Mitch, Jordan, Jerome, Ty, and Jess walked down the halls to the changing rooms. This is the regional dance competition  and they had brought their hip hop team to to the winnings gold every time. Jordan ran into someone while not paying attention.

"Sorry! " Jordan said as he looked up at who he had ran into.

"Sparklez?" The guy asked.

"Andor?" Jordan replied. The two looked at each other til smiles grew on their faces. they embraced. Andor was an old friend of Jordan's at his old dance academy, the Mianite school of performing arts.

"Woah, no fraternizing with the enemy Jordan!" Mitch walked up and shoved the two apart with a laugh.

"Uh, this is Andor Mitch. An old friend!" Jordan attempted to explain. Mitch just laughed deeply.

"Oh I know, they're the third greatest dance school in our league. obviously somewhat worthy opponents."  Mitch chuckled.

Andor raised an eyebrow.

"Thirds greatest?" 

"Of course, your third, the youtubers academy is second, and we're first! Obviously..." Andor kept his cool but rolled his eyes.

"Of course, well I'll see you later Sparklez. Gotta find Capsize before we go on!" Andor waved and walked pass the group of dancers.

"Was the 'enemy talk' really necessary Mitch?" Jordan scowled. 

"Of course," Mitch said simply. "It will either make or break the competition. Makes the playing field a little more fun."

Jordan just rolled his eyes as the group meandered to their changing room. they all got into their hip hop costumes while the Mianite academy was on stage.

"I gotta use the washroom, kay guys?" Mitch said leaving for the door.

"Just be quick, we're on next!" Jess said from her stall in the changing room. Mitch waved and left hurriedly down the hall. Minutes later Jordan, Jess, Ty, and Jerome were waiting for Mitch backstage. the Mianite crew were putting on a good show.

That is until the light flickered. The music went static and the dancers stopped in their motion. confused by the situation. eventually the lights came back but the music was out. The dancers walked off confused, it was the MCYT crew's turn and Mitch wasn't back.

Jordan had his suspicions for where he was though. No bathroom break was this long, Mitch must have sabotaged the  Mianite crews performance! Jordan snarled.

"Wheres Mitch, we're going on now?" Jerome panicked as a backstage direction motioned them on. Jerome refrained from saying anything else and simply walked on stage with his group. They played through their routine flawlessly. The missing center piece to it all was still no where to be seen though.

Where was Mitch?

After the performance the group kept their eyes out for the brunette. 

"Hey, guys. You did great out there..." A quiet voice said once Jerome, Ty, Jordan, and Jess entered the changing room again.

"Mitch where have you been?" Jerome yells as he ran to hug Mitch. Mitch just pushed him away slightly looking down. He looked barren of emotions, bland.

" You didn't even get back in time for the performance! You love performing..." Ty comments stepping closer. Jordan was kinda worried about Mitch but still found him guilty for his old schools misfortune.

"I-I wasn't feeling all that well..." Mitch mumbled standing. His arms were inside his sweater and he was huddling his face as far into the neck of the red fabric as well. Almost completely opposite of Mitch's casually hot headed personality.

"Mitch, you really don't look well. Should one of use walk you back to your dorm?" Jess suggested. Luckily this competition was being held at their school so their dorms were only upstairs.

Mitch looked at the floor, not breaking eye contact with the tiles.

"I'll walk him back," Jordan said, taking Mitch by the sleeve f his sweater and pulling him out of the room.

"I'll be back to watch the awards later," he said dragging Mitch down the hall.

Eventually Mitch simply followed Jordan as opposed to being dragged. Jordan spoke first.

"Why did you do that?"

"Do what?" Mitch asked

"You weren't at the bathroom were you? You were the one who sabotaged the Mianite crews performance?" Jordan sneered sourly.

Mitch shook his head confusedly.

"I didn't even get to see the other performances. I came back while you and the others were finishing up..." 

"Of course you were..." Jordan's voice dripped with venom.

"I didn't do it though! Really..." Mitch said  sinking into his sweater as they walked.

"And why should I believe you! All I've ever known your word to be is deceitful and laced with lies!" Jordan stopped in the hall and yelled angrily. Mitch backed up, his eyes welling with tears he promised himself not to reveal.

"I-I...." 

Mitch couldn't form a coherent sentence. No ones ever confronted him like this. Jordan sighed, glaring at the brunette before him.

"Why should I believe you now, if ever. Lets just get you back to your dorm. You must be very sick..."

The two walked in awkward silence til the reached the shared dormitory  of Mitch and Jerome. Jordan turned, ready to leave before Mitch grabbed his arm.

"I'm not sick Jordan. But you're right, I didn't use the washroom." Mitch shoved his face into his sweater, not making eye contact with Jordan.

"I didn't sabotage your friends performance. I may be a lying, deceitful, mean, no good, bratty, bully. But I'm not a cheater. I never want to be a cheater." Mitch let go of Jordan's sleeve and disappeared into his dorm, locking the door.