CHAPTER 124

ELLA'S POV

I stared down at the flyer in my hands, the bold letters seeming to mockingly leap off the page:

"RIVERSIDE ANNUAL TALENT SHOWCASE - DANCE COMPETITION!

$5,000 GRAND PRIZE FOR THE BEST DANCER!"

My gaze tracked lower to the rest of the details, and my brief thrill of hope quickly morphed into one of doubt.

"Dancers will be evaluated by professional instructors from renowned academies, including..."

The list of highly prestigious dance schools went on and on. Just reading the names made my palms start sweating.

This is a huge cash prize, sure...but also having to put myself out there and compete against all the town's most elite, experienced dancers?

With a frustrated sigh, I tossed the flyer back down onto Ryan's coffee table, flopping onto the couch beside him. This was just a pipe dream, nothing more. As much as I'd grown to love dancing under Ryan's patient guidance these past few months, I was still just a beginner at best. A total amateur compared to the real talents o