Brave

Steal Your Heart

|Michelle's P O V|
I look through the perfumes, there's nothing my mom would like anyways, I'll try one more store then I'll get back to Nationals.
I walk out of the store, I thought everything was fine, but suddenly I'm being stopped by a security guard, now I'm being pulled out of the store, by two security guards, what did I do?
"What are you doing? I didn't do anything." I insist, the guard is looking at me like I'm an idiot, she pulls a perfume bottle from that store out of my purse, I don't even know how that got in there...
"You thief, you're coming with us to our office, we'll have to keep you there until a parent shows up, then we'll discuss consequences."
I feel a tugging on my arm, guiding me towards the mall jail I guess? If that's even a thing...
I didn't steal anything, I didn't put anything in my bag, what is happening?
They sit me down in their warm, small, gross office that wreaks of barbecue sauce and mall food. Now they're pushing the ceiling fan, they just don't have their stuff together do they?
"Get comfortable, you'll be here for a few hours." the male security guard says, I'm in shock, I shake my head,
"No! I have somewhere to be!"
He rolls his eyes, the female guard butts in, "Well you should have thought of that before you went and stole that perfume."
I sigh, "Can't you just check surveillance? You'll see I didn't steal it... please I really need to be somewhere it's urgent."
"Young miss we're working on getting that, it should be done loading in like twenty minutes, just sit there quietly... and poke the fan will ya?
I pick up the fan stick, this is going to be a long twenty minutes.

It's been two hours. My arm hurts, I'm sweaty, and if they don't let me go soon I'm going to miss my solo.
"Ah, it's finally loaded." I tilt my head and look at the female security guard, her eyes locked on the computer monitor.
"Mhm, mhm... mhm."
My feet are tapping against the ground, I need her to let me go do my solo now.
"You're free to go youn-"
I grab my bag and bolt, I need to get to the theatre.
I sprint to the exit and run across the street to the theatre.
I really hope I didn't let my team down, I really hope I'm on time.
"Michelle?" I hear my name being called, I keep running and the foot steps follow me, until they're right beside me.
"Where were you? There's one more girl and Amanda before you go on!"
Emily is speed walking beside me to backstage , "Your costume, makeup and hair extensions are backstage, we need to hurry and get you ready."

I'm finally ready, Amanda is just finishing her solo, Riley is off to the side freaking out, everything is so chaotic but I'm glad I made it on time.
As Amanda heads on stage, the nerves start to kick in, so does the adrenaline, I know I'm ready.
They call my name, Emily kisses me on the cheek, "Good luck, love you."
I smile at her and then I put my game face on, I run on stage and get into my starting position.

The solo went well, I won, their plan didn't work, I came out victorious.
I walk back off stage and I'm congratulated by my team, I head back to the dressing room followed by Emily. She hugs me, "Congrats Michelle, you were so amazing."
I smile, "Thanks, let's hope we win tomorrow. I can't wait to rock that number. You choreographed it so well."
I remove my costume, placing it on the bench.
Emily looks me up and down, I smile, blushing profusely.
"Thanks." she says, I can hear the obvious flirtation and even more obvious desire in her voice,
she moves towards me and she wraps her arms around my neck, kissing me passionately, I kiss back, as her hand makes her way down my partially bare torso, I pull away, smiling,
"That's enough for now, maybe when we get back home."
Emily giggles, "Okay, we still have some time to kill, and the team is going to the fancy restaurant down the street, so we better get back to the hotel and get ready anyways."

|Emily's P O V|
I fix my yellow dress and make sure my hair is properly secure before I head to the wings. We go on in about a minute, I really hope our dance wins, I mean, I choreographed it, if we lose it's partially my fault.
We head on stage, getting into our starting positions, I give one last smile to Michelle then I get in my dancing zone. The music begins, the dance is off to a good start, I'm proud of the way I'm dancing, the kicks, the turns, the whole thing just feels well put together.
I take the final jump, the second I land, I feel the pain radiating from my knee, it's sharp, it hurts, I hold in the tears and I use West as support. I smile, the number has to be over before I can head off stage, no way I'm letting points be deducted. The pain is still intense, so intense I can't help but limp off stage to sit down. The second I'm no longer visible to the audience I burst out in tears, what if I broke it? Like it hurts so badly, I might be out of dance forever, and that really breaks my heart. Miss Kate and Pheobe help me to a chair, no matter how hard I think, it's seems to be drowned out by the excruciating pain.
My vision is blurred by the tears, my other senses seem to stop working, the only thing I can feel is my knee, and the pain that is consuming it.

My eyes open, I'm sitting on my hotel bed, my knee is wrapped up, it still hurts, but not nearly as much as before. I look over to my right, there are painkiller bottles and water on one side, on my left, I see all of A-Troupe, every single person.
I must have passed out from the pain, and now I'm here. This is real, this is happening. There is no way I'm dancing like this... I literally let my entire team down.
"I'm so sorry." I say, my mouth dry, my voice shaking.
"It's not your fault, accidents happen." West insists, "It sucks for us, but there's nothing we can do." James says.
I look at my knee, still in shock, but I have an idea.
"There is something you can do..." I look up at Giselle,
"Giselle is Daniel still here?"
Giselle shakes her head, "No he left for a Julliard audition days ago."
There goes plan A, I guess we can't use him. Now for plan B, I know they won't want to hear this,
"I know Amanda and Elite are still here, go find her and ask her to dance for me."
I see the confused looks on their faces,
"I heard her arguing with Lucien, I think we might have a chance at getting her back, now go." I clarify.
Nobody says anything, I get a few nods and everybody leaves the room, hopefully to find Amanda.
Michelle stays behind, she lays beside me on the bed, she holds my hand,
"I love you, and we're going to win for you, I promise."
She gently kisses my forehead, "Get some sleep, I'll be back tonight. The awards schedule is going up, I'm sure Amanda will be there considering she did female solo. I'll get her back, don't worry." Michelle stands up, she heads towards the door, she looks back at me and smiles, "I'll bring you back your favourite food." she says, closing the door behind her.
I lay back and close my eyes, I slightly reposition myself and feel something lumpy under my hand.
I open my eyes and I find a flower where she was sitting, I smile, placing it beside my bed, even though my knee is broken, I have her.