For the first time in however many years they've been dancing.

Honestly, I've lost count.

We've pulled in to this performance arts center, and Olivia and Abby are both shaking where they stand.

Will has bit his nails down to the nub.

Abby has picked off all the gel on her nails.

And Olivia, has actually peeled all of her nails off.

"Well." Ryan pursed his lips. "This isn't good."

"You think?" Sienna looked at him.

The parents, Jake, and Kelsey went to go find us all seats, and Oak, Bebe, Sie, Kallie, Con, Ryan and I, are all standing against the wall quietly as they sit on the floor, doing anxious habits.

"You know all of you are going to need manicures when we get home, right?" Connor cleared is throat.

"Huh?" They all looked up at him.

"You have no nails." He pointed at Will.

"Ab you have no color now." Kallie shook her head.

"And babe, you tore all your nails off." I nodded.

They all looked down at their hands.

"Shit." Will shook his head.

"I really liked that color." Abby sighed.

"I just got my nails done." Olivia whined.

"It's just a competition." Oaken shook his head.

"Careers are made here Oaken." Will nodded.

"But you two are already committed to a college." He nodded. "Why are you worried."

They both just looked at Olivia. Who was completely zoned out again.

I sighed, walked over, and sat in front of her. "Baby, you are going to do great. You are all going to do great. You all always do great."

"That guy from last night." She nodded. "He said he was found by Julliard here." She pursed her lips. "At this very competition."

"Ol that's not a bad thing." Connor shook his head. "That's a great thing. Between your solo, you and Wills duet, and you and Abby's, you're going to wow everyone in that audience."

"There's a reason Jane only brought you 3. You're the oldest, and you 3 are her dream team. She believes in you guys. We believe in you guys. And you guys should too." Ryan nodded. "I know you two are worried about disappointing her." He pointed at Olivia. "But you guys could never."

"All of your solos are pristine. Both duets, are fantastic." Kallie nodded.

"Can I uh, have a minute with Mason, Oaken and Connor." Olivia looked down.

"Alright you two." Sienna lifted Abby off the floor and Ryan picked up Will. "Lets just, go for a minute." Ryan nodded. "Get something in your systems."

"Ol we'll bring you something back." Kallie gave me a small smile.

They all walked down the hall and Olivia was still looking at the floor.

"Ol." Oaken cleared his throat.

"I need you guys to tell me that you won't be disappointing if I don't get in to Julliard." She looked at the 3 of us.

We just looked at each other.

Connor sighed. "Ol we're not gonna say that." He shook his head.

Her face dropped.

"Not because we'll be disappointed in you. We would never be disappointed in you babe. But, we would be disappointed if you didn't get in." I nodded.

"Ol, you are always pushing us, not just the three of us, but all of us to do what we love to the best of our abilities. And it's because you do exactly that. Every time you get on a stage, you leave your heart and soul right there." Oaken nodded. "That's all you can do. We would never be disappointed in that."

"So what you need to do, is, get your shit together." I nodded. "Go out there, blow the roof off this bitch, and make it known that Olivia Pate, is going places. Whether it be Julliard, AMDA, NYU, or Broadway."

"Either way, this competition if for the elite of the elite. You're here for a reason. And us, we're just proud of that." Connor gave her a small smile.

She took a deep breath and nodded.

The parents sent Jake out to get us all because they found seats, and her, Abby and Will headed backstage.

I am thanking the good and holy god that the parents found us seats directly behind the judges.

Will came and sat with us to watch Abby and Olivia's duet.

It was to Lean on Me by Bill Withers. It was beautiful, and the perfect song to describe their friendship.

Olivia came and sat with all of us while Abby did her solo to To My Youngerself by Britton. And I have never in my life seen Abby dance to elegantly. She was phenomenal.

She came out and Will and Olivia went up to do their duet.

Now that one, that one blew this bitch apart. It was to 1-800-273-8255, and it was one of the most powerful dances we've ever seen them do together.

Wills solo, was to The Remedy for a Broken Heart by XXXTentacion. And I swear to god, I will never get over the fact that this kid dances the way he does.

They did the awards for those dances before the student choreographed pieces.

Abby and Olivia took second place.

Will and Olivia took first place.

Both Abby and Will took second place.

And now, Olivia has to stand alone.

These dancers, they didn't come to play with their choreography.

They were some of the best dancers I've seen.

Which is why I'm now incredibly nervous.

But the minute my hand started being crushed it became very clear that so was Abby. I looked down the row of teens, and everyone had the same exact look on their faces.

But when I peeked my head in to the row in front of us, the look of pain on the dads and Jakes faces showed just how nervous all the women were too.

"Please, Welcome to the stage dancer 103, Olivia Pate with Lost in the Moment." The announcer smiled and walked off the stage.

She did her little shimmy to the center of the stage, sat down with one leg to the side, and one bent in front of her.

The music started just as the words did.

This may be the last sunset I'll see

So I'll take it in, I'll take it in

This may be the last air that I'll breathe

So I'll breathe it in, I'll breathe it in

Her movements were slow, slow floor moves dragging her legs in her typical elegant pointe nature. She laid back with her legs straight.

Until the beat picked up, and she kicked right up to a back salt and landed on her stomach and I swear, the way she made her way to her feet was like magic.

I heard that pictures don't change

Just the people inside of 'em do

Whoever told you that life would be easy

I promise that person was lyin' to you

This isn't Olivia's typical dance style.

It was like a combination of her, Will, and Abby's all in one.

You got a problem with followin' through

That's why I got a problem with followin' you

You keep lookin' at me like this problem is new

But we've been here before, what you tryin' to do?

Don't talk to me like I don't know what you're feeling

'Cause I was there with you back in the beginning

Quit looking away when I talk, let me finish

I'm tryna be honest, you're tryna forget me, ugh

What's wrong with you, hey?

I know that you got a lot on your plate

You keep telling me I should get out of your way

But I can't see how you gon' lie to my face

Don't tell me you fine

'Cause I know you're not

So don't even try

And what we gon' live for in this life full of pain

'Til we're eighty and one day we'll get up and say

We regretted our lives

This entire dance, is like a mixture of pointe, acro, and her old hip hop moves.

'Cause that's where we're going

Do not pretend like you don't even notice

The funny thing is that you already know it

I'm starting to think that you like how it feels to be lost in the moment

The music slowed back down, and she went in to floor moves.

Lost, lost in the moment

Lost in the moment, lost in the moment

And get lost, lost in the moment

Lost in the moment, lost in the moment

Yeah, they told us that time flies

Didn't know what it means

Now I feel like we're just running around tryna

Catch it and hoping to cut up its wings

But that ain't gon' happen

Joy, when was the last time we had it?

I don't remember 'cause all that we do

Is go backwards, but that's what you get

When you live in the past

And I know we're breathing but we're not alive

Really, is this the way we wanna die?

'Til you got everything bottled inside

If they only knew what goes on in our minds

I know what you thinking so don't try to hide

Why do you look at me like you're surprised?

If you really mean what you write in these lines

Then why don't you fix it, 'cause I'm getting tired!

Yeah, I can no longer do this

Ever since you fell in love with the music

You seem find a way to express what you feel

But the moment that you get away from the mic

You don't know what you doing

Is it clear to you yet?

I don't know what's going on in your head

But eventually, you'll have to deal with the things

That you talk about yeah

But I guess until then we're lost!

Honestly with everything that has happened the last few months, she couldn't have picked a better song.

Lost, lost in the moment

Lost in the moment, lost in the moment

And get lost, lost in the moment

Lost in the moment, lost in the moment

Yeah, oh, yeah, oh lost

Oh, yeah, oh, no no

This may be the last sunset I'll see

So I'll take it in, I'll take it in

This may be the last air that I'll breathe

So I'll breathe it in, I'll breathe it in

And just like we told her too, she threw every single part of herself in to that dance, and she left her heart on that stage.

Jason and Holly jumped right up and basically ran to the back doors of the center and made their way back stage.

No matter the outcome, that was the best dance I have ever seen her do.

So today, I'm a proud boyfriend.

My heart has never beat faster than it is right now making my way off stage.

I'm shaking profusely as I walk right up to Jane.

"Honey you were amazing." She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed.

"I was." I took a deep breath.

"Olivia there is not a dry eye out in those seats right now." She pulled away and smiled. "You my dear, have never danced better. That was beautiful."

"Baby!" I heard yelled from behind me.

I spun, and my mom and dad were literally running through the prep room.

I don't think I've seen my dad run in like, 4 years.

"You were amazing." He wrapped his arms around me and squeezed. "I don't think I've ever seen you dance like that!"

"Dad I've done stuff like that before." I nodded.

"That I wasn't here for. I actually got to be here." He smiled.

"Honey you were so good." My mom hugged me. "You choreographed that?"

"With help from Abby and Will." I nodded. "I wanted to wow."

"And you did Olivia." Jane smiled. "This was the competition where you needed to wow."

"If we could have all the dancers from the last section on the stage please." An announcer smiled.

"Go sit." I smiled.

"No, I'm staying right here, I never get to be back here for this." Dad shook his head.

My smile grew.

I never knew how much he hated not being here for things like this because he always seemed like he loved traveling.

But him being here for this one, this is the one that mattered to me.

I got to dance in my favorite place in the world, and my dad got to watch me.

He spun me and basically pushed me back on to the stage.

They went through the placements, and not hearing my name being called was really starting to scare me.

"In third place, dancer 218 Holly Mcgee with Dreaming With Your Eyes Open."

I looked back at my mom, dad, and Jane, and dad had them both tucked under his arms shaking.

I looked out in to the audience where everyone was sitting, and everyone was on the edge of their seats.

Connor and Mason were both holding Abby's hands and Sienna was on the other side of Connor squeezing.

"In second place, dancer 347 Brooke Carr with Boys Like You."

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

If I don't even place in this competition, I am completely fucked.

"And in first place."

You know what, fuck this dude for his long dramatic pause.

"Dancer 103, Olivia Pate with Lost in the Moment."

I can not tell you how fast I jumped up.

I took everything in me to not break down in the middle of this stage.

I have never been emotional while placing, but like Jane said, this is the big one. This is the one I had to wow with.

And I just place first, in my first competition in New York City, with my dad and everyone I love here.

My boyfriend and both my brothers in the audience jumping and screaming.

Even Wills parents were screaming.

After everything was said and done, I went back stage, and automatically threw myself at my dad.

"I am so god damn proud of you." He squeezed me and kissed the side of my head.

"You got to be here." I pulled away and smiled.

"And I will be from now on baby." He nodded and put me down.

I looked around. "Where is Jane?"

"She said she'd be right back baby. You my dear, how's it feel?"

"Amazing." I nodded. "I have never felt like this in any other competition." I shook my head.

"Olivia." I heard Jane's voice.

I turned and she was walking over with a man in a very nice suit.

"Hi." I pursed my lips.

She smiled. "Olivia, this is Larry Geddes." She nodded.

My eyes, basically bugged out of my head.

"Oh my god, hello." I held my hand out.

"Hello." He smiled and shook my hand.

"Who." I heard my dad whisper.

"Hello, I'm Larry Geddess, the associate director of admissions for dance and drama at the Juilliard School. You must be Mr and Mrs Pate?" He held his hand out.

"Jason Pate." My dad shook his hand. "And, this is my wife Holly."

"Jason, Holly, Larry and I actually went to Juilliard together back in the day." Jane smiled at me.

"And, Jane here, has been calling me for quite a long time about this little girl here." He motioned toward me.

"You have?" I looked at her.

"I have." She nodded. "I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want to get nervous, but, I called him and told him we would be here this weekend, and, well, he owes me a few favors."

"Partner breaks an ankle one time, and your on the hook for life. But, after seeing you dance today, Jane actually did me the favor." He smiled. "Let me ask you, what are your plans for next fall?"

"Uh." I cleared my throat. "Senior year." I scrunched my face.

"Well, how would you feel about joining us here in New York?"

"What?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Olivia, after seeing you, I'd like to offer you early acceptance in to our dance program come fall. If, you have the credits to graduate early. You'd make a wonderful addition."

My jaw dropped and I looked at my parents. "I uh, I haven't auditioned." I shook my head.

"That was part of this favor Olivia." Jane smiled. "He came here for me today, and since you choreographed your own piece today, this was your audition. You just placed first in one of the biggest competitions in the north west."

"And your piece, ever single movement was so well thought out, it fit together so nicely between your pointe turns, your acrobatics, and the little flair of hip hop I saw in there." He nodded. "A dancer with your type of experience and back ground. There's no denying that you are currently in the place where you belong. But you three have some discussing to do, I will send you all the information you need to get started up, and, I look forward to hearing from you." He smiled. "Jane, walk with me, I need information."

"Thank you." I smiled and nodded.

"Oh no Olivia, thank you." He shook my hand.

Jane wrapped her arm in his and walked away.

"Olivia." My mom covered her mouth.

"Did that really just happen?" I turned and looked at my parents.

My mom was holding back tears right now, but my dad, he was not.

"Baby you just got offered early acceptance to Juilliard." He nodded.

"That really fucking happened." My eyes started to fill.

"I'm not even going to yell about the cussing. Yes, that really fucking happened. Olivia you just got in to Juilliard!" My dad yelled, lifted me, and spun me around.

"If I have the credits daddy!" I wrapped my arms around them.

"We'll figure it out baby!" My mom started jumping. "Olivia oh my god!" She screamed.

"I just got in to fucking Juilliard!" I threw my hands in the air and yelled.

"What're you gonna tell everyone." My mom clapped.

"Nothing!" I shook my head. "No one is to know until Mason, Oaken and Connor do."

They both smiled. "OK." And nodded.

No one is knowing, because if it wasn't for them, it wouldn't be happening.

I JUST GOT AN IN PERSON ACCEPTANCE TO JUILLIARD!