All for the Mirrorball

Chapter 20 - Not by a Long Shot

Friday morning, Alan arrived earlier than usual, setting up the music and marking through a few steps on his own. He'd barely slept, and the coffee wasn't doing much to dull the simmering frustration he felt. Ilona's distance all week had been driving him crazy, but he finally understood that it was about more than just tension. He could see it now - the fear Jenna had told him about. She thought none of it was real. Every time she looked at him, it was like she was trying to convince herself to let it go - to let him go. It made him want to hold on tighter... but he knew better than to push too hard. Not yet. He needed to find the right moment.

When Ilona walked in, coffees in hand and smile just a little too bright, Alan straightened, his heart doing its usual traitorous flip. "Morning," he said, trying to keep his voice light.

"Morning!" she replied, her tone breezy. "You beat me here again? You must really love this place."

"Something like that," he muttered, his chest tightening as he watched her set her bag down. She still wasn't looking at him - not really - and that only made the knot in his chest tighten.

She busied herself with pulling her hair into a ponytail and putting on her dance shoes, desperate to avoid meeting his gaze.

Before he could say more, the studio door opened again and the film crew started filing in, hauling their equipment and exchanging cheerful greetings. Alan's jaw clenched. He knew it was necessary, part of the job, but their presence felt like yet another obstacle between him and the conversation he needed to have.

"Good morning!" Shay chirped. "Ready to show off some progress?"

Ilona turned, her smile widening like a switch had flipped. "Of course! You're just in time."

Alan forced a smile of his own, but his gaze lingered on Ilona as she moved toward the crew, her posture perfect and her tone light as she chatted with the cameraman. It was a performance, just like the ones she gave for the audience every week. But he could further see through it now. He wondered if anyone else noticed how her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

Shay clapped her hands. "Alright, let's start with some basic run-throughs. Alan, Ilona, just go ahead and take your places. We'll ask for a quick interview after this."

Alan shot Ilona a glance, hoping to catch her eye, but she was already moving toward the center of the room, her expression carefully neutral. He sighed, following her lead.

The music started, and they fell into step, their bodies moving in perfect sync despite everything simmering just below the surface. The quickstep was supposed to feel light and carefree, but today it was anything but. Every turn, every hold, every forced smile felt like a battle to maintain the facade.

"Keep the frame steady," Alan said quietly as they moved, his tone soft but pointed. "Relax your shoulders."

"I am relaxed," Ilona replied, her voice clipped.

He didn't push, but he felt the tension in her grip, the stiffness in her movements.

They moved on to practice for the instant dance. Alan dipped her dramatically, their faces mere inches apart. He held her there for a beat longer than usual, his breath catching as her eyes met his.

For a moment, everything else faded. The music, the cameras, the crew - it all blurred into the background. But then Ilona blinked, pulling herself out of the moment and stepping away as soon as he let her up.

"That felt better," she said briskly, already turning toward her water bottle.

Alan stared after her, his jaw tightening. He could feel the weight of the crew's eyes on him, but he forced himself to keep his expression neutral. "Let's go again," he said.