I wasn't an angel, but I looked good in it's costume. The thin white dress was simple yet elegant stopping at my mid thigh with a sliver jeweled head piece laid against my forehead. And even though my costume showed simplicity my make up had not. Sliver glitter covered my cheeks resembling blush with small diamonds at the corner of my eye. Sliver brackets cuffed both my wrist and my forearms.

I was beautiful.

Carly peaked through the curtains anxiously. Her fire red hair braided back with golden jeweled placed inside them. Our outfits where identical yet, while I was sliver she was gold ands thats what set us apart.

I envied her.

I envied the butterflies and the nerves she felt as she watched both of her parents set in audience waiting to document the moment with their cameras. I understood how intense they where, how she had a lot of pressure on her self to good because of them. How she just wanted to make them proud.

" Hey Angel." I greeted. She jumped started.

" Damn it Kinsley don't do that." She said clearly agitated.

" Someones jumpy." 

" Am not. I'm just-" She stopped speaking and began analyzing me." How are you so calm? Don't you ever get jitters?"

I shrug peaking out of the curtains into the large audience of  formal dressed people. Bee's family sat in the front posture as straight as a rode, stoned expression yet  I could still see the excitement in there eyes as they waited for Bee. They where the serious type, grades where important to them. Bee never had less a 94 her whole life. Unlike my Father they still valued the arts by the age of 8 Bee mastered the piano the violin and could even paint like Picasso if she wanted to. They believed in versatility and wanted Bee to excel at everything she did. Even dance, it was another check off their list of achievements her family  was full of Politicians and lawyers. And eventually her Mom would be congresswomen. And no matter how busy, they always where in audience. . Nani's parents where different , Nani wasn't dumb she got her work done passed. Yet, didn't strive honors like Bee did. Her family carried more more  physical characters. Coming from a long line of super models they sat in there seats applying another layer of lips gloss and posed for their instagrams.

They where proud of Nani, and even though they where invested in phones and theirs brands. It was a never a recital  where they didn't post a video of her dancing. It was never a time where I didn't see them flood their timelines with pictures from the competitions. Yeah, the might  shove carrots down Nani's throats, but they endorsed her as dancer. She model leotard brands and even Nike once. They nurtured her career. And for that they where proud. So they smiled in audience looking the super models they where, and supported there daughter, and sister.

Carly had the pressure of being a legacy. Of having parents that where legendary dancer. She shared there last name, yet had to make her own light worthy of it. They where dance royalty and sat in the audience knowing this was true.

And then there was me.

Who danced not because someone was watching.

But because no one was.

" No" I exhaled. " I don't."

" Oh Good I'm going to throw up." Carly said her arms wrapped around her stomach.

" Woah calm down Carly. Where going to do great. You're going to do amazing. You'll make them proud. You already have."

She took a deep breath calming herself down. Those heart shaped lips  curving into a smile.

" We've got this." She said with a new found confidence.

" Damn right." Are hands collided into a high five and I couldn't help but be proud of our new friendship. Proud at the growth that we both had shared in a short few weeks. Senior year had proven it's self to be different. It was year of new friends, new perspectives and making amends. Better late than never.

Confidence was restored in Carly as she walked past me her cherry perfume lingering and her head held high.

My eyes peaked over the curtains and back to the crowd. My eyes wandered the crowd yet, I wasn't sure what I was even searching for.

" He's not here is he?" Nani's soft voice appeared.

​

" He's never here." I shrug trying to act as if it didn't phase me. " He's busy trying to make the Forbes list again."

​
Nani looked at me her blue eyes full of pity.
" Aw Kins, I'm sure he wanted to be here. Do you want to come to dinner with my Mom and me-"

" I'm fine."

" Seriously it's not problem. She adores you. You don't have to be alone."

" I'm fine!" I exclaimed.

She was being nice. And for what's it worth Nani was a sweet girl. She never meant harm. She carried about me, and even though we where the infamous "best friends." I understood that it bothered her how closed off I was. That we carried a title of BFF's yet, besides dance we hadn't spent much time together. I don't  tell her my life problems and watch chick flicks or eat ice cream as I cry about it. We friends since our childhood  and in public we smiled and where Instagram worthy of #friendgoals but I was.. I wasn't a good friend. And I say that because even though I've known them all my life. I've never felt the comfort of fully exposing my insecurities or my sadness because even around them I felt like I always had to be perfect. In the high school hierarchy I was in fact there leader and for that I never showed a part of me to them that well kept. And Nani hated it.

She wanted friendship bracelets and pillow fights ugly cries and face mask. Junk food Friday's and to cry over the Notebook together.  She wanted to be closer to me, not just on surface but and sincerely close to be actually besties. That's  why it bothered her that I never spoke about the party, it bothered her that I never told her anything. Because while she told me everything... I told her nothing.

And she tried. She tried to get me open up. She tried to form a sister hood.

It was fake to me, I viewed our friendship as prop that went with our Barbie Doll lives.

To her I wasn't just accessories. And for the longest I guess we where. I assumed Bee Nani and I, hung out together because we looked perfect together. We where the holy trinity. And it started out that way, but after while faking a friendship. You start to crave a real one. And while she looked to me.

I was no where to be found.

Her blue eyes watered. " I-, I didn't mean to yell."

She always apologized her blue eyes went misty yet, she blinked the tears away and softly smiled. " It's okay I shouldn't have been so pushy."

I projected my anger on her.

It was my fault.

But of course I let her take the fall.

" Wheres the holiday Spirit my little angels?" Bee chimed as she approached. 

" It's here." I replied.

" Our last Winter Recital. Can't believe it."

Nani and I nodded in agreement. " I remember the first time we did it dressed  like elf's." We all the laugh the memory of us as kids. Our little dance shoes had jiggle bells on them and we wore candy caned socks. Things changed so much.

"  And now where An-" Nani's words were cut off "  Bad Bitches," I said proudly.

" I was gonna say angels but that works to."  She laughed.

" It's show time  girls!" Mrs Leta called happily. Her almond shaped eyes looking at me with a smile larger than life.  " Go make me proud."

         ~     ~

                    The group dance had been a success opening up the show with the routine we had worked so hard on. The idea of this being our last Christmas together was heart breaking. I wish I would have appreciated dancing with the girls sooner. I knew we all had different plans Bee was going to Boston, Harvard to be exact and eventually Harvard Law. Dance would always be apart of her, but this year would be the last time we shared a stage. Nani had got  summer internship for Paris Heights on of the biggest modeling and fashion brands in the world and would eventually go to Central Saint Martins in England one of the greatest fashion and design  schools in the world all while balancing her modeling career.

I was the only one who saw a future and dance. Not that they didn't love it. I know they both did, just not as much as me,

I wanted to dance forever.

There was nothing else like.

Not alcohol.

Not Drugs.

Not even money.

But love, I guess dancing was a lot like love.

It was addicting, it made my heart pound and blood race. I guess it's a lot like drugs to. I could high off it have my body feel as if it's floating it takes me to another world. I could get drunk off dance, because the music it self can be intoxicating and compel my body to move to the music. Dance was..... it was worth every thing to me.

       The time came and Carly and I had shared the stage together alone for the first time in history. The lights where dark as we waited on the music to start and be posed. The music finally started and the lights landed on us as we came alive. Telling the story of 2 fallen angels.

Her and I where to different kind of dancers. And I think that's what made it so special. Carly was dancing with the flames so graceful yet fierce and powerful. While I was like the wind my free spirited and angelic.

I felt the audience on the edge of their set watching the story unfold in front of them. Seeing the sadness and the anger in each dance move. The story was of two sister angels who had fallen out of heaven they  try to figure out how to get back and survive the harsh world,but falls in love with Earth and doesn't want to leave. At the end the one that doesn't want  leave ends up getting a key to heaven while the other is left on Earth with the devil.

As the end comes Carly and I both land our Grande Jete. After it my body falls to the floor as rehearsed while Carly does a barrel roll back to the wings of the stage leaving me alone for the last few seconds. Where I tell the story of the abounded and forgotten angel. The spot light falls on me as I cry on the stage defeated followed by dimming lights.

It wasn't the loud applause I lived for. Don't get me wrong, they great. But a lot of times I forgot about the eyes of the audience. I forgot about the watching world and got caught inside my head.

I smiled as I headed off the stage with the girls watching with big smiles from the wings.

" That was amazing!" They exclaimed.

My eyes meet Carly's her cheeks ridden her face glisten with sweat and her chest raised as she panted for air . That fiery red hair was now in lose braid showing how hard we had worked.

She wasn't a villain.

Or a mean girl. Or what ever other bullshit I use to say.

She was Carly Aims.

Not second best.

Not my, Nemesis.

She was Carly. She  deserved spot light and recognition she deserved a happy ending.

" You deserved a solo Carly Aims. " 

" It was better to dance with you Kinsley Pines." A warming smile spread over both of our faces before we embraced each other. Not a fo but as friends.

It was a new beginning for the both of us as we closed a chapters out past.

" Carly."

We both looked over at her parents who stood carrying a bouquet of flowers.

              She wasn't the only one. After the show everyone's parent came and congratulated them. I should be use to it, but no matter how many years past I miss my mom being here. Seeing her joyous face as she barriers me in a hug.

" Don't tell me you're gonna cry Twinkle Toes?" An obnoxious voice said.

I turn around and their stands Gurney along with Fawn and the rest of his band.  They stood out amongst everyone else stuffed in formal wear. Not matter what or where Gurney would always be Gurney, and I loved him for it.

I was speechless.

" I got your Carnations." He said extending the pink flowers.

"You know I'm allergic you ass." I exclaimed  stepping away from them.

" I thought would be funny."

" Because me having an allergic reaction is hilarious"

Gurney stared blankly and said  " Yes, yes it is".

I couldn't help but grin like an idiot as I saw them all standing there. " If you don't get those flowers away from me I actually will cry."

He tossed the flowers in the trash before extending his arms, and allowing me to hug him. It was the first time in years someone I cared about had come to see me preform at a recital. He wrapped his arms around me as if he knew it was what I needed.

Gurney.

Adam Fucking Gurney.

He was.

He was like a brother.

He never lied, matter fact he was always to fucking honest with me. And because of that I trusted him more than anyone else in the world.

" What are you guys doing here?" I asked

" You came to see us, it was only fair we do the same." Sully said.

" And it was worth it, you killed it out there." Roozy complimented.

" Thanks guys." I blushed. My eyes landed on Fawn.

" You're better than I thought Pairs Hilton."

" Always happy to beat you're expectations. But I'm even happier you're here Gurney." Now it was her turn to blush.

Fate was really in the works that night. Bee and Nani appeared. " Looks like you've got a fan club." Bee commented.

" Aren't they the cuties." I replied proudly.

Her lips curved into smirk as she winked at Gurney
" Certainly."

To my surprise Gurney was unfazed as he wrapped his arms around Fawn pulling her close to him. " Flattered." He said flatly. Bee's face fell in shock as she realized what had happened. He was done pinning over her.

" The gangs all here. Expect for Lover Boy." Bee said changing the subject.

" Don't count me out so soon."

Our eyes widen as Jasper appeared still wearing his work uniform and bouquet of roses. " You came!" I exclaimed excitedly.

" I got here as fast as I could, I'm sorry I missed your performance." He apologized, sympathy flooding his perfect eyes.

I grabbed the beautiful roses " No! It's okay I'm really just happy your here, that all of you are here this means the world." My hand intertwined with Jasper's.

" Wouldn't miss it for the world." My heart fluttered at those words our eyes interlocked.

" Let me take you out for dinner."

" A date?"

He smirked " Definitely a date."

I bit my lip and acted as if I was unsure. " I don't know, I might be busy."

" To bad." He shrugged " I'm not taking no for an answering." His arms wrapped around my waist pulling my close to his hard chest.

" Kinsley." Nani called.

" Huh." I was to in trance in Jasper's eyes to give her my full attention.

" Isn't that your Dad?"

Huh?

At that moment all of us turned around. And to everyone's surprise. There Jonathan Pines stood wearing grey Stanley Korshak suit and Rolex "timepiece" broadcasted on his arm looking as if he owned the place, and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he actually did.

" Woah." Sully said under her breath as she took in the sight of him.

" Dad?"