Here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it. It will be written in Deylia Rivers POV and will focus on her nationals dance competition with Branden. Some relationship drama will happen in this chapter as well. This is going to be a really long chapter to make up for not updating in awhile.
Nationals Dance Competition
Deylia POV
The one thing about dance competitions that I really loved was being able to miss a few days of school. My parents are ok with me missing some school for competitions. They have been so supportive of my dancing ever since I started. My mom actually encouraged me to dance and enrolled me in my first dance class at age 5. She wanted me to be a ballerina but quickly realized that I hated ballet. I didn't hate dance, I loved it. It was just that I didn't want to be a girl in a tutu. I still remember the day my parents found out that ballet wasn't for me.
Flashback/Memory
I was turning 6 in two months and my first dance recital was in just a few weeks. My mom had just picked me up from pre kindergarten. It was year two of preschool. My parents didn't think I was ready for kindergarten yet since I was developing slower then other kids my age. I was six months older then most of my parents friends kids had been when they started walking and talking. My little brother Tyler is 4 and he just stated preschool. If my parents don't put him through two years of preschool then he will be in the same grade as me.
"Your ballet class was canceled today because the teachers sick." My mom had said
"Yes." I said
"You are happy, I thought you would be sad." My mom said
"I don't like ballet mommy, the tutu's make me really itchy." I said
"You'll love it after your very first dance recital. I took ballet at your age and so did your grandma." My mom said
"I can't be a ballerina mom, the teacher said I wasn't graceful enough." I said
"I will have to talk to your teacher. She shouldn't be telling that to little kids. Your dad and I think you are the perfect little ballerina. I thought you loved dancing." My mom said
"I love dance mom, just not ballet." I said
"I'll talk to your dad and see what he thinks. You can still be a dancer without ballet if that's what you want." My mom said
Later that night I was playing with a barbie doll and Tyler was playing with his firetruck toy. Our parents talked as they watched us play.
"Look, the dance pictures arrived in the mail today. Deylia looks so cute in that tutu but she's not smiling." My dad said
"We need to put her in a different dance class in the fall." My mom said
"Why, is there something wrong with her teacher?" My dad asked
"No it's Deylia, today she told me that she hates ballet." My mom said
"Why?" My dad asked
"Apparently the teacher told Deylia she wasn't graceful enough to be a ballerina." My mom said
"We can find Deylia a new teacher, with my job we could probably even afford private lessons. We've saved up enough money because your mom has been babysitting the kids for free so we can afford to splurge a little bit." My dad said
"Caleb, we agreed that we would take the money we saved up and buy a bigger house. I know that my mom offers to babysitting the kids for free but I really think we need to pay her next time." My mom said
"This house is just fine. Tyler and Deylia are still little, having them share a bedroom is what we agreed on." My dad said
"I know but if we want more kids in the future then a two bedroom house isn't going to be big enough." My mom said
"We have time to think about that. I want our little girl to be happy so in the meantime we can find her a ballet teacher that she really likes and if that means expensive private lessons then that is what we should use our money on." My dad said
"Deylia growing up and being a ballerina was my dream for her. I don't think it's what she wants. I think we need to have Deylia try different dance styles until she finds one that she loves and is passionate about." My mom said
End of Flashback/Memory
I tried many different dance styles, A few years later I had discovered Jazz and Tap. I have been dancing those two dance styles ever since. Occasionally I will mix hip hop into one of my routines depending on my music choice. If it wasn't for my parents I probably wouldn't be the competitive dancer that I am today. All of their encouragement over the years kept me from quitting. Every single time I lost a competition and Kelsey won they would tell me to keep competing as long as I am having fun.
"Are you all packed up and ready go tomorrow morning?" My mom asked me
"Yes." I said
"Do you need a ride to the airport?" My mom asked
"No, Brandens picking me up a 730 AM. We both decided that it would be really stupid to have both of our cars parked at the airport for a few days." I said
" That's a smart way to save money." My mom said
"We're both on the same flight to Orlando and back from Orlando anyway." I said
"Good,so Branden will also be taking you home after you both land Sunday night." My dad asked
"Yes." I said
"You two are staying in separate hotel rooms right. I assume that girls and boys have to room in separate rooms." My dad asked
"No, actually Branden and I decided to share a room." I said
"Deylia, we are aware that you and Branden are in a serious relationship but that doesn't mean we want you sharing a room with him." My dad said
"I thought that things were different this time since it was just going to be Branden and I. His mom will be their too but we don't need 24/7 adult supervision anymore." I said
"Just be careful and stay out of trouble. Your mom and I trust you but if you don't check in with us at least once a day we will get worried." My dad said
"Branden and I are going to be so focused on dancing that we won't have time for romance anyway." I said
"How's your back?" My dad asked
"It still hurts but the pain level is better. I promise I will go to the doctor after nationals to see what is going on." I said
"If the doctor takes X-rays and suggests that you stop dancing then you really need to listen to the doctor this time." My dad said
"I can't just quit like that without trying. The only reason Branden and I are still together is because we are dance partners. If I quit competitive dance I would be ruining his chances of going to NYU next year." I said
"Did Branden tell you that?" My mom asked
"Not exactly those words but he did say that if we weren't dance partners then he never would have had the courage to send in an audition video to NYU." I said
"You can't let your back get any worse Deylia, you could end up with permanent damage if you don't do something about it." My dad said
"Those pain pills were working." I said
"Deylia, you know you can't take those." My mom said
"Then there has to be some other way for me to keep dancing. I love it, I know I'm not the Ballerina that you and dad wanted me to be but you have to admit that I have a future in dance." I said
"You can still have a successful future without dance." My mom said
"Tyler got a knee injury and he still gets to play sports." I said
"I don't want you to argue with us right now. You've been dealing with back pain for three years, Deylia and it doesn't seem to be getting better." My dad said
Deylias POV
Branden picked me up so we could go to the Philadelphia airport. The flight didn't leave until 930 AM and we arrived at the airport around 8 AM. By the time we got through security and arrived at the correct gate we only had an hour to wait before the plane was scheduled to board. Brandens mom was already in Orlando since she had to be there on Wednesday for a dance committee meeting.
"I was surprised you mom didn't ask my parents to dog sit Max." I said
"She boarded him in a Kennel before she left so I haven't seen him in a few days. I miss him already and I won't be able to see him again until Monday after school." Branden said
"So your mom just trusted you to leave you alone for 2 full days." I said
"She knows I'm not Kelsey plus I told her that you would be staying with me." Branden said
"You never asked me to stay at your house. It's not like my parents would have allowed it anyway, they are barley allowing us to share a hotel room together." I said
"I never actually meant to ask you. I just told my mom that so she would worry less about me." Branden said
"Sometimes I wish my parents would worry less about me." I said
"What's going on, you called off dance practice everyday this week. If we don't get into some rehearsal time today then there is no way that we are going to do good in competition tomorrow.
"Branden we are going to do just fine. I ran through the routine in my mind multiple times." I said
"I watched rehearsal footage but that's not the same as actually rehearsing." Branden said
"We did what we could do, It's not like we could rehearse our duet without actually dancing." I said
"Deylia, Did you call off practice because of your back?" Branden asked
"Branden, if I am going to make it through this weekend, I needed to rest my back as much as possible the last few days. After Sunday I just thought that rehearsing would put to much strain on my back." I said
"If its that bad then maybe you should go see a doctor." Branden said
"Just let me deal with my own problems." I said
"Don't get mad at me just because I think you should see a doctor about your back." Branden said
"I'm not mad OK, I'm just tired of people telling me what I should and shouldn't do." I said
"If by people you mean your parents they just do that because they love you." Branden said
We boarded the plane for the two and a half hour flight. We were going to be near Disney World and Universal Studios but we wouldn't have any time to actually go. When we got to Florida we had some lunch at the Orlando airport. I also texted my parents to say that we arrived in Orlando. Brandens mom picked us up from the airport since she had rented a car. We checked in to the hotel. Brandens mom had a room down the hall from were our room was. We had some time to rehearse our dance in the hotels event room, It wasn't as big as the hotels ballroom where a dance would be taking place that night but there was enough space to rehearse.
"I reserved a table at the hotels main restaurant for you and I to have dinner tonight. Then after that all the dancers have a dance in the ballroom." Branden said
"It's going to be like a homecoming do over for us." I said
"I am looking forward to that, You won't have to dance with JT and I won't have to dance with Rochelle." Branden said
"I think that rest paid off, My back barley hurts at all right now." I said
"Deylia, we really needed the rehearsal time though." Branden said
"Can we be done now." I asked
"We really need to run this routine at least one time completely before we stop rehearsing. There will be no pauses and restarts in competition tomorrow." Branden said
"I know the routine Branden." I said
"You say that now but when we are competing you are going to mess up." Branden said
"Trust me Branden, I won't mess up when we are actually competing. I said
Branden and I had time to rest and freshen up before dinner. We also had to change from casual rehearsal cloths to more formal cloths. Before we ate dinner I called my parents to check in. While we were eating dinner JT kept texting me about our deal.
"Deylia, who are you texting?" Branden asked
"Tyler, He has his drivers test tomorrow and he just wanted advise." I lied
Tyler really did have his drivers test tomorrow but I wasn't texting him at the moment.
"I know Tyler is your brother but can you please just not text right now." Branden said
I stopped texting JT and I sent Tyler a text saying good luck on your drivers test so I was only lying a little bit.
"Sorry I didn't realize It bothered you that much." I said
"I don't mind you texting when were together but right now I just want to spend quality time with you." Branden said
Later that night Branden and I were dancing together in the hotels ballroom. I was wearing the same dress that I had worn to homecoming. The song "Thinking Out Loud" by Ed Sheeran was playing.
"I love this song, Its so romantic and its like the perfect song for us." I said
"You know a few years down the road this could be our wedding song." Branden said
I knew then that I had to break things off with JT because Branden was the one I truly loved.
"The music video for this song is great, The dancing is so romantic and it always reminds me of us." I said
"We should get married in New York, Think about it after you graduate high school come to New York with me. Well get married and live in an apartment together near NYU." Branden said
"I don't want to just run away and get married. I want my family and friends to be at my wedding." I said
"Eventually we will have that but in the meantime we can get married and not have to worry about doing all the planning." Branden said
After the dance we went back to our hotel room. Branden and I both put pajamas on.
"Have you heard back from NYU yet?" I asked
"Actually I have." Branden said
"Great, what did they say?" I said
"I may have accidentally sent a video of us doing a duet together. The thing is they want both of us to come to NYU and audition." Branden said
"I told you I didn't want to go to NYU so why would I audition. Can't you email them back and send them your real audition video?" I asked
"I tried to explain that but I got another email saying that you had to audition with me or there is no audition." Branden said
"Fine, When is the audition?" I asked
"November 1st, It's a Saturday but the campus tour is scheduled for October 31." Branden said
"So you need me in New York for that as well." I said
"Well not really but I figured it would be stupid for both of us to drive to New York city." Branden said
"Where would we be staying?" I asked
"NYU is offering to pay for a hotel room in NYC for how ever many nights we are in New York since the campus dorm rooms are all full." Branden said
"So how long would we be in New York?" I asked
"Since Rosewood High school allows seniors to take up to a week off of school for college visits I thought we would drive to New York after school on October 29th and drive back on November 2nd. That way we would only miss two days of school." Branden said
"Well I will have to ask my parents permission but as long as they say yes then that sounds great." I said
I quickly texted JT while Branden was in the bathroom.
"I'm sorry but I can't do this anymore." I texted
"Why" JT texted back
"It's not fair to Branden." I sent back to JT
"That didn't seem to bother you before." JT texted me
"The first time we slept together I was confused. After we kissed I thought I had feelings for you. The second time we slept together I was drunk and you took advantage of me." I texted back
Branden was now out of the bathroom.
"Are you going to stop texting so we can watch a movie?" Branden asked
I put my phone down on the nightstand in between the two beds.
"Or we could do something else." I said
"Like what?" Branden asked
"Our third anniversary is in a couple days so maybe we can re create or first time together. I know it's a different hotel but a romantic night with you would make me really happy right now." I said
Branden romantically kissed me and slowly pushed me on one of the hotel beds. He was on top of me and we were making out. Our shirts were the first thing to come off. It was about to get more intense when my phone went off. I should have silenced it or turned it off.
"Just ignore that Branden, Who ever it is isn't as important as you." I said
Branden tried to ignore my phone but when it kept going off he just couldn't ignore it any longer. He reached for my phone.
"Branden just leave it alone." I said
"Why should I, unless you have something to hide." Branden said
"Its my phone Branden." I said but it was to late
I could tell he was reading the texts between JT and I by the look on his face.
"How long has this been going on for?" Branden asked sounding upset
"Since Labor day weekend but I promise it's over now. It was stupid and JT and I only slept together twice." I said
"It wouldn't matter if it only happened once or if it was just one kiss, You still cheated on me Deylia." Branden said
"I can explain." I said
"What is there to explain, Nothing you say is going to change anything." Branden said
"I don't love JT like I love you." I said
"Then why did you sleep with him?" Branden said
"Remember that Saturday of Labor Day weekend when you cancelled on our date because you had to take Max to the vet." I said
"Yes, but that didn't give you permission to go sleep with JT." Branden said
"I know and I'm sorry but he told me some things about you and Rochelle. I guess I was just upset and I wanted to get back at you for sleeping with Rochelle." I said
"I should have told you about my deal with Rochelle, I just didn't want to hurt you, Technically I didn't cheat on you because we were broken up at the time." Branden said
"Was Rochelle just your rebound girl or do you really have feelings for her?" I asked
"Mostly just my rebound girl, at one point I had feelings for her but not anymore." Branden said
"I understand if you want to break up with me Branden. I was wrong to hook up with JT behind your back." I said
"We've both made mistakes and I realize that our relationship has been struggling lately. So instead of me breaking up with you right now why don't we just put our relationship on pause." Branden said
"For how long?" I asked
"For as long as it takes for both of us to decide if we still want to be together." Branden said
"This really feels like a breakup though." I said as the tears started to fall from my eyes.
"Don't cry over this please. This is what is best for us right now, Neither of us were happy in this relationship." Branden said
"I'm just upset and when girls get upset they cry. JT and I have been friends for a while but I never should have trusted him. The whole thing was his idea and I knew I made a mistake right after it happened the first time." I said
"You should have told me the truth right after it happened and hoped that I would have forgiven you." Branden said
"I tried telling JT it was a mistake but he wouldn't listen to me. Then after homecoming JT and I were hanging out. I had plans with him, Tyler, and Bella to celebrate Tylers sweet 16. Bella backed out but that's why the you and I couldn't have plans after the dance. We went to this lake house that JTs grandparents own, I got really drunk and then things just happened." I said
"Are you trying to tell me that JT did something he shouldn't have that night." Branden said
"No, He was drunk to. He just took advantage of the fact that we were both drunk and pressured me into sleeping with him when he knew I had a boyfriend. Both JT and I were at fault that night." I said
Branden didn't even say goodnight to me. He just got up and got in the other bed. He left his shirt on the bed that I was on. I went to bed still upset and crying. I was wearing his shirt because mine was on the floor and I didn't feel like grabbing it. I woke up the next morning to the sound of someone knocking on the door. Branden was still sleeping in the other bed so I answered the door. It was his mother.
"Did you just get up?" Ms. Peterson asked
"Yes." I said
"Well you better wake Branden up and hurry up because the competition starts in an hour." Ms. Peterson said
After our fight last night I had forgotten about the competition. Brandens mom left and I woke up Branden. He put another shirt on and left the room to go eat breakfast while I was showering in the hotel room. When Branden returned I went downstairs to eat breakfast while he took a shower in the hotel room. We walked over to were the competition was being held since it was near the hotel. We made it just in time.
"Hi, mom." Branden said
"I thought you were going to be late." Ms. Peterson said
"Sorry we overslept." Branden said
We didn't talk to each other the entire time that we were at the competition. We were in the same group for the mini class sessions. We had to learn choreography for small routines different styles of dance. We were being judged but the duet dance that we perform in the afternoon counts for more. Finally it was time for us to dance our duet. When we danced together to "All of Me" both Branden and I forgot about our relationship issues. We danced our hearts out. At the end of the dance we had choreographed a kiss. I was surprised when Branden actually went through with the kiss. The entire audience clapped louder then I have ever heard.
"That was the best performance that I have seen from either of you." Ms Peterson said
"Thanks." I said
"We worked really hard on it." Branden said
The next morning the results were announced.
"The winner of the duet competition is Branden Peterson and Deylia Rivers from Pennsylvania." One of the judges announced.
We went up on stage to collect our trophy. After that we went back to our hotel room to pack up and check out of the hotel. Brandens mom drove us to the airport. She had a flight that left at 2 PM but our flight didn't leave until 7 PM. Branden and I had to hang around the airport for several hours. At least the airport had plenty of different places to eat food and do some walking around.
Deylias POV
Branden and I landed at Philadelphia International airport around 930 PM on Sunday night. We were at the baggage pickup waiting to get our luggage.
"I can't believe we won. I didn't even think we had a chance after Friday night." I said
"I don't want to talk about that right now." Branden said
Brandens grabbed his suitcase and I was still waiting for mine.
"Its getting late, you can find your own ride home." Branden said
"You can't just leave me here." I said
"I already had to sit on a plane next to you for almost three hours and I really don't want to be in the car with you for another 30 minutes." Branden said
"How I am supposed to get home?" I asked
"Call your parents." Branden said
He left minutes before I got my suitcase. I called home hoping that one of my parents would answer. It was 10 PM now and they might be sleeping.
"Hello." My mom said
"Can you please pick me up at the airport?" I asked in tears
"Yes, What happened? I thought Branden was supposed to take you home." My mom said
"I'll explain later just come get me please." I said
"I'll be there as soon as I can." My mom said
"I love you." I said and then hung up the phone.
My mom arrived within 30 minutes. We didn't get home until 11 PM. Everyone else was already sleeping by the time we got home.
"I know it's late but I want to know why Branden left you alone at the airport." My mom said
"I think Branden and I might be broken up." I said
"What happened, Did he hurt you?" My mom asked
"No, I messed up the relationship. I cheated on him and I'd rather not say who I cheated with." I said
"I know your upset but it will get better. On another note your dad and I made a doctors appointment for you tomorrow. It's at 11 AM so we excused you from school tomorrow but you have to go back to school on Tuesday." My mom said
"So do you think he will ever forgive me?" I asked
"Thanks not up to me, If it's true love then I think in time you two will be back together. Both of you have dance and that's a really great way to express your emotions." My mom said
"Thanks mom, I don't know how were going to dance together though. We won the duet competition so we have Worlds in 6 months." I said
"You'll figure something out. Your dad and I had an on and off again relationship and look where we are now, Married with 4 kids that we both love so much." My mom said
I said goodnight and both of us went to bed.
Deylias POV
I went to my doctors appointment. Something was wrong because the back pain had started up again this morning. The doctor took X-Rays. The doctor said that my back just had some swollen and strained muscles. He said it should go away with extra rest. It was a good thing that Worlds wasn't for six months so I had time to prepare. I didn't even know if Branden and I would be competing. I wanted to but I didn't know if Branden did.
I was home alone until Tyler got home from school. My dad also got home at the same time.
"I got back late last night so I never got a chance to ask you if you passed your drivers test." I said
"I passed, Dad even took me out of school early today so I could get my licence at the DMV." Tyler said
"Thats nice that dad left work early to take you, can I see it?" I asked
Tyler showed me his drivers licence.
"Actually I had an early morning meeting so since I went in a few hours earlier I left a few hours earlier. That's why I was already sleeping when you got home last night Deylia." My dad said
"So I guess Tyler and I are sharing the car now?" I asked my dad
"Yes, eventually your mom and I will buy Tyler a car." My dad said
"I understand just because you and mom can afford to buy another car it doesn't mean you have to." Tyler said
"I don't trust Tyler to drive my car dad." I said
"He took the drivers test in your car and he did great." My dad said
"So that's how that scratch got on my car. I noticed it this morning before I went to the doctors and I know it wasn't on there a few days ago." I said
"Chill out Deylia, it's just one little scratch. Don't forget that you already completely totaled your first car before you even had your licence for a year." Tyler said
"I've had my licence for almost 15 months now which is a lot longer then you since you haven't even had your licence for a day yet. " I said
"Just stop before the two of you end up in a big sibling fight." My dad said to both Tyler and I
"I was just proving a point dad, Tyler has almost no experience driving my car." I said
"I don't see why you have to complain considering you have Branden to drive you around." My dad said
"I might not have him anymore." I said
"What's that supposed to mean?" My dad asked
"Nothing, I don't want to talk about it." I said
I left the room. I grabbed my laptop and went down the basement into my home dance studio. My family knew that whenever I was in the studio that I didn't want to be bothered. I knew I shouldn't be dancing but I needed to let out my emotions. I found a DVD that had some of my past dance performances mixed in with my CDs. I put the disk in to my computer and started watching. The first clip was of my very first dance recital. I hated that ballerina out fit but I made my parents really proud. I was the worst dancer in that class. I don't even know why my dad recorded that performance. I watched a few more dance performances from the last few years. I had improved so much from that first performance.
I had to dance to feel better about the whole situation I am in with Branden. I put a CD in the CD player and started did some improve dance. I was dancing to "The Words" by Christina Perri when I noticed Branden watching me through the window on the dance studio door. I stopped dancing and paused the music. I opened the door and I noticed he had a box in his hands.
"I'm surprised to see you here." I said
"I can't stay but I just wanted to give you some of your stuff back. I forgot how much of your stuff was at my house." Branden said
"I think I have a few of your sweatshirts in my room." I said
I took the box upstairs to my room and I grabbed Brandens sweatshirts to give back to him.
"What's that?" Tyler asked when he saw the box
"Just a box of my things that Branden gave to me." I said
"So are the two of you really over?" Tyler asked
"I hope not but he gave me my things back and I am giving him his sweatshirts back." I said
"If you want to talk to me I'm here for you. I'm sure you would rather talk to me about Branden then our parents." Tyler said
I handed Branden his sweatshirts and before he could leave my parents asked if they could talk to him. I wanted to know what they were saying so I decided to listen in on the conversation.
"Can we talk to you for a minute?" My dad asked Branden
"I really should get going home." Branden said
"I want to know why you would leave Deylia at the airport last night?" My mom asked
"Why don't you ask Deylia, I'm sure she will be happy to tell you all about her and JT." Branden said
"So you are acting this way becuase she cheated on you?" My dad asked
"Yes and according to what she told me this whole thing started Labor Day weekend." Branden said
"Just give Deylia another chance. Branden, she really loves you and I bet her and JT were a mistake." My mom said
"Tell Deylia when she can prove to me that her and JT are over, then I might give her another chance." Branden said
Then Branden stormed out of my house.
"Deylia, was Branden telling the truth?" My dad asked
"Yes, he hates me now. I tried to explain to him that JT meant nothing to me but Branden doesn't believe me." I said
"It will get better. Why don't you go to the movies with Bella next weekend. Maybe a girls night will help you move on." My mom said
"I will never move on from Branden. He was supposed to be the one for me." I said
"You will find someone else. Your mom wasn't my first love." My dad said
"How are Branden and I supposed to dance together? we won nationals, which means worlds is in 6 months." I said
"You have time. You are a smart girl and I am sure that you will figure something out." My mom said
Later that night Tyler heard me crying. I was in my bedroom and he was in his but he still heard me.
"Talk to me Deylia. You are my sister and I care for you. I want to know what is going on." Tyler said
"Once you find out what happened, you are never going to want to talk to me again." I said
"You know thats not true, nothing you say will ever make me hate you." Tyler said
"I slept with JT twice and Branden found out about it." I said
"I can't believe you would do that. I thought you really loved Branden." Tyler said
"I love Branden but I also think I have feelings for JT." I said
I hope you enjoyed this chapter because I did.
Discussion Questions
What are your thoughts on the this chapter?
Do you think Branden and Deylia will work things out?
What will happen when Tyler and Bella find out that Deylia slept with JT? Will they take Deylias side of the story or JTs side of the story?
Any ideas for the next chapter or any upcoming chapters? I am running out of ideas so please help me.
Please review and/or PM me.
The more Reviews and PMs the more motivation I have to write meaning new chapters will be posted more often.
As always thanks for reading.
I will be updating "Ezria In LA" next so please check out that story as well.