In Love With One Of The Bratayleys (Entered for #wattys2015) #bratayleyreadmst1fanfic

40- Nationals

*Julie's POV*

I was talking with Luke, Piper and Hayes through Imessage while I tried not to throw up on top of Miss Miranda's shirt as she applied a white eyeshadow on my eyelids.
My team and I were currently in Starpower Nationals in New York City, in the Westbrook Plaza hotel, in our green room changing. I was the one competing for the teen soloist. My solo was called 'Secrets' and guess what. My song was an acoustic cover of 'Secrets' by One Republic, by guess who... LUKE!
Yes, Luke recorded me a cover of the song, and I decided to use it for nationals. He didn't know anything about it, and it was a surprise, because he had gone to see him, with Piper and Hayes.
'Okay, Julie you're done, time to put on your costume'- Miss Miranda said. I went behind the curtain and unfolded my costume. It was a light pink bralette with a translucent cascade, and a pair of light pink booty shorts. The bralette was decorated with delicate silver chains and little pearls. Next to it, a silver and baby pink headpiece was sitting waiting to be worn. I slipped on the items and walked outside. Everybody gasped. Addison put my hair in a french twist and put the headpiece in.
Suddenly, a woman opened the door.
'Teenage soloist'-She announced. I grabbed Addy's wrist and gave it a squeeze.
'Don't be nervous. I'll go with you'-She said, and we walked out of the room. We waited backstage for my turn. The other girls were very good.
'Okay, it's your turn. Good luck, I love you!'-Addy said, and she hugged me. With the pass of months, Addy had became like a big sister to me.
'I love you too'- I said. I breathed in.
'Now welcome entry number 23, Julie with 'Secrets'.'-She said. I entered the stage and occuped my position in the far right end of the stage, facing the curtain behind me, not the audience. I heard clapping, screaming and a 'SLAY IT, QUEEN!' That undoubtly came from Piper.
Soon, the music started and Luke's voice started singing.
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*Luke's POV*

As soon as Julie stepped on stage, everyone clapped. Piper screamed a 'SLAY IT, QUEEN!' And Hayes and I laughed.
Suddenly, the music started playing. And Julie started moving. The voice began singing, and my eyes shot wide.
The voice belonged to me.
Julie had chosen to use the cover that I recorded for her solo.
My eyes dwelled to tears as Julie moved around the stage in sync to my voice. Hayes and Piper looked confused and they turned their heads to me.
'You... Sing?'- Hayes asked.
'Yeah and... im trying to find a record deal'- I said. They smiled and we turned our heads to Julie. I saw her prepare for pirouettes. Two pirouettes, and the girl went off doing fouettés.  She jumped here and there, and by the time we could react, she was finished.
We all clapped and cheered and she went off stage.
-----
*Julie's POV*
I came back from the stage into the green room, and Addy engulfed me in a hug.
'YOU DID AMAZING!'- She screamed in joy. I hugged her.
'OKAY EVERYBODY LET'S GET READY FOR GROUP!'- Miss Miranda screamed. I sat on one of the chairs and did my makeup while Addy did my hair. Our group was called 'Stand Up', and the song was 'Stand Up', the theme song from the canadian program 'The Next Step'. We all had these crazy costumes and crazy makeup. I drew a diamond shape over my eye in black and painted my lips red. Miss Miranda made swirls with gold paint on the side of my other eye, and Addy put my hair in a high ponytail with golden streaks. 

'Junior Group'- The lady said once we were all ready. I looked at my costume. It was a white corset with two black diamonds in the middle, and it was trimmed with red fabric. A golden little jacket was over it and a red tutu was over it. 4 girls had the same costume as me, and of course black jazz slippers. We all went backstage and took our positions before the curtain rose. There were props on stage, as Addy and Melody started off the routine with a duet and we came out from the props. I went behind a big black casino card with the other girls. The curtain rose, the clapping started and then, the music. 

We, we are gonna show the world

Everything we're made off

We're gonna take the roof off this place...

We prepared for coming out.

STAND UP!

We all came out from behind the props and began our perfectly synchronized dance. Everything was going well. Me and Melody went up the biggest prop and did two needles together, and then we jumped backwards towards our teammates who caught us in a basket toss. 

After 5 fouettes in sync, some went to their finishing places while the ones that ended on the stage continued dancing. I climbed up the big prop again, this time with Addy. 

STAND UP! 

The song ended and, just on time, I straddled down on a split in front of Addy, who ended with one hand up. Everyone started clapping and cheering loudly. I could see Hayes, Piper, Mom, Luke, Dad, everyone. 

We didn't have to exit the stage, as we were the last. We sat down in the stage in the first row and the other teams came after us for the award ceremony. 

'So, for Junior Groups, in third place is Born To Dance from Canadian Dance Complex!'- The lady said. The lead dancer went to pick up the plaque. 

'In Second place, is Take me Home from the Mary Ann Dance Studio!'- She said. We watched the girl go next to the third placer. That was it. It was first, or nothing. 

'And, National Group Dance goes to... STAND UP FROM THE MINNESOTA DANCE STUDIO!'- She screamed. We jumped up and screamed in delight. National Champions! We all went up to fetch our big trophy. We gave the trophy to Layla, one of the juniors, and we picked her up.

'What's your studio ladies?'- The lady asked. 

'MINNESOTA DANCE STUDIO!'- We all screamed. We sat down again. I clutched Addy's hand. Next was soloist prizes. I really wanted to win. 

'And, in third place, from the Royal Music School Of The Arts, is Kendall, with Electricity!'- She said. The girl, apparently named Kendall, went to fetch her trophy. 

'In second place, from Elite Dance Studio, is Michelle with Showstopper!'- She said. Michelle stood next to Kendall. I squeezed Addy's hand tighter as I closed my eyes and prayed. 

'And, our Teen National Soloist of Starpower National Competition of this year is... FROM MINNESOTA DANCE COMPLEX JULIE HYLAND WITH SECRETS!!!!'- She screamed. I screamed louder and I jumped up and ran to fetch my golden trophy. A silver crown was put on my head. I saw Luke, Piper and Hayes jumping up and down. My mom crying. Miss Miranda crying. Everything was perfect. 

I was National Champion.