04 | show time

SHOW TIME

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The smell of hairspray hung heavy in the air, mixed with the faint scent of foundation and perfume. Diana sat in one of the black swivel chairs at the long row of mirrors in the glam room, staring at her reflection as a stylist curled the last section of her hair. Her chest fluttered with a mixture of nerves and adrenaline that had been building all morning.

She was nineteen years old, and in just a few hours, she'd be stepping onto the most iconic dance floor in the world—not as an audience member, not as a fan, but as a professional dancer.

"Almost done, sweetheart," the stylist said as she spritzed a cloud of glitter hairspray into Diana's curls. The ringlets cascaded down her shoulders, catching the light in the mirror.

Diana gave a small smile. "Thanks. It looks amazing."

The makeup artist, who had been touching up her highlighter, leaned back and nodded in approval. "Perfect. You're camera-ready."

Her opening number costume shimmered on her body: a fuchsia-and-gold fringe dress with rhinestones studding the halter neckline. Layers of fringe hung down the bodice and skirt, designed to explode with movement under the stage lights. Her gold Latin heels were strapped tightly around her ankles, and a jeweled headpiece caught the glow every time she turned her head.

She looked like she belonged here.

The holding area behind the ballroom was buzzing with life. Pros zipped past in glittering costumes, producers barked instructions into headsets, and celebrity partners lingered nervously, waiting for their cues.

"Ana!"

Diana looked up to see Ezra jogging over, already in his own bright blue and silver number. He grinned ear to ear and twirled dramatically. "How do I look? Be honest. Too much sparkle?"

Diana giggled, some of her nerves loosening. "Ezra, you look like a disco ball and I love it."

"Perfect." He pointed at her dress, eyes wide. "And you! Holy rhinestones, Ana, you're glowing. First live show and you're already outshining the veterans."

She rolled her eyes, though warmth bloomed in her chest. Ezra had become her comfort blanket this past week, slipping into her life like a best friend she didn't know she needed.

"Are you ready for this?" she asked him.

He pretended to faint, pressing the back of his hand to his forehead. "Absolutely not. But we'll get through it together, right?"

"Right." She bumped his shoulder with hers, grinning.

Grayson appeared a few minutes later, striding toward her in his outfit—a bold neon shirt with swirls of green, orange, and pink, paired with black pants. It screamed youthful, fun, and perfectly matched her costume she would change into later.

"Wow," Diana said before she could stop herself.

Grayson smirked, striking a pose. "Like it?"

"You look like a highlighter pack exploded on you," she teased.

"And yet," he said, dramatically smoothing his shirt, "I still pull it off."

She shook her head, laughing. Their banter came so naturally now.

Fifteen minutes before the live show, the pros and celebrities were corralled together for pep talks and final run-throughs. The crew scurried around, mics were clipped, earpieces adjusted.

Diana's stomach flipped as she peeked out. The audience was filing in, buzzing with excitement. Every seat was filling, the energy in the ballroom swelling with anticipation. She pressed her hand to her chest, heart hammering.

"This is it," she whispered to herself.

"Don't psych yourself out now," Daniella said gently, appearing at her side. She wore a glittering emerald costume, her makeup flawless, her smile steady. She placed a hand on Diana's shoulder. "Remember, just breathe. Smile. Enjoy it. The rest will take care of itself."

Diana nodded, clinging to her words.

The stage manager called, "Places for the opening number!"

Diana took her mark on the polished floor, the lights warming her skin. All around her, fellow pros stood ready in a rainbow of sequins and fringe. The audience hushed.

Then the booming voice of the announcer filled the room:

"Live, from Hollywood! It's the premiere of Dancing with the Stars!"

The crowd erupted, music blared, and suddenly the ballroom was alive.

Diana's body moved automatically to the choreography she'd rehearsed all week. She let the smile spread across her face, genuine and electric, as the fringe of her dress whipped around her legs. The stage glowed gold, the mirrorball spinning overhead, and she felt—just for a moment—like she was floating.

Alfonso and Julianne emerged, beaming at the audience as they delivered their scripted lines. The pros kept dancing, swirling across the floor in perfect unison.

"Here are your judges," Julianne's voice rang out, "Bruno Tonioli, Derek Hough, and Carrie Ann Inaba!"

Diana twirled one last time before beginning her exit toward the side. The crowd roared, the music shifted—

—and her heel got stuck.

Her breath caught as her body pitched forward. Heart lurching, she braced for impact.

But strong hands caught her waist, steadying her. Her palms landed against someone's chest, and she looked down—straight into the warm eyes of a boy sitting in the front row. Dark hair framed his face, his expression concerned but kind.

"Are you okay?" he asked quickly.

Heat flushed her cheeks. "I—I'm fine. I'm so sorry."

He shook his head. "Don't apologize. I'm just glad I caught you."

She gave a nervous laugh, straightening as his hands fell away. "Thank you—for catching me."

Before he could respond, the music shifted again—her cue. She gave him one more grateful smile and whispered, "Thanks again," before rushing back on stage.

Still, the image of his eyes lingered in her mind. Something about him tugged at her memory, but she couldn't place it.

The celebrity introductions began. Diana's cue arrived, and she met Grayson halfway across the floor. He spun her playfully, and they shared a quick laugh before stepping aside to let the next couple shine.

After the final beat of the opening number, Diana bolted backstage with the others. Crew members rushed her into the changing area where her orange cha cha costume awaited. She slipped into the sparkly leotard, the fringe swishing as she adjusted the cutouts and fastened her heels.

When she emerged, Grayson was waiting, already in his neon-colored top and black pants.

"Ready?" he asked, grinning nervously.

She reached for his hands. "You've got this. Just breathe. We've practiced, you're ready. And remember—it's supposed to be fun."

He exhaled, shoulders relaxing. "Fun. Right. Got it."

Back in the ballroom, the screen lit up with their rehearsal package.

Diana appeared first, smiling at the camera in her rehearsal clothes.

"Hi, I'm Diana Sinclair," she said brightly. "I'm nineteen years old, and this is my first season as a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars. I've been training in ballroom since I was little, and honestly, this is a dream come true."

The footage cut to the moment Grayson entered the studio. Him running and hugging her for the first time. The two slowly getting to know each other.

Grayson's solo interview followed, his boyish grin filling the screen. "I'm Grayson Holt. Some people might know me from High School Musical: The Musical: The Series or my new movie project, Every Summer After. I have very little dance experience, so Diana's got her work cut out for her."

The video then showed snippets of their rehearsals: Diana patiently guiding him through basic steps, Grayson tripping and laughing at himself, the two of them collapsing on the floor in giggles.

"She's tough but in the best way," Grayson said in his interview. "She makes me want to get better. And honestly? We're having a blast."

The final clip showed them hitting the last pose of their cha cha in rehearsal, both laughing breathlessly.

Back in the ballroom, Diana and Grayson took their opening positions.

The announcer's voice boomed:

"Dancing the Cha Cha, with his partner Diana Sinclair, it's Grayson Holt!"

The crowd erupted as the first beats of Let's Get Loud filled the ballroom.

The lights pulsed neon as Diana and Grayson burst into movement. She felt the rhythm vibrate through her bones, guiding every step. Grayson moved with surprising confidence, his neon shirt flashing under the lights. He wasn't perfect, but his smile sold every move.

The audience clapped along, cheering as they spun across the floor. Diana's fringe exploded around her, her grin wide and real. By the time they hit their final pose—Grayson dipping her low, both of them laughing—they were breathless.

"You did it!" she whispered, hugging him tightly.

They walked hand-in-hand to Alfonso, who stood by the judges' table.

"Grayson and Diana with a bright and colorful cha cha!" Alfonso called out as the crowd cheered. "Great job! Let's hear what the judges thought," Alfonso said. "Derek, take it away."

Derek leaned forward first, smiling warmly. "First of all, Diana, welcome to the show. You two looked fantastic out there—your energy, your confidence, your smile. Grayson, I'm impressed. For someone who says they've barely danced before, you really committed to the performance. I'll say this: work on tightening up your footwork, especially in the transitions. But overall, for Week One? Fantastic job."

Bruno practically jumped out of his chair. "Oh, Grayson, darling! You were like a firecracker out there—so much charisma, so much fun! You've got the rhythm, you've got the performance. Now, darling, precision—precision is key. Sometimes you looked like you were chasing her, not dancing with her. But the potential? HUGE."

Carrie Ann leaned forward with a kind smile. "Grayson, I love your energy. You're charming, and you clearly worked hard. There were moments where you lost a little connection with Diana—remember, this is a partnership, so keep that eye contact and let her guide you. But you should be proud. Very, very proud."

The audience cheered, Diana squeezing Grayson's hand.

"Alright," Alfonso said, "let's get those scores. Head on up to the Skybox."

Upstairs, Julianne greeted them with a big smile as other pros clapped and cheered. Daniella pulled Diana into a quick hug, whispering, "So proud of you." Ezra high-fived both of them, practically bouncing.

Julianne turned to the camera. "Grayson, Diana—how are you two feeling?"

Grayson wiped his forehead, still grinning. "Honestly? Relieved. That was the most fun I've had in a long time."

Diana nodded, her eyes bright. "I'm so proud of him. He worked so hard this week, and I think it showed."

Julianne beamed. "Well, let's see what the judges thought."

"Carrie Ann Inaba..."

Carrie Ann held up her paddle: "Six!"

The crowd cheered.

"Derek Hough..."

Derek smiled: "Six!"

More applause.

"Bruno Tonioli..."

Bruno, with a dramatic flourish: "Six!"

"Eighteen out of thirty for Diana and Grayson!" Julianne announced.

Diana hugged Grayson tightly. "That's great. I'm so proud of you."

"Remember, no one can survive next week's elimination on judges scores alone. You at home have to use your votes. You get ten votes per couple per voting method, and you can give them any way you want." Julianne said to the camera

Diana and Grayson looked into the camera together. "Vote for us!" they mouthed in unison, laughing as Julianne passed it back to Alfonso.

The rest of the night blurred into glitter and cheers. Couples danced, judges critiqued, scores tallied. When the scoreboard appeared, Diana and Grayson landed in seventh place. Respectable. Safe—for now.

As the final notes played and confetti rained, Diana found herself in the arms of her fellow pros. Daniella pulled Diana into another big embrace. "You did it, Diana. First show in the books. I'm so proud."

Ezra grabbed her hand, and the two jumped up and down like little kids, shouting with excitement.

And then, finally, as the crowd thinned, Diana found herself standing with Grayson again. He looked at her with a soft smile, his nerves finally gone.

"We really did it," he said quietly.

Diana nodded, her own smile matching his. "Yeah. We did."

And as the cameras faded and the ballroom emptied, Diana felt it for the first time: she truly belonged here.

dianasinclair just posted !

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liked by jennajohnson and 371,084 more

dianasinclair first show done and i couldn't be more proud of you @graysonholt 🧡

user i ship

graysonholt we killed it      dianasinclair yeah we did

daniellakaragach so proud 🥹     dianasinclair love you dani

user he still needs some work but can see the potential 

pashapashkov 🧡🧡🧡     dianasinclair 🧡🧡🧡

ezra.sosa chemistry is unmatched     liked by creator

bryleearmstrong_ obsessed with you two liked by creator

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in case it wasn't obvious, the boy that caught her was malachi😏

next chapter we won't see him but the chapter after we will finally be introduced!!

like i said, it's gonna be slow and we'll have to get through a lot of grayson stuff but it will be worth it!

ALSOplease comment!!i love hearing what you all have to say!😊