14 | shake flavors

SHAKE FLAVORS

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The next morning, Diana arrived at the rehearsal studio with her hair scraped into a sleek ponytail and her dance bag slung over her shoulder. She had her coffee in one hand and a water bottle in the other, ready for another full day. Her schedule was packed, the same as yesterday—jive rehearsal with Grayson first thing, then an afternoon of Worlds Collide practice with the whole crew.

She pushed open the door to the smaller ballroom, already hearing faint music looping from Grayson's phone. He was standing in the middle of the floor in sweats and a Wildcats hoodie with his characters name on the back, absently dribbling one of the bright orange basketballs they'd decided to incorporate.

"Morning," she called, her voice light.

He looked up, grinning, tossing the basketball to her. She caught it easily. "Morning, coach. Ready to pick apart all the things I'm doing wrong?"

Diana rolled her eyes, setting her coffee down on the table. "Not wrong. Just... improvable."

He smirked. "That's just a nice way of saying wrong."

"Shut up and dance," she teased, clapping her hands together as she walked to the speaker system to plug in her playlist.

The familiar track blasted through the room. Diana counted them in and they started moving—quick kicks, sharp flicks, bouncy footwork. Grayson had the energy down, but his posture was still a little loose, his arms sometimes getting away from him.

"Freeze!" Diana said mid-run, holding up a hand.

Grayson stopped, panting, hair already falling into his face. "What now?"

"You're letting your elbows fly too far back on the chasse kicks," she said, demonstrating quickly. Her movements were sharp, precise. "Keep it compact. Think clean lines, not... flaily chicken."

Grayson barked a laugh. "Did you just call me a chicken?"

"If the wings fit," she shot back, biting back her own laugh.

He shook his head, but when they started again, she could see the difference. His arms stayed closer, more controlled. His footwork snapped a little sharper. Diana found herself smiling despite the seriousness of rehearsal.

"Better," she nodded when they hit the final pose. "That's what I'm talking about."

Grayson grinned, wiping his forehead with the sleeve of his hoodie. "So basically, I'm improving enough that you're running out of critiques."

"Oh, don't worry," she said, sipping her water. "I'll always find something."

They went again, this time with the basketball section. Diana passed the ball to him mid-choreography, and he tossed it behind his back into her hands without breaking rhythm. They laughed when he nearly lost it the first time, but by the second run, the toss was smooth.

"Nice!" she cheered, giving him a quick high-five before counting them into the next phrase.

As they wrapped another pass, Diana stepped closer, adjusting his body with a light touch to his shoulders. "You need to keep your chest lifted here. Otherwise you're collapsing into me on the turns."

Grayson arched a brow. "Collapsing into you, huh? Maybe that's just my secret tactic."

"Not allowed," she said firmly, though her lips twitched with amusement. "You're supposed to look like a basketball star, not like you're clinging for dear life."

He laughed again, shaking his head. "Okay, okay. Chest up, shoulders back, pretend i'm a pro NBA player. Got it."

They ran the section again, and this time it clicked. Diana felt the bounce in his step, the way the energy fed off hers. By the time they reached the end, both of them were a little breathless, but smiling.

"See? Progress," she said.

Grayson was about to reply when the door handle rattled. Slowly, the door creaked open, and the two froze mid-step.

Diana glanced over just as Dara slipped inside, followed by Malachi, Freya, MK, Kylie, Malia, and Josh in a cluster behind her.

The moment Dara stepped through the doorway, her eyes went straight to Grayson.

"Hey, Wildcat," she called, her voice warm but teasing.

Grayson's grin spread from ear to ear. "Dara!"

He didn't hesitate—he jogged across the floor and scooped her into a hug, lifting her slightly off the ground before setting her down again. Diana's chest squeezed at the sight. She couldn't help smiling wide.

"You're actually here," Grayson said, holding her shoulders as if he couldn't quite believe it. "I can't believe you're performing this week."

Dara laughed, brushing some hair out of her face. "I can't believe you're doing this right now. Dancing on Dancing with the Stars? Who even are you?"

"Apparently a dancer," Grayson shot back with a grin.

The group behind her chuckled. Diana shifted closer, folding her arms lightly. "I may have had something to do with that," she admitted.

Dara turned to her, her eyes twinkling. "Diana told me you guys are literally jiving to High School Musical."

"EJ is making a comeback," Grayson said proudly, bouncing a basketball once for emphasis. "Want to see it?"

The entire crew answered before Dara could. "YES!" they chorused, voices overlapping with excitement.

The group shuffled quickly to the edges of the studio, leaning against the wall, eyes glued to the center.

Grayson jogged back to Diana, grabbing his basketball. "Ready, partner?"

"Ready," she said, hitting play on the music.

The upbeat HSM track filled the room, and instantly the energy between them shifted into performance mode. Diana's kicks were sharp, Grayson's footwork crisp. Their chemistry bounced back and forth as they hit the chasse kicks, the spins, the flicks.

The basketball section earned immediate cheers. Grayson dribbled once, tossed the ball behind his back, and Diana caught it seamlessly. She spun with it, then flipped it back into his hands.

By the time they hit their series of jumps and tricks, the DZ crew was practically a live audience. Malia and Kylie were screaming encouragement, MK was whistling, and Malachi had his phone out, recording with a grin tugging at his lips.

The ending was the best part. On the final musical hit, Grayson hoisted Diana up and settled her on his shoulder, her arm shooting into the air like a victorious Wildcat cheerleader.

The studio erupted. "Let's goooo!" Freya shouted, clapping wildly. Dara cupped her hands around her mouth, cheering louder than anyone.

Diana laughed breathlessly from her perch on Grayson's shoulder, looking down at him. "That was definitely your best run yet."

Grayson's grin was blinding. He let her slide down into his arms, holding her tightly for a second before setting her feet on the ground. "Only 'cause you're the best partner."

"Aww," Dara cooed, her smile soft. "You guys are so cute."

Heat crept into Diana's cheeks. She ducked her head as she said, "Thanks." But Grayson only leaned in closer. He slid behind her smoothly, his chest pressed lightly to her back, his arms looping snugly around her waist.

The others didn't miss it.

"That dance was insane," Josh said, eyes still wide. "The basketball thing? Genius."

Grayson rested his chin briefly on Diana's shoulder, giving her waist a squeeze. "All this girl's idea," he said proudly.

Diana swatted his arm lightly, but the blush didn't fade.

The group fell into easy chatter after that, dissecting their favorite parts, teasing Grayson about his Troy Bolton energy, laughing about the basketballs. Through it all, Grayson never really let go—whether it was his hand on Diana's arm, his palm brushing her lower back, or his fingers laced with hers for a moment when he laughed too hard.

Diana laughed along with the rest, but when she glanced around, she caught sight of Malachi. He was laughing with Mk, arms loosely crossed, throwing in comments and jokes. But even as he smirked at whatever Mk said, his gaze flicked back—always to her and Grayson.

The longer she noticed it, the harder it was to ignore. Malachi's eyes would narrow for a fraction of a second when Grayson leaned into her. His jaw clenched the slightest when Graysons hand rested on her hip. His grin stayed in place, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

Diana swallowed, her laugh catching for a beat. It wasn't just that Malachi was watching—it was the way he couldn't seem to stop.

By the time the crew filed out to switch rehearsal rooms, Diana felt both exhilarated and exhausted. She sank onto one of the benches in the hallway, grabbing her water bottle while she caught her breath.

Ezra plopped down beside her, tossing a towel over his shoulder, while Brandon leaned casually against the wall, sipping from a protein shake.

"You're glowing," Brandon noted with a smirk, eyeing her flushed face. "Jive rehearsal went that good?"

Diana laughed softly, rolling her eyes. "We've been running it all morning. I'm just sweaty."

Ezra nudged her with his elbow. "Uh-huh. Sweaty and glowing. That routine must be clicking."

"It actually is," she admitted, unable to hide her grin. "Grayson killed it earlier. Honestly, it was his best run yet. He's finally getting sharper with his arms, and the basketball part? He nailed it. I'm so excited for show day now."

Ezra chuckled. "Look at you, like a proud dance mom."

"I am not a dance mom," Diana protested, laughing harder. "I'm just... proud, okay? He's been working so hard."

Brandon tilted his head. "Well, you do light up whenever you talk about him."

Diana threw him a playful glare. "Don't start."

Ezra leaned back, stretching his arms behind his head. "Hey, I'm just saying—it's nice to see you this invested. Sometimes these celebs don't take it seriously, but Grayson clearly is. And it shows."

"That's true," Brandon agreed. "And to be fair, you've pushed him in the right way. You balance keeping it fun while still being tough. That's not easy."

Diana softened at that, the praise warming her chest. "Thanks, guys. That means a lot."

For a few minutes, they sat in comfortable silence, munching on snacks and sipping water. Diana let herself savor it—the quiet in between rehearsals, the way her muscles hummed from the morning's work, the way excitement buzzed in her chest when she thought about hitting that jive under the stage lights.

"Show day's gonna be wild," Ezra finally said, breaking the calm.

Diana smiled to herself, nodding. "Yeah. I can't wait."

That afternoon, Diana tied her sneakers tighter and rejoined everyone in the big rehearsal studio for Worlds Collide. The room was already buzzing—Kylie and Malia were stretching together near the mirrors, Dara and Josh ran through a few eight-counts, and the pro dancers were laughing about something near the speakers.

"Alright, let's start from the top," Dani called out, clapping her hands. Her energy was crisp but encouraging, the kind that made everyone immediately straighten up and move into position.

They launched into the number, voices and feet echoing against the hardwood. They danced with sharp precision, each adding their own flair that made the whole thing vibrant and theatrical. Diana found herself in the thick of it, feeding off the energy of the room.

By the time they hit the final formation, everyone was slightly out of breath but buzzing.

"Not bad," Brandon said, adjusting his shirt. "But that middle transition was messy. Let's clean it."

They broke it down count by count, Dani directing traffic while Ezra and Britt offered tweaks. The corrections were quick but effective, and when they ran it again, the section snapped into place.

"Much better," Dani approved, jotting something in her notebook.

The rest of the afternoon followed the same rhythm—run, clean, repeat. Sweat dripped, shoes squeaked, laughter broke out when someone tripped or added an accidental freestyle, but each time they improved. The group chemistry was undeniable; it felt less like rehearsal and more like building something special together.

They were just finishing another run when the studio door creaked open. Heads turned, and in walked Grayson—still in street clothes, holding a white takeout bag and a drink.

Diana froze mid-step. "Grayson? What are you still doing here? I thought you went home."

He grinned, a little sheepish but proud. "I was going to. But then I thought... knowing you, you probably weren't gonna have a real lunch today. So I went out and got you food."

The room collectively let out a soft chorus of "awws," and Diana felt her chest warm. She crossed the room quickly, reaching him just as he held it out to her.

"You didn't have to do that," she said, her smile wide as she took it from him.

"I wanted to," Grayson shrugged.

Touched, Diana leaned in and hugged him. He squeezed her tightly, and for a brief second, the world narrowed to just that—his arms, his thoughtfulness, the quiet comfort of being cared for.

When she pulled back, she caught Dani's gaze. The older pro was smirking knowingly, one brow raised in a way that screamed we'll talk about this later. Diana shook her head quickly, trying to hide her blush.

"Alright, I'll let you guys get back to it," Grayson said, giving the rest of the room a friendly wave before slipping out.

Still smiling, Diana walked back toward the corner of the studio with her food. As she passed Dani, she muttered, "Don't."

"I didn't say anything," Dani teased, grinning like she already knew every thought in Diana's head.

Diana settled down against the wall and began opening the bag. The smell of In-N-Out wafted out, making her stomach growl instantly. She pulled out a burger and fries, the simple sight making her ridiculously happy.

Malachi wandered over, towel draped around his neck, curiosity written all over his face. "What'd he get you?"

"In-N-Out," Diana said cheerfully, holding up the bag.

He nodded, eyes flicking over the food before pausing on the drink. "Vanilla?"

She blinked. "Yeah."

Malachi tilted his head, brow raised just slightly. "Huh. I thought you always preferred chocolate."

Diana stilled, caught off guard. He wasn't wrong—chocolate was her favorite. The fact that he remembered made something stir in her chest.

"I do," she admitted softly, giving a little shrug. "But it's fine. It's sweet of him either way."

Malachi didn't press. He just gave her a small, almost unreadable smile before reaching over and stealing one fry from her carton.

"Hey!" she laughed.

"Just one," he teased.

They shared a quick laugh, but Diana couldn't shake the quiet flutter in her chest. It wasn't the burger, or the fries, or even Grayson's thoughtfulness—it was the way Malachi noticed.

Before she could dwell on it, Dani's clap rang out. "Break's over, everyone back in spots!"

Diana quickly tucked her food aside for later, retied her sneakers, and jogged back into formation, her heart beating faster than before.

Diana sat cross-legged on her bed, hair damp from her shower, oversized hoodie drowning her frame, the soft glow of the bedside lamp giving the room a cozy golden hue. Her phone propped against a pillow, the familiar FaceTime ring filled the room until Aspen's smiling face popped up on the screen.

"There she is!" Aspen cheered, her background showing the twinkle lights strung across her dorm. "My big-shot TV dancer. How's everything coming along?"

Diana grinned, already feeling lighter at seeing her best friend. "Honestly? Really good. The jive is going so well. Grayson and I finally got the basketball section to not look like a complete disaster."

Aspen clapped like a proud mom. "Yes! I knew you'd figure it out. The queen of choreography strikes again."

Diana laughed, shaking her head. "Stop. But no, for real, it's actually fun now. And oh—fans are gonna freak out when they see the Descendants and Zombies surprise number. Like, they're not ready."

Aspen's jaw dropped dramatically. "I still can't believe you. Not only are you dancing with them but you're literally friends with them. Like, Freya, Mk, Malachi—what is your life?"

Diana rolled her eyes but smiled. "I know, it feels surreal sometimes. They're honestly just...normal people though. Super talented, yeah, but they're just goofy and fun like anyone else."

Aspen leaned in closer to the camera, raising a brow. "Alright, spill then. Give me a funny rehearsal story. I need to feel like I'm there."

Diana thought for a moment before grinning. "Okay, so today at rehearsal, Mk and I have this part where I flip him, right? But we mistimed it with the music and he ended up landing way too close to Malachi. Malachi literally had to jump back mid-step to avoid getting kicked. And instead of getting mad, he just yelled, 'Bro, you trying to kill me before show day?'"

Aspen burst out laughing, nearly dropping her phone. "Oh my gosh. I can literally see that. Poor Malachi."

"They couldn't stop laughing for like five minutes," Diana said, shaking her head. "We had to reset the music three times because they kept cracking up."

"Okay, I love that," Aspen smiled. "I need more! What else happened today?"

Diana hesitated, fiddling with the edge of her sleeve before admitting, "Well...Grayson brought me food."

Aspen's eyes went wide instantly. "He what?!"

Diana chuckled nervously. "Yeah, he showed up with burgers and fries. Which, okay, was really sweet. He even got me a vanilla shake."

Aspen clasped her hands under her chin, squealing. "That's adorable. He's basically feeding you like a Disney prince."

Diana rolled her eyes, though a smile tugged at her lips. "Aspen, it was just lunch. Calm down."

"But wait," Aspen said suddenly, narrowing her eyes. "A vanilla shake? You're a chocolate girl."

"I know," Diana said quickly, holding up her hand. "And it's fine. Like, we never talked about that. So it's not like he'd know. It was still really sweet."

Aspen tilted her head, suspicious. "Uh-huh. So you just drank vanilla all day like it didn't bother you?"

"Pretty much," Diana said with a laugh. "But—you know who did realize?"

Aspen's eyes lit up instantly. "Who?!"

"Malachi."

Aspen practically screamed. "Are you kidding me?!"

Diana chuckled, shaking her head. "Nope. He noticed the shake and literally said, 'I thought you always preferred chocolate.' Just like that. Casual. But he remembered."

Aspen gasped, then clutched her chest like she was in a soap opera. "I can't with him. That's—no, that's insane." She grinned mischievously. "You know what this reminds me of?"

Diana braced herself instantly, groaning. "Oh lord..."

Aspen smirked like a cat about to pounce. "Mr. Steven 'her middle name is Madison' Conklin."

Diana burst out laughing, covering her face with her sleeve. "Aspen, no. Don't compare it to that."

"Yes!" Aspen said, pointing at her through the screen. "Because he is literally Mr. Malachi 'her favorite flavor is chocolate' Barton."

Diana shook her head, laughing harder. "You're ridiculous."

"I'm right," Aspen shot back, grinning ear to ear. "Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me that's not the cutest thing ever."

Diana rolled her eyes, cheeks still warm. "It's not a big deal. He probably just has a good memory. It's whatever."

Aspen crossed her arms. "It is a big deal, but fine. I'll drop it...for now." She winked dramatically.

Diana exhaled a laugh, sinking deeper into her pillows. "You're impossible."

"And you're in denial," Aspen teased. "But we'll circle back. Don't worry."

Diana just smiled, shaking her head, the sound of Aspen's laughter filling the room until they drifted into lighter chatter, but the thought lingered—soft, quiet, and maybe not so "whatever" after all.

graysonholt just posted a tiktok!

Grayson Holt • 10-5someone's ready for disney night 🐭 ♥️ @Diana Sinclair                                722k 💬 9,214

userthe way he looks at her

userwe see those eyes 👀

Diana Sinclair10/10 heel click      Grayson Holt       learned from the best

userwhere are you looking mr holt???

Daniella Karagachour little ball of energy

Ezra Sosaget it D

Dara Reneey'all are gonna kill it this week!!!     Grayson Holt      love you dara 🫶🏻

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another chapter bc we are at 5k reads!

thank you guys!!

also, malachi with the shake flavor 🤏🏻

😊