Brave

Picture, Picture

|Emily's P O V|
Another day at dance finished, so close to Friday, I don't want it to be Friday. At least I have a date tomorrow to get my mind off what's gonna go down  Friday. I put my things in my bag and I start to head out.
"Are you gonna talk to me ever again? We haven't spoken in weeks." I look across the room at my eyes meet Stephanie. My eyes widen, I completely forgot she existed with everything going on lately.
I slowly walk over to where she's sitting completely caught off guard.
"How are you?" I awkwardly ask, not really knowing what to say to her.
"How are you? That's all you're gonna say to me after avoiding me for months?" Stephanie says, a cold tone in her voice.
"I haven't been avoiding you, I've just been really busy." I say, I know it probably sounds like a lame excuse to her, but it's true.
"Yeah right. You went from my best friend to a stranger in two months." Stephanie says crossing her arms.
I take a seat beside her.
"Who'd you replace me with?" Stephanie says harshly, giving me her signature angry glare.
"I didn't replace you with anybody." I respond, Stephanie rolls her eyes,
"Really? Because you and Michelle have been awful close lately." Stephanie snaps back.
I freeze for a second, how do I respond to this without giving anything away?
"I haven't replaced you with her, it's different." I say, hoping she won't suspect anything about us being together, she has no reason to suspect anything, I haven't told her anything.
"What do you mean it's different? It's the same thing? She's your new best friend and I'm just a nobody." Stephanie's voice raises in anger.
"We're co-captains! That's the only reason we're close." I retort.
Stephanie sighs, "Then why won't you talk to me? Do you have a new boyfriend or something that's keeping you busy?" Stephanie asks.
"I don't have a boyfriend, I'm single. I've just been struggling in school and there's a lot of A-Troupe stuff going on and it's just been hard to balance everything." I say, trying to stay calm and cool.
"Why didn't you just tell me that? I could've helped you with stuff. You didn't have to ignore me." Stephanie asks, I can hear the hurt in her voice and I can't help but feel guilty. I've been so distracted with Michelle I totally neglected my best friend.
"I know. It's just been rough lately. I'm sorry, I should've talked to you." I say. I'm feeling guilty I didn't even miss her or think of her once, it's like she disappeared. I kind of want to fix our friendship, she was always a loyal friend, and I could really use another friend right now.
"It's okay, maybe we could catch up some time? I'm busy with Tiffany tomorrow but maybe on the weekend? Are you free Sunday?" Stephanie asks, I see a slight smile grow on her face.
I smile, "Yeah, I'm free Sunday. You can come over to my house if you want, I'll update you on my life."
Stephanie smiles back, "Yeah that sounds good. I'll see you then, I need to get back to Studio B, so bye, I missed you." Stephanie gives me a hug and walks away happily.
I think having her over on Sunday will be good, I mean I'll need at least one friend that isn't my girlfriend after Friday. My friends from school are nice, but I've never been as close with them as I'm close with my dance friends, which I'm about to lose.
I don't know how harshly they'll react to me yelling at Riley, I hope they don't all turn on me right away, but anything could happen.
I get up and head to my car, I have to go meet Michelle at her house. I know I'm going to tell her about what's going to happen on Friday, but should I tell Hunter too? I can't tell everybody but at least if Hunter knows I can have one friend in A-Troupe. I won't tell him why, I'll just tell him I'm going to do it.
-
I get to Michelle's house,
"Hey babe." I give Michelle a quick hug then head inside.
"I need to tell you about something important."
Michelle leads me to her living room and we sit down on her couch.
"What do you need to tell me?" Michelle asks, nervously playing with the braclets I'm wearing.
"I'm gonna get everyone to hate me at The Next Step." I calmly state.
Michelle slowly lets go of my arm gives me a confused look,
"Why would you want to do that?" Michelle asks.
"So I can get Amanda to think that I want to take down The Next Step so she'll let me join her." I respond.
Michelle leans her head onto my shoulder, "How are you gonna get them to hate you? You're very loveable."
I bite my lip and smile, I let out a small giggle, "I'm just gonna yell at everyone. That'll work."
I look down at Michelle and her eyebrows are furrowed,
"Are you sure you're okay with doing this? I don't want you to lose everything at dance." Michelle asks.
I lightly kiss her forehead, "I'm doing this for the team, and more importantly, for you. Everything will work out in the end."
Michelle sighs, "I know. I just don't want you to be sad or anything."
I move Michelle off my shoulder, I move in to kiss her, our lips collide, I passionately kiss her, not daring to let go of what I am so lucky have.

|Eldon's P O V|
I get into the backseat of the car with Emily and Michelle in the front.
"Okay, now to get Hunter." Emily says.
I awkardly pull out my phone, trying to occupy my time before we pick up Hunter.
"So Eldon, how's everything with Hunter?" Michelle asks me.
"Good I guess." I respond.
"That's good. I haven't seen you guys since I left the studio, I missed you and Hunter." Michelle says.
"Why'd you quit?" I ask,
The car goes dead silent for a second,
Michelle clears her throat,
"I'm just tired of dance, I don't really like it anymore." she says.
I nod my head and look back at my phone.
We finally arrive at Hunter's house and Emily gets out of the car,
"I'll be right back." she says.
I look out my window and I see Hunter come out of the front door, he seems to be talking to someone inside, so does Emily.
I look closer, Hunter grabs Emily's hand and waves to the person inside.
"What are they doing?" I ask Michelle.
"They have to pretend to date in front of Hunter's parents. Apparently they really want him to have a girlfriend." Michelle explains. I put my attention back on my phone, I kind of feel hurt that he didn't tell me, but I brush it off. Hunter and Emily get into the car and Emily starts to drive. I can feel Hunter looking at me but I'm continuing to look at my phone, I don't really know what to say so I'm hoping he'll talk first.
"So are you just gonna ignore me or are you gonna say hi?" Hunter says.
"Sorry I was just checking something." I turn off my phone and look at Hunter.
I'm super nervous for no reason, I should just act cool, if I can even do that.
"Hey... What's up?" I immidiately internally face palm, I suck at playing it cool.
Hunter laughs, "Nervous?" he asks.
I smile, "Y-yeah."
"Awwwww." I hear Michelle say from the front of the car.
I roll my eyes, "Not everyone has the same level of social skills as you."
Michelle laughs, "Hey, I was just saying that you two are cute as hell." Michelle turns to Emily, "Emily how far away are we?"
"About ten fifteen minutes, it's pretty close." Emily responds keeping her eyes on the road.
"You're coming on all the rides with me okay?" Hunter says, I shake my head,
"Do we have to go on the really tall and fast ones? I don't like heights or steep drops or fast rides."
Hunter grabs my hand,
"Come on, those are the best ones! You'll be fine, don't worry." Hunter says.
"Eldon, we are all going on all the rides, I can't believe for someone who does all those crazy flips you're scared of roller coasters." Emily says.
I sigh, "Fine. I'll go on all of them, but if I die it's your fault."
Hunter looks at me, "You won't die, these things are safe."
"I hope so." I say, Hunter moves closer and puts an arm around me, and we stay like this the rest of the ride.
-
"Come on, just one more ride?" Emily asks.
"Maybe another time, it's getting really late." Michelle says.
Emily pouts, "Can we at least get a photo in the photobooth? The four of us? I really wanna have something to remember this night."
Hunter, Michelle and I exchange unsure looks, but we give in.
"Come on." Emily says, happily leading us inside the booth.
"Don't worry, nobody can see inside this both and the photos come out on the inside too, so we can pose however we like." Emily puts her arm around Michelle.
I guess she's right, this is the one place we don't have to worry about people looking. I hold the curtain with one hand just incase anyone tries to open it or it blows open or something.
I put my other arm around Hunter and Emily presses the button.
The first few photos we take aren't very serious, we laugh and we joke and make funny faces, for the last one Emily wants us to kiss,
"Michelle and I will kiss and you two kiss, hurry."
Michelle and Emily lock lips without hesitation and I hesitate but finally give in and I kiss Hunter. The pictures come out of the machine and Emily gives one to all of us,
"Here, who wants the one with the kiss? I'll take it if nobody wants it."
Nobody speaks, "Fine I guess this one is mine, here Michelle take this one, Hunter take this one and Eldon take this one." Emily says handing out the photos.
"Now let's go." I say and we head out of the photo booth. I put the pictures in my pocket and we head to the car.
-
I get home and I head to my room, I take the pictures out of my pocket, I look at them and smile, this day was so much fun.
I take a piece of tape and tape the pictures onto my wall beside my mirror, so I'll always be reminded of the fun I had on this day and how lucky I am to have the best boyfriend ever and the best friends ever and how that was the best day ever.