Chapter 16

29 3 0
                                    


Since I found out my family wasn't coming, a heavy wave of sadness rolled over me. I wasn't sure if the boys had noticed, but I had definitely been in a funk lately. After practice, I would retreat to my room, shut the door, and just sit there in silence, lost in my thoughts. The party was tomorrow, and I had initially planned on going, but my mom had sent me a message saying she wouldn't be able to make it. She'd even sent me a beautiful dress, but wearing it felt wrong, especially since I knew my sister was upset with me. My dad was mad too, and my mom was stuck all the way in Boston while I was here, feeling utterly alone.

Just as I returned from practice, I heard a knock on my door. "Yes?" I called out, hoping for a distraction. To my surprise, it was Pablo. "Why aren't you ready?" he asked, his brows furrowed in concern.

"I know there's a party, but I'm not really feeling it," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Surprise!" he exclaimed, stepping aside to let Lily in. "She's here to help you get ready for the party!"

Lily flashed a bright smile, her enthusiasm infectious. "I'm such a big fan of yours! Let's find you something stunning to wear," she said, her eyes sparkling. I felt a flicker of excitement, but doubt crept in. What was the point? Deep down, I knew I wasn't going to the dinner.

"Come on, just try on a few dresses," she urged. With a reluctant nod, I grabbed the dress my mom had sent and slipped it on. After snapping some fun pictures together, I hugged Lily tightly, thanking her for her support as she began to tidy up.

Feeling a bit braver, I made my way downstairs. To my astonishment, all eight boys were there, waiting for me. As I descended, Ferran stepped forward, his expression serious yet warm. "I know your family isn't here right now, but we're your new family until your mom returns. You're one of us, and we won't let you miss this party. Your team will miss you if you don't go."

Gavi chimed in, "Yeah! We're all in this together. Jude may not be here, but he sent you flowers to show he cares." I glanced around at their encouraging faces; Ansu nodded with a grin, while Pedri added, "We're not letting you sit this one out. Let's make some memories!"

"Get your shoes on, and let's hit the road!" Ale exclaimed, clapping his hands together. Their energy was contagious, and I felt my heart swell with gratitude.

In that moment, I realized how much they meant to me. They were right; they had become my family when my real one couldn't be there. I couldn't stop smiling as I slipped on my shoes, ready to embrace this unexpected adventure with my team.

As we headed out the door, I felt a renewed sense of belonging. Maybe I could finally find joy again, even amidst the chaos.

During our practice session, while we were working on our routines and perfecting our moves, Nazareth turned to me and started asking about my relationship with Pedri. She seemed curious, especially since last week at the family dinner, the two of us were dancing together quite a bit.

As we stretched and rehearsed our steps, Nazareth observed how we interacted and playfully pointed out that our dancing didn't quite look like just friends having fun. I chuckled and explained to her that while Pedri and I have a great time together, I don't date my roommate. It was really nice of him to show up and support me at the dinner, and I appreciated that he was there.

Nazareth smiled and nodded, clearly intrigued by the dynamics between us. It was a light-hearted conversation amidst all the practice, and it made me realize how closely our friends pay attention to our interactions. As we continued to dance and practice, I couldn't help but think about the fun we had and how friendships can sometimes spark curiosity in others.

"Treating you  the Way you  Deserve" //Pedri Gonzalez Where stories live. Discover now