TNS Short Stories

It's Christmas (Part 3 - Pinn)

Piper's POV

- This can't be happening - I say to the person who looks exactly like Giselle but isn't Giselle. - There must be something I can do to make things come back to what they were.
- Actually there is. - She says. - They lost their love for dance. They don't feel like the studio is home, they don't feel like they have a reason to enjoy dance or to spend time at the studio.
- So all we have to do is to show them how great dance can be! - I say excited.
- We? You have to do it. - She says.
- But how am I going to do that? - I say before I see her snap again and... disappear. Now I'm on my own. In a world where I don't have dance, friends, a studio or... Finn. I small tear drops from my eye. I feel like I lost everything.
- Excuse me... - I hear a boy say. I look at him but I don't know who he is.
- Yes?
- Are you going to order? Because if you aren't then you're blocking the way to the bar.
- Oh sorry... - I move from the queue. Wait. He can see me! - You can see me! - I almost yell.
- Ummm... Last time I checked I wasn't blind... - he looks confused.
- Thanks! - I say widely smiling, walking away from him. I put my hands in my pockets and I feel a piece of paper inside. What is it?
There there is a list. This must be all the people I have to help love dance again.
Basically all of A-Troupe is here as well as part of the OGs.
How can I possibly help them? They don't even know who I am.
Then I see all of A-Troupe and B-Troupe (which is basically Richelle and Ozzy) come in and sit next to Finn and Amy. I can feel some tension between Amy and Summer though, so she kisses Finn, says goodbye and leaves saying that she's got rehearsal. It's heart breaking to see Finn with another person, specially if it is my best friend. Well, she technically isn't but still.
I decide that I have to do something. I've got nothing to loose after all. I walk to them and try to act natural.
- Hi! - I say.
- Hi... - they say, some of them making faces. Wow, they were much nicer in my reality.
- Do we know you? - Kenzie says.
- Yes! Um, No, no... But I've seen you compete! Wow, you're amazing. Isn't dance great?
I hear some of them suppressing their laughter and some whisper "no" while others go"pffff".
- Well, looks like someone has to show you how great dance can be. To studio A! - I say standing up.
A second of silence fills the room.
- Yeah, I gotta do something - Kingston says.
- I'll help you! - Kenzie adds.
Everyone leaves, while I stay there, defeated. This is going to be hard. Suddenly, I see Finn turn around and walking back to me.

He forgot his hat.

- Have we met before? - he asks me. Oh, if he knew.
- Actually, yes. In an alternative reality.
- Wow! Am I dating Amy there too?
Ouch.
- No, but actually you love to dance in that reality.
I can't believe he is buying it.
- Seriously?
- Yeah! I could show you if you let me! I need some help to come back to my reality.
- Well, I guess it won't hurt to help you. -
Thanks God. - How do I do it?
- Teach me how to dance. - I say.
- Ok? Well, I that helps you. Let's go to studio A.

-------------------- (Time lapse)
Now I have succeeded with my mission: everyone loves to dance again. They are all dancing, laughing, enjoying what we best do... Or well... What they best do. Michelle and Riley are dancing to a combo I'm pretty sure I've seen before...  James is back together with Riley, Richelle is now doing her best tricks and Finn is, well... Being himself. He's doing that big fish little fish cardboard box that he invented... Except that in this tree reality, I taught him that move. Anyway, he looks so happy now. He looks at me and invites me to dance... I'm not as good as I used to be but I accept anyway. It won't hurt to release all this stress out of my body. We all dance following, me next to him. It's almost perfect... Till all of a sudden, Amy takes his arm and gives him a peck on his lips. Then what I see kills me: he kisses her again, this time longer, hugging her. Everyone cheers and claps. I just can't stand it... So I silently leave to the lockers room again and then I start crying. Why did I wish for this? I'm scared to live in a reality where I don't dance and where I don't have Finn. The thought is just frightening.
- Piper - I hear his voice. He is coming. l just try to leave before he sees me but he is already here.
- What's going on? - he says.
- Nothing, it's nothing...
- It doesn't look like nothing!
- Seriously, I'm fine, thanks for your help... I'm just going to leave now.
I try to walk away but he takes my arm and now we're face to face.
- Talk to me. - he says.
- It's useless.
- You don't know that. Look what we achieved, we got everyone to love dance again. Tell me.
- Yeah, well, - tears are dropping from my eyes - this is different. I'm on my own with this problem.
- Why do you say that?
- Because I lost you ok?! - I almost yell - you are in love with Amy, you don't like me. I lost you forever now!
- But I do like you!
- No you don't!
- Yes, I do! I mean, I'm in love with Amy but that doesn't mean I can't like you.
- What?
- Yeah, I like you!
- Finn, please don't...
- As a friend.

This is it.

I look down and I'm literally crying. Sobbing. In front of Finn.
- Piper... - he says. I just don't answer. I don't look at him.
- Piper... - he says again. I just keep crying. I can't make eye contact with him.
This time he takes my arm and shakes it slightly.
- Piper... Piper... Piper!