-Why do you want so badly to talk to me? His voice, usually cold and distant, was softer. He stood straight in front of me, his body casting a shadow that made me feel small under his gaze. Bright had always been difficult to approach, his words wer...
-Penny, hurry up, the taxi is waiting! Brooklyn called out urgently from the other side of the bathroom door, her voice breaking the soothing silence of the hotel suite.
Focused, Aspen applied a final touch of gloss to her lips, adding a subtle shine that enhanced her smile. She stepped back to observe her reflection. Her face, carefully made up, reflected a composed and confident image, yet she knew that behind this mask lay a nervousness she was trying to hide.
This day was crucial: the second phase of the competition was anything but ordinary. Her and the Ven✶m had to improvise a choreography to a song chosen by the boys. Spontaneity didn't usually scare Penny, but on stage, this idea made her lose some of her confidence. She wasn't the best dancer in the group, and the mere thought that her performance could be the one to lead to their elimination weighed on her like a heavy, persistent burden.
Aspen tried to push this thought away, opening herself to the vibrant energy of her friends, to the bond that united them despite the tensions and rivalries surrounding them. When she opened the bathroom door, she froze for a moment, struck by Brooklyn's simple and elegant beauty.
-Oh wow, you look amazing! she exclaimed, a sincere smile lighting up her face.
It wasn't just Brooklyn's well-chosen outfit, colorful wig or subtle makeup that touched her, but the aura of quiet confidence she exuded, a balance Aspen admired without knowing if she could ever achieve it herself. Brooklyn, on her end, was touched by Aspen's words but responded humbly.
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-Thank you so much, she said, with a smile that spoke volumes. But it's you who looks stunning! Just look at yourself!
Brooklyn took Aspen's hand, lifted it above her head, and spun her around gently. This little impromptu dance made Aspen laugh, and that genuine laughter melted away her tension, even if just for a moment. They then joined the other two girls in the living room, where Danny and Lola were waiting, each in a style that suited them.
Danny expressed her boldness through military cargo pants, each half with a different pattern, and a burgundy wrap top that revealed her silhouette while asserting her personality. She stood straight, almost daring others to look, preferring to stay natural, without makeup, her curls falling freely around her face.
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