A/N: Hey! I know it's been a long time, but I will be updating both of my stories this week, so keep an eye out for my other updates. I have a new Tynka one-shot available too. -CoS

The next morning, Cece was woken up by Rocky pushing her out of bed. Cece sprang to her feet and grabbed her pillow. "You!" she screeched at Rocky attacking her with the pillow.

Rocky giggled as she tried to block Cece's blows with her hands. "You were just sleeping so peacefully that I had to."

Cece finally dropped the pillow, collapsing next to Rocky on the bed. She laughed along with her best friend for a little while, then looked over at her. "Ready to get ready?"

The girls rifled through the clothes they had unpacked yesterday and found what they would be wearing for the dance competition. They both hurried to get dressed and fix up their hair and make-up.

Cece and Rocky came bounding into the dining room together, giggling about something they'd been talking about.

"You two sure look excited this morning," Gunther grinned and winked at Cece.

"Of course, we're going to get ourselves into the final two today," Cece winked back.

The competition was two parts over two days. The first part was a competition where the entire team performed to a song of their choice. The two best teams would be matched up again the next day for a dance-off. The dance-off would rotate through the individual dancers on each team, each one taking a turn dancing as the songs changed. The songs would be random and the current dancer would have to keep the beat as they danced. There would be no preview of what songs could be playing. First team to stop dancing or get off beat loses.

Cece sat down at the table and ate a light breakfast. She didn't want to be too full when it was their turn to take the stage at 11:20 this morning.

As soon as they were finished eating, they all piled into Ty's SUV and drove to the beach location where the competition would be held.

As Cece approached the beach where the temporary stage was set-up, she stared at the breathtaking view. They'd be dancing on a stage, bordered by palm trees with the ocean as their backdrop. It was perfect!

Ty excused himself from the group and hurried off to sign their group in and hand over the cd with their song on it to the DJ.

The rest of them warmed up and prepared for their routine.

After they finished warming up, Cece and the others took a seat and watched the other teams' routines.

"They're all really good," Cece whispered in Gunther's ears.

"But we're better," Gunther whispered back, his lips against her ear, causing her arms to suddenly be covered in goose bumps.

Cece shivered and rubbed her arms, then focused back on the other dancers, trying to forget how close Gunther was.

The groups continued until theirs was announced.

"Let's go!" Rocky jumped to her feet and led the way.

"Since when have you been more excited than I am?" CeCe asked as she caught up to Rocky's long strides.

"Since I heard that Sarah Ray will be watching the competition," Rocky grinned. "You should really listen to the announcements, CeCe."

"Sarah Ray is here?" CeCe exclaimed.

"She sure is," Rocky laughed.

"You mean Sarah Ray as in the Sarah Ray who operates the world-famous all girl international dancing troupe?" CeCe stared at Rocky in disbelief.

"That's precisely the Sarah Ray that I mean," Rocky nodded. "So I'm looking forward to impressing her. Maybe she'll give us an audition. Every winter she auditions for new dancers that will start on the spring and summer tours."

"I know that!" CeCe couldn't get a grip on this. This competition was going to be a much bigger opportunity than she had ever imagined.

Their group reached the stage and were introduced individually as they paraded onto the platform.

CeCe fidgeted a little nervously as she waited for the introductions to end and their music to start.

Almost too soon, the music started up, then everything became automatic. CeCe danced her routine as effortlessly as if she'd done nothing else for her entire life.

She looked at everyone else while she danced. There was Gunther, the boy who was her frenemy, then her friend and confidant, and now her boyfriend. She wouldn't exchange him for anyone in the world. Then there was Rocky, her best friend. No matter what trouble she got them into, Rocky was always there, beside her, being a best friend. She couldn't imagine that anyone had a better best friend than hers. There was Tinka, her story similar to Gunther's. She and CeCe still argued more than CeCe did with any of her other friends, but it was harmless arguing now. Ty, Rocky's older brother, who often acted as an older brother for her as well. She thought about all the things they had done together. Even now, they couldn't have pulled this trip off without Ty.

CeCe decided something on that stage. She was the luckiest girl alive. She was surrounded by irreplaceable people and got to do what she loved, dancing, for a living. She hoped that Sarah Ray could see that, could see how she would dance everyday with an energy fed by her friend's and family's love, and that she might give CeCe the opportunity to continue dancing for years to come.

As CeCe and the others finished the dance routine in their ending poses, CeCe was astonished by the loud applause.

As she looked out over the audience, she noticed how many standing ovations they were receiving.

CeCe's eyes flickered over the audience until she recognized Sarah Ray. She was nodding and nudging the person next to her who was writing on a notepad.

CeCe looked over at Rocky who was looking back at her excited. "I think we did it!" she whispered to her.

Their group got off the stage and stood panting, watching the rest of the performances.

Gunther rested an arm around CeCe's shoulders and she leaned her head back against him.

When the groups were finished, the announcer consulted the judges, then headed for the stage.

CeCe and Rocky reached over and grabbed each other's hands as they closed their eyes.

The first group was announced and then their name was called. CeCe, Rocky, and Tinka screamed and hopped up and down hugging each other while Gunther and Ty high-fived behind them.

As they made their way up on stage to take their bows, CeCe thought that today was only the beginning really. They'd be taking on the other group tomorrow in the dance-off. They had to win.