Finale (Academy of Stardom, #4)

by Bea Paige

“I won’t stop until you listen.” “I have to let dance go.” “No.” “Yes,” I argue. “Tiny, when you walked away before we didn’t just lose you, we lost the ability to dance, to find our home within the steps. A part of us died, Tiny.” “This is different! I’m not leaving you. I’m just not dancing. That’s all.” “Bullshit. You’re turning your back on who you are, on us as a family, a fucking crew. Fuck, I ripped myself open for you, Tiny, and for what? For you to abandon us like this?” His words hurt, scoring more pain on top of pain. When will it end? “I didn’t know how hard loving me would be, and I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry it hurts you so much. I’m sorry I can’t be who you need me to be.” “Don’t you remember what you said to me?” he asks, his voice lowering. There’s a tremor to it that guts me. “No, I don’t,” I respond, swallowing hard, remembering only too well. I remember how he danced that day in the Freed’s home gym. I remember how raw, how passionate, how utterly breathtaking he’d been. How real. I saw who he truly was that day and loved him for it. I still love him for it. “You said that you didn’t want to punish me. I believed you.” “I don’t want to punish you,” I whisper, feeling my resolve splinter and crack at his vulnerability. “You said that we’d all suffered enough.” “Please, don’t do this. I’m not strong enough. I need to be strong enough.” “We’re asking you, Tiny,” Xeno continues. “No, we’re fucking begging you. Don’t turn your back on dance. We need it as mu...