Chapter 66

Abby was no happier at Pyramid the next week, and I was glad that I hadn't been in the group. I'd woken up with a migraine that day and struggled through ballet rehearsal, but it was probably too much to hope that this week would be peaceful.

Indeed, Abby was fuming, eyeing everyone harshly. "Third place last week. Unacceptable. This week, we're going to Energy Dance, the regional, in Youngstown, Ohio. The Candy Apples will not be there, so you must win. It's solo week, and Joanne with be choreographing five of them. Onto the pyramid. On the bottom, Mackenzie, I'm glad that you're able to dance this week but I can't have you higher if you didn't dance last week. Paige, you were in the group, it was third. Brooke and Chloé, same thing. Asia, your solo was amazing, but the duet was a mess. You looked like an amateur onstage, and you are far from an amateur. In the middle, I have my trio. You all looked beautiful onstage. Ursula, you did get second place with your solo, but you had a high score and performed well. I can't fault you for losing, maybe Joanne's just unbeatable. Kendall, you're this high on the pyramid not because you finished second but because your behavior onstage was much improved. That's good, keep it up. Joanne, you were the high score of the day, and you looked great in the duet."

Maddie grinned beside me.

"On top of the pyramid is Maddie. Maddie, you won the Junior division, and you were a standout as the group lead. I need you to win this week, yes?"

Maddie nodded seriously.

"Okay. Joanne, who will you be giving solos to?" Abby already knew, of course, but liked creating drama at pyramid.

"I'm doing all four Junior solos, as well as Mackenzie," I said.

"That leads me to categories. Joanne, Brooke and Ursula are in the Senior category. Paige and Nia, you'll be up against each other in the Teen division. Chloé, Maddie, Kendall and Nicaya are my Juniors, and Mackenzie and Asia will be up against each other in the Mini division."

My aunt frowned. "I thought that Kenz was moving up divisions."

"She is, but not the week she returns from an injury. I also have an announcement- this week, we will be appearing on the talk show 'The View.' Joanne will be performing a solo, I will be co-hosting, and the group dance is 'The Last Text.' Mackenzie and Asia will be competing for a spot in the dance."

Maddie raised her hand. "Will I be in the dance?"

"Let me think about that, Maddie. Do you know the dance?"

"Yes," Maddie said clearly.

"I'll let you know by rehearsal time. This is a busy week, so I'm going to get this dance-off out of the way. Mackenzie, Asia, get warmed up."

Abby had both improvise to a sassy song, then had all the dancers and mothers vote (excepting Aunt Melissa and Kristie because they'd just vote for their own kids). While Asia was great facially and hit her arms sharply, she was just so sloppy and did get very repetitive. Kenzie wasn't incredible, normal after a few weeks off, but had good technique and variety of moves. She won the dance-off by a large margin, and Asia took it well. Then the others went off to class while Abby taught me my solo.

"This is a great solo," she told me. "You need to make it special, though. It's Lyrical, entitled 'Dreamer.' You're playing yourself, as a child, dreaming of the stardom that you're starting to achieve."

Actually, I'd just been dreaming of getting away from my abusive parents, but I didn't say that. I could play a character. It was a stunning routine, highlighting my extension and control, and contained some difficult leaps that I didn't usually perform. I learned it, got a few corrections, then got ready to teach five solos in as many hours. I'd done an extra rehearsal that morning to stay on top of my own dance education.

"Alright, Kendall," I said to my first charge. "I'm giving everyone an updated version of old solos this week, so you'll be performing to the same song that you had for your first ALDC solo. This will show how much you've improved, hopefully. It has the same title too."

Kendall seemed more comfortable with something that she was somewhat familiar with, and picked up the choreography quickly. She was a hard worker but could be quite hit-and-miss when it came to bringing energy to a solo or duet/trio, which was something she needed to work on.

"You're fine," I said to her. "It's just a bit boring. Work on that. Your technique is a lot better, though, keep it up."

Chloé was next, and I was giving her an updated version of her 'Baby Mine' solo from Season 1. She was just so good at Musical Theater, and this time she had a lot more ballet moves. She loved the dance from the start and yet the biggest improvement was her confidence, despite the jump in technique that she'd had.

"I love it already," I said encouragingly. "You can start working on the details now. The extensions, the control. Good work."

Kenzie skipped in, on a high from getting chosen for the group dance. "What's my solo?"

"So demanding," I laughed. "This is a new version of the 'Honeybee' solo that everyone here does. It's fun but has a good amount of technique and difficulty in it."

Kenzie used her energy in the solo, pulling off the tricks and advanced turn sections well in just the first rehearsal. "It's good already, keep practicing," I encouraged her.

Maddie came in with the news that she'd be performing in 'The View' group dance. "I need to win this week," she told me. I nodded at her.

"Well, hopefully I can give you the solo to do so. This music is from your 'Cry' solo."

Maddie made a face. "I forgot that solo."

"You won't forget this one. Start on the floor..." Maddie had a solid rehearsal, followed up by Nicaya, who was doing a harder version of the first solo that she'd performed for the ALDC.

The next few days were a flurry of rehearsals for The View, as I was performing my YAGP Contemporary solo as well as the group, and of the solos. Before I knew it, we were up early and on the show, beginning with my solo. I actually had to wear my group costume for the dance, which definitely looked weird, so I made sure that I performed well with my face so that would draw the focus. I was received with applause, as was the group dance. I didn't bother to pay attention to Abby's interview until she mentioned me.

"So, earlier on in the season, Joanne Ziegler and Ursula Green said that they would be leaving the show to go on to professional endeavors," Joy Behar said. "That's a big blow to the team, how do you feel about that?"

Abby paused before speaking. "I won't lie and say that I'm thrilled about it. It's best for them but not for the team."

Ursula and I looked at each other, eyebrows raised. Unimpressed.

"Isn't that the point of the show, though? The kids and their development?" Barbara Walters asked. "The team can recover, even if it's a different look."

I was a little cooler towards Abby on the ride to the competition, but was usually businesslike before competition anyway. My solo was up first for the studio, and I had a beautiful yellow costume on with my hair in a braided bun. Abby called the three oldest together in the dressing room.

"Joanne, the pressure's always on. You need to keep your winning streak. Brooke, you're the underdog here, you need to do better than you've ever done to even stand a chance at second. Ursula, you're the challenger. No one disappoint me, I want top three."

"What a rousing speech," Brooke grumbled as we headed to the stage.

"Please welcome entry number sixteen, Joanne with 'Dreamer!'"

I let the music flow over me, telling the story while nailing the soft movement and technique of the dance. I left the stage feeling pleased. Brooke followed my solo up with a creepy Acro dance about a possessed girl, doing a great job. Ursula also had Contemporary, expressing well and hitting all of her lines and extensions.

"I think that we all did well," I said afterwards. "Top three for sure."

Asia went on, lighting up the stage with her energy. Kenzie then proceeded to outshine her, doing a wonderful job with her Jazz number that I was very proud of. All the Juniors did well and seemed to be pretty evenly matched. I was blown away the most with Chloé, she was simply so charming and clean.

As for the two in the Teens, they were neck-and-neck with pretty Lyrical. Both danced confidently and won over the judges.

Awards would certainly prove to be interesting. In the Mini solos, Kenzie won and Asia was second, no surprises there for me. I was very proud of my cousin.

"Fourth place Junior soloist, 281 points, that's Kendall from Abby Lee."

Kendall, looking a bit disappointed, took the plaque.

"Third place Junior soloist, 283.4 points, Nicaya from Abby Lee."

Nicaya was pleased enough with that.

"Second place Junior soloist, 286.7 points, Maddie from Abby Lee."

Maddie put a professional smile on her face, definitely disappointed.

"Your champion Junior soloist today, scoring 290.5 points, Chloé from Abby Lee!"

Chloé jumped up, excited, and congratulated her teammates while beaming with pride. It was a massive, well-earned win for her.

"Second place Teen soloist, 288.4 points, Paige from Abby Lee. Your champion Teen soloist today, with 292.5 points, is Nia from Abby Lee."

Paige and Nia hugged each other, proud of themselves. Senior awards came around, and Abby looked quite tense.

"Third place in Senior solos, with 293.2 points, is Brooke from Abby Lee."

"That's good," Brooke said while getting her award.

"Second place in Senior solos, scoring 296.8 points, is Ursula from Abby Lee."

Did Abby look disappointed in the audience?

"First place in Senior solos, the overall high score of the day with 298.3 points, is Joanne from Abby Lee."

I smiled and took the trophy. Yes, Abby was upset.

The dressing room was a sad scene, for some reason- Abby was screaming at Kelly and Aunt Melissa. We walked in and looked confused.

"Oh, good job, girls," Abby said mockingly. Kenzie frowned.

"But we got a clean sweep?"

"Yes, that's good, but the scoring was off. To my eye, Maddie beat Chloé and Ursula beat Joanne."

"Really?" Holly spoke up. "I'm sorry, but Joanne is just on another level to anyone else, and Chloé had something just a bit extra special."

"I disagree." Abby shook her head. "The judges don't make sense sometimes."

I wasn't even hurt; I'd seen this one coming. "Was there anything that you saw I need to improve on?"

"Your face, it didn't bring up memories of happy times dreaming of fame. From your memories."

"Frankly, I wasn't dreaming of fame as a kid, I was hoping not to be beaten. The bar was a bit lower than you think it was."

"Oh, it couldn't have been that bad."

"I'm deaf. With all due respect, Miss Abby, it was that bad. I love that dance but I can't make up memories that don't exist."

Abby frowned at me. "Whatever you say, Joanne."

Uh-oh. I was very glad that this was my last season. Then the argument about Chloé started, and it got even uglier. I'd been hoping for a quiet week, too.