All for the Mirrorball

Chapter 18 - Psychos & Spells

Tuesday dawned bright and early, but the energy in the studio was anything but calm. Ilona arrived to find Alan already warming up, his eyes lighting up as she walked in.

"You ready for this?" he asked, tossing her a pack of Starbursts.

She caught it mid-air, flashing a quick smile despite the nerves that had been twisting in her stomach since she woke up. "As ready as I'll ever be."

The morning rehearsal was intense, both of them matching each other's energy. There was no holding back now. Every movement felt sharp, deliberate, like the dance itself had become an extension of the connection between them. Alan was more encouraging than ever, his words keeping her focused as they fine-tuned every detail.

When rehearsal wrapped, Ilona let out a shaky breath, grabbing a towel to dab at the sweat on her neck. "That felt... good," she said, though her voice carried an edge of uncertainty.

Alan stepped closer, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. "You're killing it, Lo. Don't overthink it. Just keep bringing that fire."

Her chest tightened at the way his eyes held hers, but she nodded, determined not to let her nerves show.

In hair and makeup, the mood shifted from rehearsal intensity to controlled chaos. Ilona sat in her chair as one stylist curled her hair into soft, voluminous waves while another applied the blood spatter and smeared lipstick that completed her "psycho killer" look.

When they spun her around to check the final product, Alan walked in just in time. His breath caught as he took her in. The teal dress hugged her figure perfectly, the low V and dramatic slit adding an edge that matched her character.

"Well?" she asked, arching an eyebrow as she turned toward him, trying to ignore the way his gaze lingered.

"You're..." He cleared his throat, a grin tugging at his lips. "Terrifying. In the hottest way."

"Good," she said, smirking as she swiped a finger over the fake blood on her collarbone. "I'm supposed to be."

"Hold up," Shay interrupted, walking over with a mischievous glint in her eye. "We're about to make Alan look equally ridiculous."

Alan groaned dramatically as Shay gestured for him to sit down. A makeup artist came over with a handful of lipsticks and transfers, but before she could start, Shay grabbed a tube of red lipstick and held it up.

"This is going to take too long. We need backup!"

Jenna, Chandler, and a few of the other pros and assistants immediately volunteered, applying their lipstick with exaggerated precision before leaving marks along Alan's neck and collarbone. He made a big show of leaning into it, laughing as Jenna left one dangerously close to his jawline.

Finally, Shay turned to Ilona. "Your turn."

Ilona blinked, heat rushing to her cheeks. "What?"

Alan leaned back in the chair, smirking. "C'mon, Lo. Everyone else is doing it."

She rolled her eyes, grabbing the lipstick and applying it quickly. "Fine. But this is strictly for the costume," she said, though her voice wavered slightly.

Leaning down, she pressed her lips to the edge of his collarbone, the faintest brush of her fingers against his skin sending a jolt through both of them. When she pulled back, her eyes flicked up to meet his, and for a moment, the room seemed to fade away.

"Perfect," Shay said, breaking the spell as she stepped back to admire their work. "You're ready for the stage."

Before the show, Ilona paced backstage, her nerves threatening to overwhelm her. They were up first, which brought a different form of anxiety. Alan found her near the costume racks, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.