Suddenly, the audience applauded at the last act finishing. You were up next.

"Okay, this is it," you stood up. "Can you round up the others?" You asked Sadie. She nodded and went to find Jenny, Jamie, and Yellow Pearl.

"You ready?" Steven asked.

"Yeah. I literally couldn't be more ready, but... I'm terrified," you muttered.

Steven's gaze softened, "You're going to do amazing. You're amazing." He was close, maybe a few inches from your face.

You smiled, feeling less nervous about the performance, but way more nervous about the cute boy you were standing face to face with.

"(Y/N)," you turned to see Sadie with the rest of your crew.

"Okay, I have to go," you turned back to Steven, forgetting how close he was. Did he get closer?

"You've got this," he whispered- quiet enough only for you to hear.

You whispered back a thank you before Sadie pulled you away. You waved at Steven, who was already on his way to the audience so he could watch from the crowd. He waved back, though.

"Next up, is (Y/N) (L/N) performing an original song called 'Two-Faced.' Among her dance crew are; Sadie Miller, Jenny Pizza, Yellow Pearl, and Jamie... mailman.

Every sound echoed and resonated in your head as you focused on keeping a steady heartbeat and breathing. You couldn't tell if you were so nervous that you couldn't hear anything, or if it was really just this quiet.

Deep breath in, deep breath out.

With the lights down, you made your way onstage and found Steven in the crowd. His huge grin made him stick out immediately. You got in your first position and smiled.

The first chords played as a spotlight faded onto you. You raised your microphone.

Deep breath in, deep breath out.

The first verse rung out over the crowd, your voice stunning everyone, and as soon as you began the chorus muscle memory took over. You nailed every note and step, that all there was left to do was just feel the music and have fun with it. You felt completely weightless in that moment- euphoric.

You felt beautiful.

After the first chorus, your new lyrics began. The music winded down, and the stage was tinted with a dark pink hue. You glistened in the low lights which reflected each and every speck of glitter you had sprinkled on yourself.

You stood center stage;

"You thought that you hurt me,

and maybe you were right.

Yeah, I cried over you...

night after night."

Deep breath in

"But this ain't about you,

for once in your life,

no I'm taking back control

after all of my strife;"

Deep breath out

"I'm stronger now, I'm happy and free.

And now without you, I'm free to be me.

Yeah I loved you, it's true.

But I won't settle for you.

"I know who I am,

and I know what I want.

I know what I deserve,

and I know what I got.

"You may have wasted my time,

but I've still got my pride.

I'm a 10, I'm in my prime,

So, boy, step aside.

"So it seems I've been replaced.

But I don't care about her or

you-

can't help being two-faced

Through and through."

You leaned back and tilted your head to the sky- belting over the chorus into your microphone as they continued with your lyrics;

"Two faced-

Untrustworthy, disgraced.

You can't help being yourself

If you know who that is."

You almost couldn't hear the backing track over the crowd as your voice blended into their cheers. On the last chorus, you danced front-and-center, once again happily losing yourself to the music. You let yourself smile at the pure feeling of relief. This is it. You're really doing it.

"Yeah you're

Two faced-

Untrustworthy, disgraced.

You can't help being yourself

If you know who that is-

Ye-ah"

All lights dimmed except for the spotlight, which lingered on you as you sang the last word. Then, the lights turned off. The music ended, and the curtains closed.

You felt so warm and comforted hearing the screams of your town on the other side of the velvet curtain. You finally got to cope with your feelings, and everyone you knew listened. Everyone including-

"(Y/N)!!" Steven exclaimed, full-on sprinting at you. "That was INCREDIBLE!" He picked you up and spun you around in the air against his better judgement. You both laughed.

Steven realized what he was doing and put you down gently, blushing in the process.

"You did so amazing," he said, looking at you with pure admiration. You weren't sure why, but you almost cried at how happy you were.

"Thank you," you smiled. "Not just for the compliment, I mean... you're the whole reason I did that!" You grinned. "Without you, I probably would've just picked a song on the radio to sing, but... that actually meant something to me. So... thank you, Steven."

Steven held eye contact with you and smiled, realizing on his own that this wasn't just a crush. He saw you- with makeup on your eyes and glitter in your hair, and behind all of that- he saw you. A beautiful, talented, hardworking girl, that Steven was falling in love with.

"You're welcome," Steven replied softly.

You found yourself getting lost in his eyes, but not so much that you didn't glance back and forth at his lips. You unknowingly inched towards Steven, ever-so-slowly, while he leaned towards you at the same time.

"As much as it pains me to interrupt," Greg interrupted, "we're up next, Schtu-ball."

You and Steven stepped away from each other, embarrassed. Steven looked at his Dad and nodded, silently pleading for a moment of privacy. Greg smirked and moved backstage.

"Well," you moved back towards Steven, "that's your cue."

"Yep," Steven smiled. "Wish me luck." He stayed looking at you for a moment, wanting to do something, but hesitating. You blushed and cocked your head toward the stage.

"You don't wanna miss your entrance, do you?" you smiled.

"No," Steven replied. He stared at you like you were art.

"Well, go on then," you laughed.

Steven hesitated again, but was tugged onstage by his dad before he could decide what to do.

"Break a leg!" You half-whispered. You smiled to yourself while you went to join the audience, but you stopped in your tracks when you looked up to see him.

"Hey."

Kevin.