinking at her father's words. Molly, seeing the hurt on Emily's face, quickly stepped in, "Emily, Derek, come on. Let's get ready for bed."

Derek started to protest, "But-"

"No buts," Molly said firmly, dragging them both towards the stairs. "Get ready for bed. Now."

Emily and Derek followed her, their protests dying on their lips. As they climbed the stairs, the sound of their parents arguing downstairs grew louder.

Katie's voice carried up the stairs, filled with frustration. "How can you say that? She's your daughter! You promised!"

Steve's voice was slurred and dismissive, "I'm tired of all this, Katie. I have my own life. I can't be expected to drop everything for a damn dance recital."

Molly pushed Emily and Derek into their rooms, "Just ignore them. Get changed and get into bed."

Emily, still in her recital dress, felt tears prick at her eyes. She quickly changed into her pajamas, trying to block out the shouting from downstairs. She knew her parents argued a lot, but hearing her dad say he wouldn't always be there for them cut deeper than she wanted to admit.

As she got ready for bed, the voices of her parents' argument filtered up through the floorboards. She pressed her pillow over her ears, trying to block out the noise, but the hurtful words echoed in her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to focus on the memory of the applause and the smiles of her friends and family at the recital. It wasn't perfect, but it was enough to get her through the night.

☆💜🩰💜☆

Tuesday afternoon, Emily, Maddie, Paige, Nia, and Chloé sat in the dancer's den before rehearsals. The atmosphere was filled with the usual mix of excitement and nerves. Emily fidgeted with the skin around her finger nails, hoping to avoid the topic she knew was coming.

Maddie leaned forward, eyes bright with curiosity, "So, Emily, what did Cesar say to you after the showcase?"

Emily shifted uncomfortably, "Oh, you know, just stuff about dance." She didn't want to talk about what Cesar had said and sound boastful.

Paige wasn't deterred, "Come on, Em, don't be so vague. What kind of stuff?"

Emily tried to steer the conversation away, "Broadway stuff. How about we talk about the dances we think we'll do this week?"

Nia shook her head, "Nice try, but we want to know about Cesar."

Chloé chimed in, "Yeah, Emily. It's not every day a Broadway agent talks to someone from our studio."