𝙰𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝙾𝚍𝚍𝚜 | 𝚂𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚛 𝚁𝚎𝚒𝚍

The Pretty Dancer

"I refuse to make myself look like an idiot across all cultures!"

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Aitana was a mess when she met her grandmother for the first time after four years. The good news is that it was all on the inside and so nobody could tell a thing.

Julieta Serrano was the matriarch of the Serrano family. Her word was law on most occasions. She could be strict, sharp, and some would even say headstrong. She was a traditional woman who believed in the most traditional Mexican customs and values...but Aitana mostly remembered her grandmother as the woman who used to dance with her, the woman who would make her "hotcakes" (pancakes) in the mornings when they were together in Mexico, the woman who taught her how to sew, plant and grow gardens, etc.

Julieta was her abuelita, her second mother, and it pained Aitana to have to stay away from her for years.

When Julieta finally arrived in D.C., Aitana was a nervous mess. She held an undeniable guilt and worried about what Julieta would say when they met again. Julieta had no idea what happened to Aitana, much less about WIP and Aitana didn't want to share the story and cause any harm to her abuelita's health. She was, after all, 70 years old.

So, Aitana kept her recent "doings" short and as close to the truth as possible. She traveled around the country a lot for her job. That wasn't a lie. She met new people and had to stay away from home for a while — that also wasn't a complete lie. It was lucky that Julieta was more entertained with the idea of the upcoming Day of the Dead festival where Aitana would dance after years of not dancing. It was both a gift and a curse. Each day was different.

The day of the festival, Aitana was up early. Julieta was also up that early. Aitana had stayed at her parents' house to get ready with her grandmother and mother, the former of the two knowing exactly what Aitana should look like. She went through numerous prayers with her grandmother for the sake of a good (and safe) competition and show. Pamela worked fervently to apply Aitana's makeup while Julieta also attended to the hairdo.

Somehow, they only just made it out of the house on time.

"Vamos mija," Pamela said as they made a hasty exit out of their car in the parking lot. "Let's go! You still have to put your dress on!"

"I know, I know!" Aitana exclaimed, struggling to get out of the car without pushing off the great big flowers off her hair. "I'll do that inside!"

They had been given the spacious community center for costume changes. There were already various other competitors in the lot getting ready to head inside. It was on her way inside when Aitana saw the last message on her phone before she would have to hand it over to her parents (her dress had no pockets whatsoever).

Good luck, sprinkles! We're all here, ready to root for you!

Penelope

Aitana felt the cheers in her heart. She was beyond nervous, perhaps on the border of throwing up. She would have to force herself to remember what the others told her before all this, especially Spencer's words.

~0~

While the competition prepared itself to begin, the festival had already started with its dozens of stalls of business and games. Half an hour after arriving, JJ joined Rossi and Spencer with a downcast face.

"Henry's wiping us clean," she told the team of her sorrow. She pointed over her shoulder back towards the stalls. "There are so many games and he wants to play them all."