Chapter Text
Walking down the hallways of the studio, Sophia comes face to face with the locker she’s been using for almost 2 years. This is the start of her dream and she’s very much excited to leave this rigorous training program. The hell hole she left the Philippines for.
It's never been easy being a tryhard after all, having to get used to the rumors and the bullying from the other girls, but now she can say to all those popular trainees who tortured her that they can bring whatever snarky remark they got because after finishing votes, its going to be her throwing her rank at their faces.
"Hey Laforteza!"
Scrunching her eyebrows as she turns around, Sophia turns to face the opposite direction of her locker and loses her breath as she sees the showrunners favorites, Lexie, walking towards her with a smirk on her face.
Sophia immediately turns around to make a run for it but it seems like she’s outnumbered because like clockwork, there's a girl behind her, keeping her in place. While the others just watch her like a hawk.
"Where do you think you’re running off to, Laforteza?" chuckles Lexis as she stops just in front of her, her smirk only getting wider. "Don't think it’s over yet—you're still in preliminaries"
Biting her lower lip, Sophia closed her eyes to avoid what could be a—
Ugh.
Immediately, the cold touched her skin.
"Happy ‘going public week’ Laforteza!" shouts Lexie as she and her minionslaugh while walking to the other side of the corridor, talking endlessly about anything and whatever.
Once again, Lexie pretended to tip her water bottle on her “accidentally”. How can it be an accident when it happens weekly and methodically?
Sophia groans, not bothering to move for a while. A hand touches her shoulder. Taking a peek, she smiles at her friend, Manon, who frowns at her then glares at the direction where Lexie and her goons went.
"What’s up, Manon." Sophia coughed, wiping her face which actually didn't help much.
She turns to Sophia and smiles ashamed..
"Hey Soph, sorry I didn't make it on time. Lara was on the phone."
Manon's also apart of group B—she’s popular with the fans, everyone kind of loathes her for that, but it’s good to have someone that has that kind of support and is social with everybody.
"It's okay, it’ll be one of the last few times. Then we’re going public!" Sophia joked, flicking away the water that drenched her.
"This is my favorite sweater" Sophia says with a pout
Manon chuckles, and pulls her arm to the bathroom, pushing the doors open as they walk in to see girls looking at them
"Manon, this is the so embarassing." Sophia mumbles, blushing as girls looked on with mocking looks before running out to give them some privacy.
Shrugging her shoulders, she tugs Sophia’s sweater up, motioning for her to remove it. Sophia stares at her in disbelief and blushed.
"Manon, no." Sophia said, tugging it back down. "What if somebody sees us?"
Manon rolls her eyes and laughs. "I'm just helping Soph, we’re both girls”
Sophia frown at her while tugging her sweater down again. "It doesn't work that way with these girls."
“Well good thing I could care less, come on you’ll get sick" the older girl replies, tugging the sweater, only stopping at her neck. Sophia’s wearing a tank top.
And just as Manon was about to tug shirt off completely, the sound of the bathroom door opening and closing catches their attention.
"Oh, ew." Says a voice, a voice which Sophia’s been familiar with since the start of her Dream Academy era. Sophia feels the blush from the inside of her half-removed sweater as she hears giggling.
"Who would have thought Manon messes with tryhards?" says the cruel voice again in a teasing manner, making herself and others giggle as Manon pulls it off and drops it to the counter, making Sophia blush as she peeks through her eyelashes at the three girls—top dancers—that just entered the restroom.
One particular girl though, caught Sophia’s very attention.
Daniela Avanzini, a girl who’s been plaguing her life and a girl who will never see her as anything but a self-serving go getter.
Daniela used to make fun of her introduction and her privileged background.
As if she didn’t come from one herself?
Daniela Avanzini, a girl Sophia would move constellations for. The prettiest girl she’s ever seen
Sophia fiddles with her fingers at her scrutinizing gaze.
Manon scoffs at Daniela. "Whatever, Daniela. Go away and climb back the cave you came out of"
Daniela steps closer to Manon and smirks. "Don't worry, Manon. I won’t say anything, who would believe the ‘Swiss Miracle Manz’ is hooking up with the what’s—her—face uhm, what's your name again?" she turns to the blushing girl and Sophia feels her heartbeat quicken.
In the entirety of their journey together, this was the first time Daniela has acknowledged her.
The whole room is silent as all eyes are on me before Manon stands in front of her and crosses her arms together. "That's Sophia Laforteza. And shes going to out vote all your asses" She says, making Sophia smile a bit.
Daniela cruelly laughs at Manon and pokes her chest—hard. "You're lucky you're in Mission 1 with me." She hisses, looking across her shoulder to Sophia with a glare. "Or else, I’d make this bigger than it is. Maybe even have Missy talking about it"
The girls behind Daniela laugh at them. "Please, Missy wouldn’t even know her name." She points out, clucking her tongue at her. "Is this your first day here? What’s your name?" she coos at Sophia sarcastically, causing snickers to erupt in the bathroom.
Manon rolls her eyes and sighs. "Can you just leave? Sophia's going to change."
Daniela smirks at this. "Whatever, don’t be late for rehearsal later"
The group of dancers laugh as they wave her off and walked out of the bathroom, but not before slamming it shut —very hard.
Sighing, Manon turns around and grabs a t-shirt from inside her backpack before handing it to the flustered girl. "Don't listen to them Soph." she whispers, fitting the shirt over her head. "They're just jealous of you."
Smiling sadly, Sophia nods. “Yeah, wish they’d show it differently”, making Manon laugh with sympathy
Manon smiles at her and tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Don't worry, you're going to prove them all wrong when your name gets called up there." She states, patting her head, it made Sophia pout and she ignored it playfully.
"Especially Daniela." Manon huffs, rolling her eyes. "I don't know why but that girl is always out to get you, she’s not even the top dancer here."
This has Sophia shaking her head, trying to hide her smile as the images of Daniela dancing enters her mind. "Don't say that, Daniela's so great at it. That’s why Son and Missy love her."
Manon stares in shock and disbelief. "No way, you still have a crush on that evil EVIL woman" She asks in exasperation, sticking her tongue out in disgust.
Sophia’s shoulders drop, bracing her hands against the sink,” she’s just stressed out, she’s not that mean"
Manon gives her a look and groans. "And that's coming from the girl who was tripped on the first day of observations by the one and only Daniela in front of every choreographer, vocal teachers, and trainees everybody." Manon says in a matter of factly tone.
Sophia blushes and shakes her head furiously. "That was just me, I was just clumsy!” Still defending the hazel eyed demon for whatever reason
Manon gives up and holds her hands up in defeat, “I’m just glad this will finally end, when we’re fully public”
”Wait, why?” Sophia asks, genuinely curious
"Soph…its kind of obvious, she’s going to show her true colors to the fans and they won’t vote for her anymore. She’ll have no fans." Manon states the obvious, chuckling to herself as the other girl frowns.
"But I thought Daniela's was on American’s Got Talent before? She’ll definitely have fans from there, no?" She wondered out loud, tapping her chin as if she’s cracked the code.
Manon stares at her agape, hands now on her hips. "What the hell? How did you know that? You barely talk to her and she’s never mentioned that ever" she asks.
Sophia just flicks the older girl’s forehead as she explains it’s because she heard the dancers bragging to each other about media exposure prior to training.
Either way, it has Manon begging her.
"Please let this obsession for Daniela literally stop." she begs, clasping her hands together as Sophia rolls her eyes.
The infatuation hasn’t stopped when Daniela chose to trip her infront of a very important crowd, why would she stop now?
With this lingering in the air, they both leave to go to their own respective rehearsals.
"Psst… Laforteza."
Sophia looks up from the ground as Lexie taps her, catching her breath
Furrowing her sweat covered eyebrows, she leans forward and reads the flyer handed to her. It was an invitation to a house party later at one of the local trainees house—to celebrate the beginning of going public
Weird, when did they start making invitations for a house party? That’s so 2000s
"You in?" Lexie asks, wagging her eyebrows at Sophia. Sophia’s just thinking about all the possibilities.
Who is Sophia kidding? It’s probably a really bad plot, that would end in embarrassment for her.
"It's going to be fun Laforteza." The smaller girl adds, shrugging her shoulders as she leans forward . "Everyone's invited, it’s for all trainees. Even Yoonchae’s going."
Nibbling on her lip, Sophia look at her eyes and contemplates it.
What could go wrong? Plenty She’s pretty sure Manon's going to be there too.
"I'll talk to Manon." Sophia replies softly, avoiding further conversation with the suspicious girl.
Should she risk going to this house party? She doesn’t know, she’s never been invited to them.
After rehearsals, she meets up with Manon who just finished up hers.
"Do not go to that death trap" Manon says as they walk to the dining hall, making Sophia’s eyebrows furrow, lips turning to a pout
"Sorry? How did you know I was invited?" She asks, frowning.
"It's a trap, girl!" Manon gapes, ruffling her curly hair. "It’s as obvious as a DL trade" she sighs, shaking her head as she mutters something about tripping Lexie during rehearsals later
Manon throws her hands up, seeing the Filipina obviously upset. "So why do you want to go? You know she’s doing it to be messy" She asks, laughig without humor.
"I don't know, it could possibly be the last week of me—us being trainees with everybody. Shouldn’t I risk it?" Sophia tries to explain, grabbing a chicken Caesar wrap from the bags as she and Manon look for Lara.
"Risk what? Experiencing the worst type of humiliation in front of all the trainees and have it be another inside joke between Daniela and her evil twin" She sarcastically says, leaning down to give Lara a kiss on the cheek as they settle down in the crowded table
With a shrug of her shoulders while unwrapping her sandwich. "It's not like she can do something that terrible, you’re there" she points out, chewing slowly.
Manon frowns while playing with Lara's hair. "Soph, I'm not going to that."
Licking her lips, Sophia give her the puppy dog eyes that never fails. "Please Manon? I want to experience this and I wanna get high” then making a pod shaped gesture with her hands
Manon's eyes all about pop out of its sockets.
"Vapes?" she hisses
Scowling, Sophia shake her head. "No. It’s something else! I don’t mean high on weed"
Manon arches an eyebrow at this. "I mean wha else is there, pretty much sums up every party I’ve been to" she asks, chuckling while Lara’s too busy scrolling on depop, looking for another outfit to chicify her wardrobe.
Sophia snaps her fingers with a smile and says, “drinking! I could go drinking!”
Her best friend eyes her in disbelief. "That's it? drinking?" Trying to hold her laughter in to at least be sympathetic, but Manon being Manon, the laughter bubbles and comes out at the slight hint of a smile
"Sophia, you've never drank before?"
Sophia, rolls her eyes and pouts. "Sorry for being a loser." She huffed, digging into her sandwich.
Growing up a theater nerd, means keeping your voice clean from anything that may cause it harm, drinking was a top harm to that! So, sue the girl. She didn’t even drink mouthwash because of the phlegm residue it leaves behind. Which could get you congested!
Manon shakes her head at her. "No, I don't think you're a loser—why don’t you just drink with us?” She asks in disbelief
Sophia sags her shoulders and sigh. "It never crossed my mind, I want to go to an actual party and I want to maybe kiss someone drunk." She explains in complete awe, completely fascinated by this scenario.
Lara throws her head back and laughs, wiping a non-existent tear away. "God Manon, Sophia is hilarious." She points out, resting her head on her situationship’s shoulder.
She chuckles at the show of affection while nodding. "She’s fucking crazy, that’s what she is." She replies, giving Sophia a crinkling smile, cheeks bunched up. "Should we help this poor girl?" She coos at the already smiling girl
They were so grossly infatuated with each other.
Lara nods enthusiastically. "I’ll bring out my moon boots" She says, agreeing to the request.
Lara was soooo lucky to be Manon's girlfriend. Manon was understanding and kind, Lara needed that balance in her life.
Sometimes Sophia wishes she was in love with someone as soft and kind as Manon, instead of being infatuated with a hot mean girl. Though, God bless even the mean girls.
Sophia scrunches her nose up and mentally slaps herself.
Gross Sophia. You have such a sick mind.
Forgetting about her inner debate, she claps her hands together and jumps up and down on her seat. "We’re going?" She asks, humming her voice as Manon and Lara nods.
"Fine. We're going—but—" she holds her fingers up. "You cannot be wandering out and about and be careful with Lexi!”
Sophia nods as she sighs and looks at the couple with endless gratitude. Without Lara and Manon, she wouldn't have friends at all. Everybody just seemed… to not like her. She’d always tried to show how positive she was even during the most heated times of their training. Maybe that’s where she got it all wrong, maybe she should’ve been quiet and judgmental with the rest of them.
Lucky enough, Manon had been her friend since she moved in during the middle of her training. Maybe it’s because Manon got dirty looks for missing rehearsals and knew what it felt like to be scrutinized by the things she couldn’t control, that she naturally drifted to Sophia’s shared pains.
Besides the girl of course, Daniela Avanzini was the only one Sophia had her stubborn brown eyes on. You may find it weird but she really feels this connection with her, it’s like no other and she’s really upset that it’s only one-sided.
Yet at times, she swears the girl had looked back at her with the same interest.
She’ll never know.
Walking to their next set of rehearsals, she hears giggles definitely about her again. She feels her heart breaking upon seeing Daniela being one of the people pointing and whispering.
She can’t wait to get out of here.