Eliza still hadn’t reached out. It wasn’t a good feeling knowing we were leaving things this way. But I knew I’d see her tomorrow one last time before we flew back to Florida. I hoped maybe I could make things better then.

Chapter 18

CHAPTER

18

If we were nervous on day one and guarded on day two, day three was all about excitement.

Nationals was dropping its competitive edge and going festive for the day. We’d been invited to not only dance but watch the exhibition performers from the audience! Aside from nationals having invited all contestants still in town to come see the show, the top three dance teams were asked to make an appearance onstage in full performance gear, just like last year’s winners had yesterday.

This meant that the morning of the day-three show, Lily was up and dressed early too. We were both arranging our beauty products on the hotel room desk to make it easier to get the pregame routine started.

Knock, knock, knock!

I looked at Lily. “That can’t be our fifteen-minute warning already.”

“It’s us!” Trina whispered through the door.

Lily unlocked the door, and Trina, Megan, and Riley rushed in carrying armloads of products. “We thought it would be fun to do hair and makeup together our last day.”

“That’s a fun idea.” I smiled from ear to ear.

“Turn on some music,” said Riley to no one in particular. “Something good.”

“Whose phone has the best speaker?” Lily asked.

“Megan’s!” everyone agreed. Megan had a skill for getting her parents to buy her most of everything she wanted. Her tech game was on point.

“Fine, but then I get to choose the playlist,” Megan said.

Before long, we were all cracking jokes and telling stories.

“You guys,” I said. “I’m sorry if I made things weird with my old studio and stuff. Moving is hard.”

“Aw, it’s good having Harper back on our side,” said Riley, adding pins to her flawless bun.

“It was never about choosing sides,” Lily said in my defense. “She was just hanging out with an old friend.”

“It sure looked like she was always swinging back and forth from over here,” said Megan, angling her hand mirror so she could check out her updo from different angles.

“I admit I was excited to see Eliza, since I hadn’t seen her in so long,” I said.

“We knowwww,” Riley said, rolling her eyes.

“But know that I consider you guys my new team totally, and just because I still have a good friend back home, it doesn’t mean that I’ve forgotten who has helped me get here,” I said, making eye contact with everyone, especially Lily.

“We forgive you!” Trina put down her curling iron and walked over to give me a hug. Lily threw her arms around the both of us, and then Riley joined the group hug, pulling Megan along with her.