Chapter 16: It All Ends Here

My back was well enough to clean up my solo and mark through the harder parts of the group and the trio the next day with Abby, who spent most of her time barking at least somewhat constructive instructions at Paige and Nia.

"Sickled foot, Paige! Get to that spot faster, Nia! Paige, I need to see fear and desperation, Joanne and Nia are giving me that. Extend that leg, Nia, I've seen you do it in ballet!"

The dance was coming together quite well, though, and Abby dismissed Paige and Nia before letting Maddie and Chloé in. "Girls, you're in the Teen division, so this is a hard piece that you're going to have to perform to your fullest," Abby said to them. "Let me see what you have."

I sat by the mirror with ice on my back, watching them carefully. Chloé was the black swan and Maddie was the white swan, and the dance was good overall- but they kept botching the ending by giggling. I raised my eyebrows, unimpressed.

"If you do that onstage, you'll lose," I told them bluntly. "Other than that, it's pretty good. Chloé, you need to watch the face on the turns- it falls flat. Maddie, you're tending to fall into Lyrical face, and this is Contemporary. Both of you need to watch your feet at the end."

"She's being nice. You can't have the last thing the judges see be sickled feet," Abby backed me up. "Chloé, you're not fully into your character. You need to be angry, mean, spiteful. Find something in your life that you don't like and use that emotion. Maddie, you're not scared enough when Chloé goes after you. Think of something you're afraid of when you dance."

"I'm afraid of snakes," Maddie offered.

"That works. Imagine that Chloé's covered in snakes," I advised Maddie. Both improved their expressions the next run-through.

"Someone go get Brooke, I want you to critique each other's solos," Abby said. "You all know them by now."

Brooke's solo was much better than the last time I'd seen it, because at least she was smiling during it, and her tricks were great. "You could change your face a few times," Maddie offered.

"You're not always smooth coming out of the tricks," Chloé said shyly.

"I agree with Maddie and Chloé, and it would make the solo better if you finished every movement to your fingers," I said to Brooke, who nodded at the fair critiques.

Maddie was up next, and her biggest issue was that she was rushing, especially her turns. "It's just a little boring," I told her. "Try to come up with a character and a story, you have the moves down well."

Chloé, on the other hand, was a bit too slow on the middle section of her solo. "You can't lose confidence there," Abby admonished her. "If you walk onstage thinking that you'll forget it, you definitely will. It's also affecting your connection with the music."

"Yeah, I don't think there's anything wrong with the dance other than you doubting yourself," I backed Abby up. "If it helps, I can be with you in the wings. Senior solos are first so you'll have time."

"Very nice of you, Joanne, now it's your turn. But first, you need to run it with your costume, because it's a long skirt," Abby said. Gia brought in a beautiful Greek-style white dress with golden accents, and I loved it.

I spun into the room, letting the skirt float around me. "This is the best costume I've had!"

"Yes, it's beautiful," Gia agreed. "That's what the solo needs to be."

"Right." I nodded and moved to my starting position, beginning to dance when Gia turned on the music. I took my own advice and finished all my moves, sending smug glances every so often at where I imagined the judges to be. Gia, Brooke, Maddie and Chloé clapped for me.

"I don't have any notes!" Maddie said brightly.

"It was amazing, but you're awkward on some of your transitions, especially to the floor near the end," Brooke said helpfully.

"Yes, Brooke is right, and you need to tell the story better," Abby critiqued. "Keep working on it, and take care of your back. All of you have more work to do. Let's work on the group some more before you're dismissed."

Chloé was almost in tears by the end of the rehearsal, and so was I. I'd been dancing for six hours that day, and wasn't marking the group dance that time. I sat down on the mirror in the middle of a run-through, shaking my head.

"Sorry. I'm going to have to mark that until competition, that and the trio."

"Do you need to go to the doctor?" Nia asked me, worried.

"I went early last week- it's overuse from too much Acro and it doesn't get worse when I do less flexible dancing, which is why I can do most of the group and my solo. I'll grit it out, I just need a break for now."

"I do too," Chloé said suddenly, turning to Abby. "Miss Abby, I really love dancing, but I've been really tired the last few days and want a little break. Just for tonight and tomorrow morning. If I do that, I can clear my head and dance better."

Abby blinked, caught off guard by the young blonde's uncharacteristic directness. "Well, Chloé, I appreciate you telling me yourself. That's fine, you're dismissed for today, come back tomorrow at one ready to go."

"Thank you," Chloé said gracefully, and smiled as she left the room.

Abby sighed. "One dancer's tired, another's back is hurt. Joanne, you may as well leave too, ask Christi to drop you off at the apartment. I assume that you know how to deal with the back issue there. The rest of you, run it without those two. We're done with solos and the duet and trio anyway."

Chloé looked a lot happier in the car with Christi and I, and the three of us had a nice dinner as rehearsals had started early that day. I spent the evening working on school until Abby returned with my cousins. I stuck to just marking more flexible moves for the rest of the rehearsal days, and woke on the day of competition with any pain washed away by nerves. I would be dancing from morning until night; Senior solos were first and the group was last. That allowed me to not really think and just get ready, chatting with Maddie and Kenzie on the way to the competition.

"The solo costume is loose enough for you to wear the back brace," Gia told me, much to my relief.

I got my hair and makeup done quickly and went backstage, needing time to prepare. Someone I knew, Lydia Johnson, who was fifteen and from Studio 19 where I'd been before going to Pittsburgh (and who I sometimes texted and called), recognized me and we hugged.

"You've been doing so well," she smiled at me. "I'm glad that you're in a better situation now, as much as you're missed at the studio. Are you really competing in senior?"

I shook my head lightly. "Miss Abby told me four days ago. She wants Maddie in the Mini division, Chloé in Juniors, Brooke in Teens and me in Seniors."

"Well, no one will be making it easy for any of you," Lydia responded. "I hope that everyone does their best and it's up to the judges."

"Me too," I agreed.

Lydia was on four numbers before me, and she had a beautiful Lyrical solo that she did very well with. Still, I had a competitive solo too, and wasn't about to dance scared.

"Please welcome entry number thirty-six, 'Goddess'!"

I walked onstage, smiling proudly, and made eye contact with the judges right away. The music started and I danced to it, extending my moves and emoting with the song, making sure I hit all of the sharp accents and flowing moves. It was as good as I could do a solo, so I felt happy with the performance.

"That was so good!" Lydia complemented when I got offstage. I returned the sentiment and we went our separate ways, me grabbing food and water and heading to the dressing room to help out the other soloists. Brooke had a pretty, simple costume, a white bra top and Lyrical skirt. It made her look mature, so she'd better dance mature.

"Excellent, Joanne," Abby said to me. "You were wonderful. Now rest your back as much as you can."

The one nice member of production, Kaley Green, got me an ice pack and I rested while Abby ran the other three solos. Kurt Ziegler, of all people, showed up in the dressing room. I was kind of relieved because he wasn't a good husband but he was a good father, and Maddie and Kenzie needed an adult that wasn't Abby Lee Miller to look out for them.

"Hello, Mr. Ziegler," I greeted from the floor.

"Oh no, is your back okay?"

I shrugged. "Not great, but I'll be fine for today."

"You're a tough kid. Where are my daughters?" He asked playfully, and they ran to him happily. He showed up to all of his visits and was likely to get partial custody soon enough, though it would have to be worked out with dance schedules.

Brooke went out and performed better than I'd seen her in a good year or two, doing a decent job of emoting through her body and pulling off Lyrical. Chloé, refreshed from her little break, went out and nailed her beautiful routine, while Maddie was stunning with her solo. Solo awards were first up, and I had to be in my trio costume to hand out the Junior awards as I'd won the title in that age group last year.

"We'll start with our Mini category," the announcer said. Maddie won with a great score of 291.3 points, getting yet another title. "And your first-place Junior winner, scoring 292 points... it's Chloé with 'Another Season' from the Abby Lee Dance Company! She is being crowned Junior Miss Energy today."

I hugged her tightly as I handed her the trophy. "You deserve this," I told her. "You danced confidently and you won."

Brooke, happily, won the Teen division (even if it was only by three-tenths of a point, 289.3 to 289.6), and then it was the Seniors. "In second place, scoring 297.6 points, it's Lydia with 'Turning Tables' from Studio 19!"

I clapped for Lydia, nerves churning in my stomach. That was a really high score.

"In first place, receiving a perfect score of 300 points and a special judges' award for Grace, it's Joanne with 'Goddess'! The Abby Lee Dance Company!"

I grinned, letting out a huge sigh of relief. "You were in Juniors last year, as I recall," the announcer said.

"Yes," I said into the mic.

"Skipped right past the Teens. Your Senior Miss Energy and national champion!"

I had very little time to celebrate as the trio was the third to go of the duo/trios and the competition started right after awards. Maddie carried my awards back to the dressing room.

Paige, Nia and I did the regular warm-up backstage during the dance before us. I went onstage first, running on frantically, then the other two followed. We started lying on top of each other, and the whole dance was meant to be us working together to fight an unknown force. Nia and Paige performed their best, and I was happy with how I did, relaxing and having fun with it. A bit later, Maddie and Chloé went on, taking every correction and performing powerfully.

Abby was thrilled with the trio, duo, and solo clean sweep. "Maddie, you were stunning. No notes, you won your division by five points. Chloé, that was the most confident that I've seen you dance, and your performance had something special about it. The duet was strong and you two played your characters perfectly. Brooke, you had the closest win, but you were with the music and used your emotion. I'm proud of you. Joanne... beyond words. You were absolutely incredible, I thought that I saw Aphrodite on that stage. The trio, all three of you, that was great teamwork, and I thought that both Nia and Paige stepped it up a level. I'm glad I gave you two this chance, maybe more Lyrical and Contemporary solos will come your way next season. Joanne, you'd never be able to tell that your back's been hurting, and you were a great trio lead." She clapped to get everyone's attention. "Everyone's won so far, now it's time for the group. I want to see it one more time, as full out as you can in this room."

"This is it," I told the group as we huddled up backstage. "We've worked so hard this season, not just for solos and duos and trios, but to be dancing as one as a team. We can win today, and every one of us needs to be on our game. Let's go out and do this."

I guess the speech worked, because from what I could tell the group went off without a hitch. My back started twinging badly by the end, but I finished strong and kept my mouth shut, taking more Advil and getting ice on it for awards. Maddie and Chloé won the Teen duo/trio category, and Paige, Nia and I won the Junior category. Holly was in tears, thrilled that her daughter had taken full advantage of a rare opportunity, and Kelly was close to it.

"Your top Junior group and overall group today, with a fabulous score of 293.5, is 'This is My Beauty'! The Abby Lee Dance Company!"

I wound up winning the overalls, while Lydia was second, the group was third, Chloé was fourth, Maddie was fifth, Maddie and Chloé's duet were sixth, Brooke was eighth, and Nia, Paige and I's trio was tenth. It was a fabulous way to end my season, and I was looking forward to a few days of proper rest and relaxation with Melody, Misty, and my aunt and cousins at home.

AN: Season 1 done for Joanne! Her injury's not awful, just Acro-related, but she isn't going to be in Episode 12 or 10 (which was filmed after Episode 12) due to it and being at Joffrey Ballet for the summer.