Looking at himself in the mirror Mason exhales nervously as he buttons up his suit jacket. Katie has been his official partner for three weeks now, it’s evident that they don’t get along - all they do in the studio is bicker with one another - but what are they supposed to do? Nobody can deny the extreme talent they have despite their obvious differences. Every time Mason has entered a comp since Anna left has been a disaster, he can only hope that this one ends up better. He doesn’t think competing without Anna will ever feel normal, to him a competition will always be something he does with her. Chest aching the boy pushes away thoughts of his old friend as he tries to locate hair gel in his dance bag that’s laying open on the counter before him. The dressing rooms at competitions are always chaotic, hundreds of boys trying to get ready all at once, their screaming and laughing surrounds Mason. Attempting to tune everybody else out and focus solely on himself, Mason dunks his shaking hand in the cold hair product, carefully running his fingers through his hair to make it lay just right. As the minutes tick by and his hair just isn’t looking the way he wants it to Mason groans in the building frustration. Heart pounding in his chest he feels the stress tightening his insides, clasping his hands together the brunette closes his eyes and sucks in deep breaths. It’s not his hair that’s making him feel this way, it’s Anna, it’s competing, it’s Katie, it’s his confidence. Mason couldn’t feel less ready to get out there and dance right now.

Opening his eyes and gazing at his reflection Mason shakily brings his hands back up to his hair, taking a calm approach to slick it back the way he always does. Soon enough he looks identical to all the other boys around him. A muffled announcement sounds across the speakers in the dressing room, calling all dancers in the Youth category to begin lining up. Heart tightening in his chest Mason rises to his feet, legs feeling like jelly beneath him. Taking one last glance in the mirror he brushes out the wrinkles in his trousers with his palms, zipping closed his bag and snatching the small paper with a large number twenty-five written on it - Katie will have to pin it to the back of his suit and he’ll pin her number to her dress - he hurries out of the room.

The walk through the ballroom sends a strange feeling coursing through his veins, a concoction of happiness, nerves, sadness and fear. Everything is riding on this performance, Katie is the best partner he could ask for in his career right now, they have to do well. These thoughts are all swirling through his mind, the pressure building, as somebody suddenly squeezes past him and takes off in a sprint. A gust of air laced with the smell of men’s cologne hits his face, whipping his head up Mason spots familiar curls bouncing away from him, making his heart skip a beat. Ethan is dressed in a suit with the number fifty-six pinned to his back.

“Ethan?” Mason calls before he can stop himself.

The boy whips his head around, searching the area to find the source of his name being called. As soon as his eyes land on Mason he breaks into a smile, jogging back over to him. In the few weeks since Ethan joined the dance studio he and Mason have formed a small friendship, they would chit-chat here and there and occasionally they would text one another about English homework. Although for some odd reason Mason still feels nervous around the other boy, insecure about the things he says and does. Maybe it’s because Ethan is so confident dancing solo when Mason let his mind slip into hysterics without Anna or the fact that the boy transferred to a new school and is still getting straight A’s. Nothing seems to phase the other boy.

“How’s it goin’ Mason? Are you competing too?” He gestures to Mason’s suit, out of breath from running around.

“Yeah...with Katie,” Mason knows he shouldn’t be ashamed of Katie, she’s an incredible dancer and everyone knows it, but if Ethan thought that Katie and him were alike in personalities it would fill his heart with a deep sadness. He didn’t know if he could consider Ethan a true friend rather than a classmate but with the curly haired boy being so shy Mason is the only person he seems to talk to, Mason doesn’t want to ruin whatever that is.

“Oh, cool! I’m in the solo category, kind of nerve wracking because my score is all dependent on me.”

“Oh totally, I never competed solo for that exact reason,” he laughs nervously.

“Well I gotta get over there, good luck, okay?” He smiles radiantly. That’s the thing about Ethan, he never says anything out of obligation, if he says something he means it. The sincerity in his voice is audible, and for the first time that day, Mason feels that maybe he really can do this.

“Thank you, Ethan. You too, I’ll be rooting for you.”

Mumbling a quick thank you the boy spins on his heel and sprints off again, leaving Mason with an unexplainable tug in his heart.

“Mason!” a shrill voice calls from behind, pulling Mason from the moment. Crashing back to reality the brunette looks over his shoulder to see a pissed off Katie stomping over to him. Fighting the urge to roll his eyes he waits for Katie to be in front of him before he speaks.

“Yes, Katie?” He asks, forcing a happy undertone into his voice.

“Where the hell have you been? It’s almost time to start! Pin my entry number,” without waiting for a response she shoves the slip of paper into his hand, turning her back on him. Waiting with her hands on her hips Mason sighs and fishes a safety pin from his trousers pocket, carefully attaching the entry number to the sequenced fabric of her dress. Her shoulder blades and half her back are exposed, Mason is careful not to pin the number too low and risk brushing his hand against something he doesn’t want to.

Without thanking him she turns around and pushes on his shoulder, forcing him to turn. “Give me that,” she says, grabbing his own entry number from his hand. Reaching back in his pocket the brunette holds out two more safety pins for her to use. After she fastens the number to his back she starts walking without waiting for him, speaking over her shoulder in a rushed tone about everything they need to do. Following her with a sigh Mason tries to mentally prepare himself for the impending performance.  

The time seemed to move in slow motion as Mason and Katie walk hand in hand onto the dance floor, forcing smiles on their faces. It’s shocking to Mason how pretty and friendly Katie can make herself look, her long bleach blonde hair is pulled into an intricate knot and he won’t deny it; Katie looks stunning. Nobody would guess how nasty she is outside of a performance. As the couple stops in the middle of the ballroom floor, surrounded by all the other competitors who are absolutely radiating confidence, Mason feels his heart beat picking up speed, please let this go well. By the time the judges make the announcements of reading off all the couple’s names his heart is pounding so hard it’s echoing in his ears, muffling the sounds of the room around him. The time dredges by slowly but all too soon Katie is turning to face mason, grabbing onto his shoulder and holding her hand out to the side, ready to dance. Shakily assuming the position the brunette focuses his hearing, waiting until the moment the music begins to take off in their Latin routine. 

After their dance the couple takes a bow and moves to exit the ballroom floor, smiling widely the entire walk. Mason feels good, he hasn't danced like this in so long, confidence running high he laughs, a bounce in his step as he walks. The second the step out of the judge's sight Katie grabs Mason roughly by the arm, halting him. 

“Care to explain what that was back there?”

“I have no idea what you’re even talking about,” Mason replies, deadpan.

“God, Mason! It’s like you’ve never even danced before, if we don’t place in the top three-” Mason spins around to face her, fury coursing through his veins now. He’s had enough, as he stepped off the floor he felt good, confident. Maybe this wasn’t the best performance of his life but it was definitely the best he’s competed since Nationals and she is not going to ruin this for him.

“What? What will you do if we don’t place? You’ve done nothing but complain since we auditioned together and honestly, I’m sick of it. You’re a great dancer Katie, but you aren’t a good partner.”

Turning his back on her once again before she can answer Mason walks away briskly, leaving her standing with her mouth hanging open and arms crossed tightly against her chest. Guilt creeps through Mason’s gut as he leaves her alone but he pushes it down, Katie has made the last few weeks so difficult. 

Figures, he thinks, as soon as I find a compatible partner we can’t get along, even for a few hours. As the boy weaves his way through the crowds he plans to go back to the dressing rooms and wait for their results but halfway there his mind tunes into an announcement being made, the solo Waltz competition is beginning. Thinking back to his words to Ethan, I’ll be rooting for you, causes him to stop in his tracks. Looking over his shoulder to one of the other dance floors, he spots the competition starting on the farthest floor from where he stands. For some reason feeling the need to keep his promise Mason takes off in a run, not wanting to miss Ethan’s performance. 

Weaving in and out of the crowds Mason reaches the dance floor, catching the last few moments of the dancers. It only takes a few seconds to spot Ethan in the group of boys, his deep brown curls a dead give away, most dancers wear their hair slicked back - like Mason’s is right now - but Ethan’s hair is too curly for it to stay gelled. Mason notes that he likes the way Ethan wears his hair, some judges may take points off for appearance, but if it was up to Mason, he would give him a higher score for being himself. A small smile finds its way onto the boy’s lips as he follows every move the other boy makes, Mason will never get over how confident and incredible Ethan looks when he dances; nobody would expect him to be so quiet and shy out of the ballroom. As the music comes to an end all the boys lower their arms and take a bow, Mason erupts into cheers and clapping as Ethan leaves the floor, a wide smile on his face as he wipes the sweat from his forehead.  

Not wanting to immediately rush the other boy Mason waits a few minutes before going to find him. Spotting the boy from a few hundred feet away the brunette can’t stop the smile that spreads across his face. As he gets closer he sees that Ethan is talking to an older woman, presumably his Mother. Stopping a few feet behind them Mason plans to wait until they’ve finished their conversation to gush compliments onto the other boy. Hovering near them Mason’s heart drops as he catches the conversation they’re having.

“Don’t you dare talk back to me like that,” his Mother snaps at Ethan.

“I’m sorry, Mom. All I’m trying to say is-”

“Just stop it, Ethan! I don’t want to hear it. Just admit it, you didn’t even try. We moved all this way and enrolled you in an expensive school for you to not do your best. I’m disappointed, Ethan.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll try harder next time,” Ethan replies meekly, his eyes downcast. His body language has completely transformed since he exited the floor, he went from radiating confidence and happiness to looking tattered and broken in a matter of minutes.

“I’ll have to call your Father you know? He’s not going to be happy,” she sighs, shaking her head, “this is part of the reason he left. We pay all this money for you to not even care.” 

“Mom, I care!” Ethan exclaims loudly, his voice breaking. His Mother pulls her phone from her purse, typing in a phone number before putting it to her ear, not listening to Ethan's pleading.

“Just go get changed out of your clothes, we’re leaving after placements.”

Putting his head down Ethan hurries away from his Mother. Mason can’t believe what he just heard, heart aching in his chest Mason feels his legs begin to move; taking off in a jog after the boy. As he reaches him Mason’s arm shoots forward and and wraps around Ethan’s wrist, startling the curly haired boy. As he turns to look at Mason the look on his face breaks the boy’s heart, his cheeks glow pink and his bright blue eyes are glassy.

“Mason? What are you doing?” He mumbles, voice quavering.

“I just…” he doesn’t know what to say, he doesn’t want to let Ethan know he heard what his Mom was saying to him, “I wanted to let you know I didn’t miss your performance, I was cheering for you the whole time,” he smiles weakly, “you did great. If you don’t get first place I’ll honestly be shocked.”

Ethan laughs weakly in disbelief. “Wow. Mason, thank you. Means a lot...I...I hope you win too.”

Without another word he turns again, lightly pulling his wrist out of Mason’s grip. As he walks away Mason sees him wiping under his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket. Feeling a tug at his heart Mason watches Ethan disappear into the crowd, feeling a prickle of tears in his own eyes.