30 | calling all the monsters

CALLING ALL THE MONSTERS

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The rehearsal studio was buzzing with a different kind of energy than the usual one-on-one training. Instead of just her and Grayson, Diana walked in to find the whole group scattered around the room. Val and Alix were laughing by the mirrors, Brandon and Lauren were stretching on the floor, and Dani was already sitting cross-legged with Dylan, sketching something out in her notebook.

"Team Grave Dancers," Brandon announced with a grin as Diana and Grayson entered. He stretched his arms out theatrically like a monster from an old black-and-white horror film. "Ready to rise from the grave?"

Diana laughed, feeling the tension that usually weighed on her chest during rehearsals start to lift. "I think we're more than ready," she said, exchanging hugs with everyone before setting her bag down.

The song choice had already been revealed to them—Calling All the Monsters—and the excitement had been building since last night. The track was upbeat, playful, and just the right amount of spooky. It wasn't going to be one of those heavy, dramatic group numbers. This one was meant to be fun, cheeky, and crowd-pleasing, the kind of performance that left everyone smiling.

"Okay," Dani said, clapping her hands together as the pros naturally began taking charge. "Let's start mapping this out. We need a strong group opening, some clean transitions, and then space for each couple to shine. We want to show off the personalities as much as the technique."

Val nodded in agreement. "Yeah, think of it like a haunted house tour—each couple gets their own creepy little room before we come back together."

That got everyone chuckling, and Diana felt her shoulders drop another inch. She hadn't realized how much she needed this—needed to be in a room full of people she trusted, choreographing, collaborating, laughing. There was no undercurrent of tension here, no eggshells to walk on.

The group circled up, tossing around ideas. Brandon suggested a big, dramatic entrance where they all "rose from the grave" at the same time, crawling up from the floor with creepy arms before snapping into sharp, synchronized moves.

"Oh, I love that," Diana said, her choreographer brain already spinning. She mimicked the movement, dragging herself up slowly, then hitting a sharp angle with her arms. "And then maybe the lights hit right as the beat drops?"

"Yes!" Dani cheered. "Grave Dancers rising from the dead. That's our hook."

They tried it out, all eight of them starting on the ground and moving through the sequence. It was messy at first, laughter erupting as Dylan tripped over Brandon's arm and Alix leaned too far and nearly toppled over.

"Grave Dancers down for the count," Grayson joked, dusting himself off.

The room dissolved into more laughter, and Diana found herself shaking her head, unable to stop smiling.

Once they had the opening figured out, the group split into sections to work on the individual couple highlights.

"Alright, Diana and Grayson," Val said, looking over at them. "You guys are Paso this week, right? Let's give you a section that ties into that energy—lots of sharp, strong movements."

Grayson immediately perked up, stepping into frame with exaggerated matador flair. Diana rolled her eyes but laughed, stepping in beside him to match his energy. They worked out a quick eight-count with powerful arm sweeps and dramatic footwork, and the group cheered when they finished.

"That's money," Brandon said. "It's giving spooky bullfight and I'm here for it."

Then came Val and Alix's turn, leaning into tango-inspired movements, sharp and slinky. Brandon and Lauren went jazzy and theatrical, really hamming up the "monster" vibe. Dani and Dylan had something playful and cheeky, making everyone laugh as Dylan pretended to get "scared" mid-dance and Dani pulled him back in.

The sections flowed into one another surprisingly well, and soon the dance began taking shape. Group formations, solos, transitions—it was messy and chaotic at times, but it was alive.

By the time the group collapsed on the floor for a water break, Diana's face hurt from smiling.

"This is the most fun I've had all season," she admitted, leaning back on her hands.

Dani leaned her head against Diana's shoulder with a grin. "See? Sometimes you just need to dance with your monsters."

The joke earned another round of laughter from the group.

Diana took a sip of her water, her chest warm with something she hadn't felt in weeks—genuine joy. For the first time in a while, she wasn't overthinking, wasn't anxious, wasn't caught in a web of tension. She was just a dancer again, surrounded by her friends, moving to music, having fun.

Later that evening, Diana was curled up on her couch, finally allowing herself to breathe. Her legs were tucked under a blanket, the soft glow of the TV washing over the room. She wasn't even really watching—some random cooking competition was playing—but the background noise was comforting. For once, she felt like she had a moment of peace.

Her phone lit up on the coffee table, the FaceTime ringtone cutting through the TV. The name babe 😘 flashed across the screen, and Diana's lips immediately tugged into a smile. She quickly pulled her blanket tighter around her shoulders and picked up.

"Hey, you," Diana greeted, her face softening as Aspen's familiar grin filled the screen.

"Hey!" Aspen said brightly, her energy spilling through even the tiny rectangle of the phone. "How's my star dancer? How was your day?"

Diana exhaled through her nose, trying to put it lightly. "It was good. We worked on our group dance today. It's gonna be really fun."

"Oooh, I bet! I can't wait to cheer for you and Grayson on Tuesday," Aspen said, her voice buzzing with genuine excitement. She leaned closer to the camera as if she could see Diana better. "Seriously, I already know you're going to kill it."

"Thanks," Diana murmured, but her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. There was the tiniest dip in her tone, and though most people might have let it slip, Aspen wasn't most people.

"Okay," Aspen said slowly, narrowing her eyes like she was reading Diana's mind. "What's wrong?"

Diana hesitated. She almost said "nothing," almost put on the same fake smile she'd been using to get through rehearsals, but Aspen was her best friend—her sister in everything but blood. She knew Diana too well. So Diana sighed, leaning back against the couch cushions.

"Everything," she said softly. And then, once the door cracked open, the flood poured out.

She told Aspen everything. How Grayson had been changing. How he hated her friendship with Malachi. How he smiled in front of the cameras, putting on the perfect Disney star act, only to turn cold and cutting the second they were alone.

She didn't hold back—every detail, every moment she'd swallowed down instead of speaking out. And Aspen, for once, didn't interrupt. She just listened, her mouth pressed into a firm line, her eyes growing sharper with each word Diana spoke.

When Diana finally trailed off, her voice raw and her chest lighter from releasing it all, there was a long silence. Aspen blinked at the screen, her jaw tight. Then she shook her head and muttered, with absolute conviction:

"That little bitch."

Diana blinked in surprise before letting out a small, unexpected laugh. It slipped out of her like a bubble, breaking the tension that had been hanging heavy in her apartment all week.

"You're laughing," Aspen said, her own expression softening when she saw the sound had made Diana's eyes light up just a little.

"I can't help it," Diana admitted, shaking her head. "Only you would say that."

"Are you kidding me?!" Aspen threw her free hand in the air. "I cannot believe Grayson has been acting like that. Like, what the actual hell? He gets paired with you—literal you—and this is how he acts? Unreal."

"I can't believe it either. Half the time I still feel like I'm making it up in my head... until he does something again." Diana said quietly, pulling the blanket tighter around her.

Aspen leaned closer to the screen, her tone softening. "Has anyone else noticed? Or is it just you dealing with all this?"

Diana bit her lip, hesitating. "Only Dani and Malachi know."

Aspen's brows shot up. "Malachi knows?"

"Yeah," Diana said with a small nod. "He's... been amazing, honestly. He's always checking in, texting me, making sure I'm okay. And having Dani in our group dance has helped a ton too. She's got my back, and it makes me feel less... alone in it, I guess."

Aspen tilted her head, a sympathetic smile forming. "Good. I'm glad you have them. You deserve people like that in your corner." She let out a long sigh, shaking her head again. "Still, I can't believe all this has been happening. I feel like I should've noticed sooner."

Diana shook her head gently. "You couldn't have. Grayson plays it off really well. Like, cameras on? He's the perfect partner. Cameras off? Totally different. It's scary how smooth he is at flipping the switch."

Aspen's jaw clenched, and she muttered, "Well, he's lucky I'm not there. Otherwise, I'd be throwing hands. No joke." She balled up her fist dramatically and waved it at the screen.

Diana laughed again, this time a little louder, her shoulders shaking. "Aspen!"

"What?!" Aspen said, feigning innocence. "Somebody has to knock some sense into him. And trust me, I'd do it with pleasure."

The laughter lingered even after the call quieted again, and Diana realized how much she had needed this—someone who didn't just listen, but reminded her that she wasn't crazy for feeling hurt, someone who would always stand by her side no matter what.

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dianasinclair asp appreciate post bc i miss my best friend 🥺💞

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some aspen appreciation bc i just love her 💗

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