09 | shakes and fries

SHAKES AND FRIES

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The air in the ballroom was buzzing with the kind of nervous energy that only came before a live show. Even though it was just dress rehearsal day, the atmosphere carried an edge of excitement. Crew members wheeled lighting rigs across the stage, producers whispered hurriedly into headsets, and wardrobe racks full of glittering costumes rolled past in the hallways. It was a world that Diana had already grown used to, but every time she walked in, it still managed to make her heart skip with anticipation.

For now, though, Diana wasn't anywhere near the chaos of the stage. She sat backstage in front of the long line of mirrors framed with glowing bulbs, as she let her morning begin in the quietest, sweetest way possible. Sitting cross-legged on the makeup table directly in front of her was Nikita, a tiny brush clutched firmly in her little hand.

Her grip was clumsy, and every swipe across Diana's cheek was more of a haphazard pat, but her face was scrunched in deep concentration, like this was the most important job in the world.

Diana bit her lip to keep from laughing. The bristles barely brushed her skin in the right places—sometimes landing on her chin, other times poking at her forehead—but she didn't flinch. Instead, she leaned forward a little, offering her face like it was a canvas. "Perfect," she murmured, even though no real makeup was being applied.

Nikita made a little squeal of delight at her own effort, then dipped the brush into thin air before going back in, her tiny wrist moving in big, uncoordinated circles. Powder dusted off the unused bristles and floated lazily in the air.

Behind them, Daniella bustled through her bag, pulling out rehearsal shoes and a sequined jacket. She paused mid-movement, her eyes softening as she caught sight of her daughter. Nikita's curls bobbed as she wobbled with the brush, Diana sitting perfectly still as though she were in the chair of a real makeup artist.

Daniella leaned against the counter, her voice warm with amusement. "She's giving you the royal treatment."

Diana glanced at Daniella in the mirror, smiling. "I feel honored. This must be the toddler deluxe package."

That earned a quiet laugh from Daniella. She stepped closer, smoothing one of Nikita's curls as the little girl smacked the brush against Diana's forehead with more enthusiasm than precision. Diana just laughed softly, tilting her head obligingly.

"She adores you," Daniella murmured.

"I adore her right back." Diana's gaze dropped affectionately to the little girl in front of her. "Honestly, she makes mornings way better. And she's definitely keeping me humble."

Nikita made one last swipe, then seemed to decide she was finished. She let the brush roll onto the counter and clapped her hands together again, proud of herself. Diana leaned toward the mirror dramatically, nodding.

"Flawless," she said with exaggerated seriousness. "The best I've ever looked."

Daniella laughed outright at that, bending down to kiss her daughter's head before gently lifting her off the counter. "Alright, sweetheart. Let's give Diana some space now."

Nikita wriggled in her mother's arms, still giggling, her little hands reaching back toward the counter. Diana waved at her, her heart melting at the tiny smile she got in return.

As Daniella carried her away, Diana turned back to the mirror and pulled her hair back. As she tied it up, she couldn't stop smiling. The world outside was filled with pressure and performance, but this—this small, messy, joyful moment—was the kind of thing she wanted to hold onto.

The ballroom floor was quieter than it would be tomorrow night, but there was still a hum of anticipation in the air. Cameras were being set into place, floor tape marks gleamed under the stage lights, and a steady rhythm of footsteps echoed as pros rehearsed their entrances. Dress rehearsal day always carried a unique kind of tension—the final chance to lock in steps and spacing before everything became real.

Diana slipped out from backstage, smoothing her practice skirt with one hand. The sudden brightness of the stage lights made her squint for a moment. She inhaled, catching the familiar smell of hairspray, fresh paint, and the faint metallic tang of lighting rigs warming up. It all felt like home, in a strange, electric way.

She moved quickly toward her spot when a voice called her name.

"Diana!"

Turning, she spotted Felicia walking in her direction, still in casual rehearsal clothes with her mic pack clipped at her waist. Her warmth was immediate, her smile wide as she reached out to touch Diana's arm.

"I just wanted to say," Felicia began, her voice carrying the easy confidence of someone who belonged here, "I love the song you and Grayson chose for dedication night. 'Brother' is such a strong choice."

Diana felt her cheeks warm, a mix of pride and nerves fluttering in her chest. "Thank you. Once we heard it, we knew we needed to use it. Grayson wants to dedicate it to his best friend."

Felicia's smile softened, her eyes glowing with approval. "That's beautiful. I can already picture it—you two are going to have the audience in tears tomorrow night." She gave Diana's arm a quick, encouraging squeeze. "Good luck, sweetheart. You're going to kill it."

Diana's grin widened despite the butterflies building in her stomach. "Thanks, Felicia. That means a lot."

As Felicia moved off toward the band setup, Diana turned back toward the stage. Her shoes tapped against the glossy floor as she found her mark, joining the other pros gathering for camera blocking of the opening number.

The music swelled as the crew tested sound levels, and Diana rolled her shoulders back, focusing. The choreography was fast, flashy, designed to grab the audience's attention within seconds. Normally, she would have been hyper-aware of the cameras swinging overhead, but today her thoughts wavered for a moment.

Where was Malachi?

He was there last week. He'd been off to the side, leaning casually in one of the chairs as he supported his mom. But today, the seats were empty except for crew members. With all their texting, she didn't think to ask if he was coming today.

She forced the thought aside with a quick shake of her head, focusing on the choreography as Daniella called counts from across the floor.

The music kicked in again, and Diana let herself fall into the rhythm, her body snapping into place with the other pros, every movement sharp, rehearsed, and precise.

By the time the pros wrapped their final spacing run, Diana's body hummed with the familiar ache of repetition. Sweat glistened along her hairline, but the good kind—the kind that meant she'd given everything.

"Alright, reset for couples!" a stage manager called, clipboard in hand. "Grayson and Diana, you're up second."

Diana's pulse quickened as she jogged off to find Grayson, who was stretching by the wings. He looked relaxed, his arms loose at his sides, but she could see the flicker of nerves in the way he bounced on his heels.

"You ready?" she asked, adjusting her rehearsal skirt.

Grayson grinned, though it wavered just slightly. "As I'll ever be. You?"

"I think so," she said honestly, then reached for his hand. "C'mon. Let's show them what we've got."

They walked hand-in-hand to the center of the ballroom, the set glowing with soft, warm lights. Diana inhaled deeply, grounding herself.

The music began—Brother filling the cavernous space with its haunting, emotional tone. Immediately, Diana slipped into character, letting the choreography take over. She guided Grayson through lifts, spins, and those vulnerable, breathless pauses where they had to just look at each other.

Grayson's movement wasn't perfect—his shoulders too stiff in some transitions, his steps just a fraction behind the beat—but the emotion was there. Every time his eyes met hers, there was sincerity, an unspoken bond that carried more weight than flawless technique ever could.

The final notes faded, and they ended in a tight embrace, Diana's head pressed briefly against his shoulder. She heard his breathless laugh in her ear before they pulled apart, both flushed with adrenaline.

Applause rang out, soft but heartfelt—from the crew, the pros sitting off to the side, and Emma, who stood closer than anyone. Her hands were clasped over her chest, and her eyes were glassy.

The two then went through the blocking for judges scores before stepping off the floor. Diana made her way over to some of the pros.

"That was..." Emma trailed off for a moment, her voice thick with emotion. "Absolutely beautiful. Honestly, I teared up. You really captured something special."

Diana blinked, caught off guard. Compliments from any of the pros carried weight. "Really?" she asked, a small, almost shy smile tugging at her lips.

"Really," Emma assured her, nodding firmly. "And your choreography was stunning."

As Diana thanked Emma again, she felt a presence near her. She turned to see Grayson looking down at her with a smile. He then looked at Emma, "So..."

"You're gonna have everyone in the audience crying." Then she glanced between the two with a teasing glint. "There's just this natural chemistry that makes it even better."

Grayson chuckled, scratching the back of his neck, but when his eyes flicked to Diana, they softened. He stepped closer, his hand brushing her elbow in a gesture that felt oddly intimate for a rehearsal.

"She makes it easy," he said, his voice quiet enough that it almost felt like it was meant for her alone.

For a heartbeat too long, Diana let herself meet his gaze. There was something there—warmth, trust, maybe even something a little more. She quickly looked down, focusing on smoothing her skirt, willing the heat in her cheeks to fade.

"Alright, back to places!" the stage manager called, breaking the moment like a snapped string.

Diana exhaled, shaking off the lingering feeling in her chest as she and Grayson sat down, watching the next couple go.

The day stretched on, a blur of camera blocking, costume notes, and last-minute tweaks to choreography. By the time the final group number wrapped, Diana's muscles were sore, her throat dry from running counts and cues over and over. She dropped into a folding chair, catching her breath.

She pulled out her phone and texted Aspen an update about rehearsals before switching contacts and sending another text.

today 6:53 PM

talked to your mom todayshe's literally the sweetest

yeahshe's pretty great

gotta admitlittle disappointed you didn't show up today

ezra had to catch me

wow...replacing me already i see how it is

would you have ratherme just fall on my face???????

yes

😑

nobut in all seriousness i wanted to come buthad to film some promofor disney

rightforgot that you're like famous or something

says the girl who'sliterally on dwts

that's different

it's really not

whatever

so how was rehearsal

really good actually i was worried with itbeing contemporary but gray has beenkilling it

goodi'm excited to see itare you leaving now?

yeahi was gonna stop andget some food bc i amSTARVING and theni'll probably head home

heywhy don't we meetup for foodmy treat

ok yeah

yeah?

i mean...i'm obviously not gonna turn down free food

obviously how does In-N-Outsound?

like you know theway to a girls heart 😍meet at 7?

see you at 7

In-N-Out was buzzing when she arrived, the smell of burgers and fries thick in the air. Diana adjusted the strap of her tote on her shoulder, scanning until she spotted him. Malachi was already there, she had texted him her order before she left, leaning casually against the counter with a tray in hand, his cap turned backward.

He noticed her instantly, his smile lighting up his face. "Perfect timing."

"Of course," she teased, walking up to him. "I wouldn't let you eat all the fries without me."

"Smart move," he said, leading her toward a booth in the corner.

They slid in across from each other, the tray between them stacked with burgers, fries, and two chocolate shakes.

"You weren't kidding," Diana said, picking up her shake. "You really did order half the menu."

Malachi smirked, popping the straw into his shake. "Fuel. Very important. Besides, In-N-Out is kind of a ritual for me."

"Ritual?" she echoed, raising a brow.

"Yeah. After long rehearsals, after auditions, after... I don't know, just about anything that requires brain cells." He took a sip, shrugging. "I like rewarding myself."

"That makes me feel better about craving fries all the time," Diana teased, grabbing a handful.

He grinned. "See? We're the same. You dance your butt off, I... sing and trip over mic cords, and then we both end up here."

Diana laughed, the first bite of her burger muffling it. "Okay, that's fair."

They ate for a minute, the easy kind of silence where neither of them felt the need to fill it. Malachi leaned back, drumming his fingers lightly on the table as he watched her take another sip of her shake.

"So, tell me," he said, tilting his head. "What's been the highlight of your Dancing With the Stars journey so far?"

She chewed thoughtfully, then smiled. "Honestly? Probably the first live show. Standing backstage and hearing the crowd go crazy — it hit me like, wow, I'm really here. It was terrifying, but also kind of magical."

Malachi nodded, his expression softening. "Yeah, that sounds about right. First nights always stick with you."

She smirked. "You sound like a pro."

"I've had a few first nights," he admitted with a laugh.

That opened the door to stories — him remembering embarrassing moments on stage, near-disasters on live TV, and Diana countering with tales of rehearsal bloopers and tripping over her own dress. Their laughter blended with the noise around them, making their little booth feel like its own world.

Once their burgers were demolished and the fries were long gone, Diana leaned back against the booth, sipping the last of her shake. "Okay, confession."

He arched a brow. "Big one?"

"Depends," she said. "You can't tell anyone yet."

His grin softened into curiosity. "Scout's honor."

"I'm doing the DWTS live tour."

His eyes widened, and for a second he just stared before breaking into a huge smile. "No way. That's amazing."

She bit her lip, grinning. "Thanks. I'm... excited. Nervous, but excited."

"You'll kill it," he said confidently, like it was the easiest fact in the world. "Tour's exhausting, yeah, but it's also the best thing ever. You'll make the craziest memories."

"Okay, then give me tips," she said, resting her chin on her hand. "Tell me what I'm in for."

And he did. He told her about bus rides that felt endless but turned into karaoke nights, about the time MK tried to make ramen in a hotel coffee pot and nearly set off the fire alarm, about pranks and dance-offs in parking lots. He painted tour life not just as exhausting but as this whirlwind of laughter and friendships.

Diana tucked her legs up beneath her, resting her chin on her hand. "You know, I wasn't sure what to expect tonight."

"And?" he asked, eyes flicking up from where he was fiddling with his straw wrapper.

"And..." she smiled, "I'm glad I came."

For a second, his grin softened into something quieter, warmer. "Yeah. Me too."

By the time they finally slid out of the booth, the staff was stacking chairs. They walked outside into the cool night air, their laughter echoing into the quiet street.

Diana hugged her tote close, smiling up at him. "Thanks for tonight. I needed it."

He shoved his hands into his pockets, smiling back. "Anytime, Sinclair."

And for a moment, with the glow of the In-N-Out sign behind them and the city humming in the distance, it felt like they were the only two people in the world.

dianasinclair just posted !

liked by aspenbrooks and 300,495 more

dianasinclair get your tissues ready for dedication night tomorrow night 💙

tagged: graysonholt

user i know im gonna cry

user they're adorable

graysonholt i could spin you around forever liked by creator user y'all are so cute

graysonholt thank you for making it so special dianasinclair that's all you gray user GRAY?? ugh my heart🥹

theemmaslater gonna have to touch up my makeup after this one liked by creator

user i ship it

aspenbrooks the cutest pair (besides us obvi) dianasinclair obvi

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SURPRISE another chapter since it is dwts night!i couldn't help myself

we got some more malachi this time!!

also, side note, i am SO PISSED at who went home tonight!!! like literally in shock!!