And that’s a wrap!

People had started milling out, the music was playing low enough to hold a conversation and the ballroom lights were back on. We were still onstage, posing for photos and speaking to officials and reporters, who’d wanted to know a few details for their photo captions online.

“Harper, congrats!” A voice close behind me drew my attention away from a stagehand who was handing out small bottles of water to everyone. Eliza was waiting patiently.

“Oh my gosh, Eliza!” I threw my arms around her, careful not to scrape her with the flowers I’d been holding. She hugged me back.

“I’m so proud of you. You guys owned that stage. I saw the whole performance.”

It meant so much to hear her say that. “Thank you!” I said, feeling choked up. “Congratulations on your solos slot! I can’t believe how exciting that is!”

Eliza grinned. “You too!”

We threw our arms around each other again.

I sighed, still in disbelief. “Remember how we always imagined and hoped to compete on this level?”

Eliza shook her head. “We made so many plans.”

“Remember the bucket-list plan to take a pic together on the nationals stage?” Eliza pointed. “Let’s get someone to take a quick pic of us in front of that backdrop—but hold on,” Eliza said, standing on her toes and craning her neck to peer over the small stage crowd. “My coach has all our phones.”

Eliza caught her coach’s eye and stepped away to retrieve her cell. I waited for her.

“We’re missing Harper!” Lily called out from the front of the stage. When she spotted me, she frantically waved me over for a group shot with Vanessa and Trey Thompson. “Hurry up!”

Eliza was back with her phone,

“Ready?” she asked.

“I have to jump into a team pic,” I said to Eliza, conflicted.

“This will only take a second,” said Eliza.

“Harper, we’re waiting!”

Not again.

Eliza wanted to head to the rear of the stage, and the Squad needed me up front.

Think and act fast, Harper, I said to myself, hoping to avoid any more tension. Too late. I was in my second Eliza/Squad standoff today. Everyone was giving me that stare, like they’d bet on what I’d do next. I couldn’t exactly escape to the bathroom like I did last time. I made up my mind. The Squad came first. This was our moment, and I couldn’t let that slip by.

“I’ll be right back,” I said to Eliza.

I walked away before Eliza could react, because I knew I could be guilted into changing my mind. Leave it to me to want to play both sides of the fence. I just wanted everyone to be satisfied. But easier said than done.

“Yay! Here comes Harper,” cheered Trina.

“Can I get you to stand next to your coach?” the photographer had me fill the last empty spot.

We stood almost like a class picture. The trophy was on the floor, flanked by Riley and Trina, who were both kneeling on one knee. Behind them stood Lily, Megan, and me. And on either side of us were Vanessa and Trey Thompson.