58 | snow

SNOW

🪩

The low hum of the crowd carried through the concrete walls, vibrating faintly beneath Malachi's feet as he stood near the wings of the stage. He could hear it—the building excitement, the way thousands of voices blended into one heartbeat that pulsed through the theater. From where he stood, the stage was a wash of light—purple, gold, flashes of blue sweeping over the gleaming floor as the music swelled.

Behind him, dancers were rushing by, glittering in the stage lights as they made quick costume changes. Crew members with headsets spoke in clipped tones, signaling transitions and lighting cues. Someone handed off a prop—a microphone stand wrapped in silver tape—to a waiting performer. Someone else jogged past with a tray of water bottles.

And in the middle of it all, Malachi stood grinning, camera rolling, completely in his element—but also, quietly, completely transfixed.

Because just beyond the curtain, center stage, was Diana.

Even from behind, even through the haze of lights and distance, he could spot her instantly. She was in the middle of one of her numbers, her silhouette sharp and sure as the audience roared. The music thumped in time with his pulse. He zoomed in a little, capturing the moment through his phone—but mostly, he just watched.

"Diana's out there right now," he said quietly to the camera, his grin widening. "She's... honestly killing it. Wait for it."

He turned the camera toward the stage just as she hit her cue—the spin, the drop, the perfect timing of the beat that sent the crowd into another wave of screams. She flashed that signature smile, the one that could light up the whole room, and Malachi felt his chest tighten with pride.

He lowered the camera slightly, still recording, but his eyes stayed on her.

She was wearing a blue glittery bodysuit with mesh cut outs and fringe, and her hair caught the light every time she turned. Her energy was magnetic, pulling everyone in.

A burst of applause brought him back, and he refocused the camera, following her as she crossed the stage. When the lights dimmed and the dancers jogged off, Malachi backed up, camera still rolling as he positioned himself near the curtain where she'd enter.

The music shifted to the next dance. The adrenaline from the number still hung in the air, the smell of fog machine mist and faint perfume mixing with the buzz of crew movement.

And then she appeared—breathless, hair damp at the edges, that wide grin plastered across her face as she half-ran into the wings.

Malachi caught it all on film.

"She's back! She's alive!" he teased, laughing as she bent forward, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.

"Oh my god," Diana gasped between laughs. "That crowd! Did you hear them? They were so loud!"

"They should be!" he said, flipping the camera to her. "You just destroyed that."

She blinked, realizing he was still recording. "Malachi," she said through a half-laugh, holding up her hand to block it. "You're not filming this right now—"

"Oh, I am absolutely filming this," he said, dodging her hand and angling the shot. "Everyone needs to see the post-performance chaos."

"Post-performance chaos? You mean me looking like I ran through a wind tunnel?"

"You look amazing," he said before he could stop himself.

Her smile softened, and for a moment, she looked at him instead of the camera. The noise around them—crew talking, music changing, people moving—faded into the background. She laughed then, shaking her head, cheeks pink. "You're impossible," she said softly, reaching out to tap the edge of his phone.

"Maybe," he said, still grinning, "but at least I'm right."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile.

Just then, Gleb ran by, shouting something about a missing shoe, and Diana straightened, remembering she needed to get ready for the next dance. She tugged at her straps, undoing the clasp, while Malachi lowered the camera slightly.

"You going back out soon?" he asked, keeping close to the side so he wouldn't get in anyone's way.

"Yeah," she said, glancing over her shoulder at the stage.

She paused, looking back at him and then his phone. "You're seriously filming everything tonight, aren't you?"

"Gotta document the legend in action," he said with mock seriousness, and she laughed again before jogging toward wardrobe for her costume change.

Malachi leaned back against the wall, still smiling.

The next few minutes blurred into a rush of music, flashing lights, and electric energy. Malachi drifted through the backstage area, alternating between filming and helping wherever he could—handing off water, grabbing extra towels, holding doors for dancers sprinting to costume changes.

At one point, he found himself next to Pasha, who was crouched near the monitors, watching Dani perform. "It's insane out there tonight," Pasha said without looking away from the screen.

Malachi nodded. "The audience is loving it."

Pasha grinned, nudging him lightly. "You enjoying your break from filming?"

Malachi let out a small laugh. "Yeah. It's... nice. I forgot how much I missed all this."

His eyes flicked back to the screen where Diana had reappeared, jumping into the number. "Especially her," he added quietly.

Pasha glanced at him and smirked. "You're not subtle, you know."

Malachi laughed under his breath. "I'm not trying to be."

"Good," Pasha said, his head fully turning to Malachi. "Cause she deserves this."

During intermission, the cast gathered in the narrow backstage hallway, rehydrating and cooling down. Someone had brought in snacks—a tray of granola bars and fruit—and someone else had a Bluetooth speaker playing low music. The atmosphere was light, relaxed.

Diana found Malachi leaning against a crate near the curtain, scrolling through the videos he'd captured. "Are you editing already?" she asked, taking a sip of water.

"Just checking the clips," he said, looking up with a grin. "You look insane in these shots, by the way."

"Insane good or insane bad?"

"Good. Always good."

She smiled, stepping closer to peek over his shoulder. He replayed a clip of her earlier number, and she watched silently, eyes flicking from the phone to the stage beyond the curtain where the lights were still shifting.

"Wow," she murmured when it ended. "It looks... unreal."

"It was," he said quietly. "You were."

Diana glanced up at him, the way she always did when she wasn't sure how to respond to something so honest. She wanted to deflect, make a joke—but he was looking at her with that same calm, proud smile that made her heart skip every time.

"You really love this, huh?" she said instead, nodding toward his phone in his hand.

"I do," he admitted. "But I love watching you even more."

Her cheeks flushed, and she playfully nudged him. "You're supposed to say that after the show, not during intermission."

"I'll say it whenever I want," he teased.

Before she could reply, Ezra came running past, holding his hat. "Five minutes!" he shouted. "Let's move, people!"

Diana laughed, shaking her head. "You'd think he's stage manager now."

Malachi grinned. "Go get ready, superstar."

She leaned in quickly, brushing her lips against his cheek. Then she was gone, slipping through the curtain again.

The finale was a blur of confetti, flashing lights, and thunderous applause. Malachi caught the moment when Diana took her final bow, hand in hand with Dani and the rest of the cast, her face radiant under the spotlight. The roar of the crowd echoed through the rafters, and he couldn't help but clap along, pride swelling in his chest.

When the curtain finally fell and the lights dimmed, chaos erupted backstage—cheers, laughter, everyone talking at once. Someone popped open a bottle of champagne; someone else turned the speaker back on.

Malachi filmed it all—the hugs, the celebration, the way Diana laughed so hard she nearly doubled over when Nikita toddled out from behind Dani, waving her little hands like she'd just finished a number herself.

"Show's over, baby girl!" Dani laughed, scooping her up.

Nikita clapped anyway, and Diana leaned down to kiss her cheek.

She looked over, catching him in the act again. "You're filming again?"

"Always," he said, smiling.

"Come here," she said, motioning him over.

He lowered the phone a little and stepped toward her. She reached up, tugging at the edge of his hoodie. "You've been hiding behind that phone all night. It's time you're actually in the video."

Before he could protest, she grabbed the phone, flipping it so the camera faced them both. She pressed record again, holding it out in front of them.

"My lovely boyfriend," she said to the camera, slightly out of breath but beaming, "has apparently decided to become a full-time documentarian tonight."

Malachi laughed, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "Someone had to capture the magic."

"Uh-huh," she said, raising a brow at him before smiling back at the camera. "But seriously—thank you for being here."

He looked at her, his voice softer now. "Wouldn't have missed it for the world."

The two smiled at each other, the noise of the celebration fading into a warm blur behind them.

The clip ended there, but even after the camera was off, Malachi couldn't stop looking at her—the flush in her cheeks, the glow in her eyes, the pure joy of being exactly where she belonged.

He slipped the phone into his pocket, stepped closer, and said quietly, "You were incredible tonight."

Diana smiled, her voice low and certain. "I know." Then she laughed when he looked at her, mock-offended. "I mean—you told me, like, five times already!"

He grinned, shaking his head. "I'll tell you five more."

And as the celebration carried on around them, as confetti clung to their hair and laughter filled the air, Malachi realized that being backstage tonight had reminded him of something he hadn't even realized he'd missed—watching her do what she loved, and knowing he got to be the one waiting behind the curtain when the lights went down.

malachibarton just posted a tiktok !

Malachi Barton • 2-28💙             ♥️    @Diana Sinclair                  825k 💬                                                                  9,732

userthe way she smiles at you 🥹

userwe love a supportive bf

userblue is her color liked by creator

Diana Sinclair 💙 Malachi Barton     💙

user alan 😂

user bros IN LOVE     liked by creator

useri love her costume!!!

The tour bus was warm, the kind of slow, heavy warmth that came from the heater running too high against a freezing world outside. The windows were fogged at the corners, streaked where someone had drawn little hearts and names in the condensation. The faint sound of laughter came from the front lounge — Dani's soft giggle, Pasha's amused replies, and the high, clear sound of Nikita's squeals.

Diana blinked awake to the quiet hum of the engine. For a moment she stayed still, cocooned under her blanket, listening to the rhythm of life around her. It was late morning — a rare luxury after back-to-back shows. They had a full day off before the next show, which meant there was no call sheet, no rehearsals, no alarms.

She did her best to stretch in the small space. The physical therapy exercises had been helping — slowly but surely — and she was grateful for the extra rest days. She grabbed her sweatshirt from the end of her bunk and tugged it on before sliding out, her socked feet hitting the cold floor.

The smell of coffee drifted from the small kitchenette, and she smiled.

Malachi stood by the counter, half-asleep, hair messy, hoodie slightly askew. He was pouring cereal into a bowl with one hand and scrolling on his phone with the other.

"You're up early," Diana said, her voice still raspy with sleep.

He looked up, grinning. "Hey, look who's alive. You missed the morning chaos."

"What chaos?"

As if on cue, Nikita's laughter rang out from the lounge. Dani was sitting on the couch, trying to braid the little girl's hair while Pasha sat nearby, eating left over pancakes from a paper plate. Nikita was holding a stuffed bunny and the soundtrack of Z-O-M-B-I-E-S played through Dani's phone.

"Ah," Diana said, smiling. "That chaos."

Malachi chuckled. "Yeah. She's been on a sugar high since Pasha gave her syrup."

"I gave her happiness," Pasha corrected, without looking up.

"You gave her energy," Dani muttered. "There's a difference."

Malachi handed Diana a mug of coffee with a small smile. "Peace offering." She took it gratefully, their fingers brushing.

"Thanks," she murmured, taking a sip. "What's the plan today?"

Malachi leaned back against the counter. "Well, the snow's still coming down, but the roads are clear. Dani mentioned exploring downtown. Little shops, maybe lunch somewhere cozy."

"Count me in," Diana said. "I could use a day like that."

"Good," Dani said, tying off Nikita's braid with a pink ribbon. "Because we're leaving in twenty."

Pasha made a show of groaning. "You just want to drag me through vintage stores again."

Dani grinned. "Correct."

Malachi laughed, setting his bowl in the sink. "You say that like it's torture."

"It is," Pasha said. "Do you know how many times I've had to say 'That sweater looks great'?"

"That's what happens when you marry someone with taste," Malachi said.

Dani smirked. "Oh, I knew I was going to like having you on this bus."

By the time everyone bundled up and stepped off the bus, the world outside looked like a snow globe. The streets shimmered under the gray sky, lined with cozy shops and cafés whose windows glowed golden with warmth. Diana wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck, tugging her beanie down over her ears. Malachi walked beside her, his hand finding hers easily.

Pasha carried Nikita, her little pink hat bobbing as she pointed at everything — the shop lights, the dogs walking by, even the cars with snow piled high on their roofs. Dani trailed beside them, holding her phone up to record little clips.

"This is the perfect city day," Dani said, glancing around at the snow-covered streets. "No rehearsals, no sound checks, no stress — just us."

"Exactly," Malachi agreed. "And pizza later, obviously."

"Always pizza," Diana laughed.

They started down a narrow street lined with boutique stores and bakeries. Dani and Diana darted into one of the shops, where they immediately started trying on scarves and mittens, giggling over how everything was "too cute to leave behind." Pasha followed with Nikita perched on his shoulders, while Malachi lingered by the door, watching Diana with quiet amusement.

She caught his gaze in the reflection of a mirror and smiled. "What?"

"Nothing," he said softly, walking over. "Just you."

Diana rolled her eyes, but the blush rising to her cheeks gave her away.

After shopping, they ducked into a small café that looked like it had been plucked from a Christmas card. Wooden beams, frosted windows, and the smell of cinnamon and roasted coffee filled the air. They found a table near the window, where snowflakes continued to drift lazily outside.

They claimed a corner booth, shaking off snow and rubbing their hands together for warmth. Nikita climbed onto the seat between her parents, clutching her stuffed bunny.

Diana wrapped her hands around her mug once their drinks arrived — peppermint mocha for her, water for Malachi, hot chocolate piled high with whipped cream for Nikita.

"This is heaven," Dani sighed, taking a sip of her latte.

Malachi leaned back, smiling. "You say that like you didn't threaten to strangle me five minutes ago."

"That was before caffeine," Dani replied.

Diana laughed, stirring her drink. Next to her, Malachi was watching Nikita try to sip from her cup without getting whipped cream on her nose — and failing spectacularly.

"Got a little something..." he said, gesturing to his own face.

She wiped her nose, giggling.

"Nope, missed a spot."

He reached over to help her and grinned, "Perfect."

Diana smiled softly at the exchange. Malachi was good with her — patient, playful, the kind of gentle that came naturally.

When they finished their drinks, they bundled back up and stepped outside again. The snow had eased, but the world still glittered under its white coat.

They wandered through a nearby park where snow blanketed every inch of the ground. Nikita could hardly contain her excitement.

"Snowman!" she yelled, pointing at a half-built snowman someone had left behind.

"Let's make our own," Pasha said, setting her down in the snow.

Malachi crouched down beside them, helping Nikita scoop snow into a lopsided pile while Diana laughed, recording them on her phone. "You're supposed to be making a snowman, not a snow blob," she teased.

Malachi turned, snow still in his hand, and smirked. "You wanna say that again?"

"Malachi—no!"

Too late. He tossed a soft handful of snow her way, hitting her shoulder. Diana gasped in mock offense. "Oh, it's on!"

Within seconds, the park became their battlefield. Snow flew through the air as laughter echoed between the trees. Dani and Pasha took cover behind a bench, with Nikita squealing as she tried to scoop snow with her mittens. Malachi chased Diana in circles until she finally ducked behind a tree, both of them laughing so hard they could barely breathe.

"Truce!" she called out between giggles.

"Hmm..." Malachi pretended to think before stepping closer. "Okay. Truce."

Diana peeked out just in time to see him smirk — and flick another bit of snow at her.

"Hey!" she squealed, swatting his arm.

He laughed and grabbed her by the waist before she could get away, spinning her around as snow flurried around them. Her laughter turned into a soft gasp as he stopped, keeping her close, his nose brushing against her temple.

"Okay, now it's a truce," he murmured.

"Now," she agreed, smiling.

dianasinclair just added to her story !

By the time the sun began to set, the sky had turned a pale rose-gold, the snow glowing faintly under the fading light. They stopped by a small diner for dinner, cozy and warm inside with fogged-up windows. Everyone was happily exhausted. Nikita sat in her booster seat, her tiny head resting against Dani's shoulder, half-asleep as she clutched a french fry in her fist.

Dani smiled, brushing her daughter's hair from her face. "She's done for the night."

"I don't blame her," Diana said softly. "We've been running around all day."

Pasha chuckled. "She kept up with all of you, though. I think she thinks Malachi is a jungle gym now."

Malachi laughed quietly. "Hey, I don't mind."

Diana leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. "That's because you love her."

"Maybe," he teased, and then lowered his voice, "But I definitely love her aunt more."

Diana blushed, trying to hide her smile as Dani and Pasha exchanged knowing looks.

They stayed at the diner for a while longer, just talking and laughing — the kind of laughter that came easily when you were surrounded by people who felt like family.

By the time they made it back to the bus, the city was quiet again. Streetlights glowed against the snow, and the only sounds were the crunch of boots and the soft giggles of Nikita still half-awake in Pasha's arms.

Malachi carried a few shopping bags while Diana walked beside him, their hands brushing until finally intertwining.

"This was a perfect day," she said softly.

"It really was," he agreed. "It's nice to just... slow down. Be normal."

"Normal," she echoed with a smile. "Except we're technically on a tour bus."

He chuckled. "Details."

When they reached the bus, Dani and Pasha went straight to their bunks to put Nikita down, leaving Diana and Malachi near the door. She turned to face him, the soft light from the bus casting a glow across his face.

"Thank you," she said quietly.

"For what?"

"For today," she said. "For making it so special."

Malachi smiled, brushing a snowflake from her hair. "Every day with you is special."

Diana rolled her eyes, but her heart felt full. She leaned up on her toes and kissed him softly, lingering in the moment before whispering against his lips, "I love you."

"I love you more," he murmured.

Snow continued to fall gently around them as they stepped back onto the bus, still smiling, still holding hands — the quiet comfort of the night wrapping around them like a warm blanket.

malachibarton just posted !

• o o o o o o o o

o • o o o o o o o

o o • o o o o o o

o o o • o o o o o

o o o o • o o o o

o o o o o • o o o

o o o o o o • o o

o o o o o o o • o

o o o o o o o o •

liked by feliciabarton and 840,375 more

malachibarton 🪩

tagged: dianasinclair

user the last photo 😂     malachibarton her fighting me to not      post slide 8           dianasinclair and yet you did            anyway

user nikita 🥹

user slide 8 🫦     dianasinclair hey now

user why is no one talking about slide 6     dianasinclair that's my favorite 💗

mekonnen_official my man      liked by creator

user slide 8 is my fav 😍     dianasinclair slide 3 is even better 😍

user the photos of diana 🥹

user you're so hot 🥵      dianasinclair and taken 😊

joshuarobertcolley MY BOIIIII     liked by creator

user THATS MY HUSBAND 🫦     dianasinclair 🤺

dianasinclair i told you this would happen      malachibarton i just wanted to show      the progression 💪🏼           dianasinclair 🙄                malachibarton i know you                 secretly like it                     dianasinclair ...no comment

user this time dianas fighting for her life 😂

🪩

they're so cute, it's sickening 🥰

but it's not all gonna be cute 😬

also i only have one more chapter to write😭i actually can't believe it

i think my next book will be a victor book bc i have a really cool idea!i hope to do another malachi book as well, i just have to come up with another idea that im in love with, like this one

😊