ℒ𝒾𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒪𝓃 𝒯𝒽ℯ 𝒟𝒶𝓃𝒸ℯ ℱ𝓁ℴℴ𝓇 [𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟏]

𝟐.𝟎𝟖- 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐦

˚✧.⋅₊˚ ‧ 🩰⋅୨୧ ⋅🦢 ‧₊˚ ⋅.✧˚

["Dance To Express, Not Impress"]

Emily arrived at base camp for filming, the chilly December air nipping at her cheeks as she walked towards the trailer where the interviews were being held. It was Tuesday, December 6th, and today she was the last of the girls to be interviewed.

She had just been sent over to base camp for her hair and makeup to be done. She fluffy long-sleeved pearl white shirt with a pair of blue jeans and her pink Ugg boots. There was a white headband in her hair to match the shirt, her hair was straight and down, rumbling past her shoulders. Her makeup was very simple, it was just done so it would pop on camera.

She felt a mix of relief and anticipation. On one hand, she didn't have to rush through her answers, but on the other hand, going last meant that the pressure was building throughout the day. As she walked inside, she saw James and Bryan, the usual interviewers, waiting for her.

"Hey, Emily!" Bryan greeted her warmly as she stepped into the makeshift interview room, which was cozy and much warmer than outside.
A camera and lights were already set up, casting a bright glow on the small set. Emily waved shyly, fiddling her fluffy shirt around her as she settled into the chair.

"Hi," she said quietly, looking around as she mentally prepared herself for the questions. These interviews were always a little awkward- she had to pretend like it was still last week, answering questions as if the competition hadn't already ended.

"You ready to get started?" James asked, adjusting his notes.

Emily nodded, "Yeah, I'm ready."

"Great. So, last week was a big competition for you, right?" Bryan started, his tone casual, but Emily could tell he was leading her towards something.

Emily blinked, remembering all the details she had rehearsed about the competition, "Yeah, it was a really important week. I was the lead in the group dance, and I had two solos. It was a lot to handle, but I worked really hard."

"That's right," James chimed in. "And both of your solos placed first in their categories, correct?"

Emily nodded again, this part easy to recall, "Yes, My Discarded Men was in the mini category, and Between These Hands was in the junior category. Both got first place in their divisions."

Bryan smiled encouragingly, but Emily could sense he was about to push her for more detail, "And what about the overall placements? How did your solos rank out of all the solos in the competition?"

Emily sat up a little straighter, proud of her results, "Between These Hands placed first overall with a 298, and My Discarded Men scored a 296. I was really happy with that. Both dances are really different, and it felt great to perform them."

Bryan gave a nod, but she could see the gleam in his eye- the look that meant he was about to steer her, "And how did you feel about being the lead in the group dance? That's a lot of responsibility, especially with the kind of props you were using."

Emily remembered the group dance from the previous week. It had been intense, with the girls using gun props as part of the choreography. She had been nervous about leading, but she knew she had to project confidence.

"Well, I was definitely nervous," Emily began. "The props made everything a little more complicated. We had to be really precise with our timing so we didn't mess up the formations or drop anything."

James interjected, "And how did Abby handle the rehearsal process, knowing the stakes were so high?"

Emily hesitated. This was always the tricky part-talking about Abby. She didn't want to say anything negative, but she knew the producers loved the drama, "Abby was tough on us," she admitted. "She wanted everything to be perfect. I think I've learned a lot from her because she pushes me so much."