i looked at james and then pulled him away from the team to talk. 
"you're gonna dance your hardest?" i asked him with a chuckle. 
"yeah. definitely." he said. 
"you know i've been thinking. since you're gonna be with the band next year, and i'm leaving..." i said with a sob, "this is probably the last time we're gonna dance together." 
thinking about everything that me and James has been through... ever since we were little kids. it's all come to this moment. we were meant to be here together. it's all been amazing. i really don't want to let that go. 
James grabbed my hands. "iz, let's just make it the best dance we've ever dance." i nodded at him. "we've got plenty of time to talk after. this one's is for the team." 
if this is our last dance then i wanna take in every single moment of it. 
we heard the crowd cheering and i looked on the stage. "i love you." i said to him. 
"i love you too." 
he took my hand and we walked to the team, waiting to be called on stage. 
"hey good luck, okay?" he said to me with a smile. 
"don't need it." i replied and then we walked on stage, letting go of his hand. 
walking on the stage for our duet... im feeling overwhelmed. but i'm really excited to do this dance, and have this moment with james. 
james: i think im ready for this to be my last dance. all i know is... we just have to make this one count. 
the curtain lift and the music started, and i just forgot everything. it's just me and james against the world. always and forever. 
the duet that James and I choreographed is kinda of about this magnetic force between us. and no matter how far we go apart from each other, we always have that connection that keeps pulling us back. 
we try and fight it but no matter how hard we try you can't deny it. it's everything about our relationship. we were always connected. 
michelle: they just look so in love on stage and they're doing an amazing job. 
kate: there's something so special about James and Izzy. and when they dance together... it's just magic. 
stephanie: this duet is absolutely captivating. it doesn't matter if you're on our team or not it is so moving. 
throughout the dance we always touch each other, that connection is always there. and knowing what will happen after this song will finish, i'm just happy i have james as my partner. 
Riley: watching this duet is very emotional, i think for the whole team. everything that had led us to this moment has been so amazing and so unforgettable. 
dancing with james for the last time i feel a lot of different things and i feel happy and so overjoyed and extremely excited to be with him, but at the same time it feels kinda heartbreaking because it's the last time. we're never gonna feel this way again. 
the dance finishes with us, hugging each other, and i just don't want to let go when the song is over. this is it. that's where it ends. 
we can hear the crowd cheering, but we're resisting letting go of each other. i just let the tears fall down. 
"wow what a routine!" the SNR host said. "i've never seen two dancers so connected. i'm at a lost for words." 
we bowed, the curtain fell, and the trophy came on stage along with the other dancers from Sweden. 
i can't wait to hear the results. i grabbed James' hand, tightly,  waiting nervously. 
"ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this year's absolute dance internationals competition is... the next step studio!" 
i open my mouth with utter shock and happiness i can't believe to what i heard. 
james grabbed the trophy, its so big and beautiful, he turned to look at me and pulled me in for a kiss. 
this is something i've wanted my whole life. this has been the goal that i always been reaching for and now i get to win this for my team, and as a dance captain. it's so insane. 
we looked at our team and called them on stage and they ran to us, circling us with hugs and happy screams. Riley was the first one to reach me and have her hands wrapped around my body just felt so comforting. 
it's just an amazing feeling. i will never forget this moment.




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A/N:
thank you for reading!! so happy for my girl Izzy and the entire team!!
bonus chapters will be up soon 🫶🏻🫶🏻