A/N: Last chapter... can you believe it? ): IMP note at the end.

[Kriya's POV]

"I hate you, you know that?" I announced as soon as he opened the door. I entered Rey's house, after what was forever to me.

Rey asked, shocked. "What?"

"Aur nai toh kya? Jab dekho tab you put me to compete against my friends." I reasoned.

"Kriya, tum bhi na." Rey laughed and relaxed, "It's a competition. Even if I didn't tell you to perform with Kat, you'd have to compete against her at some point. Not all three of you can be winners, you know that."

"So what? You can at least be sympathetic about it! You're my boyfriend, after all."

"Then be a girlfriend na. Complain about those things, to your judge, which by the way, you'll find in the rehearsal hall. Right now, Reyansh Singhania is home and wants his girlfriend back, not his contestant."

I stood there, speechless for a second. Then I hit his chest and hid my head in his embrace. He lifted me slightly above the ground and twirled me around, making me give a low scream.

'You know how much I missed you?" He asked, stating the obvious.

Both of us sat down. "Ale... yes. Your cute puppy face told me. Just 15073 seconds more..."

Rey sighed, not questioning or making a pass at my mentality for actually counting the seconds. "Yes... just a couple of days more. I just can't wait for the finale. After that, I can be with you all I want, where I want."

A week had already passed and the contestants had already gone from top ten to top five. Again, we were given duets and one from each couple was chosen. Luckily then, all three of us were with different partners so I didn't have to compete against Kat of Christian. But now, two days later was the grand finale. And there we would be giving solo performances.

Rey pulled me closed to him as he placed his hands around my shoulder. I rested her head on his chest and we simply talked about everything and anything. I pushed the competition out of my head. Right now, I wanted it to be just me and Rey, nothing else disturbing us.

***

The next morning, Sharon let out a loud squeal. I pulled my pillow from under my head and covered my ears with them. The next thing? Sharon barged into my room and jumped up and down on my bed, making me get up, frustrated.

"What Sharon?!"

Sharon flashed me a huge grin and shoved the paper in her hand to my hand, telling me to read. I rubbed her eyes and opened up the letter. As I continued to read, the frustration was replaced by excitement, similar to Sharon's.

I screamed. "AAHH!! This is the best news!" I took Sharon in a hug.

She replied, "I know!! I'm so happy."

"You should be. You deserve it. Your dance tour, finally! This calls for a celebration."

"No wait." Sharon stopped me as I was about to climb down the bed. "We'll celebrate tomorrow, after you win the competition."

"You don't know that."

"Oh I do. No one deserves it more than you." Sharon said, totally confident.

I shook my head and left to get ready, knowing it was impossible to make Sharon think otherwise. Once she picked a stance, I knew she wouldn't let go of it.

***

The next day came and the whole day simply buzzed away, with everyone simply worrying about the finale and the excitement for it as well. We'd all worked hard to get here. Christian, Kat and I once again stood in a circle, holding each other hands, renewing our promises we'd made to each other.

"No matter what happens, it won't come between us." I promised.

"We'll be happy for the winner because we know they deserved it." Kat promised.

Christian finished. "And we'll give our best and not pull back thinking about others."

Kat had to get her make up ready so she left. I looked around to see if I could spot Rey anywhere. I wanted to talk to him at least once before the night was kicked off.

Suddenly, Christian whispered to me, "He's outside."

"Huh?" I asked, looked at him, pretending to be confused.

He looked at the ground, chuckling at my effort to be oblivious and looked back at me. "Oh come on, I know about you and Rey. You don't have to act." I gave him a real confused look now, wondering how he found out and even shocked at what might happen. He gave a soft smile. "Relax, I've known for a while now. I' won't tell. I had unintentionally seen you both outside the first day."

I remembered. It was the first day of the competition and I had been nervous. It was the day I kissed Rey.

He defended himself, "I swear, I didn't mean to. It wasn't on purpose."

I nodded, "I trust you." But he kept on going, thinking I'd be upset at him. I repeated, more forcefully this time. "I trust you!"

He finally stopped, acknowledging what I had said. He took in a deep breath. "Oh."

"Thank you." I said, letting two simple words speak a lot. I turned and left to find Rey. I had one less thing to worry about... 'What would they think when they find out?' The thought worried me. I was scared that if I did end up winning and they later on found out about Rey and I, they'd think the competition was rigged.

Rey turned to look towards the door when he heard it open. Seeing me, he automatically grinned. "Hey!" He said, his mood turning from sulking to chirping.

"All the best." He wished me giving me a tight hug and a forehead kiss.

"Mmm." I mumbled as I responded to the hug. Reluctantly, I let go of him. "Just few more hours." He promised. I nodded.

"Few more hours..." I repeated in an effort to console myself.

Kat did ballet while Christian performed to hip-hop steps.

***

Rey announced, "Now, before we give you guys the winner of All Star Dance Competition, we would like to show the world the journey of these five individuals who made it so far!"

The audience cheered. When it comes to my IV, it plays off nice, with a few contemporary steps and an interview they had taken of me, explaining what dance means to me and why it is so important to me. In between, the video is hacked and the screen goes blank. Rey and Vaibhavi look at each other, not expecting this. They look over to the managing team who seem to be fishing for the reason as well.

Suddenly, the screen comes back on and instead of it continuing from where it stopped; pictures of Rey and I show up. One of them of when I was at Rey's home two days ago. Both Rey and I get shocked seeing this, especially the fact that the whole world is watching. We looked at each other and around to see everyone chatting.

And what I feared finally happened. I heard comments such as 'despo', 'no wonder she proceeded all the way till finale', and all the lines. Tears were starting to brew up in my eyes, seeing that the world was simply talking away without knowing the truth. Even though I knew none of that was true, it hurt to hear it. It felt like they were insulting our love, and I couldn't accept that. Once again, I was hurt and had to suffer as a result of half known truth.

Christian held my hand in hopes to comfort me but I brushed it away and got up from my seat to run back stage. Seeing me run, Rey immediately got up and stopped me. He made me turn towards him. With my eyes, I begged him to let me go. I was ready to ruin my reputation and be devil's advocate but didn't want Rey's image to be tarnished.

***

The next day, I woke up to see Sharon packing. "What are you doing?" I asked.

"Packing." Sharon stated the obvious.

I rolled my eyes. "I can see that. But why? Your tour is still a month away."

"I'm not going to the tour." Sharon started emotionless.

"What? Why?!" I demanded, jumping at Sharon for taking such a decision. "It's your dream!"

"My dream is important to me. But not as important as you are to me. I'm coming to Vancouver with you."

I stopped Sharon from packing more and started unpacking what she had packed. "Don't be silly. You're not. You're going on that tour."

"You can't make me do something I don't want to."

"Wanna bet?" I asked sternly, turning at her.

Sharon glared back but eventually sighed and sat down, pulling me with her. "I let you go once, because I didn't know the reason. This time I do! I don't want to leave you alone again."

"Sharon please! You'll be hurting me more by not going on the tour. You and Swayam need to have this dance tour. You can't give all that up. I'll be fine."

Sharon scoffed. "Oh please, don't fool me alright? You say you'll be fine. I know you better than that. I might act like I don't care but I do care."

"I know you do! And I also know you don't want to see me sad. So, for me, go? Please?" I pulled on a puppy dog pout, knowing Sharon won't be able to resist that. And as expected, she couldn't.

She groaned. "I hate you!"

"Love you too." I replied and gave her a hug.

"A year later, when you come back from the tour, I'll be back. I promise." I promised and held my hand out for Sharon to shake it.

"I'm gonna miss you." Sharon wailed.

I smiled. "I'll miss you too."

"I hate life."

"Life isn't supposed to be fair." I commented back.

"Stop that! Isn't Swayam enough for all the philosophical talk that you too? No wonder both of you are best friends!" She scolded me.

I managed to laugh at that statement of Sharon's. Sharon quickly pulled out her phone camera and snapped a shot. "There... that's the face I want to remember when I think about you the coming year."

I walked up and took Sharon in a tight hug. Once again, I hadn't thought life would play such a harsh shot. "Both of you will enjoy. You will stop torturing Swayam, do you understand? Love him back! Just don't blush back."

"Hey!" Sharon slapped me lightly, to show she was offended.

"And that the Sharon I want to remember."

"Go. Get ready. Else you'll miss your flight." Sharon pushed me out of her room before she was on the verge of crying.

***

[Rey's POV]

"I'm sorry... It wasn't meant to be." Her look said as she watched me from a distance, the media covering me once again. I could be least bothered about answering their stupid questions that aren't worth my time. The love of my life is leaving, giving me this look... The same look she had given me the night of the finale. Why was this distance between us? There were no misunderstandings. It was clear both of us loved each other. Then why? Why was stardom coming in between us? Why was world such a treacherous place to live in? Why couldn't the world leave us alone? What is so unacceptable about two people in love?

Kriya stood inside the airport while I on the outside. It reminded me of the time when Kriya had agreed to join in the competition. What had changed before and after? Nothing so to say... We were still apart, weren't they?

I put on my glasses, to void looking directly at the media; to avoid giving media direct access to my emotions.

***

A/N: Before you freak out, calm down. This is the last chapter, as stated above, but obviously not the end. Wait for the epilogue tomorrow, it'll make a lot more sense then (:

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