We all hopped out of Axel's car; I didn't let Axel get the chance to open the door for me.

I looked over at my friends that were also stretching, everyone else was heading in. The faint music was playing in the background as we neared the building. 

"Ready?" I grinned.

They nodded and I led the way to the giant warehouse. We all walked in side by side, I looked around and everyone was dressed in the theme. Inside was decorated with just a couple streamers and balloons, faint lights and the moving strobe lights occasionally hit and could blind someone. Don't Start Now by Dua Lipa was playing over the speaker; some people were dancing, others were mingling, and some were at the 'bar.'

I linked arms with Axel. "We're going to find the rest of the dance team, you two can go mingle and have fun." I winked at the couple and dragged Axel away.

"We need to find Amelia," I said to Axel.

He looked down at me in confusion. "I can't hear you over this music."

I rolled my eyes. "I said we need to find Amelia," I yelled in his ear.

He immediately gave me a death glare and put his hand over his ear. I ignored it and looked through the crowd. I finally spotted my team near the refreshments table, Val seemed to be arguing with her brother, it seemed like she was shouting at him. He seemed unfazed as he drank his water. I pulled Axel with me as I pushed through the crowd.

"Nice of you to finally show up," Val yelled over the music as soon as I walked up to the team. She looked up at Axel with distaste. "Axel."

I gave Axel a questioning look, I knew Val hated me but Axel was well-liked by everyone. He shrugged and put his hands in his pockets, trying to avoid eye contact.

"Sorry we're like 2 minutes late," I snorted under my breath knowing she was not going to hear me.

Val motioned everyone to huddle. She impatiently motioned again when all of us slowly walked closer.

"You all know how this works?" She glared at every single one of us. "If you did practice outside of class and practiced during the summer then this should be a piece of cake for you all."

Val gave us one last look and motioned for her brother to speak.

"Don't get us out."

We all went back to doing our own thing, I bit my lip in thought. Usually, I wouldn't be nervous but my friends were actually here to support me and I didn't want to let them down.

I looked over at Val who was biting her nails, over the years, I noticed this was her way of showing she was nervous.

"You'll do fine," Axel leaned down to whisper.

I shrugged and told him, "Go find Bella and Vince, it shouldn't be long until it starts."

He nodded and I walked over to the refreshment table. I got a water bottle and leaned against the table.

"Nervous?" I looked over to the culprit of the voice.

He was wearing a disco outfit, a white button-down shirt, and some black flared pants.

"No, I just don't want to let my team down," I said looking over at Val who was yelling at another dancer.

The stranger chuckled and took my water bottle, chugging the remnants. I looked at him in disgust and frowned.

"So you're nervous. No need, what school are you from?"

I looked at him suspiciously. "What school are you from?"

He smirked and chucked the water bottle in the trash. "Lennar Prep which means my dance team is going to beat yours."

I raised a brow. "So we're rivals."

He looked a bit surprised. "Prieto Prep?"

"Mmmhmm."

"A shame we're going to destroy you here and in the waltz competition. I heard it's your first time getting invited."

I crossed my arms and scoffed.

He let out a deep laugh. "I'm joking, it's all fair game, right?"

I thought about it for a moment. "How come I've never seen you before?"

"I transferred this year. I'm Greyson."

"Mariposa."

I tried checking him out from the corner of my eye but really couldn't since the lights were dim.

"Everyone listen up!" A voice boomed from the speakers. At the middle of the dance floor stood the announcer looking around:

"The rules are simple. We have a list of ten schools that are battling tonight. When we call your school, you can only choose one person per round to be in the dance circle to represent your school. Remember the crowd chooses who wins with how loud they cheer. You can only dance when the spotlight is on you. For this first round, we're going to have Riverbank, Prieto, Clearwater, Pine Hill, and East Bridge. We're going to give you a couple of minutes to figure out who is going to first dance to the song of Con Calma by Daddy Yankee, good luck everyone."

The crowd cheered and everyone started gathering with their group.

"I'll see you on the dance floor," Greyson said with a smirk as he disappeared into the crowd.

I looked over at my team, they were slowly making their way to the front, I reluctantly made my way over, my heart was beating fast.

I took a deep breath and wiped my sweaty palms on my dress. I looked around for my friends, they were also near the center.

Amelia touched my hand to get my attention. "Why were you talking to Lennar's team captain?" She looked at me suspiciously.

"We hardly talked," I scoffed.

Val looked around the group, "Does anyone know this song?"

Amelia nudged me and I shook my head.

The thought of going first made me want to throw up. She didn't take the hint and said, "Mari does."

Val gave me a look of distaste. "You're the only one so get out there."

I looked at my team unsure. Amelia gave me a grin, I reluctantly took off my shoes since I knew this song was tough dancing with heels.

"You'll do great," Tino said, giving me a reassuring squeeze and then shoving me into the circle. I looked at my competitors.

There were two females and two males, they all looked unfazed and full of confidence. I looked in the crowd for my friends, when I made eye contact with them Axel gave me a thumbs up and started cheering. I took a deep breath and looked at the announcer. There was now a projection showing a timer counting down. It didn't help calm my nerves but made me more nervous for being the starter. 

"Alright folks, you know what to do."

"5." I prayed that the spotlight didn't hit me first.

"4."

"3."

"2." I took one last deep breath and mentally gave myself a quick mental pep talk.

"1." The song started and the spotlight was on one of the girls standing in front of me.

She instantly let the music take over, did not hesitate, and went with the beat of the song. Everyone cheered loudly, but all I could hear was my loudly beating heart.

"Cómo te llamas baby?"

Seconds after the spotlight was on the next person. The guy also let the music instantly take over his body. I started getting into the beat, clapping for the guy who was doing a move with his legs.

"Con calma..."

I didn't have time to think, the spotlight was on me. I let my feet guide me, remembering the choreography I had made up for this song this past summer. I heard the crowd cheering loudly which gave me that last boost I needed.

Soon the spotlight switched over to the next person. I grinned, adrenaline rushing through my veins.

The spotlight went onto the next person, the poor guy fumbled and froze. The crowd started booing which didn't help his cause.

"East Bridge sorry to say but you are eliminated!" The announcer said over the speaker. "The other five schools, you have ten seconds to choose a dancer for our next song which is Kiss Me More by Doja Cat featuring SZA."

The countdown started immediately and I walked at a fast pace back to my group.

"Nice moves," Amelia said with a grin.

"Thank you but what was up with her?" I asked, looked over at Val who looked beyond pissed.

"The freshmen said they don't want to take part in the dance battle. They said it seems too stressful," Amelia said, crossing her arms and looking at the people that were dancing next. Amelia pointed at a girl, she radiated confidence and did not look one bit nervous. "She's also co-captain of Lennar's dance team. She's a freshman and insanely good."

"I mean she has to be if she's already a captain."

The countdown was done and the spotlight hit. I felt a nudge at my side, it was Greyson. He had a smirk on his face.

"Nice moves," he said while tucking a stray hair behind my ear.

I smacked him away and tried to pay attention to what was happening in front of me. "Shouldn't you be with your team?"

"They're good, I trust them to do and be the absolute best."

I rolled my eyes and looked at his co-captain who was now dancing. Everyone cheered loudly, she was insanely good. She danced so eloquently but had a fierceness to it.

"That's Madeline. Isn't she good?" I didn't say anything and kept staring at her dancing. "Don't worry she's not as good as you."

I snorted and looked at him, he was looking down at me with a smile. I knew he was taunting me and wanted to get under my skin. Without saying anything else he walked off and joined his group.

I stood there dumbfounded and soon the booing started. I looked over and saw a poor girl standing under the spotlight, red face from embarrassment.

"Groundview you are out!" Everyone cheered and the announcer motioned for everyone to quiet down. "Next up we have Prieto, Riverbank, Fortuna, Ravenwood, and Pinehill dancing to Taki Taki by DJ Snake featuring others. Ten seconds go!"

"I'll take this one," Tino said with a smirk. We all cheered at him, he had a triumphant smirk as he looked around to see his competition.

One by one groups started getting out until all that was left was my school and our rivals Lennar Prep.

"Alright for the last song we're going to slow things down a bit, Señorita by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello. Twenty seconds this time, go!"

I tsked and prayed for the poor soul that was going to have to dance this song against the other school.

"Mariposa, are you ready?" Val asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.

I looked at her confused. "For what?"

She rolled her eyes and pushed me towards the dance circle. "Don't lose this for us or else."

My mind didn't register her words until I was standing in front of Greyson who was cheering on the crowd. I stood there wide-eyed since I have never danced to this song. I was also a little surprised Greyson decided to dance on the last song, throughout the many rounds he did not go once, always letting his other team members go. They were good, but I wanted to say we were better.

I stood straighter and tried to put on a confident face. Greyson looked at me and winked. If I got us eliminated because of him I'd never let down the humiliation.

The countdown reached five seconds and the nerves were kicking in again. I swallowed my fear of failure and let the music take over me when the spotlight hit me first. Not once did I break eye contact with him, I wanted so badly to wipe that smirk off his face. The spotlight switched to him and he danced, not going to lie he was good, beyond good.

"Sapphire and moonlight."

We were circling each other. He put one arm on my waist, not once did I break eye contact. The spotlight was on us and we danced together. Everyone 'oooed' in the crowd, everyone was eating this up. He twirled me and then I leaned on him wrapping my arm around him, he was really into this. He twirled me again and I dipped, a smirk was forming on my face. There could only be one winner and that was going to be me and my team. Before the chorus hit I pushed him away, he was taken by surprise when the spotlight followed him. He fumbled and stood there for a second too long. The crowd started booing as he tried to save himself.

The music cut off, I crossed my arms and looked at him with a triumphant smile. The announcer held my arm up, "We have this year's winner: Prieto Prep."

Everyone cheered and my team came to join me in victory. I grabbed Greyson's arm before he could go back. I motioned for him to stand a little lower, he was so confused.

"So much for being the winners huh."

I didn't say anything else and went to go look for my friends, not before grabbing my shoes.

"Mari!" I heard Bella's voice. She was pushing her way through the crowd. Axel was following behind her, there was no Vince in sight.

I grinned and hugged her when we reached each other.

"Vince is outside, said he had something to take care of," Bella said as if reading my mind.

Axel ruffled my hair. "Good job out there. Who was that guy at the end? You two seemed to have a thing going on."

I raised a questioning eyebrow and shrugged. "I met him like an hour ago and apparently he is Lennar's dance team captain."

I started walking away to get a drink, Bella linked her arm with mine and said, "You seemed to have chemistry, more so than you and Niko do when you dance." She wiggled her eyebrows in a suggestive way but I ignored it.

"Bella you haven't even seen Niko and I dance, the last time you saw us was like years ago."

"She's right Bella, there is no chemistry," Axel chimed in giving Bella a look. Bella glared back at him. 

I grabbed a water bottle from a cooler and chugged it as I was a bit parched. "You guys wanna head out and go to iHOP or something?" My stomach grumbled at the thought of food. Truth was that I was too nervous all afternoon to actually eat something.

Bella grinned. "I was waiting for you to say that, I'll go find Vince." She turned and walked towards the exit.

I looked at the crowds of people dancing, deep in thought. Firework by Katy Perry slowly ended and Make You Feel My Love by Adele started playing, couples began to get together and slowly dance.

"It's a shame we didn't get to dance a song together," Axel mumbled behind me.

"We've danced so many times before," I told him.

"True but this is our last year" he sighed.

"Let's go," I rolled my eyes and turned to face him. Axel was staring at me with an unknown emotion in his eyes, and almost instantly it was gone.

He hesitantly nodded and we both started walking towards the exit.

I felt someone grab onto my wrist before I could walk any further. "Hey."

I turned and looked at Greyson surprised. He no longer had that infamous smirk, instead there was a smile that wasn't quite genuine.

"Can I help you?" I asked, looking up at him. Axel stood in front of me pushing Greyson away. I chuckled a little at the thought of Axel fighting someone, the guy was too nice there was no way.

Greyson looked over at Axel and pushed past him. "I didn't get your number." And the smirk was back.

"I don't have my phone," I lied, taking a step back. I could smell sweat with a hint of masculine cologne.

Greyson chuckled and took a step forward. "That's fine cause I have mine right here." He pulled his phone from his back pocket and unlocked it.

I stared at it and didn't say anything. I looked up and blinked at him unamused.

"Axel let's go," I said, tugging his arm and walking away. Axel gave Greyson one last look and walked out with me. Greyson didn't budge though, he followed us all the way outside. My only thought was that guy was really weird and could not take the hint.

"Just give me your number and I'll leave you alone."

I turned back annoyed and gave in, thinking I wasn't going to give him my number. I mentally laughed at the thought of Greyson texting Niko.

I held out my hang and huffed in annoyance. He smirked and gave me his phone. Quickly putting in Niko's phone number I gave his phone back and walked away rather fast.

"That guy is a total nutjob," I muttered as Axel and I headed to his car.

"Chemistry my ass," Axel said under his breath. "Why did you give him your number? It's obvious you didn't want to."

I laughed, "I didn't give him my number, I gave him Niko's. I'm not giving that weirdo my number."

Axel laughed lightly, we both looked around for our friends. They looked like they were arguing. Vince was trying to calm down a fuming Bella. I was about to walk over but Axel stopped me.

"You know it will only get worse if you get involved." Bella and Vince rarely fought but on the rare occasions they did, it usually meant one of them did something wrong.

I looked back at them wondering who started the argument. Vince said something and Bella's face morphed into shock, then hurt, then anger. She didn't say anything and walked away. Bella spotted us and walked towards us fuming.

​​"Axel, take me home," Bella said, pushing past us. I looked back at Vince who was walking towards us, he was void of emotions, hands in his pockets – he looked like he does: calm and collected.

"What do you think that's about?" I asked Axel quietly as we followed Bella.

"I don't know but I think we should head home."

"This is going to be one awkward car ride."

NOT EDITED

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