The bright white lights shined down on the stage as America's top twenty dancers broke out into their routine. This week they were doing a contemporary routine set to a beautiful song. All the guys were wearing these creme button downs that were left open along with a matching pant. Josh's bare feet graced the ground as he performed. With every step and every move he fell deeper and deeper into the rhythm. With every extension of his arms and legs Josh moved around the stage in unison with the other dancers. As Josh turned on the stage, he prepared himself for the next lift in the routine, he held his arms out for the dancer as she felt her weight shift in his hands. Releasing her and setting her down gently, Josh moved to his next position as he set his hand on Maya's shoulder as he was supporting her through this part of the dance.
When Josh's hand graced Maya's shoulder she melted the tiniest bit. Resting her hand over his she divulged in the brief moment their hands touched before using his body as she performed a graceful arabesque as the song began to dwindle down. Allowing her leg to fall slowly, Maya slowly drew her arm away as she took a few steps away from him turning all her attention to her hand as she then wrapped her arms around herself and lost herself in the last few eight counts of the dance.
As the music began to reach its end the to twenty gave each other lingering looks, smiling to themselves as they knew they gave a beautiful performance. Each person breathing hard as they all breathed together in time, the audiences deafening applause entered their ears as they heard Zay say, "Welcome," he paused. "To America's Best Dancer!"
The thirty second theme song began to play as the top twenty quickly moved from their spots and ran backstage as they prepared for their introductions on the stage. Maya ran backstage quickly as she quickly stripped down into her black dance shorts and a black sports bra. With fifteen seconds to spare she looked around before moving to her wing of the stage and she spotted Josh tugging on his jeans throwing on a shirt and running his fingers through his hair before slipping on a pair of shoes before moving to his wing as well. With one last lingering look Maya shook her head as she reminded herself to focus and enjoy the moment as she wasn't going to experience it for the first time ever again.
Music began to play again as everyone prepared themselves for their entrances with their partner. Maya listened intently as she heard Zay call out, "Ricky and Maya!"
Maya ran out to meet Ricky in the center of the stage as the music played and they did a quick eight count of free-styled partner work before running past each other to join their respective genders on opposing sides of the stage. Then she heard Zay yell out, "Josh and Melanie!"
Maya smiled along and danced along with the beat as she saw Josh and Melanie dance at the front of the stage. Soon enough all ten girls and all ten guys were on stage as Zay yelled out, "Here are your girls!" The girls walked to the beat to the end of the stage. "And here are your guys! Here's your top twenty America!"
The girls and the guys walked to each other in the center of the stage and posed as the song ended. Overhead they heard the announcer yell out, "Here's your host Zay B!"
The stage opened in rear center as Zay walked out and the dancers danced back through the back as Zay began his hosting duties for the evening. Backstage everyone moved in a hurried frenzy as they got ready for their next dance. Both Josh and Maya had a few routines and a commercial break before they would go onstage again. Josh sat in his makeup chair as his make up artist and hair stylist quickly prepared him for his Paso Doble. His hair was slicked to the side and his torso was exposed as he was shirtless for this dance. As his artist finished dabbing his face with powder, Josh thanked them and got out of the chair to watch the monitor.
Maya appeared at his side and silently watched the monitor next to him. Her hair was pulled back out of her face and her normally pale cheeks were made all the more rosier with layers and layers of blush. Josh felt her presence next to him and looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "She looks beautiful," he thought. Josh cleared his throat and decided to break the silence between the two of them. "You look beautiful," he whispered. "And you danced beautifully as always."
Josh waited eagerly for her response but heard nothing. Shaking his head he mumbled underneath his breath. "I can't believe you right now." He looked at her one last time before walking away. "Good luck tonight. You have my vote."
Maya looked out of the corner of her eye and watched Josh walk away from her. Maya sighed to herself and tried not to let all of this shake her but she couldn't get his face from moments ago out of her mind. Why couldn't she have just said thank you? It was a compliment after all. Maya wrestled with her own mind all night. She wanted to focus on the competition and work her way all the way through to the end but she didn't want to lose Josh in the process of all of this. Yet, she was pushing him away. She just had all these doubts floating around in her head and didn't know what to do with them. Maybe Josh had a point maybe she should just talk to him about how she feels.
Maya sighed aloud and looked up at the monitor again not realizing that so much time had passed and that Josh was about to go onstage. Maya watched the screen intensely as she watched Josh and Melanie's rehearsal montage play before they danced onstage. Maya smiled to herself as she saw Josh talk about his dance and how they worked with their choreographer. Maya heard Zay announce the pair and turned around so that she could see him on stage herself.
Admittedly, Maya was enjoying seeing Josh shirtless a little too much, but she was entranced by the way his body moved. With such intricate footwork he had to have practiced outside of the dance studio. The way he held his own in the dance with such passion and intensity it was honestly incredibly sexy. Maya's breath hitched in her throat as he held his partner and struck his finishing pose, ending their sensual Paso Doble. Maya's attention turned back towards the monitor as she wanted to hear what the judges had to say.
Josh held Melanie's hand tightly as they finished their dance. Their chests went up and down heavily as they breathed in sync and walked towards Zay. Smiles on both of their faces they were extremely proud of their work. "That was sexy! It feels a little hot in here maybe I should go," Zay joked as Josh and Melanie played along with him. "Leigh Anne our resident ballroom expert what do you have to say about that performance?"
Leigh Anne took a deep breath before slamming both of her hands on the table. "Woo!" she exclaimed. "That was a sexy Paso Doble I'll tell you. Melanie, you were wonderful! That were a few technical moments in the routine that were not as clean as they should have been. If you had lifted your chin up just a hair it would have naturally corrected everything else in your form but besides that you were absolutely wonderful." Leigh Anne's eyes darted towards Josh. "Now you, you came here to win!" Josh laughed and held his stomach. "You established your dominance and commanded that routine. You were a sexy beast on that dance floor. I honestly find it hard to believe that you don't have technical training in these styles. Your dance vocabulary really showed and I'm excited to see what else you do this season. America, vote for this young man. He is something special and he will go far."
Josh bowed his head in gratitude and listened intently to the other judges and ran off this stage with Melanie once they were finished. He high-fived Melanie and exclaimed, "We killed that shit!"
Josh ran off the stage further and rushed to get changed as he had one more dance to finish out the evening. He was too proud of himself to notice Maya staring at him from across the stage.
The evening drew to a close as all the dancers lined up onstage and listened to Zay list out their numbers for America to call in to in order to vote for each of the dancers. "Vote for Maya at 555-317. Again if you want to see Maya move on in this competition dial this number 555-317. Remember you have only two hours after the show ends to cast your vote," Zay said as he continued to babble on.
Before they all knew it the lights were out and they were all back to their hotel within the hour. Josh was on a high from the night. He absolutely killed it and left it all out on the stage. The adrenaline he had from the evening was coursing through his veins as he stepped out of the shower. His phone rang as he walked out into his room. Smiling as he saw his mom's name come across his screen he answered, "Hi Momma," he greeted.
"I'm only calling to tell you that you were amazing baby. I'm gonna need the line back to continue voting before it closes so I just called to say that I love you and I'm so, so proud of you baby."
Amy was off the phone just as quick as she came on and Josh couldn't help but laugh. That was his mom alright. As he slipped on some pants he heard a knock at the door. Opening the door, Josh was pleased yet surprised to see Maya standing in front of him. "Hi," he breathed. "What are you um- what are you doing here?" he stuttered.
Maya just held up her phone and a voice rang out, "You've casted your maximum number of votes for Josh! Tune in tomorrow night to see the results."
Maya hung up her phone and slipped it into her pocket. "You were absolutely amazing tonight."
"Thanks," Josh whispered as he looked at her. "But I meant what I said before. This isn't going to work if you don't talk to me."
"I know," Maya breathed. "That's why I'm here. Can I come in? I just want to be honest with you."
Josh stepped aside and let Maya into his room and closed the door behind her as she walked over to the couch in his room. Josh sat down next to her hand held out his hand for her to hold as she talked. "Well then I'm ready to listen."
Maya placed her small hand into his and smiled at him through tearful eyes. "Josh I care about you so much. I've been letting all these doubts about us creep into my mind and I'm just so overwhelmed by them. People have seen this show tear apart couples and I don't want that to happen to us! We've barely even seen each other or spent time together and I just don't want us to wind up hating each other or losing this competition because of each other. I mean this is a once in a lifetime chance Josh! I just-"
Maya stopped and let out a tearful sob as Josh moved to hold her in his arms. Josh closed his eyes and rubbed her back slowly. "Maya," he whispered. He pulled her off of his chest and lifted her chin so that she was looking at him. "Maya," he said again this time in a more stern tone. "We're not them. We're us. We can handle this. We can do this. I am your number one supporter here. That's not gonna change whether I get eliminated tomorrow or if I'm facing you in the finale. We will be okay. I promise you that."
Maya's blue eyes stared deeply into his as Josh used one of his thumbs to wipe a tear from Maya's cheek. "I have really strong feelings for you Josh."
Instead of responding, Josh tilted Maya's head upwards and captured her lips into a kiss. Breaking their kiss, Josh stared deeply into her eyes and let the only thing that felt right escape from his lips.
"I love you. I don't care if it's too soon or whatever but I do. This competition is once in a lifetime but you are once in a lifetime. I love you Maya and I want you to know that."