But I don't really remember what the costume looked like," Zoey continued.

"I have a photo," The 15 year old's mom's voice echoed in front of her.

"No, you do not!" She argued, her tone sharp.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a photo," exclaimed Everett, gesturing to the cameras.

"No!" Zoey angrily warned to her mother.

"Wait, I kinda want to see it," Everett laughed.

Zoey put her head in her hands as soon as she saw her mother opening her phone.

"Oh, come on, Zozo," Noah encouraged as Sarah handed her phone to one of the managers, who then gave it to Everett.

°⨳°·..·°⨳°⊹٭  ٭⊹°⨳°·..·°⨳

°⨳°·..·°⨳°⊹٭ ٭⊹°⨳°·..·°⨳°

"Awwww, you're adorable!," Everett exclaimed. "Just look at that adorable little tutu," he added, smiling. With a laugh, He then handed the phone back to the manager, who returned it to Sarah.

"That was incredibly cute, Zoey," Everett praised, and Zoey shook her head.

 Zoey admitted, "The sad thing is, I'm pretty sure the video of my solo is like somewhere on the internet," As soon as those words escaped her lips, the room erupted into a symphony of laughter. 

"Alright, let's get back to business ," Everett said, shifting his attention to the cards in his hands.

"Tell me everything about your dance schedule, Zoey! I want to know all the classes you take every single day of the week," Everett exclaimed with excitement.

"Are you sure you're ready for this? It's going to be a long list," Zoey replied with a grin.

With a beaming smile, Everett exclaimed, "I'm all set!"

°⨳°·..·°⨳°⊹٭ fifteen minutes ٭⊹°⨳°·..·°⨳°

Laughter filled the entire studio, reverberating off the walls, as conversations flowed. Zoey basked in the joyous atmosphere, thoroughly enjoying being in front of the camera and relishing every moment of the interview. It all came so naturally to her. However, there was a part of Zoey that apprehensively anticipated what was about to come.

"Thank you all for joining us as we had the pleasure of interviewing the incredible Zoey Campbell," Everett exclaimed excitedly. "Don't forget to check out her feature in our latest magazine. To see more of Zoey, follow her on TikTok and Instagram. The links can be found in the description below. Have a splendid day, and remember, the spotlight is waiting for you!" With a playful wink at the camera, he concluded.

Noah yelled, "Cut!" prompting the crew to swiftly adjust their equipment, signaling the end of the session.

"Well, Ladies and gentlemen, that's a wrap on Miss Zoey Campbell," Noah proudly declared, inciting applause and cheers from the crew. Overwhelmed with emotion, tears began to well up in Zoey's eyes as she rose from her seat. Everett, ever attentive, noticed her feelings and warmly embraced her.

Sarah rose from her seat and approached her daughter.

"Out of all the dancers I have ever interviewed, this one felt incredibly authentic and fitting," Everett expressed.

"Thank you," Zoey wailed softly as she delicately dried her tears.

"You have a natural talent for being in front of the camera, Zoey. And Mrs. Campbell, I genuinely believe you should contemplate putting this young lady into acting because I assure you, she would make bank," Everett commented.

"I will certainly take it into consideration," Sarah responded with a smile, and Zoey reciprocated the warm grin.

°⨳°·..·°⨳°⊹٭  the next day ٭⊹°⨳°·..·°⨳°

 Zoey and Sarah arrived back early in the morning from New Jersey. Zoey was excused from attending school as her mother insisted she catch up on some much-needed rest. However, her dedication to dance remained unwavering as she hurriedly made her way to studio B with her dance team. They formed a line and stood before Coach Lotus, who immediately locked eyes with Zoey.

"How was your trip?" He inquired, a smile gracing his lips.

"It was so much fun. It felt like I was filming a movie," Zoey responded, a grin of her own adorning her face.

"I'm delighted to hear that," Coach Lotus expressed. Harper glanced at Zoey and couldn't help but roll her eyes. Roll her eyes? Was she envious? No, that couldn't be possible.

"This week, we will be traveling to New Orleans to participate in the 'Fierce First Dance Competition'," Coach Lotus announced.

"We have two solo performances," he continued.

 "Savannah, your solo performance will be called 'Dreamweavers', an instrumental version of 'Pure Imagination' from Willy Wonka. It's a contemporary piece and you'll be portraying the character of Charlie," Coach informed, to which Savannah nodded in agreement. 

"Zoey, you will also be resenting a solo," Coach Lotus smiled, and Zoey reciprocated the gesture.

"The name of your routine is 'Celebrity'. It is a jazz number. I chose this routine because your video was released earlier this evening," Coach Lotus elaborated, causing Zoey to grin as she clasped hands with Heritage.

"I'm not sure if you've seen it, but your video has already garnered over 45k views within the first 30 minutes of its release," Coach informed. Zoey's mouth fell open, mirroring the astonishment displayed by her teammates.

"They love you, Zozo," Coach Lotus chuckled, and Zoey beamed in response.

"Moving on, our group dance is titled 'Icy Whispers'. It revolves around the theme of loss hope," Coach Lotus stated, and the team nodded in agreement.

"Make me proud this week, everyone. Yes?" Coach asked. The team once again nodded in unison.

"Alright, let's spread out."

°⨳°·..·°⨳°⊹٭ five hrs. ٭⊹°⨳°·..·°⨳°

Zoey had just finished another day of competitive dance at Sulphur Springs Dance Studio. To unwind, she made the decision to gather the entire elite competition team at the Tremont Hotel. All 14 dancers, with the exception of Griffin, were seated outside on the patio dining tables, enjoying their hot cocoa.

As Zoey stepped outside with the two final mugs in hand, River remarked, "Zozo, Your actually getting famous."

Zoey playfully rolled her eyes and placed one of the steaming mugs of hot cocoa in front of her friend. She then took a sip of her own before settling down beside her.

"I'm not getting famous, Rivy," Zoey retorted.

"Tell that to your 100 new followers on Tik tok, baby," Matt mentioned in a nonchalant manner.

Zoey's eyes widened in disbelief as she pulled out her phone, tapping on the TikTok Icon. She couldn't believe the number of notifications she had received and the sudden increase in her followers. "Holy crap, that's crazy!" she exclaimed.

Savannah chimed in, "You should check your Instagram too, Zozo. You have over 25-"

"OH MY GOD," Harper cut her off, annoyed. All eyes turned to her, but she quickly brushed it off and got up from Griffin's lap, storming off into the Tremont. Griffin followed her, leaving the others behind.

"Lovey-" 

"It should be me who's gaining all the followers," Harper declared, her voice filled with frustration as she spun around, the two of them locked in a tense standoff in the living room.

Griffin approached closer, his eyebrow arching in disbelief. "You don't think my sister deserves that?" he questioned, his tone laced with incredulity.

Harper shot him a piercing look, her eyes sharp and exaggerated.

Griffin scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "That's what's been up with you. Your jealous of my 15-year-old sister-"

"I'm not jealous" Harper interjected, her voice defensive.

"YES, YOU ARE!" Griffin erupted, his voice booming through the room. Harper recoiled, her expression caught off guard before transforming into a glare that could kill.

"It always has to revolve around YOU, Harper. You can never bear to see someone else get the slightest bit of fame," Griffin remarked, his words cutting through the air like a knife.

Harper began, her voice filled with determination, "I would if they deserved it. Your sister DOESN'T. I deserve-"

"YOU DESERVE NOTHING, HARPER. NOTHING!" Griffin thundered, his words echoing with finality.

"You know I should have gotten that interview. You told me I was the best dancer at the studio," Harper screamed, her frustration boiling over.

"Well, maybe I only said that to make you feel good about yourself. Maybe, just maybe, you're not the best dancer at the studio," Griffin explained, his voice tinged with a hint of regret.

"Maybe your boyfriend was only telling his girlfriend what she wanted to hear," he continued, his words landing like a punch to the gut.

Harper sneered, her voice quivering, "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I could say the same to you," Griffin declared, his words resolute.

Harper glared at Griffin, initially tense, but gradually dissolved into tears. She distanced herself, giving him the middle finger before spinning around and storming out the door.

Griffin rolled his eyes and made his way back to the patio. As he opened the door, every gaze fixated on him.

"Where's Harper?" Rylann inquired, filled with concern.

"Don't worry, Ry. She said her stomach was acting up and went home," Griffin fibbed. Rylann nodded, accepting his explanation.

However, Zoey remained suspicious. Something felt off, everything felt off.

°⨳°·..·°⨳°⊹٭ the next day ٭⊹°⨳°·..·°⨳°

It was a radiant Friday afternoon, the sun casting its golden rays upon the world below. The air was filled with anticipation as the renowned dance competition, 'Fierce First,' loomed closer. Coach Lotus, recognizing the need for perfection, made a bold decision to bring the elite dancers to Sulphur Springs High School. The grand auditorium would serve as their sanctuary, where they could refine their routines to perfection.

The team had settled into their seats, finding comfort in the familiar surroundings. Savannah had already showcased her solo performance, receiving valuable feedback from Coach Lotus. Now, it was Zoey's turn to shine. Coach Lotus stood a few aisles ahead, his presence commanding respect and admiration.

"Zoey, it's your turn," Coach Lotus gestured, his voice carrying a sense of authority. Zoey switched off her phone and rose from her seat. However, as she made her way out of the row, a sudden realization struck her like a bolt of lightning.

"God, my jazz shoes are still in the hallway," Zoey recalled, her voice filled with a tinge of panic.

"Quickly," Coach Lotus stated firmly, urging Zoey to take swift action. With a nod of understanding, Zoey hurriedly dashed towards the door, determined to retrieve her shoes.

"Oh my lord, mine are there too," Parkyr exclaimed, her voice laced with urgency as she rose from her seat and followed Zoey's lead.

"Same," Camry chimed in, joining the impromptu exodus. Like a flock of birds, the rest of the team followed suit, leaving only Harper behind, engrossed in her phone.

"I'll make sure they're just getting their shoes. I'll be back," Coach Lotus explained to Harper, his words falling on deaf ears. Harper, lost in her own world, barely registered his departure.

Harper and Griffin, once inseparable, were now embroiled in a bitter fight. The silence between them had stretched on for what felt like an eternity. However, fate had other plans for Harper. A sudden urge to visit the restroom overcame her, compelling her to rise from her seat and leave the auditorium.

°⨳°·..·°⨳°⊹٭ five minutes  ٭⊹°⨳°·..·°⨳°

After attending to her needs, Harper emerged from the restrooms and made her way back to the auditorium. As she pushed open the door, a wave of emptiness washed over her. The room remained devoid of any signs of life. Harper, indifferent, made her way back to her seat and scrolled through her phone.

The swarm of dancers burst into the auditorium, their laughter echoing off the walls. Coach Lotus stood behind them, a mischievous grin on his face as he playfully rolled his eyes.

"Come on, You guys. Zoey, your butt should be on stage," he hummed. Zoey quickly slipped on her jazz shoes and made her way up the stairs to the dais.

Dakota noticed Harper's complete detachment from her surroundings and walked up behind her. She gently wrapped her arms around Harper, trying to comfort her.

"Are you okay?" Dakota whispered, concerned. Harper nodded, her eyes still glued to her phone.

Dakota couldn't help but smile as she asked, "Do you want to come over to my house after this crap?"

Harper looked up at her, meeting her gaze with a soft smile. Dakota gave her one last squeeze before pulling away, climbing over the row, and taking her seat.

"Alright, Zozo. Are you ready?" Coach Lotus inquired, his phone poised to play the music.

Zoey responded with a confident thumbs up.

In that very moment, the melody began to fill the air. Zoey transformed into an entirely different being when she danced. Her expressions were flawless, mirroring her flawless movements. Zoey gracefully leaped, her legs extending long, high, and straight, as if defying gravity. However, as soon as her foot made contact with the ground, disaster struck. She slipped, causing her to tumble to the floor.

"Zoey!" Coach Lotus bellowed, rushing onto the stage with the other dancers in tow.

Under her breath, Zoey cursed as Coach Lotus gently lifted her injured ankle, throbbing in his hands.

"Damn, Zozo. Are you alright?" Matt asked, his concern evident.

"Yeah," she winced, "I think I just rolled it."

"Alright. It's alright. You can still compete tomorrow," Coach Lotus reassured, his words tumbling out in a flurry. "Uh... Indiana! Can you go get some-"

"Coach!" Emmie interjected, her eyes widening, "There's some kind of liquid on the stage. It's EVERYWHERE," she observed. Coach Lotus raised an eyebrow before noticing it himself, just as the others did.

Rylann expressed her surprise, "That wasn't there before."

"It looks like oil," Abby stated. 

Camry pondered, " Maybe someone did it while we were gone."

Saylor disagreed, "That makes no sense. We all left the auditorium."

Dakota pointed out, "Not everyone." All attention shifted to Harper, who was still sitting in the audience.

Harper's gaze slowly lifted from her phone, a heavy weight of scrutiny bearing down on her. The piercing eyes of judgment seemed to sear into her very soul.

"Did you spill some sort of liquid on the stage?" Londyn questioned, her irritation evident in her skeptical tone.

Harper shook her head, her denial resolute. "No."

"Are you sure?" Camry inquired, her arms crossed in a defensive stance.

Harper began, her frustration bubbling to the surface, "Why the frick would I-"

"Oh, just shut up, Harper!" Zoey's voice boomed, her eyes ablaze with anger as she directed her glare towards the 17-year-old. The other dancers were stunned into silence, never having witnessed Zoey so consumed by fury. Harper locked eyes with Zoey, her own gaze unwavering.

Zoey started, her voice laced with accusation, "Ever since I got that interview, you've been acting so weird. It's like you're jealous or something-"

"I'M NOT JEALOUS-"

"THEN WHY THE HELL IS THERE OIL SPREAD ALL OVER THE STAGE? LIKE YOU WERE TRYING TO MAKE ME FALL," Zoey screamed, her voice reverberating with raw intensity. Sensing the gravity of the situation, Coach Lotus intervened.

"Alright, um... Heritage, Saylor, could you two assist Zoey to the hallway? I'll go find her mother and get her some ice," Coach Lotus suggested. The girls nodded slowly, offering their support as they helped Zoey to her feet, her arms wrapping around there necks as she limped away. The rest of the dancers followed suit, eagerly exiting the scene, leaving Harper behind to face the weight of the accusations.

"Why would you do something like that?" Abby questioned before making her exit. Each dancer cast a disdainful glance in Harper's direction, but it was Matt's look that cut the deepest, bringing tears to her eyes.

"Matty?" Harper whispered, her voice trembling.

"You were so wrong for that, Harper," Matt stated firmly before leaving the auditorium.  Matt never addressed her by her name. It felt like a dagger piercing her heart. Overwhelmed with emotion, the 17-year-old broke down in tears as she fled the auditorium, desperately trying to seek solace in the sanctuary of the bathroom.

As Harper strode down the path, fate intervened and she collided with a figure - none other than Griffin. He glared at her, scanning her from head to toe, before unleashing his fury, "You made my sister to twist her damn ankle right before a dance competition?!"

"I didn't do anything to her," Harper retorted defensively.

Griffin scoffed, " Yea- says the girl who's jealous of her because she got chosen to do a stupid interview with a dance magazine."

"So, you'd rather believe the rest of the group over your own girlfriend?" Harper's voice quivered with anger, yet resonated loudly.

"Well, I'm afraid I don't have a girlfriend to believe anymore," Griffin whispered, his voice filled with rage.

Harper's mouth quivered, on the verge of opening, as an overwhelming surge of server temper consumed her. With a forceful push, she propelled Griffin backwards, causing him to lose his balance and stumble.

Griffin's world shattered as the unexpected action unfolded before him, causing his thoughts to scatter like leaves in the wind and his purpose to Harper to fade into oblivion. In that moment, a fiery rage consumed him as well, overpowering his senses, and he unleashed a devastating punch upon Harper's delicate face. Harper's face was instantly concealed by her trembling hands.

Griffin's countenance grew gentler after he delivered the blow, yet his assurance waned, and his utterances diminished as he departed.

Overwhelmed by pain and despair, Harper's sobs echoed through the air as she frantically made her way to the restrooms. With trembling hands, she swung open the door and confronted her reflection in the mirror. Her left eye, a fiery shade of red, and her nose, a steady stream of crimson, bore the marks of her torment. The room filled with the piercing sound of her cries as she desperately turned on the faucet, futilely attempting to cleanse her blood-stained face. But the relentless flow of blood proved too swift, leaving her feeling utterly helpless in her wretched scene.

"Harper, Coach wants- OH MY GOD-"  Savannah's voice echoed through the restroom, piercing the air with a mix of shock and horror. As she stepped inside, her eyes widened at the gruesome sight that lay before her. The scene was drenched in crimson, a chilling tableau that sent shivers down her spine. Without wasting a moment, Savannah hurried towards Harper, her mind racing with a flurry of thoughts.

"What happened?" Savannah's voice trembled with urgency, her heart pounding in her chest. She longed to understand, to unravel the mystery behind this nightmarish scene. But all she received in response were anguished whimpers and inconsolable sobs from