Just Pretending

fortyeight

Riley

As I ran off stage there was only person I wanted to celebrate with, as soon as I was close enough I jumped at James and luckily he caught me
"I told you" He whispered in to my neck as he hugged me
"I love you" I muttered making him chuckle
"I love you" He said before finally putting me back on the floor
As my feet became stabilised, I looked up at James seeing his usual childlike grin, I shook my head at him before he crashed our lips together

"Now moving along, we have our small groups. our top three consists of The Next Step, Elite and Life of Dance" The spokesperson called, I looked around at everyone seeing all their faces light up as we took the stage
"We've got this in the baggg" West sung as we stood next to LOD, the looks West got from the girls.. I wouldn't be surprised if they wanted his head at this point
"Third place goes to... Elite!" The spokesperson called
I took a deep breath in, it was either us or LOD...
We have a lot of history with LOD, they are usually the people who knock us out of the competition but luckily this year, we are yet to go against them 

"and our overall highest scoring Small group goes to.... THE NEXT STEP" She called, my jaw dropped. LOD's dances are always perfection, always to technical but also always flawless! Yet here we are, we one upped them somehow
We collected our trophy before returning off stage only for James and I to be called on seconds later

"Don't stress" He whispered intertwining our hands so I had to stop fiddling. So far The Next Step had one each round, we were Mr and Miss National Soloist, the top scoring Small Group and if we win the duet portion. This will be the first year in a long time the one Studio has taken all of the titles. 
"In third place we have... Jake and Neveah" The spokesperson called smiling at the pair as they bowed and took their trophy
I looked up at James biting my lip while he looked down at me with a smile
"We've got this" He smiled, I smiled back before turning back to the crowd 
"And our Top scoring Duet goes to.... James and Riley from The Next Step" She called making my breath hitch before I turned to James who was over the moon as well

He crashed our lips together before realising there was a good couple hundred people watching us, we pulled away and I could tell I was read as a tomato
We bowed collecting our trophy before rushing off
The second we were behind the curtain, James crashed our lips together again
"Well done guys!" West said patting James back making us pull a part
"We won all the titles!" Eldon cheered making me smile as i cuddled up to James
I can't believe it all. I still think it's a dream. A dream I don't want to wake up from

--

We went to meet the team and my Dad in the lobby. The second we came into view A-Troupe pounced picking me up once more, I don't know who keeps doing that. Am I just that tiny that anyone can lift me?
"You did so good!" I hear my dad say as if he was almost in tears.
I pulled away from the team going over to hug him
"Your mother would be so proud Riles" He cried into my shoulder
"You did what you always wanted to do, you became that ballerina" He smiled as we pulled away. He kissed my cheek before wiping his eyes

"Don't cry daddd you'll make me cry" I whined making him chuckle
"I knew you were talented but I didn't know how much" He said hugging me again
I smiled hugging him back. I didn't care about everything that's happened recently. All I care about is that he is here now..