ℒ𝒾𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒪𝓃 𝒯𝒽ℯ 𝒟𝒶𝓃𝒸ℯ ℱ𝓁ℴℴ𝓇 [𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟏]

𝟑.𝟏𝟔- 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐈 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞?

˚✧.⋅₊˚ ‧ 🩰⋅୨୧ ⋅🦢 ‧₊˚ ⋅.✧˚

["Dance To Express, Not Impress"]

Emily was practically bouncing with excitement as she opened the door for her friends. It wasn't every day that she got to have all the girls over at her house at the same time. Usually, they were too busy with competitions, rehearsals, or Abby's last-minute practices. But today was special— because they were creating a group dance for Katie's wedding, which was happening on Thursday.

"Okay, okay, come in!" Emily ushered them inside as the girls piled into the living room, chatting and laughing.

Maddie and Chloé were the first through the door, with Kendall and Nia right behind them. Paige and Mackenzie were giggling about something, and Brooke followed after them, her arms crossed as she smirked at their excitement. Asia, the newest member of their team, came in last, looking eager to start.

Lexi, Emily's younger cousin, had already been sitting on the couch, waiting for everyone to arrive. She was only seven, a year younger than Mackenzie and the same age as Asia, but she was determined to keep up with the older girls.

"Is this the famous ALDC dream team?" Lexi asked dramatically, making everyone laugh.

"Yep," Emily grinned. "And you're officially part of it today!"

Lexi beamed as she hopped up, ready to dance.

Katie's wedding was only a few days away, and Emily had come up with the idea of surprising her mom with a dance at the reception. She had told the other girls, and they had all been excited to help choreograph it. It would be a lyrical piece called Happy Endings, symbolizing Katie's journey and the new chapter of her life with Ezekiel.

"Alright, first things first," Emily clapped her hands together. "We need to pick parts. Since there are ten of us, we need to make sure everyone has a moment to shine."

They all moved to the open space in the living room, where Emily had already pushed the furniture to the side. Brooke plugged in a speaker, and Emily played the song for them. The soft piano melody filled the room, and instantly, they all started swaying to the rhythm.

"This is so pretty," Chloé said, closing her eyes as she listened.

"I love it," Maddie agreed. "We could do a really beautiful beginning where we're all reaching toward something— like a dream, maybe?"

"Like Katie wishing for her happy ending?" Paige suggested.

"Exactly!" Emily grinned. "Okay, let's start with a slow group formation."

They spent the next hour brainstorming. Maddie and Chloé helped structure the beginning, where they would all move together in soft, flowing movements. Nia suggested a powerful section in the middle where they would break apart and show strength, and Kendall and Paige worked on turns and jumps to make the choreography more exciting.

Emily took charge, making sure everyone had a moment that played to their strengths. Mackenzie and Lexi had a playful duet in the middle, showcasing their flexibility, while Asia got to do one of her signature tricks— an aerial —right before the final chorus. Brooke, always the strongest at acro, came up with a lift where she and Paige would hoist Emily into the air.

"I think this should be the part where she's, like, reaching for happiness," Brooke said. "And then she falls, but we catch her."

Emily nodded, "That's perfect. Like, it represents how my mom has us— you're her family too, and we won't let her fall."

The room buzzed with excitement as they kept working. Everyone was throwing out ideas, and the choreography was coming together naturally. Even Lexi, the youngest of them, kept up without hesitation, copying movements and adding her own little flourishes.