Page 17 of Small Town Sash

"Feels like more than that," Hadley admitted, her voice barely above the music. "Feels like I've got real friends."

"Yes, you do," Avery called from across the formation.

Their laughter mingled with the music, a melody sweeter than any crowning ceremony's fanfare. In that moment, the tiara, the sash, the expectations—all faded into the background. Here, surrounded by her new allies, Hadley Wilder was simply a girl having the time of her life.

Hadley's heels tapped along, keeping time with the beat as she spun under Candace's outstretched arm. Her laughter was lost in the music.

"Y'all are naturals," Michelle called out, sidestepping a rogue dancer as she waved to all of them.

"Speak for yourself," Avery chuckled, attempting to mirror Jenesa's fancy footwork. She seemed to be the best of them all.

"Hey, Wilder. Fancy seeing you in these parts," the familiar voice cut through the ruckus.

Spinning around, Hadley's eyes widened. Braden Harding, his black hair tousled and those brown eyes alight with mischief, stood at the edge of the dance floor. He was with a group of men whose faces were new to her but wore the same camaraderie as Braden. His dog, Dash, wasn't in sight, presumably resting after a day's training.

"Braden?" She blinked, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"Blowing off steam," he grinned, gesturing to the men behind him. "Meet my fellow trainees."

"Mind if we join you?" one of the trainees asked, his smile easy.

"More the merrier," Avery whooped, already pulling two of the newcomers into their line.

"Looks like we've got ourselves some new recruits," Candace said, clapping her hands to the rhythm.

"Welcome to the chaos," Hadley laughed, finding herself paired with Braden as the music shifted to a faster tune.

"Hope you can keep up," he teased, twirling her effortlessly.

"Watch me," she shot back, the challenge sparking her competitive streak.

This was when Tina appeared, her entrance as subtle as a bull in a china shop. Her glare zeroed in on Hadley, a sneer twisting her lips.

"Cozying up to one of the judges again, Hadley?" Tina accused, arms folded, her voice dripping with venom.

"Excuse me?" Hadley faltered, the accusation jolting her. She stopped dancing and stiffened under the accusation.

"Please, Tina," Braden interjected. "We're all just here to dance."

"Right," Tina drawled, eyeing them skeptically. "And I'm here for the pastries."

"Back off, Tina," Candace stepped forward, protectively. "No one's cozying up to anyone."

"Let's not ruin a good night," Jenesa added, her gaze stern.

"Yeah, if you're not here to have fun, you should just go," Avery chimed in.

"Whatever," Tina huffed, flipping her hair dismissively as she turned around to leave. "Just watch your step, Hadley," she added over her shoulder as she stomped off.

"Thanks, guys," Hadley murmured, grateful for the shield her friends formed against Tina's barbs.

"Hey, don't mention it," Candace said, bumping shoulders. "Now, let's show these academy boys how it's done."

"Lead the way," Braden smiled, and they plunged back into the fray of dancers. The incident with Tina quickly dissolved into the laughter and high spirits of newfound friendships.

Hadley's laughter faded as she caught the time on her phone. The screen glowed 9:03 p.m., a silent reminder of the real world waiting outside the Coffee Loft's twangy bubble.

"Guys, I think I should head out," Hadley said, her voice barely cutting through the music.

---