Arizona Grand Resort & Spa, Phoenix (Friday, August 4th, 2023 - 11:30pm)
after a while, as we were all still relaxing around the pool, ella came bouncing over to us, still buzzing with energy. "okay, guys, so... there's a party tonight to celebrate. you in?"
i raised an eyebrow, curious. "a party? you were serious about that?"
ella grinned, nodding. "yeah, obviously! it's kinda low-key, just for the dancers staying at the resort. but i heard it's gonna be fun. music, dancing, food... some drinks... and, well, it's a good excuse to blow off some steam before we focus on the finals."
"sounds perfect," mackenna chimed in, already pulling out her phone, probably to text people. "let's go."
i glanced at austin, who was looking at me with a smirk. "you up for it?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"sure," i said with a grin. "we just made it to the finals. of course we're celebrating."
a couple of hours later, after we had all taken a break, changed, and gathered again, the vibe had shifted. the pool area at the resort had been transformed into a casual party spot. fairy lights were strung along the trees, giving the place a warm glow, and a few tables with snacks and drinks were set up. someone had even brought speakers, so music pumped through the air as groups of dancers gathered, talking and laughing.
ava and shaira were already mingling near the snack table when we arrived. "you guys took forever," shaira teased, waving us over. "we thought you bailed."
"nah, we wouldn't miss this," i said, grabbing a drink from the table. it has rum, i'm absolutely sure.
ella was right; the atmosphere was relaxed and chill, perfect for winding down after such a tense day of competition. but even with the laid-back vibe, i couldn't help but feel the tension buzzing between austin and me. there was something about the way he kept glancing at me that made my stomach flip every time our eyes met.
as the night wore on, the music shifted to a slower beat, and more people started drifting off toward the quieter parts of the pool area. i found myself standing near the edge of the pool, looking up at the stars reflecting off the water. the party noise buzzed behind me, but for a moment, it was peaceful.
"hey," austin's voice came from behind me, and i turned to see him standing there with that same half-smile that always made my heart race.
"hey," i replied, suddenly aware of how close we were. "you hiding from the party?"
