Chapter 43

Paige's foot was broken, we found out that Monday. She would be out for 4-6 weeks and was devastated over it, crying in her mother's arms in Dance Jail. She had pulled herself together a bit by Pyramid.

"There were some good things and bad things last week," Abby said. "Nia got a perfect score and we swept our categories. Paige's foot is broken, though, and Peyton underperformed. Paige, I'd like for you to watch a few classes while you're out and keep your fitness up in the pool and in the gym. There's still time for you to come back for Nationals. We are going to Starbound in Philadelphia, so we'll have a lot of expectations on us. Onto the pyramid. On the bottom, Maddie, you didn't dance. Next is Mackenzie, you only had a small part in the group, it looked good to me. Kendall, you did very well, but I can't put you higher if you only got third place. Keep on working. Chloé, second place again, you should have been closer to Nia in your score. You were good in the group. In the middle is Joanne, you choreographed all of the solos and led the group to victory with Nick. Good work. You'll perform the solo you gave Peyton this week, but harder, it deserves a better onstage performance."

"Okay, thank you," I said softly.

"Paige, I'm sorry that your foot is broken. Let this be a lesson in being careful for everyone. You were strong in the duet, I hope that you can recover for Nationals. Brooke, strong in the duet, but you're above Paige because you beat her out for the group and did a good job there. Ursula, top Teen soloist, you cleaned it up on your own and were helpful in the dressing room. But on top of the pyramid, joining the perfect score club, is Nia!"

Nia got hugs and claps of congratulations.

"It's rare to get 300 points, so great work. You embodied the story of the dance. You should thank your teacher for help on that poem. Good work in the group as well. Let's move on to dances this week. Joanne, Ursula, Brooke, Nia and Mackenzie have solos. Kendall and Chloé, you have a duet, as do Joanne and Maddie. The duets will be up against each other."

"Oh, yay!" I grinned at Maddie.

"The group dance, which Joanne is not in, is Musical Theater. Very cute, charming, you'll have to be on top of your game to win. Let's begin."

Brooke raised her hand. "Miss Abby, I have to let you know that my back's really been bothering me, so I may not be able to dance this week."

"Have you been to the doctor?"

"Yes, he said that it's overuse, like Joanne at Nationals last year."

"Thank you for letting me know. See how you feel after today. If needed, you can just do the solo and Joanne can be in the group, or you could just do the group which shouldn't be too hard on your back. You sisters aren't very healthy this week, are you?"

"Unfortunately not."

I practiced my balance and strength while the others practiced the group, hoping that I wouldn't be called up to be in it. There was nothing wrong with the piece, but I needed to stay healthy and get my schoolwork done, and these easy dances took up so much time. Abby called Maddie and I in after an hour and a half.

"Maddie, I'm giving you a prime opportunity here. You'd better keep up with Joanne, technically and emotionally. The number is called 'Longing' and it's about a tale of two sisters- one who's moving on and longs to be young and free again, and one who wants to be older and independent. At the end you will come together and embrace each other."

"Oh, that's really sweet," I said.

"Isn't it? Let's begin."

Maddie immediately had trouble keeping up, and not even because of low confidence, the dance was that hard. I would call it a Teen-level dance.

"This is hard," Maddie pouted after rehearsal.

"It's a challenge, but you can do it," I said. Since when was she whiny? I'd have to keep an eye on that. "We do have a studio at home."

"Right." Maddie brightened. "Can I see your solo?"

"Don't you have class?"

"Just Jazz."

"I can show you the solo tonight. Go to class."

Maddie went off, leaving me to ponder her attitude for a moment before launching into solo rehearsal. I added a few harder moves and had it down pretty well after not too long. I had choreographed it myself, after all.

Brooke's back worsened the next day, and she made the decision to not perform her solo and only perform with the group. I learned it and practiced it just in case Abby wanted to throw me in. Maddie continued to act off in duet rehearsals, moping around and not taking it seriously. I pulled her aside after the pre-competition rehearsal.

"Are you feeling alright? This isn't like you, you're usually very gritty."

"Don't try to pretend that you care."

"Of course I care, Maddie, I'm your cousin and I love you. I'm not going to pressure you to talk to me, though, just please talk to someone. For what it's worth, you're actually doing fine in the duet, you're just getting in your head about it."

I was also competing my Moulin Rogue solo for a title, as this was a national competition. Nia was also entered for a title and so I worked with her for the improvisation section of the competition, unaired on the second day.

It wasn't such an early morning because the competition was so close. I spent a few minutes greeting fans outside of the competition before getting ready for the duet, which was up first. In the dressing room, things started to go wrong. Chloé and Kendall had a very nice duet that they were very together on, and it made Maddie upset. She forgot a few counts when showing it to Abby.

"Maddie, what has been up with you?" Abby wondered. "You know this dance. Start again."

There were quite a few dances before us, so I tried to distract Maddie with chatter backstage. She made the mistake of watching Kendall and Chloé perform well before us and looked scared to death entering the stage. The first half of the dance was a bit rough but together, and I did my best to pretend that Maddie wasn't very messy and not performing beyond just the moves. A gasp came from the crowd during the turn section, and Maddie was frozen when I looked over to spot. I cursed internally but kept a sad expression on my face. Maddie was still frozen when I went to do partner work with her, and just ran off as I reached out to her. I wavered for just a moment then decided to just keep going, feeling quite stupid while doing it. Come on, Maddie. I never let my issues get in others' way.

The audience applauded me through the rest of the dance, a good minute, and I left the stage with my cheeks burning. Ursula was there, concern written all over her face.

"Are you okay? You look pissed."

"I don't want to talk about it. I have to get ready for my solo anyway."

Maddie wasn't in the dressing room when I did a quick change. Abby called me over once I was changed. "You're shaken up, anyone would be. Forget about it."

I nodded. "The show must go on. I'm ready to go onstage."

"Great, you acted like a professional out there. Keep it up," Abby encouraged. Her cheeks were tinged with red, and that didn't mean good things for Maddie.

I got my solo over with early, blocking out anything else and putting my all into it. The crowd seemed extra appreciative and the judges were smiling, so Maddie may have just given me a boost to my score. Ursula went on and did a great job on her Acro solo, clearly enjoying herself onstage. Nia wasn't quite as perfect as the week before, but still wonderful in her Lyrical piece. Kenzie was adorable and sharp in her solo.

"Joanne, great, but you rushed a bit. It was minor. Ursula, I enjoyed the performance, and I think you did too. Nia, quite good, but your réléve was low on your á la secondes, work on it. Mackenzie, good, you made all of your corrections. You four should win. Kendall and Chloé, solid, a few minor mistakes and things to work on. Maddie!"

My cousin stood up from her seat, looking terrified.

"I'm deeply disappointed in you, even if you forget, you don't leave your duet partner out to dry. You're on probation and out of the group. Joanne, can you do the group?"

"Yes," I replied confidently.

"I have an extra costume, Maddie's won't fit."

"Come on," Maddie groaned. "Why is she stepping in? She's not even good."

"You'd do well to be half as good as she is," Abby replied harshly. "Keep it up and that's the season done for you."

"Why am I getting punished? I didn't know it, I didn't feel comfortable onstage."

I couldn't help myself. "It wasn't very comfortable to be alone onstage in a duet. Look, now is really not the time for this, the group is on in twenty minutes and I need to get changed and run it."

"I don't really care what you need," Maddie snapped. I rolled my eyes.

"I'm not asking you to. I'm going to get changed."

I went to get the costume from Abby, but Maddie got there first and tossed it aside. I was the only one not staring at her in shock, the producers and camera workers included. "Maddie, you're acting like a brat. Don't take your anger out on me, I haven't earned it."

"Sure you have! You invaded our house and beat me out in dance! On purpose!"

"I take up one room, and we aren't in the same category."

"You're just a stuck-up brat. I wish you weren't living with us."

I fought to keep the hurt down. "That's not up to you."

"Yeah, because if it were up to me, your parents would have killed you!"

I drew back, staring with wide eyes at my cousin. "Get out. Get the fuck out of here, Maddie."

"Don't curse at me!"

"MADDIE!" Aunt Melissa finally snapped, marching over to grab her eldest daughter. "That's it, you're done for the season. No phone, no dancing, nothing. Abby, I'm taking Maddie and leaving. She won't be in the studio for a while. This has gone too far."

"Mom!" Maddie protested, but Aunt Melissa just dragged her out of the room. I felt the tears come and Ursula rushed over to wrap her arms around me.

"You're okay, you're wanted," she whispered to me. I was on the edge, about to break, but swallowed it all. I straightened.

"I'm fine. I need to get changed."

Kelly caught my arm gently as I left with the group. "You're amazing, you know that? Don't let any of those nasty words get to you. I'm so glad that you're here with us."

"Me too." I smiled faintly, and left for the wings. I forced a smile on my face and attacked the group routine, pouring myself into dance. Awards came, and I only paid attention when the ALDC was mentioned.

"The first runner-up for Junior Petite soloist is Miss Mackenzie with 'U No U Love It!'"

"The first-place Junior soloist of the day is Miss Nia with 'Beloved!'"

"The first-place Teen soloist of the day is Miss Ursula with 'Pump it Up!'"

"The first place Senior soloist of the day, scoring a perfect 300 points, is Miss Joanne with 'Stepping Stones!''

I took the award, faking a smile. It wasn't a title yet.

"Fifth place in Junior Duo/Trio goes to Miss Joanne and Miss Maddie with 'Longing!'"

"Really?" I took the award, bemused. I'd been solo for a full minute of the dance.

"Your first place Junior Duo/Trio goes to Miss Chloé and Miss Kendall with 'Chasing Answers!'"

"Your first place Junior group is 'Alouetta' from the Abby Lee Dance Company!"

A fuming Melody arrived that night, and I cried myself to sleep in her arms that night. The next day, I competed for and won the Senior Miss title, Ursula won the Teen Miss title, Nia won the Junior Miss title, and Kenzie came third for Junior Petite Miss. I could barely celebrate, feeling betrayed and upset the whole time.