Fiona didnât miss a beat. She whipped off her bulky black jacket and chucked it at Alexa, leaving her buried under it for a second.
Alexa was not having it. She wrestled the coat off, keeping her cool and that fake smile plastered on. Inside, she was telling herself sheâd get the last laughâsheâd look like the belle of the ball while Fiona bombed and Sebastian wouldnât lift a finger to help. Thinking this, she couldnât help but smirk. But that smirk faded quickly when she got a load of Fiona owning that stage.
Fiona slipped into a killer outfit, like something oneâd see in school but way cooler. The skirt was short enough to show off her rocking legs and the white tee she had on just tight enough to turn heads. But really got folks talking was her skinâit was so fair and bright it looked like it straight out of a magazine ad
She thought indignantly, âShe lived in the countryside, why she so beautiful skin and a wellâdeveloped figure?â Alexa, stuck holding Fionaâs coat, was fuming. She felt like a secondâstring player while Fiona dazzled like a total MVP Alexa peered up to the balcony, noticing all the dudes who had been eyeing her now fullâon ogling Fiona like theyâd never seen a girl before. Ticked off, Alexa shoved the coat back at Fiona. âHere, take this.â Playing second fiddle to Fiona? Not happening.
But Fiona barely glanced at Alexa; she only had eyes for Sebastian in the VIP seat upstairs. Her sight was 20/20, but even she couldnât make out his poker face from down here. She toyed with the idea of asking him to but got cut off by Alexa, Fiona, already feeling a migraine creeping up, whipped around, âWerenât you after a show? Then hold this.â She flagged down a staff member, âHit me with some Latin beats, would ya?
To Alexa, Latin dancing was about as chic as square dancing. She figured there was no way Fiona, flying solo, could make Latin moves look good. It was not a oneâperson gig. Alexa was sure Fiona was gonna crash and burn. âSo, you think you can handle Latin dancing?â she .
Fiona just flashed a wicked grin, âIâve got a few tricks up my sleeve.â
smirked, âCanât wait to see âem.â
Fiona gathered her hair into a tight ponytail and owned the stage. Her gaze hit Sebastian, and her warm smile just for him. But she ditched the dance invite ideaâif Sebastian shot her down, sheâd be the yearâs biggest joke. No thanks, sheâd test the waters first.
in the VIPs, practically bounced off his seat âMan, she smiled right at me! Sheâs totally digging me!â Patting his face sure of his own hotness, heed, âChicks canât resist this.â
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. âYou really think sheâs into you?â
Luther, catching onto Sebastianâs edgy vibe, gulped, âUm, Sebastian, you okay?â Why did he suddenly seem like a greenâeyed monster, ready to throw down? Luther shot a confused look at Adrien.
Adrien was holding back laugh. âMan, just watch the show if you canât find the right words
As the rhythm filled the room, Fiona was a statue. Alexa watched this scene a smug smile curling her lips, thinking. Tonight, just like Clare, Fiona is destined to become a laughingstock! She hadnât been reveling in this thought for long when suddenly, the beat dropped. Then Fiona was fireâspins, kicks, and jumps in meant for two all by herself.
Sebastian was mesmerized. There Fiona in that simple school getup, and still, she had everyone eating out of her hand, especially him. His cool veneer was melting , and he was feeling things he hadnât felt before.
The crowd might not have known much about dance, but they knew what they liked. And they liked what they sawâa lot. When the track ended Fiona struck her final pose, everyoneâs heart skipped a beat. She traced her lips, blew a kiss straight to Sebastian.
That got himâhe was tugging at his shirt, trying to cool off from the heat wave she sent his She had everyone wrapped around her finger, especially
Sebastian.
The judges out front started the applause, totally wowed by Fiona and her moves.
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Chapter 17
Luther was all lit up like a kid with his first crush, âMan, she blew a kiss straight dt met Iâm done for. Sheâs gotta be the onelâ
âShut up!â both Sebastian, seated next to Luther, and Sean, in the row in front of him, blurted out in unison. As their words hung in the air, they turned to lock eyes with each other sparks flying
Adrien, a little tipsy himself, shook his head with a grin and clapped Luther on the back like he was consoling him.
Up in the VIP section, Macy and the crew were straightâup gobsmacked by Fionaâs performance. And Alexa, standing there on stage, looked like she just seen a ghost. âHow on earth could Fiona dance like that? Mom hasnât been giving Fiona any allowance; she should be too broke to afford dance lessons, right? Yet there she is, dancing like she is ready for the world stage!
The judges dished out scores, and Mona beat Alexaâs. Fiona grabbed the mic from one of the helpers and, with a dazzling smile, threw some shade Alexaâs way. âBig shoutâout to Alexa. No way a newbie like me could have shown my stuff without her setting up this stage. Thanks a ton, Alexa.â
Stearn coming out of Alexaâs ears, she was so mad. She had intentionally scheduled her own act last for the sake of comparison, no doubt. But what she wanted everyone to see was how remarkable she, Alexa, was, and just how terrible Fiona was in contrastânot to become a mere foil to Fiona. She had pulled every trick in the book hoping to see Fiona humiliated, to be scorned by Sebastian, so that the Quinn family would call off the engagement without any cost. And now who was the laughingstock? Her, Alexa turned out to be the fool herself. She noticed that during Fionaâs dance Nathanâs gaze hadnât left her for a second. Alexa had set the trap, and Fiona had turned it right back on her.
Then it was time for the votes. No surprises hereâFiona won by a landslide. Alexa, thrown for such a loop, couldnât even host right anymore, tripping over her words left and right. With the ceremony wrapped up, the students and all the dayâs performers off to the hotel for the afterâparty.