Piper's POV:

I was speechless.

I felt a single tear slide down my face as I glanced at the girl next to me, who was gleaming with joy. She looked like she almost... expected to win. I mean confidence is one thing but this girl looked like she knew without a doubt that she was going to win.

Strange...

I couldn't focus on that as I nervously looked into the audience. People were looking at me with sympathy and Emily, Michelle, Riley and James were looking at me with sad smiles. At least they weren't mad at me.

I slowly glanced at A troupe, scared for their reaction the most, but they were also looking at me with sad smiles which made me try to give them one back but I think it just looked like a painful grimace.

Chuck Anderson was still talking about something to do with this Nancy girl but I was just deep in my own thoughts.

"Hey, if it makes you feel better, your solo killed!" Nancy said from next to me, with a kind smile. "I'm sorry that you lost but I had to make sure that I won this round." She said, casually. "What... what do you mean?" I asked her gingerly.

"Listen, I've gotta go, but meet me by the cafeteria in like 10 minutes and I'll explain it to you." She replied, backing away from me, about to go to her team.

I hesitantly nodded and turned back to the audience to meet James' eye. He gestured to the door, near the audience, silently asking me if I wanted him to comfort me but I shook my head gently, more tears threatening to fall.

Riley looked at my glistening eyes and her face contorted into one full of anger; she stood up abruptly as I looked at her with a confused face.

"IT'S RIGGED! (Thank you iiPinnTNS for that!) HOW COULD SHE HAVE LOST?! PIPER CLEARLY DESERVED TO WIN, THIS IS BULLSHI-" She screamed, defending me as I smiled and shook my head gently at her crazy antics.

Emily got up instantly and grabbed onto her sister's hand, interrupting her.

"SORRY EVERYONE! I AGREE WITH HER BUT I THINK IT'S THE PREGNANCY, IT REALLY MESSED UP HER HORMONES!" She yelled to the amused audience before dragging Riley out, the two of them bickering- even though it was mostly Emily telling her younger sister off.

I trudged off the stage to see A troupe with all of their arms open wide. That was the last straw as I burst into tears and ran into Finn's arms as A troupe crowded around us.

"Pipes, don't cry."

"It's okay."

"You did your best."

"We're still really proud of you, your solo was fire." I heard all around me, as I continued to sob into Finn's arms as he stroked my hair.

After a couple of minutes, I stopped crying and wiped my eyes, as we all walked into the reception hall, when I remembered Nancy's words.

"Hey guys, I'm going to the cafeteria, I'll be right back." I said to A troupe. "Want us to come with you?" Amy asked as I shook my head. "I'll explain when I come back." I replied, walking in the direction of the cafeteria and when I arrived there, I saw Nancy standing there, texting rapidly on her phone.

"Hey... Nancy, is it?" I said as I approached her. "Yup, that's me and your Piper from The Next Step, right?" She replied with a smile on her face, as I just nodded.

"So, you wanted to explain something to me?" I asked. "Yeah, you looked upset that you lost, so I wanted to tell the real reason why you lost." She started as I gave her a weird look.

How else was I supposed to be after losing? Was I meant to be happy? Throw a party, maybe?

"Listen, you were great, like 10 times better than me but I knew you weren't going to win. I made a deal with one of the judges. The old one, in the centre, that was him." She said, carrying on as I listened carefully.

"I told him I'd date him, only if he ensured that I and my team would win Nationals and he promised me with this ring. See?" She said, thrusting her hand with a small, diamond ring in my face as I nodded, just wanting her to get back to the story.

"So yeah, no hard feelings. You were great but maybe next year. If you want, I can hook you up with a judge so that you'll be guaranteed a win next year." She said, and nodded along, before realising what she just said.

I reeled back in shock, had to stop myself from bursting out in laughter and stared at her for a moment before saying, "Yeah, no thanks. I'm not interested in anybody's grandpas."

'Whose girl is this, they need to come get her' I thought to myself.

"Your funny, Piper. Oh well, your loss. But good luck, next year. See you later." She said, laughing as she got up to go back to her own team.

"Thanks... I think?" I said after her, but she was already gone.

When I got back to A troupe, I explained everything to them and they were furious.

"Let me go talk to her." Richelle said, angrily, beginning to walk in the direction of the cafeteria, but I pulled her back. "No, no, but thanks Rich. There's nothing we can do now." I said, dejectedly.

We all just sighed and sat in some chairs, sitting in a comfortable yet sad silence, just thinking about how far we had come only to just lose to some girl and her old, judge-boyfriend.

Suddenly, Riley and Emily came running up to us, excitedly pulling me up. "What's going on?" Amy asked the two overly-excited ladies.

"We were heading back to the audience and we heard them calling you and that other Darcy girl. Come on! Hurry up!" Emily explained, tugging on me to go.

Me and A troupe all exchanged looks before dashing back to the wings with Emily and Riley.

When we arrived, they all wished me luck and Kenzie fixed my slightly smudged mascara before I hurriedly ran on stage.

Nancy was already there and when I arrived, we gave each other slightly confused glances, before the announcer began to speak.

"It seems as though, I've made a mistake. The actual winner of this female solo round is... Piper from The Next Step!" He shouted, as I bounced up and down in joy.

I didn't lose! We can still win nationals!

"What?!" Nancy shrieked, as I looked at her in shock. I forgot she was still there.

"Congrats, Piper. You deserve it, as I said before, you killed your solo." She said, facing me with a wobbly smile.

"But I am going to kill him." She said darkly, glaring at the old judge who was grimacing and looking away from here.

"Congrats again, Piper." She said quickly to me with gritted teeth, before shooting daggers at the judge and stomping off the stage.

I just shrugged and ran off the stage gleefully, and into A troupe's arms who were congratulating me.

"Pipesqueak! I knew you could-" James started, about to hug me, once we were back in the hall, when Riley shoved him out of the way and hugged me tightly.

"Yes, girl! I knew you could do it! Your solo was so much better than Franny over there!" She said happily as I chuckled and hugged her tightly, messing with her hair slightly.

Once she let go of me, James immediately hugged me too. "I'm so proud of you, sis." He said as I thanked him and hugged him back.

When he finally let go of me, A troupe gave me a big group hug and told me how proud they were of me. I was so overjoyed.

"Well done Piper, I knew you'd win!" Nick said, happily hugging me.

"Next up, guys, the 10 person group dance." He said.

Bring it on, let's do this!

》》》

Hey guys, the book is almost finished!!!

Hope you guys liked this chapter!

Please, please let me know if I should give out the names of the bonus Oneshots that I've got planned.

Do you guys want to know them???