 ( chapter sixty six )
FIGURING OUT THE NEW NORMAL.

The tournament was over. No winner announced, no prize to be won, just a sudden ending that brought everyone back home. If Syd was being honest, a small part of her was glad. Of course she wanted to win, she'd put years into this and wanted something to show for it.

But she felt all the pressure that had been put on her finally falling away, finally allowing her to make room for the rest of her life again.

She could focus on her auditions, her future. And she'd be able to finally go back to a world without karate. Though, that second part felt foreign to her after as long as it had been.

The way the tournament had ended had been, well, traumatic. She had no idea how to move on from watching someone die right before her eyes in that way, to die for nothing. And once she'd gotten home she'd immediately realized just how much Kwons death was effecting everyone, including Oliver.

So, Syd was glad to take a break. Even if not forever, she just wanted time away to find herself again outside of karate. And that started with finding her future.

Today was the day. It was the day she'd been preparing for years for, the day where she auditioned for ballet conservatories. She was honestly horrified, not sure if she'd get asked to join any of them.

The audition process was going to be stressful, that was for sure. There was a room full of people from different conservatories, all ready to watch her and others dance for them before making the choice on whether or not they were interested in offering a spot at their schools.

Syd wanted this badly, worse than anything. Her life was about to change for good, and she could only hope that she was good enough to get into a school.

Syd smoothed her bun, looking at herself in the mirror one last time. The worst part about the Sekai Taikai being over was that Syd was forced to be home, forced to be around her dad again. She was happy to be with Oliver, but the tension surrounding her father was evident every time she stepped foot into the house.

His mistress, at least that's how she saw it, had tried to connect with her a few times since she'd been back. But Syd only found herself locked in her room alone or with Oliver these days, and otherwise she was completely away from the house. No more movie nights or family dinners with her and Oliver, the house was just a house now, not a home.

Syd took in a deep breath, hearing a quiet knock on her door. "Come on in, Oli." She smiled lightly, happily seeing her brother enter the room. She still couldn't believe how much he'd grown. Already a semester into freshman year and almost done with his second one, the boy had grown a lot.

And Syd wasn't a fan of how suddenly overnight he seemed to shoot up past her, now basically towering over the girl. It was scary, honestly. Seeing how much he'd grown up.

But she was proud of him, and even happier that they still had the bond they'd always had. She remembered when she used to worry about their relationship once the boy got older, but it seemed with everything they'd been through together even a 14 year old boy could still enjoy hanging out with his older sister.

The boy immediately moved onto her bed, taking a seat as he often did. "Are you excited for the audition?" Syd shrugged lightly, facing her brother. "Nervous, mostly. A bit happy I applied to a few actual schools just incase already."

Oliver rolled his eyes, a small smile still on his face. "Waste of money, since you're clearly going to be the best one there. I mean, what other person is going to be able to say they almost won a world karate competition as part of their resume?"

"Honestly, I'm a little scared that will scare them away. I— I don't know... I think I'm worried about if I don't get in, but also if I do. I'm not fully sure how I'll live with myself if I leave you here." Syd spoke truthfully.

"Oh, come on. You raised me, I'm pretty sure I know how to shut people's bullshit down. I've seen you do it enough." Oliver replied. "If anything you had the most practice shutting me down." Syd laughed, shaking her head lightly.

"Duh." The boy sassed, smiling lightly when his eyes met his sisters. "Seriously, though. I'll be okay. You gotta go in there and kill it, otherwise I'm picking like twenty fights with dad."

Syd laughed, shaking her head. "You want to do that anyways." Oliver just shrugged, smile still on his face. "You know, Kenny keeps trying to get me to start karate. I think he's just going to miss having you around. Wants, as he calls me, "Syds boy version" to take over."

"You have muscled up a bit in the past few months. Your skinny ass wouldn't have lasted two minutes, but honestly I can see why he's trying to recruit you now. Though, be prepared to always live in my enormous shadow." Syd joked, ducking when a pillow was sent toward her head.

"Hey! I spent thirty minutes making this bun work, don't mess it up." Syd laughed, throwing the pillow right back at her brother. "Spending thirty minutes on your hair is wild." Oliver sighed, shaking his head.

"Give it a year." Syd replied, already ready for Oliver to begin caring about his hair soon enough.

Oliver sighed, sprawling out on Syds bed even further. "Are you driving to the audition?" Syd shook her head, checking her phone. "Eli's grabbing me. Honestly I was worried that if I drove myself I'd get so nervous I'd wreck the car, so he offered to bring me."

Syd watched her phone light up, a text from the very boy she'd been talking about appearing. "Speaking of Eli, he's here. So, I guess it's time." Syd took in a deep breath, throwing her bag over her shoulder. "Good luck." Oliver smiled, not moving from the bed.

"Get out." Syd spoke, sending the boy a look, shocked he thought he just got to stay in her room. "I'm not even here anymore, leave already." Oliver replied, though he listened and stood up, pulling his sister into a surprise hug.

"Oh my god he still knows what a hug is." Syd joked, taking the opportunity to hug back. "Yeah, yeah, hurry up and leave already so I can take your room." Oliver smirked.

Syd scoffed, smacking the boy lightly. "Dick. Okay, I love you, bye."

Syd quickly grabbed her stuff, taking in a deep breath before running down the stairs. "Hey, Syd!" Syd felt her stomach drop, anxiety growing as she saw Alison in the kitchen, holding her daughter at her hip. "Hi." Syd quickly spoke, swiftly heading toward the door even faster than before.

"Are you heading off to your audition? Good luck!" Alison tried, smiling lightly Syds way. Syd just frowned, shaking her head. "Thanks." She quickly swung the door open, shutting it behind herself.

She felt bad, honestly. She knew the girl didn't do anything wrong, but Syd just couldn't deal with it. Especially not today.

She felt her mood instantly rise when she saw Eli's smiling face, the boy thankfully removing the American flag part of his mohawk. She smiled wide, running toward the car and jumping in fast.

They were leaving extra early because Syd knew she'd need a decent bit of time before she was ready enough to go inside, and she also knew if she wanted to be taken seriously she needed to early and stretched.

"Hey, babe." Eli smiled, connecting his lips to the girls the second she sat down. "Hi." Syd smiled back, buckling up and immediately trying to take deep breaths. "You ready to kill this shit?" Eli wondered, catching the nerves radiating off the girl immediately. "We'll see." Syd laughed, tracing her infinity necklace.

She knew she couldn't have it on during the audition, but the necklace gave her comfort and reminded her of the boy sat beside her always being there, no matter what.

"You're gonna be great, Syd. You're basically a world karate champion, this is nothing." Eli tried, hoping to help calm down any of the nerves the girl felt. "Oh, I can't think about that right now." Syd groaned, looking out the window as she tapped her fingers against her leg. "This is kind of everything, Eli. Like, this will literally determine the rest of my life." She continued.

"I've seen you dance, Syd. You're way better than you give yourself credit for. And besides, if your instructors didn't think you were a kick ass ballerina they probably would have told you this was a waste of time. They see you getting in, I see you getting in, you've gotta see it." Eli hyped.

Syd smiled lightly, looking the boys way. "I love you."

"I love you too." Eli smiled, beginning the drive.

The ride was decently quiet, most noise sounding from Syd bouncing her leg up and down. She was happy the boy was there, knowing she'd probably be having a full on panic attack if it weren't for his presence.

She was running her audition over and over in her head again and again, trying to make sure she knew it inside and out. She already did, but the way she began psyching herself out was overtaking her mind.

Syd suddenly felt someone grab her hand, smiling lightly toward Eli as he continued to watch the road, hand now squeezing down on the girls.

It truly did shock her how well he knew her. He just understood her in ways even her own father couldn't, and it was one of the best feelings she could think of. To be completely known inside and out.

When they finally got to their destination Syd felt her stomach drop. She wanted this so badly, and now it was all up to whether or not she had the talent. She wanted to know she hadn't wasted her life on this dream.

"You're going to crush it, okay? I'll stay out here the whole time waiting. Go kill it." Eli hyped, smiling as he looked toward his girlfriend. "Thanks." Syd smiled, planting a kiss on the boys lips before hopping out of the car, grabbing her stuff.

She began walking in, turning around quickly to wave again before entering the building completely.

She was immediately greeted by the sight of girls spread out everywhere warming up. The whole lobby was crowded with girls dressed just like she was, all there for exactly what she was.

Syd signed herself in before beginning to warm up as well, taking the time to rerun her audition in her head until she knew she couldn't make any mistakes.

This was it, and she was ready.

———————

Syd stood backstage, the sound of her breath steadying as she adjusted her pointe shoes for the umpteenth time. The echoes of dancers warming up drifted through the air, each step and turn a soft whisper of anticipation. Her heart pounded in her chest, a steady beat of nerves and excitement. Today was important. Today was her chance to show the panel what she had worked for, to prove that all the years of training had led to this moment. She had to be perfect.

As the stage manager called her name, Syd took one last deep breath and stepped forward, her feet light as though gliding across the floor. The room was filled with other dancers, but her eyes were only on the line up of scouts—a panel of professionals she had admired from afar. They sat at a long table, watching her intently, their expressions neutral yet expectant. There was no room for error here.

"Take your position, Sydney," Madame Martin spoke from the side, sending Syd a small nod. She was letting the girl know she believed in her, and Syd knew it too.

Syd nodded, walking into the center of the stage. The light from the overhead spotlights warmed her skin as she stood in an elegant fifth position. She felt her body settle into the familiar stance, the strength of her legs grounding her to the floor while the grace of her arms extended outward in perfect harmony. The music began—a delicate, soaring melody that filled the air like a gentle breeze. Syd closed her eyes for a moment, allowing the music to wash over her, connecting her to the space around her, grounding her in the rhythm of her soul.

The first notes of the music were soft, delicate. With the opening chords, she moved, her body following the melody in a smooth, fluid motion. She extended her leg, the lines of her body long and defined, moving with the precision that only years of practice could yield. Her arms curved in an exquisite port de bras, framing her face with a soft, graceful motion. She felt every muscle, every tendon working together to create something beautiful.

She'd spent so long on this dance and on perfecting the technique, using all of her practice to encourage her racing mind as she continued.

Her first arabesque was controlled and elegant, her chest open and proud. The scouts watched as her back leg extended high, her foot pointed in perfect alignment. She held the position, her core engaged, her back straight, her arms in perfect coordination. A moment of stillness—then she began her pirouette, spinning with a controlled but effortless elegance.

The first spin was fluid, the second even sharper. She felt herself rise, feeling like she was floating for only a moment. Her eyes remained focused on the distant spot on the wall, a trick she had learned over years of pirouettes to maintain balance. The third spin was flawless, her landing soft as she finished in a perfect fourth position, her foot barely brushing the floor before she took a soft breath and moved on.

As she moved into her next combination, a grand jeté, she soared through the air with abandon. For that moment, it felt as though she was weightless, suspended in time, her body stretched like a ribbon in the air. Her landing was strong, yet light, her body immediately flowing into a series of fouetté turns. Each turn seemed faster than the last, her foot snapping into position as she pivoted with incredible speed and grace. The choreography she had practiced for weeks came alive in her movements, her body obeying the rhythm of the music as if it were second nature.

Syd wasn't just performing the steps; she was telling a story. Every movement was filled with emotion. The fluidity of her jumps and the sharpness of her turns spoke of dedication, of countless hours spent perfecting each step. She made the challenging movements look effortless, but inside, every part of her was focused, every muscle worked to its utmost potential. As she flowed through her movements, she let her facial expressions come alive, embodying the character the ballet required. Her eyes conveyed the emotion of the piece, the joy, the longing, the triumph—all of it expressed in a fleeting glance, a turn of her head, a subtle change in the way she held her arms.

The final section of the audition was approaching. The music swelled, and Syd could feel the crescendo of energy building. Her plié, grand battement, and pirouettes became more dynamic, more dramatic. Each movement drew the audience in further, her control and power on full display. Her final grand jeté was soaring, her arms open as she arched gracefully into the air.

And then, she landed.

Her feet hit the floor with a soft, controlled thud, and she immediately dropped into a perfect reverence. Her back arched, her hands pressed together, her head bowed, as the final chords of the music echoed through the theater.

For a long moment, there was silence. Then, as the music faded, and Syd watched as some of the scouts began nodding to themselves, writing things down. Syd's heart leapt, and a soft smile curled on her lips. She held the pose for a moment longer before slowly rising to her feet, standing tall and graceful, her body exuding a quiet strength.

Syd's performance had been everything she had hoped it would be—flawless, powerful, and emotive. But it wasn't just the technical aspects of her performance that stood out. It was the passion behind each movement, the way she had poured her heart into the ballet. She had taken them on a journey, not just through steps, but through the raw emotion and commitment that defined her as a dancer.

She used everything she'd been through in the past few years, all the pain she'd felt. She used thoughts of her dad and poured it all into her dance.

She only hoped it was seen.

As she left the stage, her chest was still heaving from the exertion, but she felt a deep sense of accomplishment. She knew she had given everything, and no matter the outcome, she had no regrets. Today, she had danced not for anyone but herself. She had danced for the years of hard work, for every drop of sweat, for every sacrifice. Today, she had danced for her dream.

Backstage, she allowed herself one final breath before changing back into her street clothes. Her mind replayed each movement, each moment, but she didn't want to worry about it even more. It was over and she was happy with how she did.

When she saw Madame Martin again the woman had nodded her way, letting the girl know she truly did well and it felt amazing.

Syd was just excited to get back to Eli, wanting to tell him all about it. Syd quickly exited the building, trying not to think about when she'd hear back. It would be a week before she found out, and now she had to figure out what to do to distract herself for the time being.

Syd ran to the car, knocking lightly on the window with a smile. Eli turned to look her way, smile growing on his face. He unlocked the doors, Syd quickly getting in. "How was it?" Eli wondered excitedly.

"I think it went really, really well." Syd beamed, Eli squeezing the girls hand. "Fuck yeah it did." He nodded.

Syd laughed lightly, feeling like she could breathe again. "Honestly, I don't know what to do with myself now that I've done it. I feel like I'm just waiting now."

She'd always been able to distract herself from ballet with karate and vise versa, but now that they were both done, she didn't know what could take up her day to day life. She'd still be going to her ballet classes, but Madame Martin had been having her practice three times as much leading up to this audition, so she truly felt like she now had all the time in the world.

"Well, I know something we could do." Eli smirked, eyes staring at the girl. Syd laughed lightly, shaking her head. "You're disgusting."

"Hey, I meant go to my house and watch a movie. I can't even begin to think of what you assumed I was talking about." Eli replied, dramatically looking at the girl. "Shut up and drive." Syd laughed, shaking her head.

"Yes, ma'am." Eli nodded, beginning to do just that.

Syd sighed, everything would work out how it was meant to, and she was so excited to see what that would mean.

AUTHORS NOTE!
OH MY GOD I UPDATED???? CRAZY TOWN

anyways hiii im so excited to be back and have them back for just a bit longer (sobbing)

I hope you enjoyed and I'm excited to get into the actual ending plot in the chapters ahead!!!