Chapter 23

I blow out a breath as I read Nick's text, letting the wave of relief wash over me and repair the jagged nerve endings of anxiety that have had me on edge all day.

The dread that he won't make it has been building all day. We've been here for hours, supporting some of our clients who have entered the lower levels. Encouraging some of the juniors, trying to calm their nerves, whilst all the time trying to keep a lid on my own.

I roll my shoulders, easing the tension in them, wishing for a moment that Nick was there to rub them. No time for thoughts like that or I won't be able to dance when he arrives. The thought of him, though, helps ease my nerves further. Soon I'll dance with Nick, my Nick, and we can finally show people how good we are together.

I manage the first genuine smile of the day and head to go get ready.

"Ah, Darcy, there you are. Are you ready?" My mum marches up to me with someone in tow. When I look up, I see it's three-time ballroom champion, Krystal Shaw.

"I'm just about to get ready. Nick will be here soon."

"Nick?" she queries.

"Yes, Nick. I'm dancing with Nick. He was delayed because his gran had a fall, but he's on his way."

"Nick?" Her voice rises with incredulity.

"Yes, Nick. I thought you knew." Her surprise is genuine, and I begin to realise with unease that Claire might not have told her. "I thought Claire?—"

"Look. I can see that you have someone already," Krystal says and starts to leave, but my mum grabs her by the wrist.

"You're dancing with Krystal. I've arranged it all," Mum announces. No wonder she had been quiet about the tryouts.

"I don't want to dance with Krystal—no offence Krystal," I direct towards her. A few months ago, I would have jumped at the opportunity, but that was before I wanted dancing to feel how it does when Nick and I dance. "I want to dance with Nick."

"You can't dance with Nick!" my mum whisper-shouts at me, almost baring her teeth.

"Why not?" I've definitely checked the rules ten times over.

"Because you won't win!"

"I don't want to win. I just want to dance my way," I say with more force than I intend, and she draws back as if I've slapped her.

We stand-off for a couple of seconds while she looks at me as if she doesn't know me, which is probably not far from the truth right now. I go to push past her, but she releases Krystal and grabs my wrist instead. "Wait here," She issues the instruction to Krystal and drags me through a door. The room is some sort of storage room for chairs and tables, but it's empty of people. She releases me, but stands close enough to the door that I'd have to physically move her out of the way to leave.

I know I'm about to get a tongue lashing. I'm going to stand firm, stand up for myself. I'm sick of her telling me what to do.

"Darcy Franklin." Her voice is low and I know the tone is her most deadly. "Everything I've done has been for you, to let your talents shine. You can be the next ballroom champion. It's been something you've wanted your whole life. All you've dreamed of for years. This is going to be your year, everyone says so. You are dancing better than ever. You can do this Darcy, you can make your dreams come true."

Her voice softens as she continues. "You know we all love Nick, but you can't win if you dance with him. The judges will never award it to you. Those things only happen in movies, not in real life. Surely you know that?"

I do know it. Claire had been right when she said it, and my mum is right now. Julia's words come back to me and I echo them now.

"Winning was always your dream, Mum, not mine."

She physically deflates, and I take the opportunity to make a break for the door. My hand is on the door handle.

"Darcy?"

Something in her voice halts me. I'm used to a lecture, I'm used to her hardness, but this is a tone she's never used before. It's forlorn, with an undercurrent of desperation.

I wait to hear what else she has to say.

"Your dad and I didn't want to tell you this, but the school is in trouble. Real trouble. Lesson numbers have been dropping, you've seen that. We're finding it harder to attract new clients. Our debts are just going up."

My stomach drops, and I can't quite believe what I'm hearing. I'd suspected that things weren't good, but they'd always brushed it off.

"The forties event—" I turn around, trying to say something, anything to help.

"—is a good idea, Darcy, but it's a drop in the ocean. We've been approached by the developers. They've made us an offer."

"For the school?" My life as I know it is pulled out from under me and I fall on the ruckle of its passing. I have no future without the school. I have no other qualifications.

"For the building, yes." My mum nods. "But we don't have to accept it, not if we can make the school successful again. If you win the Nationals, people will want to come and learn to dance with us. You'll be famous. We need you to win it, Darcy. We're counting on you. You can see that, can't you?"

Everything adds up in my head—the worried looks and hushed discussions. The conversations that have stopped when I've entered a room. I guess that me being wrapped up with Nick has blinded me to what's been going on around us. I feel like I've been selfish, neglecting my family.

My mum comes closer and with a sad smile on her face. "There'll be other years."

My heart feels too heavy to hold right now. But I know what I must do. She's right, we'll have other years to dance together. But first, I need to save my family and my future.

"Why isn't Krystal dancing with Andrew?" I hadn't given any thought to why she might be available. Andrew is her husband, and together they're one of the greatest dance couples on the circuit.

"He had an accident and has broken his arm. He'll be out of action for at least six months. It is a misfortune, but can you see how it's even more of an indication that this is your year?"

It's extremely insensitive of her to say so, but her logic that one of the top contenders to the title is out of action and I can dance with the other is sound.

"Okay, I'll do it." The words are as thick as sawdust, and I open the door. My dad is standing outside as well.

"It's alright Dad, Mum told me about the school."

"Son—" he starts, but I don't listen. I don't want to know any more. My future as I know it hangs teetering on the edge, and I need to make it a solid vision again.

I turn to Krystal and hold out a hand.

"Shall we dance?"