15 | private lesson

PRIVATE LESSON

🪩

The ballroom always felt different on camera blocking day. There was a buzz in the air that hadn't been there during rehearsals — a mix of nerves and excitement, like the walls themselves knew that tomorrow it wouldn't just be practice anymore. Tomorrow, the lights, the music, the audience, and the judges would all be watching.

For Diana, that thought made her stomach flip, but in the best way. She was a little jittery as she slipped into wardrobe for her costume fittings first thing in the morning.

"Okay, Diana," the wardrobe assistant said cheerfully, handing her a hanger draped with red sparkles. "Let's start with the opening number costume."

Diana ducked behind the curtain and quickly changed. When she stepped out, she was wearing a two-piece set: a sparkly red crop top with white polka dots and a matching flared skirt that brushed mid-thigh. The sequins caught the light, throwing tiny beams around the room as she moved.

"Oh my gosh," Diana said, spinning once to watch the skirt fly out. "I feel like Minnie Mouse went to a disco."

The assistant laughed. "That's the vibe!"

Emma poked her head into the fitting space, grinning. "Girl, you look adorable. It's perfect for the Disney number."

Diana beamed. "I feel so... sparkly." She smoothed down the skirt.

After a few adjustments — tightening the waistband here, pinning a loose strap there — Diana was handed her next outfit. She carefully switched into the Wildcats cheer uniform, the one she'd wear for the jive.

The moment she looked in the mirror, her heart gave a weird little squeeze. It was bright red and white, the word Wildcats scrawled across the front in bold letters. The pleated skirt swished as she moved, and the high ponytail they planned for show day would complete the look.

"Wow," Diana whispered, half to herself. "I look like I just walked straight out of High School Musical."

"That's exactly the point," the wardrobe assistant said proudly. "It's authentic but still stage-ready."

Diana tugged at the hem of the skirt, shaking her head with a smile.

Dani walked in and smiled when she saw Diana. "Grayson is going to lose his mind when he sees this. And the fans? Forget about it. Twitter will combust."

Diana blushed at the thought, already picturing the edits and tweets that would flood her timeline.

Finally, they handed her the last outfit: a white, red, and gold costume designed for the Worlds Collide number. It had sleek lines, almost futuristic in the way the red accents slashed across the white fabric. The top hugged her torso with a structured fit, and the pants allowed for movement while still looking sharp.

Diana stared at herself in the mirror, nodding slowly. "This is... really cool." She shifted her shoulders, testing the mobility. The fabric stretched with her, perfect for lifts and jumps. "I actually feel like i'm apart of the movie."

Once the fittings were complete and everything was noted down for alterations, Diana slipped back into her rehearsal clothes. She hugged the wardrobe team, thanking them, before heading down the hall toward the ballroom.

The ballroom was alive when she entered. The stage lights were being tested, beams of gold and blue streaking across the glossy floor. The cameras were already set up on their tracks, operators adjusting angles and marking positions. Crew members with headsets darted around, taping spots on the floor where dancers needed to hit.

It was chaos, but an organized kind of chaos.

"Opening number, let's go!" one of the stage managers called out, clapping their hands.

Diana slipped into her spot, shoulder to shoulder with other pros. When the music started, Diana nearly broke character because Alan threw in an exaggerated shimmy that had Britt and Brandon doubling over with laughter.

"Alan!" Dani called out between counts, trying to keep her stern pro face but failing.

"What?" Alan said innocently, grinning. "Just adding a little extra sparkle!"

The whole room cracked up, and the tension melted. Camera blocking could be stressful, but moments like that made it fun.

They reset and went again, this time running it cleaner. Diana felt the thrill of dancing with the full cast, everyone's energy bouncing off each other. By the end of the run, she was slightly breathless, but her heart was racing in excitement.

When the stage manager called for a quick break, Diana jogged off the floor, towel in hand. She spotted Grayson sitting on the sidelines, legs stretched out in front of him, flipping through his notebook of counts.

Sliding down next to him, she nudged his knee with her own. "Hey."

He looked up and smiled, his expression instantly softening. "Hey. How's it going out there?"

"Good," Diana said, leaning back against the wall. "Alan nearly derailed the entire number, but otherwise good."

Grayson chuckled. "I saw that."

She tilted her head toward his notebook. "Going over the jive?"

He nodded. "Just making sure I don't blank when the cameras start rolling. I keep replaying the basketball section in my head."

Diana leaned forward, tapping the notebook. "We'll be fine. It's all muscle memory now. Just trust it."

He gave her a small, grateful smile. "Easy for you to say. I'm still not 100% used to one run and done."

Diana laughed, bumping his shoulder. "You'll be great. And hey, if you do drop it, just sell it like it was supposed to happen."

Grayson groaned, but he was smiling.

Their break was cut short when the stage manager called for the next round of camera blocking. Diana and Grayson both stood, brushing off their legs.

"Alright, next up for camera blocking — Grayson and Diana!"

Her heart skipped. Even though they'd been drilling this routine, something about performing it under the hot stage lights with cameras trained on them made it feel brand-new.

Grayson cracked his knuckles beside her. "Showtime."

She gave him a quick grin. "Remember — it's just us. Forget the cameras."

But as they walked out onto the ballroom floor, she couldn't help noticing just how many eyes were on them. Along the far wall, the other pros had gathered to watch, smiles and encouraging looks on their faces. The DZ crew was scattered among them, chatting quietly but clearly excited to see it again.

The music director gave them a thumbs-up. The lights dimmed, then flared bright, spotlighting them at center stage.

Diana squeezed the basketball in her hands, giving Grayson a final nod.

The music hit.

Immediately, they snapped into character — Grayson with his EJ Caswell swagger, Diana with her precise, sharp jive steps. Their kicks were fast, their spins sharp. The basketball tricks — the passes, the spins, the timed bounce into a kick — were always the trickiest part, but today it clicked. The ball smacked into Grayson's palm at just the right beat, and the crew erupted in cheers.

"Go Wildcats!" someone shouted from the sidelines, and Diana couldn't help but laugh mid-step.

The energy built as they moved through the routine. Their footwork was crisp, the jumps tight. At one point, Diana leapt into Grayson's arms, the basketball balanced between them, and he twirled her in a circle before setting her down. She landed light, their movements perfectly in sync.

By the time they hit the ending pose — Grayson lifting her onto his shoulder like a true Wildcats cheerleader, her arm raised high with the basketball — the ballroom burst into applause.

"Woo!" Dara cheered, clapping wildly. Freya and Kylie whistled, and Dani gave a little fist pump of approval.

Diana's cheeks burned with pride and adrenaline. From her perch on Grayson's shoulder, she laughed breathlessly, looking down at him. "Told you it would click."

They finished up their last bits of blocking before stepping off to the side. Diana grabbed Graysons shoulders and shook them with excitement, "That was so good! I need that exact energy tomorrow night!"

Grayson smiled big, "It felt really good!"

"Because you committed to it. You didn't overthink it, you just danced. I am so proud of you!"

Grayson straightened and nodded, still smiling at her. "Hey, if you want, I can stick around, you know. Stay the rest of the time while you're dancing. Might as well keep watching and learning."

Diana shook her head, gently waving him off. "You don't have to do that. I'm gonna be stuck here for a few more hours. You should go rest—tomorrow's going to be a long day."

He tilted his head. "I don't mind."

Her smile softened. "Grayson, seriously. Go home, relax. Plus—Ezra mentioned something about hanging out later. So I'll be busy anyway."

Grayson hesitated for half a second, then nodded. "Alright. I'll see you tomorrow, then."

"Tomorrow," she said with a grin.

Before leaving, Grayson pulled her into a tight hug, his chin resting lightly on top of her head, his arms banded firmly around her waist. It wasn't a quick hug — it lingered, warm and grounding.

Grayson looked up. His eyes automatically swept the room — and landed on Malachi.

Malachi, who had been talking to Mk but clearly keeping tabs, froze. His jaw clenched ever so slightly, his expression unreadable, but the look said plenty. For a split second, the two of them just stared at each other — Grayson still holding Diana close, Malachi watching with sharp, unflinching focus. Before anyone else could notice, he tore his gaze away, forcing himself back into his conversation.

Grayson smirked faintly at the reaction before pulling back from Diana. "You've got this," he told her with a wink, then headed for the exit.

Once he was gone, Diana turned back to the floor, unaware of any of it. She still had some time before they were scheduled to block Worlds Collide, and she found herself chatting with Dani, reviewing counts and mentally preparing for the next big run.

The ballroom shifted into a new rhythm as the crew prepped for the Worlds Collide run-through. Diana tied her hair up into a higher ponytail and grabbed her water bottle before heading back to center with the others. Dani clapped her hands, corralling the group like only she could.

"Alright, team. Before we go full-out, let's go over a few things," Dani said. Diana, Ezra, Brandon, and Britt chimed in here and there with reminders about spacing and sharper arms.

Diana glanced around—Malachi bouncing on his heels, Freya pulling her jacket tighter, Mk stretching out his shoulders, and the Descendants group buzzing with energy. There was a little electricity in the air, like they all knew this number was going to hit big.

They got into position. The music blared through the speakers, and the group launched into the routine. Diana kept her counts sharp, throwing herself into every move, especially during the sections she'd marked as needing more energy. The partnership moments with Mk—especially their flip—hit perfectly, and she heard a few cheers from the sidelines when it landed clean. By the end, everyone was sweating, out of breath, but buzzing.

The music cut, and the other pros and crew watching erupted into applause. Felicia stood off to the side, clapping and smiling proudly.

"That looked insane—in the best way," she called out, her grin wide.

Malachi jogged over, still catching his breath. "Thanks, Mom," he said with a laugh, giving her a quick hug before grabbing his water.

Diana leaned on her knees for a second, catching her breath, then stood tall again. Her chest heaved with excitement—this was the cleanest the number had ever felt.

Once blocking wrapped up, everyone started to break off. Some sat to scroll through their phones, some stretched out sore muscles, and others just plopped down on the floor. Diana grabbed her water and towel, already thinking about the long day tomorrow.

Ezra found her first, giving her a tired smile. "Hey," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "So, I know we said we'd hang out tonight, but... rain check? I'm wiped. Like, if I even sit down on my couch, I'm gonna pass out instantly."

Diana laughed softly, nodding. "Ezra, that's totally fine. You've been going nonstop all week. Rest. We can go out after the show tomorrow."

"Promise?" he asked, his grin returning.

"Promise," she said, giving him a quick hug.

Ezra smiled, relieved, and headed out, tossing her a lazy little wave on his way. Diana turned back to grab her bag, not noticing Malachi a few feet away, leaning casually against the wall as if he'd just been scrolling on his phone. In reality, he'd caught every word of the exchange.

He pushed off the wall casually, walking up to her. "So..." he started, his voice just light enough to sound casual, though his eyes stayed sharp on her. "Wanna grab some food?"

Diana paused, surprised, but then smiled. "Honestly? Yeah. That sounds perfect."

Malachi's lips curled into a grin, almost like he'd been hoping she'd say yes. "Cool. In-N-Out?"

She nodded. "In-N-Out."

And just like that, the night took a new turn.

The ballroom emptied out slowly, but by the time Diana and Malachi slipped outside, the air felt lighter. She tugged her sweatshirt over her head as the late evening breeze cooled her skin. Malachi shoved his hands into his pockets, head dipped slightly, his curls falling across his forehead.

"You're gonna have to drive," Malachi said as he awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. "I drove with my mom."

Diana laughed lightly and nodded, "That's fine. You can be my passenger princess." She added a teasing wink that had him rolling his eyes playfully.

The drive to In-N-Out was easy—low music playing through her car speakers, Diana humming softly along. When they pulled up to the drive-thru, before Diana could even speak, Malachi leaned over, ordering their food.

Diana blinked, impressed. "Wow, you have a good memory."

"Well it's a pretty basic order so...," he teased and Diana shot him an annoyed look.

When they finally had the bags in hand, the smell of fries filling the car, Diana practically sighed with happiness. "Best decision ever."

"Always is," Malachi said, pulling out a fry and handing it to her.

They arrived at his house not long after. The gate clicked open, and Diana's jaw dropped as they pulled into the driveway.

"Malachi," she whispered, turning in her seat. "You live in a palace."

He laughed, shaking his head. "It's not that crazy."

The house, lit warmly against the night, had wide windows and sprawling rooms visible even from the entry. When they stepped inside, Diana froze, taking in the high ceilings and polished wood floors.

"Wow," she breathed.

"Diana," A warm voice pulled her attention. Felicia appeared from around the corner, smiling wide.

Diana straightened immediately, trying not to look starstruck. "Your house is beautiful. Thank you for having me here."

Felicia's smile softened. "You're welcome here anytime, sweetheart."

Before Diana could respond, another voice came from the hall. "Hi, I'm Loren—Malachi's dad."

Diana shook his hand, still slightly overwhelmed by how stunning the house is. They chatted for a few minutes, Felicia asking about rehearsals, Loren teasing Malachi. Diana smiled and laughed, but soon Malachi tugged her gently toward the living room.

"Come on, let's eat before everything gets cold."

They settled onto the couch, food spread across the coffee table. Malachi flipped on the TV and scrolled. They had decided on a fun rom-com, She's All That.

"You've seen this, right?" he asked.

"Only like a hundred times," Diana admitted with a laugh.

They ate as the movie played, laughing at the dated outfits and the cheesy one-liners. When Freddie Prinze Jr. appeared on screen, Diana nearly choked on her fry.

"Okay, but young Freddie? Unreal. Like, unfairly attractive."

Malachi shot her a teasing look. "So that's your type?"

Diana grinned, shrugging. "What can I say? He's classic."

The credits rolled, the screen fading to black. Diana leaned back against the couch cushions, wiping her hands on a napkin as she finished the last of her fries. Malachi tossed his empty shake cup onto the table and slumped beside her, his arm resting along the back of the couch.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The room was quiet, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator down the hall. Finally, Malachi broke the silence.

"So..." he started, tilting his head toward her. "You've been doing this ballroom thing basically your whole life, right?"

Diana nodded, pulling her legs up to sit cross-legged. "Yeah. Since I was, like, seven."

"That's crazy." Malachi leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his eyes fixed on her with real interest. "How'd you even get into it? Like, it's not exactly the first thing most kids do."

She laughed softly. "No, definitely not. My mom actually put me in ballet first. Then a new studio opened up and we decided to try it. Ballroom just... clicked. It's performance and discipline, but also personality. And you can tell stories without saying a word."

Malachi hummed, thoughtful. "And now you're nineteen, on Dancing With the Stars, dancing with celebrities and choreographing huge group numbers." He shook his head in disbelief. "That's insane."

Her cheeks warmed at the sincerity in his tone. "It feels surreal, sometimes. Like, I still get nervous before every rehearsal. And the workload is insane. But when I'm out there, dancing? It's worth it."

Malachi sat back, watching her with a small smile. "You light up when you talk about it, you know that?"

Diana ducked her head, hiding a shy grin. "Shut up."

"I'm serious," he insisted, grinning wider now. "It's cool. You've found your thing."

She nudged him with her shoulder, and for a second, they just sat there in comfortable silence. Then Malachi's eyes lit up mischievously.

"Okay, but I can't just sit here hearing about how great ballroom is without trying it myself."

Diana raised an eyebrow. "You want me to... teach you?"

"Obviously." He stood, holding out his hand. "C'mon, don't make me beg."

She laughed but let him pull her up. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you."

The first few attempts at waltz were comical—Malachi's steps too big, his frame too loose, Diana nearly doubled over laughing at how serious he tried to look.

"Focus!" she teased, swatting his shoulder.

"Don't laugh at me, this is pressure!" he shot back, his jaw tight with mock concentration.

Finally, he started to get it. His hand on her waist was firm but careful, his other hand threading naturally with hers. She guided him, counting softly.

"One, two, three. One, two, three."

Their movements smoothed out. He spun her out, then pulled her back in. When he tried the dip, it was clumsy at first—they toppled sideways into laughter—but Malachi insisted on another try.

"Again. I've got this," he said, determination in his voice.

And then he did. He dipped her low, steady and confident, her hair brushing the air as she trusted his hold completely.

"Yes!" Diana squealed as he lifted her back up, exhilaration bubbling through her. Without thinking, she launched herself into his arms, wrapping tightly around him. He caught her with ease, laughing as he spun her once in the air.

Her chest pressed against his as he held her close, and when they finally slowed, they pulled back just slightly—enough for their eyes to meet.

The air shifted. Their laughter faded, replaced by something quieter, heavier. His hands stayed at her waist, hers curled against his shoulders. For a beat, neither moved. Neither spoke.

Then a noise from the kitchen—a cupboard shutting, Felicia humming to herself—snapped them out of it. They stepped apart quickly, both clearing their throats.

Diana blinked, stepping back quickly with a small laugh to cover the tension. "Okay. You've got waltz down. Want to try something faster?"

Malachi smirked, like he'd noticed the moment too but wasn't going to push it. "Yeah. Let's go."

Soon they were jumping, kicking, tripping over each other's shoes and collapsing into laughter on the rug. Malachi tried to copy her flicks and nearly sent himself flying.

"Okay, okay, maybe I'm not built for jive," he admitted, flopping onto the floor.

Diana dropped beside him, laughing so hard her stomach hurt. "You're not terrible."

"You're lying," he shot back, grinning.

They tried cha-cha next, then samba. Each attempt ended in laughter, playful shoves, and their foreheads pressed together as they caught their breath.

Hours slipped by unnoticed.

Eventually, Diana lay sprawled on the floor, her hair fanned around her head, chest rising and falling quickly. Malachi dropped down beside her, both of them staring up at the ceiling in comfortable silence.

"That," he said finally, voice low, "was actually the most fun I've had in a while."

Diana turned her head toward him, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Told you ballroom was worth it."

His gaze lingered on her a moment too long, something unspoken flickering in his eyes. But he just smiled back, his curls damp with sweat, his chest heaving in rhythm with hers.

And though the moment stretched, thick and heavy, neither of them spoke it aloud.

dianasinclair just posted a tiktok !

Diana Sinclair • 10-7a work in progress 😉                              ♥️   @Malachi Barton                              523k                                                                    💬                                                                    6,871

user#teammalachi

usershe's at his house?!

Malachi Bartonin progress?? I KILLED THAT Diana Sinclair its was good Malachi Barton GOOD?! it was a masterpiece

Freya Skyewait teach me next!!!! Diana Sinclair just let me know when 😉

userTHE HAND PLACEMENT

Ezra Sosasomeone get him on season 34 NOW user and diana HAS to be his partner

usergraysons currently crying

Daniella Karagach you two are so cute user Uhhh what do you know 👀

Mknew character unlocked Malachi Barton a level up for sure

userwait...he's kinda good Malachi Barton kinda???? user OMG HIII

🪩

her teaching him ballroom🥹

i love them!!!

also, next chapter things get a little crazy

will i post the next chapter today? probably so be on the look out for that 👀

😊