Protector Series: Bonus Chapters and Content

ALTERNATE CHAPTER: Hart Street 6

If you haven't read the most recent chapter of Jingle Bells and Parallels (aka Nolan's second POV chapter) you'll probably be confused with this chapter so here's a quick explanation:

Nolan is a dancer in Hart Street all because of the song attached. The Next Step and the lyrics PERFECTLY fit Jerlan. Seriously, I don't think there's a better song that fits them.

There are more reasons to Nolan being a dancer that I'll post in the author's note just in case you haven't read Jingle Bells and Parallels.

ALTERNATE CHAPTER: Hart Street 6

~Nolan: age 15~

       D.A.N.C.E competing in Nationals have never made me feel so stressed before. This was my second year on the team but the first year I was actually competing since I was only an alternate the year before and there weren't any injuries or sicknesses that would have caused me to take over.

       At least for this competition, I was only in the semi-final and final dances. 

       Don't get me wrong, I loved dancing but I didn't really like competing. Well, part of me did. Once I was on stage dancing with my team, I was fine for the most part. I still felt anxious but normally, the adrenaline took over majority of my feelings. It was always just waiting to perform that I hated.

       I knew it would have been even worse if I was part of the small group dance or the duet or the solo. Anything apart from the whole team. There were less people in those dances, meaning there was a bigger chance of eyes being on me.

       D.A.N.C.E had made it pretty far in the competition right now. There were six rounds and right now, we were on the fourth. There weren't too many teams left and after this round, there would only be four teams.

       Unfortunately, our rival studio, Nonpareil, had made it to Nationals as well and they were on the current round with us; the duet round.

       At least this was usually D.A.N.C.E's strongest round because of Ryder and Mae.

       They were performing right now and there was no way they wouldn't make it passed this round. Their duets have always been so strong and amazing.

       "As annoying as Ryder is, I'm glad he and Mae got back together," Jerome said as we stood backstage watching the dance.

       "Yeah, I'm pretty sure you're more annoying to Ryder than he is to you," I said.

       Jerome was about to object but he kept his mouth shut when he realized he was right. "Okay, but in my defence, Ryder is very arrogant so I just like pushing his buttons," he said. "It's fun."

       Yeah, it kind of was fun. I liked giving Ryder a lot of sass whenever he was being too arrogant because he also got very annoyed easily by my sass and Jerome being annoying.

       "Are you worried about the semi-finals?" Jerome suddenly asked me.

       "Yeah," I said. "I have a feeling we'll make it there because, you know, it's Ryder and Mae dancing this round so I'm feeling very nervous. I haven't danced at all this competition so the anxiety is really strong right now."

       Jerome wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me into a tight side hug. "Hey, you're going to do amazing like you always do doing rehearsals."

       "Rehearsals aren't the same as performing," I said. "Hundreds of eyes aren't on me. Do you ever get nervous before you perform?"

       "Of course I do," Jerome said. "Why?"