Third Person POV
The auditorium buzzed with energy as the final results were being tallied. Betty’s heart raced as she replayed their performance in her mind, hoping it had been enough to secure them a place in the top ranks. Her dad’s words from the night before echoed in her mind, reminding her of the journey they’d taken to get here, the obstacles they’ve been through, and she felt a swell of gratitude. No matter the outcome, she knew they’d accomplished something incredible together and they’ve done everything they could.
A voice beside broke her thoughts. “Hey,” Stacey said. “That was… a great routine. I didn’t think I’d ever be saying this, but… you really pulled it together, Betty.”
“Thanks, Stacey. We couldn’t have done it without you, though, you know. You kept us going when things got rough.”
“You’re the one who showed me there’s more to this than just winning. I know we didn’t start off as friends, but… I respect what you’ve built here. You turned a group of misfits into a real team.”
Betty felt a lump form in her throat. Stacey and her might not have started as allies, but in this moment, she realized they’d become something close to friends.
“Thanks. That means a lot.”
“Just don’t let it get to your head, okay?”
They both smiled. For the first time, Betty felt like she wasn’t alone in this, like she had someone standing beside her, not just as a teammate but as an equal.
The lights in the auditorium dimmed, and the room fell silent as the announcer stepped onto the stage, holding an envelope. Betty’s heart pounded in her chest, her hands clenching at her sides as she watched him unfold the paper. She could feel the anticipation in the air, the collective breath of every team waiting to hear the results.
“In third place,” the announcer began, his voice booming across the room, “we have the Silverton Swans.”
The audience erupted into applause, and Betty could see the Swans’ team embracing each other with tears and laughter. She held her breath as the announcer moved on. “In second place we have…”