𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 [𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘇𝘇𝘆]

𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿

"𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗶 𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂"

izzy

today is the day.. the day we finally find out if we're going to nationals, or if we'll get thrown aside like we always do.

i'm very much aware that a troupe basically despises us at this point.. but honestly whoever goes, goes and there shouldn't be grudges held, its super childish.

i do think we should go, so does heath and he's on a troupe. we deserve it, they got their chance on dance mania, we should get a chance at nationals.

"izzy hurry up, we're leaving now"

my brother and i have been arguing more than usual recently. about nationals mostly, and some other stupid things that we always argue about like snacks, heath, movies, heath.

we don't talk to eachother unless it's about dance.. i miss talking to him regularly but i'm not the one who should apologize, he's the one thats getting down on me because b troupe might actually have a shot at nationals.

i run down with my dance bag slung over my shoulder, quickly putting in one more pin in my hair as i go down the stairs. finally i am met with the lanky boy that is ozzy.

we don't say anything as we walk side by side to the studio, that is until i hear him clear his throat.

"just so you know, don't get your hopes up" he loudly whispers

"what's that supposed to mean?" i ask in an annoyed tone

"a troupe is defiently going, you guys were just the backup"

i scoff as i walk faster, ignoring his stupid remarks about how we're unexperienced. i can't be bothered fighting with him now.

soon we arrive at the dance studio, more like "i arrived" because ozzy was still behind. i meet up with heath in the locker room briefly before ozzy can yell at me for doing so.

"hey iz, are you okay you seem worn out" he asks sympathetically

"ozzy" is all i say before he nods, obviously understanding what i mean.

"also nationals" i add on

"yeah defiently, we find out in 30 minutes now" he sighs, putting his hands in his pockets.

"should we go there early?"

"sure why not"

heath smiles as we exit the locker room, luckily not spotting my brother anywhere.

"i can't believe your still fighting, it's been ages" heath laughs

"he's so petty!" is all i say before we arrive in the studio, it being empty.

"if anyone saw us together they would flip" heath sighs

that makes me realise something.

"holy- heath, i just realised one of us is going to nationals, and since we're on opposite teams, theres going to be a rivalry."

"what do you mean?"

"if a troupe goes, b troupes work goes to waste. if b troupe goes, a troupe will just get mad"

heath laughs softly,

"whatever happens, no rivaling against eachother okay?"

i nod, laughing with him a little bit.

"never"

soon the sound of footsteps fills the studio, echoing due to the silence. unfortunately they are all a troupers.

"oh hey heath!" finn exclaims, completely ignoring my presence.

"hey.." he replies plainly, in which finn raises an eyebrow.

"nervous about nationals?"

heath just nods.

"don't even worry, i know for a fact we're going" he emphasizes fact, causing my head to just cloud, looking at heath so i can get some words out.

heath looks over to me, meeting my eyes with sympathy, and a look that says when-did-finn-get-so-cocky.

"oh izzy, didn't even realise you were here" piper says sweetly, coming over to side hug me very half heartedly.. at least she's trying, unlike someone. *cough* finn

i go over to the opposite side of the studio, pulling out my phone while a troupe fills the studio. i frantically text maya in hopes she'll be here sometime soon. it doesn't take long for a b trouper to finally arrive.

"hey izzy" pete calls, quickly walking over.

"nervous?"

"definitely" i nervously laugh.

i look up to see my brother stretching, obviously side eyeing heath the whole time. i seriously don't know why they were enemies, then became cool, then just started hating eachother again.

"well we better get warmed up, and prepared for some neutral news" pete explains, standing up with not much energy.

heres how it'll be. a 50 50 chance. either we get to show that b troupe is actually talented, and we've been working hard, or we get thrown into the trash like we always do, to the troupe that just did dance mania, and doesn't necessarily appreciate us.. except heath, and sometimes piper, but mostly heath.

it feels like hours before nick finally exits his office, a clipboard in hand.

he starts reading off of a paper attached to it.. he really couldn't just cut to the chase.

"you're all talented, and i wish we could take all of you" he says, not looking up from the paper.

"and i know one troupe will be disappointed"

we sit there in anticipation, awaiting the actual news, not some sugar coated crap.

i look over to see heath, who seems kind of calm for the most part, but his eyes scream paranoid.

"so the troupe that will be attending nationals is.."

a troupe.