01 | first impressions

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

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The studio smelled faintly of polished wood and hairspray, a mixture Diana Sinclair had come to associate with both nerves and excitement. She stepped through the doors, her black dance sneakers squeaking slightly against the floor, and took a deep breath. Nineteen years old and officially a pro on Dancing with the Stars—it still felt surreal.

Her phone buzzed and she looked down to see a text from Aspen, her best friend.

today 11:41 AM

you got this 💗and i expect a full debrief afterwards 😉

"Diana Sinclair?" a producer called, clipboard in hand. She looked up and smiled nervously, her grip tightening on her tote bag.

"That's me," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Perfect! We'll just give you a quick rundown. You'll be in the room for the introductory segment. Your celebrity partner will walk in shortly, and you'll introduce yourselves on camera. Keep it natural, be yourself, and try not to overthink it. Got it?"

Diana nodded, her stomach fluttering. "Got it. First impression. No pressure." She forced a laugh, though the tight knot in her stomach didn't loosen.

"Exactly," the producer said with a reassuring pat on her shoulder. "You can grab a snack if you want, and then when we call you over, it'll be go time. And remember, the whole crew is here to support you. You've got this."

She thanked the producer and walked over to the small catering table, her eyes scanning the spread of granola bars, fruit, and bottled water. As she reached for a protein bar, a familiar voice made her freeze.

"I was hoping you'd be filming today!"

She turned and nearly dropped the bar. Daniella Karagach, her mentor and longtime friend, was beaming at her from across the room.

"Dani! Hi!" Diana said, grinning. She quickly crossed the room to give her a hug.

"I'm so proud of you," Daniella said, squeezing her tightly. "I can't believe you're finally here as a pro. You deserve this so much!"

Diana laughed, a little embarrassed by the praise. "Thanks, Dani. I just... I don't want to mess up."

"Hey, hey," Daniella said, putting a hand on Diana's shoulders. "You're going to be amazing. Whoever your partner is, he's going to love working with you. You have talent, poise, and charm. Trust me."

"Thanks," Diana said softly, feeling the nerves settle slightly.

At that moment, Pasha Pashkov and Brandon Armstrong walked in, carrying water bottles and chatting with the crew. Diana smiled. She already knew Pasha through Daniella, and she had met Brandon briefly at competitions.

"Hey, Pasha!" she called.

"Diana! Look at you, all professional now!" Pasha said, clapping her shoulder playfully.

"And you must be Brandon," she said, extending her hand. "I'm Diana."

"Brandon, yeah," he said, shaking her hand warmly. "You're going to crush it, I can tell."

Pasha leaned closer, his excitement almost palpable. "So, how are you feeling? Nervous?"

Diana let out a small laugh, shaking her head slightly. "Yeah... I'm nervous. I don't want to mess up in front of everyone, especially on my first day."

"You won't," Daniella assured her. "Just breathe, have fun, and let your personality shine through. You've got this."

Daniella hugged her once more, and Diana felt a little of the tension in her chest melt away.

"Alright," a producer called from across the room. "Diana, your partner is about five minutes away. Come with me."

Diana nodded, taking a deep breath. As she walked past Pasha and Brandon, she felt Pasha squeeze her shoulder reassuringly. "You're going to do great, Diana. Don't even worry about it."

Brandon gave her an encouraging nod. "Yeah, seriously. You've got this. Have fun with it."

Diana smiled nervously and stepped into the main room. Cameras were set up at various angles, crew members scurrying about to make last-minute adjustments. Hair and makeup artists hovered near her, touching up strands of hair and brushing away any smudges of makeup.

She moved to her mark, her heels clicking softly against the floor. Her heartbeat was a rapid rhythm that matched the soft hum of the studio lights. She tried to steady her breathing, her eyes scanning the room as she took in the cameras, the microphones, and the crew bustling around.

Then, the door opened.

And there he was.

Grayson Holt.

Her chest skipped a beat. He was even taller in person, and that smile—bright, genuine, effortless—made her stomach flip. She had watched him for years on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and now he was standing a few feet away, ready to be her partner.

Diana's mind raced. Okay, breathe. Be professional. Don't stare. Don't... oh wow, he's really cute.

Grayson's eyes landed on her, and before she could react, he broke into a wide smile and ran forward, hugging her with genuine enthusiasm.

Diana laughed lightly, surprised but delighted. "Hi!" she said, returning the hug.

They pulled apart, and he straightened, still smiling. "I'm Grayson! You must be...?"

"I'm Diana," she said, grinning. "You probably don't recognize me—I'm a new pro this season."

Grayson's eyes sparkled. "Well, congratulations, Diana. It's awesome to meet you."

"You too! I've loved you as EJ on HSMTMTS," she admitted, cheeks warming.

He laughed, that deep, easy laugh she'd heard on tv but never up close. "Thanks! That really means a lot."

"So... do you have any dance experience?" she asked, tilting her head.

Grayson shrugged, smiling sheepishly. "Not really. A little, but nothing serious."

"That's okay," Diana said reassuringly. "We'll get you comfortable. Let's just have fun with it."

The producer called "Cut!" signaling the end of the intro filming. Diana and Grayson moved to a quieter corner.

"Alright," she said, "let's start with something simple. Step, step, turn—just basic ballroom steps."

Grayson laughed, trying to follow her guidance. "Step, step, turn... got it. You make it sound easy."

"You'll get it," she said with a grin. "And if you stumble, I promise not to laugh—much."

Hours passed in a blur. Diana guided him through basic moves, laughing at his playful missteps and praising his natural rhythm. They posed for candid photos, filmed TikToks for social media, and began to share small stories about their lives—Grayson telling her about his first audition, Diana sharing memories of her early competitions. By the time the crew wrapped for the night, the studio felt less intimidating, more like a space where the two of them could connect.

Grayson turned to Diana, giving her another hug. "We are going to have so much fun this season," she said, her smile radiant.

Grayson's grin was genuine, eyes crinkling at the corners. "I can't wait."

They parted ways at the studio door, Diana walking away with a lightness in her step she hadn't felt all day. Her first day had been nerve-wracking, exhilarating, and full of surprises—and she couldn't wait to see what the rest of the season would bring.

And she knew, deep down, that this was just the beginning.

dianasinclair just posted !

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liked by aspenbrooks and 206,481 more

dianasinclair best first partner! can't wait for you guys to see @graysonholt kill it on the dance floor 🩶🪩⭐️

user NO WAY!!!

user oh they're perfect

graysonholt the best ♥️     dianasinclair ♥️          user 😏

daniellakaragach love this pair 🫶🏻     liked by creator

aspenbrooks SHUT UP

aspenbrooks currently screaming

aspenbrooks i know who i'm voting for 😉     dianasinclair love you

user the mirrorball is calling their names     liked by creator

ezra.sosa best looking pair (plus me)     liked by creator

graysonholt just posted a tiktok !

Grayson Holt  • 9-5the second i got the dwts call                                                                                                   ♥️ 336k                                                                      💬                                                                    8,931

user our future mirrorball champ

Diana Sinclair oh...            Grayson Holt            aren't you so lucky 😁

userwait, i kinda love them

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so her partner isn't malachi...

there is a reason for this, you'll see 😊