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"Alright everyone, gather round," Miss Alexandria shouted as we left our positions from the formation to walk over to our teacher. Ellie propped up her elbow on my shoulder and put all of her weight on her left leg. "So, tomorrow is our first competition of the the season and since it's in the same city, we're not going to rent a bus, you need to reach there at 12 pm sharp. There will be a couple formalities since it's the first competition so better to arrive early. The competition begins at 4, so we need to be ready by 3, the rest of the time will be for practicing. Make sure you have your costumes altered. Lucas, you especially, we do not want what happened last time. Keep your costumes in your bag tonight. That's pretty much it, just bring your ID verification and go out there and win it." She said dismissing us. Everyone dispersed to the changing rooms and dancers lounge. Ellie, Tessa and I hung back discussing more about how we're going to get there and what we have to bring.

"Astria," Miss Alex called, walking towards us, "Tomorrow is your first competition with us. Eventhough you have settled quite nicely with us, I do want to remind you that you still are on probation. It will end after I see your performance tomorrow. So, best of luck and I do have faith in you, so don't prove me wrong," She nodded with a strict smile on her face.

I smiled softly and give her a nod, "I assure you, I'll try my best," I said.

"And Astria, usually the mothers of the minors come with them early to do their hair and makeup so we get the work done quickly. Is someone else coming with you or are you going to do everything on your own?" Carrie, one of the assistant choreographers asked me.

"Oh um, actually, I will come on my own but Ellie and Tessa's moms said that they're fine with helping me. I just need help for the first few competitions, I think I'll be able to do that on my own from then on," I replied.

"Alright then," She muttered as everyone walked out of the changing room, "Everyone, make sure to collect your invitation cards from James. He's at the front desk today. If you don't have them, no family will be able to get a seat in the audience," She announced. 

Everyone muttered a few 'okays' and 'alrights' before walking out towards the front desk. Tessa, Ellie and I quickly throw on some joggers and sweatshirts before joining everyone at the front desk.

"Are you sure you don't want me to pick you up? I don't mind doing that," Blake said, joining my side. She was seventeen so she could drive and her mother wasn't free, so she was driving herself over. In the process she handed me a beige card which I recognized as the invitation card.

"Don't worry, I've talked to Mr. Hans, he's alright with dropping me there," I replied with a smile, "Thank you anyways."

"And your brothers will bring you back home?" She asked.

"Not sure about that one. I don't think they'll be attending the competition at all. They're always busy, you know their business stuff. So, I just need to figure it out if Mr. Hans will be free or I'll have to do something one my own," I said.

"Okay, so if you can't figure anything out, just tell me. I'll drop you back home," She said with a soft smile as James asked us to clear the reception area. Everyone walked outside to their cars or their family members. I bid everyone goodbye before hoping in with Mr. Hans.

"Good evening Ms. Crawford," Mr. Hans said with a small smile, looking at me through the reflection of the rear view mirror. I gave him a soft smile wished him back. "Ms. Crawford, I would like you inform you that I will be going on a two week leave from tomorrow. I’ve talked with Mr. Crawford, I just thought it would be better if I informed you as well," He stated as we pulled out of the parking lot.

"What about tomorrow morning. Will you not be able to drop me off at the center?" I asked, my eyebrows furrowed.

"I will be dropping you off but I won't be available after noon," He said with a stiff smile. 

"Okay, that's alright," I muttered before turning my attention to the building that our car passed.

***

I neatly folded and set my altered costume in the bag along with the headpiece. I threw in my makeup bag, hair kit, first-aid kit, a change of clothes and the other important stuff before getting down my closet to get ready. 

I combed through my bushy, curly hair and pinned the front strands towards the back so that the hair was out of my face. After that I just followed my skincare routine before walking out of the closet and the room with bag. I filled up my reusable bottle with water before heading out. The house was empty, which was understandable. The brothers were constantly working and I didn't expect them to remember a measly competition. 

To my surprise, I saw the brothers lounging around in the garden the moment I stepped out of the glass doors. My eyebrows furrowed as I walked down the steps and the brothers walked over to me. Even Dorian. "You're leaving already?" Zane was the first one to speak up.

"Yeah, they asked us to come early just in case there are any issues that need to be solved before the competition begins."

"Alright then, best of luck," Zion muttered as I nodded and started to walk away. But before I could walk away, Octavian stopped me.

"You never gave us the card," Octavian said. His voice wasn't a decibel over normal voice but it was so clear and loud even when there were environmental noises. His voice just carried that authority that you couldn't avoid and would make you want to spew all your secrets out to him.

"I uh- I didn't think you would want it," I muttered, shrugging softly. The first competition I had after moving away was kind of a huge one for me because it was the first time I would be performing without my father cheering for me in the crowd. I begged Mom to come with me, to help me get ready and to watch me dance, of course. But she refused, in the worst way possible and let's just I learnt my lesson to not force her to do anything.

As the time passed, I got used to doing almost everything on my own except getting ready, the assistants there usually helped me to get ready or one of the moms would. I also got used to not searching for someone with the audience cheering for you. But I didn't get used to the hurt. To walk out on stage, knowing that nobody has come to encourage you, cheer for you or was praying for you to win. Apparently my mom was too busy to come to stupid competitions so if my mom was busy my brothers, who was multi-millionares, wouldn't have the time to even think about a stupid little competition like this one. 

"Oh but we do" Zion said, with a hint of calmness in his voice, probably to soothe me. Being cornered into questioning by my brothers was always scary. Being surrounded by four tall, giant, muscular will never not be scary.

"Or did you not want us to be there because you lying to us," Dorian said, in a cold sharp voice making me furrow my eyebrows.

"Dorian," Octavian's sharp voice interrupted before he could get another word out. "And you, Astria, why would you assume that?" He asked.

"I just thought you might be busy and all. So yeah, you don't have to attend if you want to or don't have the time to. I don't really mind. Plus this is like a small one so not very important. I will tell you when we get to the major ones. Okay, thank you. Sorry," I yelled back behind me as I walked, hoping to get away from them.

Thankfully, I did get away. Walking down the driveway, I quickly hopped in the glossy black car that usually dropped and picked me up. "Good morning, Ms. Crawford," Mr. Hans' monotone voice greeted me as always. I greeted him right back as we set out for the thirty minute journey. 

"Good luck, Ms. Crawford," He said as soon as I stepped out. I smiled and thanked him before walking to where I could see many children and parents walking in with dance bags as big as mine. 

I quickly walked in the building only to be met with a sight of multiple rooms. My phone rang and I fished it out of my jeans pockets to see Tessa's name pop up. "Where am I supposed to go?" I asked her as soon I picked up the call. 

"On the third floor, right side of the staircase there should be a green room with the name of our studio. Right there. But before that they might ask you to show your ID proof. They will most probably be at the base of the staircase. That's what I called you for. To make sure that you have your id proof."

"Yeah, I do it. I'll be upstairs in a minute." I cut the call before walking over to the staircase. Just as Ellie said, there was a guard checking id proofs before letting anyone up. 

As soon as I reached the room, I knocked and Carrie opened the door for me. Everyone was there going over a few details with Miss Alex. "You're late," She said, her voice stern as she looked at me from over her spectacles. 

"Oh it's just two minutes Alex, give the poor girl a break," A kind lady said walking over to me. She was fairly tall and skinny with freckles spread over her pale nose and cheeks resembling Tessa's. "Come on honey, let's get you ready," She said, wrapping her arm around my shoulder and guiding me towards the empty dresser right beside Tessa's. So, I was getting ready between Ellie and Lucas. 

"I am Allen, Tessa's mom," She said, introducing herself.

"I'm Astria, nice to meet you," I replied with a small smile which she reciprocated.

"Mom and Miss Alex are childhood friends, hence the rude behavior," Tessa shrugged, making her mom gasp dramatically.

"That was not rude, Tessa. What you're saying now is," She reprimanded her daughter as she set out Tessa's supplies on the table in front of her as did I with mine. "Now, sweetie, do you need help with makeup? I'll do both yours' hair so don't worry about that, Just tell me if you need help with the makeup," She said.

"No, it's alright, I can do makeup. Just help me with the hair please," I replied.

"Alright then, how about you two go put on your costumes and I'll see everything here," She said, ushering us towards the curtained spot after handing us our costumes. 

We both rushed over to the secluded and covered space and after making sure no one was coming in we started getting changed.

"You have a really sweet mother," I muttered softly to Tessa who was squeezing into the corset top of the dress.

"I know, she's the best," She said with a small smile on her face. 

"So, I heard your brothers aren't coming," She said.

"Yeah, they have work," I replied softly.

"They couldn't take an evening off? On a Sunday?" She asked, her eyebrows raised as she asked me to tighten the ribbons on the back of her dress.

"Uh yeah, I guess they work a lot," I answered in a small voice.

"Eh, you don't need them to cheer you on, the team's mom's are enough, not to mention our families," Tessa muttered, shrugging, "So fuck them bitches."

"Ellie," I gasped softly at her words. "I kinda agree for Dorian," I replied after a moment of silence.

"Do I need to fight somebody?" She asked, wincing as I pulled at the ribbons.

"No, you need to keep calm," I muttered.

"I mean, Blake definitely wouldn't mind lending a hand," She muttered. I tied the beige ribbons together before turning my back towards her so she could tie mine as well.

"Why must you have such violent tendencies?" I asked as she wove the ribbons through the holes provided on both sides of the corset.

"Girl, I know we're wearing corsets but that doesn't mean you get teleported to some 90's empire," She muttered rolling her eyes softly.

"I did not talk like that," I said, huffing a little, "Also, please be gentle."

"Sure," She said, chuckling a little, but I could hear a touch of mischievousness in her chuckle, making me narrow my eyes. She then pulled with all of her might making me let out a short surprised shriek.

"I said gentle," I shrieked, huffing a little. She just chuckled in reply.

"Is it your first time wearing a dress with an inbuilt corset?" 

"It's my first time wearing a corset. Period," I replied. 

"Your dresses never had a corset?" She asked, her surprise seeping through into her words.

"Never. We had zipper ones," I replied as she tied the ribbons into a small bow. 

"Our ones usually have a bow but we do get dresses with corset at least once every season. Not more than three times though. Something to do with small airways and that bullshit," She said, as we both started pulling on our white stockings.

"I can get used to costumes pretty quickly so I don't think I will mind," I muttered as we walked out.

"You're looking good, ladies" Lucas said with a charming smile. Tessa scoffed beside me, opening her mouth to say something snarky.

"And you're looking not dressed Lucas," Carrie said from the other end of the room, cutting Tessa off, "Go put on your costume please." Lucas sent a short glare her way which she completely ignores.

"Alright you two, put on your gowns and tell me whose hair I should do first. The hairstyle is just a fancy bun so you don't have to worry about getting hair in your face while you do makeup or anything like that," Allen said, standing between the two of us.

"You can do mine first," Tessa shrugged, making me send a grateful smile her way. Allen set to work on Tessa's hair while I started doing my makeup. 

After about an hour and half of extreme makeup, Allen finally started on my hair as well. Tessa was all ready with her makeup costume and hair done because she wasn't as slow as me while doing the stage makeup. Allen quickly combed my hair, removing any tangle that had formed in the past hour or two before picking up the gel and a thinner comb. "Tell me if I'm pulling too hard," She said and started to make the same bun with my hair.

She was finished with half an hour's time with sewing the headpiece in place. She gave a quick spritz of hair spray to keep the hair in place before asking me if everything was alright.

"It looks beautiful, thank you," I muttered softly, sending her a big smile. She brushed the thank you off politely saying that it was nothing. 

"Alright everyone, start stretching," Carrie said, ushering everyone over to the empty place to stretch. Everybody started stretching except Lucas, Sandy, Dianne and Blake as they had done it before. Dianne and Blake were practicing for their solos while Lucas and Sandy were practicing for their duo. Rest six of us were prepping for the dance.

"Astria," Allen called and I looked up, "Somebody is here to see you," She said. I look up to Miss Alex who gives me a subtle nod. I stood up and rushed out to see who was waiting for me.

Lyd was the first one I saw and a large smile overtook my face as I softly embraced her. "How?" I asked as a lump formed in my throat, it had been too long since someone came to cheer me.

"Ezra got us the card," She said with a soft smile. I open my eyes and look behind her to see Lucien watching us with a concerned expression on his face. I let out a sharp gasp as the lump grew bigger and I felt overwhelmed. 

"You're back," I whispered, trying not to cry as the past memories rush back.

"Hey hey, it's alright, don't cry, you'll ruin your makeup," He said, chuckling towards the end as he wrapped his hand around my shoulders in a small hug. I lightly hit his shoulder blade, a small escaping me.

"Shut up, you dickhead," I said, wrapping my hands around his waist to reciprocate his hug.

"Language," I hear Jesper's bored voice making me pull away from Lucien and look up.

"You've come to see a dance competition?" I asked, my eyebrows raised a little.

"Nope, my astral form is just randomly popped out of my body and is now roaming and won't come back," He said, looking at me with a bored expression.

"You drama queen," I scoffed as I gave him a short side hug and he hugged right back. My eyes then landed on a particular brown haired, blue eyed pretty boy.

"You're here too?" I started softly but it came out like a question.

"Yeah, came to see you prance around the stage," He said with an amused smile as he pushed his messy hair out if his face. His icy eyes were twinkling with mirth as he gazed at me.

I let out a little dramatic gasp at his words, "I'm offended," I muttered.

He let out a chuckle, seeing right through my act before mumbling an apology. "You look beautiful though," He said with a charming smile, shining his whites at me, gesturing to my dress. I felt my cheeks burn as they turned pink and his eyes shone.

"With all this extra makeup?" I asked, trying to play it off. But it was kind of true. Stage makeup was too much or maybe even worst in natural light for most people but for the stage and harsh lighting that are pointed at the stage, the performers have no option but to slap that extra makeup on their skin.

"Even with all that extra makeup," He agreed, nodding slightly, the smile never left his after. I heard a couple shouts from behind me, making me break my gaze away to see Lyd and Luc cheering. My cheeks immediately burned as walked away from Aaron towards the two idiots.

Deciding to ignore the situation, I said to them, "Thank you for coming here. It means a lot to know that someone in the crowd is cheering for you. I didn't think anyone would be here," I muttered, taking Lydel's hands in mine.

"What do you mean no one?" She asked, furrowing her eyebrows, "The twins have been going crazy since the past week as they'll be able to see you dance and even Dorian was saying something about attending a competition," She said.

"Wait, actually?" I asked, to me it was like a dream that somebody wanted to see me dance as I was no Margot Fonteyn. I was a ordinary girl trying out new things and to have fucking multi-millionares coming out to see your measly competition is just wild. Lydel nodded in reply to my question. "I didn't even give them the card. I thought they were too busy to attend a small competition," I whispered.

Lydel threw her head back and seemed as if she was internally cursing. "They're here, all four of them, first row on the balcony, right beside us," She replied, looking back at me. My chest tighten but at the same time a warm glow spread inside of me and I smiled. I opened my mouth to reply to her but Blake walked out. 

"They're going to start the rehearsal soon, so get inside before that," She said to me, shooting a smile to my friends who were lounging in the hallway. I nodded in reply to her and she disappeared back into the room.

"Go for now, you can talk with them later," Lydel said, "Good luck." The three boys wished me luck and I thanked them before walking down to the green room.

Just as I opened the door, I heard Aaron's voice, "What? Don't I get a hug?" He asked. I looked back over my shoulder to see him with the smallest of pouts, looking at me with hopeful eyes.

A light smirk rose on my lips as I replied, "If you play your cards right, you might."

With that, I scurried inside, closing the door behind me, a small smile on my face.

***

A/N:

Yeahhh, sooo, that was the twenty third chapter. I hope y'all like it.

Also, I'm loving Aaron so far, are you? If the romance and flirty stuff doesn't seem natural, that's prolly because I'm not a romance writer but I needed to have a touch of it to extend the storyline so yeah he needed to be there.

Andddd, the aesthetics page has been updated so make sure to pop in there and see the aesthetics for new kinda important characters.

Also, one more thing, this is not a mafia book. They're normal law abiding citizens with not much of a criminal record. Octavian is not in the mafia or is the Don or anything and not is Dorian or Zane or Zion.

I just acted to make that clear s a lot of readers have been adding this book to their mafia reading lists. Please don't.

Anyways, so, if you liked this chapter, please vote and share. Comment and tell me which was your faviourite part of this chapter.

QOTD: Do you dance?
AOTD: I do lol.

SIBLING MEME LMAOOO

This has happened more time than I'd like to admit 😭😭😭

Toodles

~Ash