- Falter -

The glimmering dress swished around her legs. Thom's clammy hands gripped her sides. Their feet did not falter once, but her heart thrummed in her ears, and her lungs struggled to suck in breaths. A sheen of sweat glistened on Thom’s forehead.

The stage lights were too bright, dizzying, hiding the audience and burning her skin. Lita focused on executing each step just the way they'd practised in a vain attempt to forget that the judges sat in the shadows beyond the lights.

Abruptly the music faded, before their final steps, and she faltered for a moment. Had they lost?