I Pinkie Promise ✔️

Chapter 28

(Night of the Showcase)

I could feel my nerves coming up into my throat as I go and throw up again in the bathroom. We were next, and I don't think I could deal with the pressure. Glitch was rubbing my back and gave me a water bottle after I finished. My hair was pulled up too tight. Nothing felt right! The outfit I wore was so off and I wasn't comfortable. Our dance was nearly flawless but I just couldn't deal with the pressure. All the what if questions. I guess there isn't much to be done. Or nothing else I could really do but go on stage anyways. I went back to my spot backstage and saw that our dance was the next one. I shook my hands, they were all clammy and I felt the sweat already coming down my back. I looked at Glitch and he was shaking his head.

"Aminta, You can do this! You can't quit now. Not after everything we've done!" The rest of the DCI crew emerged out of the stage darkness and agreed with him. I shook my head.

"No. You guys don't get it. I-I-I can't p-p-perform like this! I'm not ready!" Bodie and Emilia nodded and put their hands on my shoulders.

"We're gonna go find Rasa to see if we can buy you some time but you gotta know, you are one of the most talented dancers here." Emilia spoke and Bodie smiled. They got up and left and I sat down.

"I think I need to be alone for a minute." Everyone left except for Glitch.

"Minty. I know you. I know what you can do. I know what we can do. What's so scary? We're already the best!" He started. I took a shaky breath.

"Glitch, no matter how many times people tell me how amazing I am, I don't think I am. And if I don't think so then how can i possibly believe anyone else?" I covered my face.

"That's a lie." He stated and I looked up.

"I really don't want to fight with you before we have to go onstage and act like lovers." I rolled my eyes.

"I know those are lies." He continued. "Because I've seen you believe it before. You could never be a masked dancer online and dance last minute at a competition meant for professionals, and win. You say you don't believe it, but you and I both know that's not true. We both know you're the best out of everyone performing tonight. Stop making excuses and do what you do best!" My eyes began to tear up. I looked at him and he had the biggest smile on his face. Bodie came rushing in.

"Hey. You guys get to go last now. You have maybe 5 more minutes."

"Thanks Bodie." Glitch said.

"Hey! Way to end this show than with the best duo of best buds." He smiled and left again. I stood up and nodded. I grabbed Glitch's hand and softened my face.

"Thanks for always sticking with me."

"Of course. I pinkie promised." I let out a short laugh and hugged him tight. I took a deep breath as the stage manager came to get us.

"Now please welcome our last dancers of the night, The duet dance from Level 4, Glitch and Amita!" Glitch and I entered the stage hand-in-hand and I couldn't see a single person in the audience but I could feel their eyes on me. We got in our places. And I almost stopped everything. But then I felt a calming presence. It's like I could hear my mother's voice telling me how great I already am. I could imagine her in the audience screaming my name. That's when I smiled and nodded at Glitch. He pointed to the Music person and our song began.

We finished flawlessly and We bowed. The curtains closed and I hugged Glitch so tight he couldn't breathe temporarily. I was laughing uncontrollably and smiling like no tomorrow. He couldn't contain himself either as we celebrated on that fated stage that held the best two dancers DCI has had in a long time. Rasa and Lima and the whole DCI crew came on stage and gathered in a group hug. So many compliments from so many people, I felt so overwhelmed.

"Aminta?" I heard a voice out of the ordinary. There was a man in a black suit holding a tablet and had two women in black standing next to him.

"Yes?" I responded.

"I am Professor Marck. I am a representative at the prestigious Global Dance Academy in Hong Kong. We do have more locations in London, Paris, Georgia, California, and New York. We saw your performance and we instantly saw your talent. We want you to attend GDA in the fall of this year. Are you interested?" My eyes widened. GDA is a dance academy known for their perfect dancers and here, right in front of me was a representative of this academy, offering me this chance of a lifetime!

"Wow. What an honor, really! I've been idolizing your school for all of my life." I looked over at Glitch and all of the DCI crew and they all have bittersweet smiles. In that moment, I knew my answer. I looked back at the representative. All of the memories and thoughts going through my head at once I smiled. "This is really an opportunity that i shouldn't waste." I took a deep breath. "And I won't." Everyone around me let out a breath except for the representative. "But it won't be for me."

"Excuse me?" The representative asked.

"There is a really talented dancer that you may not have noticed tonight, but she's nearly as talented as I am. I think you should consider my offer." The representative just scoffed.

"Why on earth would I take your offer instead?"

"Because I am the one you noticed, correct? Because I know what I'm doing? I'm already good enough to get into your school, why not take my advice and give it to someone who would flourish there instead of me, who wouldn't improve at all?" The rep took a deep breath.

"Two minutes." He said.

"Actually she should be here still." I looked around and ran backstage. I grabbed her hand and pulled her on stage in front of the rep. "This is Quianna. She is a very talented dancer and would flourish at GDA with ease." I said. Quianna just looked confused. The representative looked over her and nodded.

"I was very impressed with your dance. I think we could make room." He said. Quianna just looked at me.

"Is this a joke?" She laughed.

"Nope."

"But everything I did..."

"Just accept this as a way of me saying I'm sorry too. I don't actually hate you...I don't want to do that. And I don't want this position. Which you would be perfect for." Quianna looked at the rep and smiled.

"If you'll have me?"

"Welcome to GDA." He shook her hand and walked with her. I sighed and looked to Glitch whose smile was from cheek to cheek.

"What?" I asked. He jumped on me and squeezed me so tight I couldn't breathe.

"You just gave up the opportunity of a lifetime for DCI." Mo said. "That's dedication."

"And we would be more than happy to have you join the DCI crew." Rasa said. I laughed and Glitch let me go.

"What Rasa just said was the real opportunity of a lifetime. And I'm definitely going to take it." I smiled and we all celebrated.

I could feel my mom looking down on me smiling. She knew that this is what I truly wanted. I finally got what I wanted and with the best people around me. People who will never leave my side. Who will always be there for me; in a fashion emergency, or a dance crisis, or even in the midst of some daddy issues. Ha. Yeah. DCI is just right for me. I think I'll like this new family. And I don't think they'll ever leave me. 

A/N:

Wow. This book has been an incredible journey through the years. It started on April 19, 2016 and here we are. January 4, 2020. This book has been through a lot and so have all of you devoted readers. I have made lifelong friends with people through this book, and learned a lot about my writing style. I am so grateful to write this journey for you and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. 

Thank you for letting me write this story for you

<3 Cupecake78