Page 72 of With You

We go back to our dressing room, a shared space with a couple of other dancers who are on stage before us, so we’re alone. River closes the door behind us and wastes no time in wrapping his arms around me. He rests his chin on the top of my head, but I remind him not to mess up my hair.

“What about this?” he asks, running his thumb across my bottom lip. “Can I mess this up?”

“You’re the worst,” I tell him, but I don’t stop him as he leans down to kiss me.

Although I never thought this was a possibility when I first asked River to dance with me, I’m so glad we’re here. I can’t imagine doing this with anyone else, trusting someone so wholly to join me in what is the most important performance of my life so far.

And as much as I wanted to deny it at first, pretend that I wasn’t falling for him, there’s no way to stop the rapid beat of my heart when I’m around him, the excitement that bubbles within me whenever we dance together, the contentment I feel when we fall asleep and wake up together.

River kisses me as if we don’t have a show to do, and although I would love to stay here with him and make up for lost time, I can’t forget why we’re here.

“Let’s go and watch the others,” I say as I pull away from him. He lets out a sigh, his fingers squeezing my waist before he lets go.

“Fine, I guess,” he pouts, and I squeeze his cheek at how adorable he looks. He gives me a smile that lights me up from the inside before we go back out of the room to watch the others from side stage.

The performances are as wonderful as I expected, everyone performing at their absolute best. The talent in this room right now is immense—well, apart from Charlotte, who is arguing with a stagehand about something trivial. The other day, all I felt was anger when I saw her, but now there’s nothing. Charlotte may be able to get everything handed to her while we’re at university, but that doesn’t mean the scouts won’t see right through her, that the real world won’t hit her once we graduate in a few years.

The rest of the showcase passes quickly, and it’s almost time for me and River to perform. We don’t say a word to each other as the lights go out and the previous dancer hurries off the stage to applause, leaving it clear for us. River takes my hand in his, squeezing it tightly as he brings it up to his lips, then drops it and kisses my cheek before he leads me to the centre of the stage.

He steps behind me like he’s done a thousand times before, and when his hands come around my waist, I don’t feel any worry about this performance. Even when those curtains come up, and we’re faced with hundreds of watchful eyes, we’re still just us. It’s always been just us.

The music starts as the curtain rises, and River and I dance better than we ever have before. We’re in tune with one another in a way we haven’t been before, our breaths syncing like our hearts. I’m so full of pure joy, every move I make only elevated by that feeling. River smiles at me the whole time, his touch firm, steady, and reassuring, every tiny action of mine perfectly reciprocated by him.

We are Romeo and Juliet, in an alternate universe where tragedy doesn’t await them, just a long life together full of love and happiness. And when we reach the end, and our breathing is heavy, and my body aches in the best way possible, and River’s lips finally find mine, I silently tell him everything I haven’t said yet. I know he hears it from the smile I feel against my lips, the press of his body against mine, and the adoration in his eyes when we finally break apart at the sound of applause from a standing ovation.

A loud whistle catches everyone but us off guard, and I don’t even have to see them to know that Damien has tackled Grayson to sit him down again. I just about catch a glimpse of River’s dad, pride clear on his face as he smiles at both of us. Evie and Zena have tears in their eyes as they clap loudly for us, and it sets me off before I even know it. River pulls me into him, holding me tightly as he lets me cry out the months of hard work we’ve put in, all finally culminating in tonight’s performance that went better than I could have expected.

The lights go off, and River sweeps me off the stage. We barely make it back to the dressing room before his mouth crashes against mine.

“I love you, Amelie,” he whispers into the kiss. “God, I love you so much.”

“I love you, too,” I tell him, my arms wrapping around his neck.

“Finally,” he breathes, his shoulders relaxing like a weight has been lifted off them before he kisses me again.

“Knew it, you owe me a hundred.”

We break apart at the sound of Grayson’s voice and Damien’s heavy sigh. Our friends are gathered at the door, flowers in hand, trying to hide their smiles. Damien reaches into his pocket, pulls out two fifty-euro notes, and slaps them into Grayson’s outstretched hand.

“You made a bet?” River asks, his voice rising on the last word.

“It was always gonna happen, my guy,” Grayson says, gleefully tucking the money away.

“You’ve known us for a year,” River reminds him.

“Okay, and I’ve had eyes for that whole year. You should be more annoyed at Damien; he thought it wouldn’t happen until summer.”

“You’re meant to be my friend,” River turns to him.

“I’m your best friend,” Damien says, with a quick wink in my direction.

I probably wouldn’t have given River another chance if Damien hadn’t come to my room and told me everything, so I guess he’s earned that title.

“The rest of us already knew anyway; you’re both late to the party,” Evie interrupts, and Grayson and Damien just stare at the rest of us, mouths wide open. “You were amazing! Both of you!”

She hurries over, embracing us both tightly before she passes the flowers to me. Zena does the same, and I’m so grateful to have them both in my life. We make our way around the group, hugging everyone as they congratulate us on a great performance. Happiness overwhelms me as I look around at all of them, wondering how fortunate I really am to have found a family that loves me so much.

We spend the rest of the show in the dressing room. I have no desire to watch Charlotte embarrass herself in front of an audience. I’d rather spend this time with my friends instead, the people that have always supported and encouraged me. The faint sound of applause filters through our conversation, and we all leave the room so River and I can get ready for the final bow.