Chapter 58

The next week, Pyramid rolled around on Tuesday. "We won!" Abby cheered, and we responded in kind. "No Ursula or Joanne and we won. Excellent work. I was happy with my soloists as well. This week we're going to In10sity Dance in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I expect big things from you all. Now, on the bottom of the pyramid are Ursula and Joanne. You weren't here, nothing to judge you on. Then, Paige, you were just in the group and it was fine, I want more than that. Nicaya and Chloé, you were third and second in the solos, step it up."

Maddie perked up, realizing that she was in the middle.

"Maddie, you looked great in the group. Kendall, you too. Mackenzie, first place solo, good work. Nia, you won the Pre-Teen division, you're on a winning streak. But back on top of the pyramid is Brooke!"

I hugged Brooke and everyone else cheered. "You won the Teen division, you looked like the old Brooke, not the mopey teenager. So, I'm going to push you even harder this week; you're going to be up against Joanne in the Senior division."

Brooke nodded. "Thank you."

"Paige and Maddie, you're in the Junior division. Nia, you'll be in the Teen division. I have a duet with Kendall and Ursula, you'll be Juniors by average age. The group dance is Contemporary, called 'Money Makes the World Go Round.'"

"Abby, I want Maddie to be in the Teen division," my aunt protested. "She can do it!"

"I'd worry about the Juniors," Abby returned. "Nia hasn't lost yet this season, and Maddie has. Shut your mouth, Melissa."

Holly seemed hurt, and Maddie looked at Nia apologetically. We had to get ready to learn the group dance, though. Brooke headed out to learn her solo with James as she wasn't in the group. She, Ursula and I would also be performing unaired with the Senior company.

Abby always did dark Contemporary well and she had Nicaya and I as the co-leads with some partner work. Everyone had a small special part and none of the mothers had any reason to complain.

Abby had me stay to teach me my solo. "You and Brooke are both getting Lyrical solos that highlight your strengths," Abby said to me. "You have to win this week, you understand?"

I nodded. "Yes, Miss Abby."

"This number is a stunning piece called 'The Last Day.' This is your last season, and though it's far from over, I want to reflect that in your dancing. The piece is about someone who's leaving a great situation behind for an even better life. It's got everything that you're good at, and I know that you've been working on your flexibility too, so there's a bit of that."

This was a hard solo- I had to make it graceful while getting in a lot of movement and technique. I was a bit out of breath when I finished with rehearsal, something that Abby noticed. "I've never seen you this tired," she said.

I nodded. "Yeah, it's a hard dance. I really like it, though, thank you."

"Of course, Joanne. You're dismissed, please send Paige in."

Brooke was running through her solo when I dropped by Studio F, and she also had a difficult routine. It reminded me of Ursula's Anne Frank solo from Nationals last year, and had a few new tricks and good flow. "What's your story?" I asked her.

"It's a sad story about a girl who passed away and is looking in on her family grieving."

I raised an eyebrow. "That's grim. Mine is about moving on. I think it'll be a tight competition if we both perform our best."

"Me too," Brooke agreed. "This is probably the best solo I've had, good for Seniors. I'll really need to work on my expressiveness."

"I need to make sure it flows because my dance is so full of technical moves," I said. "It's the hardest Lyrical I've ever had. It's good, we both need to be challenged sometimes."

The Senior group routine, choreographed by James, was a large Jazz piece with the Teen Company. It was about a night out in Las Vegas and required a lot of work to get the large group sections in sync. Since I was small and Ursula and Brooke were bendy, we were the ones being lifted most of the time. It was great practice for pas de deux lifts.

Speaking of the pas de deux, we were working very hard on getting our pieces down for our upcoming YAGP semi-final. The pressure was on now that we'd been third at last year's final. Braxton seemed quite stressed out, and was glad to be homeschooled last year- and near Melody. She unobtrusively watched our rehearsals with Misty before school, and Nyssa didn't mind. Braxton was a future professional and didn't let anything other than an actual emergency distract him.

Abby was highly focused that week, and gave me a lot more rehearsal time than usual for my solo. She even yelled a bit, over small details, which I didn't mind. I could be a perfectionist too. "It's getting there," she said when Ursula and Kendall came in for their duet rehearsal. "I want to see it full out tomorrow. Keep working on it."

I nodded. "Thank you, Miss Abby."

Bryan, one of the producers, approached me on my dinner break. "Joanne, we're going to need more drama from you this season, especially since it's your last. It was great last year."

I blinked at him. "I almost had a mental breakdown last year."

"That's just you being dramatic. This show is about the drama."

"Maybe, but I'm just here to dance. I'll respond if someone attacks me, but I won't start anything."

"Drama is what we pay you for!"

"You pay me to avoid child labor laws. I've given you my answer."

"You need to work on your attitude, young lady." Bryan glared at me, and I stared back evenly.

"Again, I'm just here to dance."

Bryan left, defeated, and Paige clapped from where she'd been watching from the doorway. "I don't understand the producers."

"Neither do I. How's your solo coming along?"

"Well! It's a Jazz solo like Maddie, and it has some tumbling in it. I really like it. Brooke says that your solo is super hard."

"Yeah, both of ours are. I'm loving the solo so far, though it's tiring."

Competition day brought a good feeling amongst the team; everyone was happy with their dances. There was some drama as real money was going to be placed on the costumes, which seemed like a huge waste to me. The groups were actually up first, so it was a relief to get them out of the way.

"This is entry number twenty, 'Money Makes The World Go Round!'"

We pranced onstage, Nicaya and I leading, and began to dance. Nothing went awry and everyone looked good to me, so we left the stage pleased. The older three of us rushed off to change for the Senior group right after the encore performance. I was also happy with how the Senior group dance went.

Again, I led off the solos for our team. My costume was beautiful, a yellow leotard with a short skirt, my hair halfway down. I wore demi-pointe shoes and willed myself to perform the best I could, pulling off a smooth and emotional performance both times. I did actually have to sit down after the encore performance.

"Are you okay?" Paige asked, worried.

"I'm just tired," I replied. "I'll be alright, I'm done dancing anyway for the day."

Brooke went out and performed admirably. I got the sense that she was holding back, though. Nia did a great job, and Paige and Maddie both looked great onstage.

I sat in the audience for Kendall and Ursula's duet. "Great work on the solo," Abby said to me. "It was strong, beautiful, what I wanted it to be."

"Thank you," I said. Then the duet came on, and Kendall looked like she was rushing to keep up with Ursula. It was too hard for her. Abby just shook her head.

About an hour later, awards rolled around, solos first.

"Your first runner-up by two-tenths of a point goes to entry number two hundred and fifteen, Paige from the Abby Lee Dance Company with 'Flashing Lights.' Your champion Elite Junior soloist today is entry number two hundred and fourteen, Maddie from the ALDC with 'I Shoulda Known!'"

"Yay Maddie!" I cheered for my cousin, whose smile split her face. She gave Paige a congratulatory hug as well.

"Your champion Elite Teen soloist is entry number two hundred and seventeen, Nia from the ALDC with 'Missing You!'" Nia smiled and took her awards proudly, as she deserved.

"Second runner-up for Elite Senior solos goes to entry number two hundred and ten, Brooke from the ALDC with 'Beyond the End.'"

Brooke had clearly hoped for at least second, wincing slightly as she stood to get the award.

"Your champion Elite Senior soloist, scoring a competition-high 296.8 points, is entry number two hundred and eight, Joanne from the ALDC with 'The Last Day!'"

I stood, relieved. Abby gave me the high clap.

"The top-scoring Elite Junior Duo/Trio today, by one-tenth of a point, is entry number four hundred, Ursula and Kendall from the ALDC with 'Riding Low!'"

They'd pulled off the win, much to their surprise.

"The top-scoring Elite Junior group of the day is entry number twenty, the ALDC with 'Money Makes the World Go Round!'"

"The top-scoring Elite Senior Large Group is entry number fifty, the ALDC with 'Disco!'"

Abby was pleased enough in the dressing room. "A clean sweep, that's what I like to see. There were a few losers, though. Brooke, you did well, but you were holding back. Why is that? I give you a great solo, competitive with Joanne, and you're scared?"

"I'm sorry," Brooke said. "I let my nerves get the best of me. I loved the dance and I'm sorry that I didn't do better with it."

"At least you're not making excuses. Paige, I enjoyed your performance, but it wasn't quite good enough. You need to start winning again. Kendall, I'm surprised that the duet won, you were sloppy and rushed. They must have been watching Ursula."

"Come on, Abby, she did her best," Jill protested. "The duet won."

"She did not do her best, she did better in rehearsal," Abby snapped.

"I let you down, it won't happen again," Kendall piped up, holding back tears.

"You're facing up to it too. Okay, overall it was a good day, let's go," Abby said. At least there hadn't been a huge fight, but one was coming, I could feel it.