ℒ𝒾𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒪𝓃 𝒯𝒽ℯ 𝒟𝒶𝓃𝒸ℯ ℱ𝓁ℴℴ𝓇 [𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟏]

𝟑.𝟏𝟖- 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧

˚✧.⋅₊˚ ‧ 🩰⋅୨୧ ⋅🦢 ‧₊˚ ⋅.✧˚

["Dance To Express, Not Impress"]

At Candy Apples, the energy in the studio was tense as Wyatt stood in the middle of the floor, waiting for his solo rehearsal to begin. Cathy had hired a new choreographer named Anthony to set his routine for the upcoming competition, and from the second he walked into the studio, it was clear he wasn't the warmest or most encouraging teacher.

"Alright, kid," Anthony said, clapping his hands together as he sized Wyatt up. "Your solo is contemporary. It's called Your Day Will Come. It's about fighting for your place, proving that you belong. You're small, but that doesn't mean you can't take up space. Got it?"

Wyatt nodded quickly, "Got it."

"Good," Anthony said. "Let's see what you can do."

Wyatt took his position as the music started. The first few counts were supposed to be soft and controlled, but as soon as he moved, Anthony stopped the music.

"Nope. Do it again," Anthony said. "That was weak."

Wyatt swallowed hard and reset. This time, he made sure to stretch his movements further, to make them bigger.

Anthony let it go and allowed him to continue, but it wasn't long before another mistake caused him to pause again.

"That's wrong," Anthony snapped. "You're supposed to step with your left foot, not your right. Are you even paying attention?"

Wyatt's face turned red, "I—"

"Drop and give me ten push-ups," Anthony ordered.

Cathy, who had been watching from the side, frowned, "Anthony, that's not really how we—"

"Discipline is key," Anthony interrupted. "If he can't get the choreography right, he needs to train his body to focus."

Wyatt hesitated for a second, then dropped to the ground and started doing push-ups. His arms were already tired from dance, but he pushed through them, biting his lip to keep from showing how much it was hurting.

When he finished, Anthony motioned for him to get back up, "Again, from the top."

Wyatt scrambled to his feet and got back into position, his arms trembling slightly. He told himself he had to do it right this time.

The music started again, and Wyatt moved through the choreography, trying to apply all the corrections he had been given. He hit a turn sequence, but on the last rotation, he stumbled slightly.

Anthony groaned, "Unbelievable. Again."

Wyatt took a deep breath and started over.

Cathy's expression was unreadable, but it was clear she wasn't happy. She shifted in her seat, arms crossed.

"Anthony, pushing him like this isn't going to help," she finally said. "I need my dancer confident, not terrified of messing up."

Anthony barely glanced at her, "Trust me. He'll be better because of it."

Wyatt didn't say anything. He just kept dancing, determined to prove he could handle it. Even if it hurt.

☆🩵🩰🩵☆

The morning was cold, but Emily barely felt it.

She sat stiffly in the backseat of the car, arms crossed, staring out the window as Katie drove. The Pittsburgh streets blurred past them, but Emily wasn't really looking at anything. Her mind was too tangled in everything that had happened the day before— the courtroom, the decision, her dad getting custody, her mom forgetting her birthday.