we arrive at the studio and we go into the dancers den and Maddie hands me my piece of paper because Abby gave us girls but JoJo homework to write nice and bad things about JoJo i felt really bad but i wasn't going to go against what Abby says

we get called into studio A for pyramid and we run in

|Pyramid|
"congratulations!" Abby says

we all cheer and clap

"so i hope that our little rival or whatever finally got the message that she's just not in the same league"

"no she is not in the same league" Jill agrees

"let's face it our kids do lyrical that's what they do best and we said we were gonna switch it up but we didn't because we were going out to win" Jill adds

"we start off the season doing things out of our comfort zone i'm hoping you're going to push the girls to do more the dances you did at the beginning of the season we know the girls do well with lyrical they're strong in lyrical" Holly says

"well i wouldn't say Nia does well in lyrical" Abby says

"well i think what Hollys saying is we can't go in just to win we have to go in" Jill defends Holly

"time out time out time out..first of all Jill you are in my studio we don't use the word can't i can do whatever i want we do go to
win" Abby says

"i agree why go, i agree with that" Jill says

"we're going to move on from the dancing because your mothers wanna flab their gums and i really don't care so let's move on..i asked each of you to do a homework assignment i wanted you to write about JoJo positive reasons why she should be a member of the Abby Lee Dance Competition and i asked you to write reasons she should not be on the Abby Lee Dance Company" Abby says

"Mackenzie would you like to share with us?"

Kenzie goes up to the front

"the first reason is sometimes she's very loud sometimes she's off in the group dances and sometimes she's a little too crazy." Kenzie says

"okay what are the good things?" Abby asks

"she's kind and she puts a lot of hard work into the dances" Kenzie says

"okay..Maddie." Abby says

Kenzie comes back to the line and Maddie goes to the front

"you have some timing issues sometimes a little too loud but she's very dedicated and hardworking." Maddie says

"Kayla." Abby says

Maddie comes back and i go forward

"sometimes you don't have a filter and sometimes you can't count the music but you have really good facials and a lot of energy for group dances." i say

"Nia." Abby calls

i stand back in line and Nia goes forward

"you take away opportunities from people who have been here longer..okay then the good things you're nice and a team player." Nia says

Kalani comes up next

"you lip sync when you're onstage." Kalani says

Kalani then lists the good things and Kendall goes up

"you respect us." Kendall says

"respect good word" Abby says

"you're still getting used to picking up in two days and obviously you're crazy in public." Kendall says
and she comes back in line

"so JoJo you wanted a permanent spot on the team since you got to Pittsburgh but you're lucky to even be a guest here at the ALDC however there's a lot that makes you an ALDC dancer you're a performer and you're sassy so i'm gonna give you this jacket" Abby says

i smile and clap for JoJo and she walks forward and takes her jacket

"this is scared and this is for the rest of this season this is not for all eternity okay?"
we clap for JoJo

"Abby i promise no trouble no lawsuits no craziness no nothing" Jess says

"alright so on with the show i think everybody was an equal part in the group so that's why everybody is on the same line for the  pyramid" Abby says as she reveals all of our headshots

"you looked incredible and it was executed perfectly i saw the intensity maybe i saw the intensity Maddie has every week." Abby says as she reveals Maddies headshot at the top

"Maddie had the overall highscore solo so Maddie is a step ahead understood?" Abby says

"this week we are travelling to Philadelphia Pennsylvania" Abby says

we all clap

"we're going to attending New York Talent experience they're doing something new they're critiquing the routines live onstage"

i furrow my eyebrows and i look to mom

"wait i don't get it" Kenzie says

"in the paperwork it said they give critiques to each performer so wether that means at the end of the dance at the end of the day i don't know." Abby says

"that's gonna scare me." Maddie says

i nod in agreement

"we're taking one group routine and four soloists..the group routine is a period piece it's a musical theatre piece" Abby says

i gasp

i love theatre

"the name of the piece is Decadent Darlings"

"oh that's cute i like that" Kira says

"so my first solo is going to Maddie you will be doing another solo" Abby says

we clap for Maddie

"yours will be contemporary called Mannequin"

"i love that" mom says

"my next solo is going to Kayla" Abby says

i beam and everyone claps

"your solo is jazz and it's entitled Telephone"

i smile and nod

and Maddie gives me a small high five

"my next solo is going to Kendall."

we clap for Kendall

"it's contemporary you're going to have props Jill she's going to have a big steamer trunk, Kendall maybe this piece will be the one the pulls you out of that second place run"

"my last solo will be going to Nia."

we clap for Nia

"the name of your solo is The Colour Purple..now you don't place with that solo there won't be any solos for a long time do you understand me?"

"yes" Nia nods

"okay" Abby says

"alright moms i'm gonna let you guys go alright everybody else spread apart"

|Group Rehearsals|
"you need to immolate the nineteen twenty's you need to convince the judges that you are taking them back in time okay let me see everybody do that" Abby says

we learn the group and it's so fun

normally well always i am  in the front and centre but Abby made sure i'm going to be in the judges eyesight because she says i excel in theatre

"girls brain in your heads this is very important" Abby calls out

|One Day To Competition|
|Solo Rehearsals|
this week my solo is so much fun it's telephone by Lady Gaga and it's a lot of acting

"so you walk two three four up and then into the turns" Abby calls out

"at the end it's slow your on the floor and your hand as the phone and your mounting the lyrics" Abby says

i do the end and then we go from the very top

Abby and Gia claps when i finish

"that's the best jazz solo i've seen you do if you do it exactly like that you'll blow them all away" Abby says

"thank you" i smile

|Competition Day|
we arrive at the competition and i'm a bit nervous because they are critiquing us onstage so my solo has to be perfect

we head into the dressing room and i start with my makeup

i add red lipstick

Kaylas solo costume with the headpiece at the side of the bun:

Abby runs over my dance

"now remember you guys are going to stand there and be critiqued so you can't be..control your breathing afterwards" Abby says

"do we have to speak?" Nia asks

"i don't know, i know nothing." Abby says

we head backstage for solos and i'm really nervous

Nia enters for her solo

and i'm really nervous for her because Nia needs to place

Nia starts her solo and i think she's nailing it

Nia finishes her routine and a girl comes onstage with a microphone

"what do you have to say about this performance Lydia ?" the announcer says

"Hi Nia how are you?" Lydia asks

"i'm good how about you?" Nia asks

"good, uh that was beautiful some really nice moments of focus you have those gorgeous eyes and when you light up that up it makes all the difference but it was fleeting for me a little bit like there at the end that look to the side was gorgeous and try to like kinda weave that in a little bit more but overall really nice work" Lydia  says

"thank you Adeia..pass that microphone to miss Rachelle Rack" the announcer says

"Nia really great work when you are telling a story it's coming through your eyes when you're walking you're going to get something or making a statement and i really see that when your coming forward you are right in my face and you are saying watch me listen to my story but really great beautiful" Rachelle says

Nia then exits the stage

"she choreographed our Gold Digga number" i whisper to Maddie

"oh my gosh."  Maddie says

Maddies solo is up next and one of the stage directors carries Maddie onstage and she's absolutely nailing this solo
like Maddie is just incredible

Maddie finishes her routine and i clap for her

the announcer comes back onstage and stand with Maddie

"Maddie how are you?" Lydia says

"i'm good." Maddie smiles

"good i love of course your facial expressions you really embodied the mannequin character watch when your supporting leg i really need you to pull up on that thigh watch those knees so really pele and when you're straight really stretch your chaines you knees are getting a little bit bent there" Lydia says

"try to relax your face on your turns a little bit um obviously it's not an easy thing but you have the ability to do that when you contract and hold on i wanna see how small you can get and then explode out of that" Jessica says

Maddie then gets sent offstage

and i give her a small smile

"it's okay" i say

"i know it's okay" Maddie sighs

mom and Jill puts Kendall's props out and Kendall enters the stage

and i really like her solo this week and her costume

Kendall finishes her solo and the judges critique her

"i think you have a great stage presence i would've loved for you to connect with us a little more i know you were dancing a lot more i love your turns and everything i would love to just like get a little bit more connection from your face with the judges" Joshua says

"first of all beautiful i loved the story you're waiting for this train to come but i want to see always more of you where you are at the beginning middle and the end" Rachelle

Kendall exits the stage and mom and Jill get her props

i shake my nerves and Maddie gives me a hug

"moving onto entry 302 Telephone"  the announcer says

i enter the stage and my music starts and i do my solo

i make sure my facials are flawless and all my moves are sharp and my turns are amazing

i get to the end of my routine and i do a leap and roll on the floor and i bring my hand up to my ear like a phone

and mouth the lyrics 'we're sorry the number you have reach is not in service at this time please check the number, or try your call again' after i bring my hand down and i smile

the crowd cheers and the announcer comes out and i stand up

"beautiful job..Lydia what do you have to say?" the announcer asks

"hi Kayla how are you." Lydia asks

"i'm good" i smile

"good so i loved your energy it really match your music and i think you are a phenomenal performer but just watch your fluency into the next step your so focused to doing it you aren't slowing yourself down" Lydia says

i nod

"you had eye contact with the judges which is great you really pulled us in from start to finish and you left us wanting more but
i think you doubt yourself when you don't need too so just show more confidence" Rachelle says

i nod

"thank you" the announcer says and i exit the stage

Maddie hugs me

we head back to the dressing room

and we get ready for the group routine

we head backstage and i have to nail this

"please welcome to the stage 333 Decadent Darlings" the announcer says

me and Maddie start the routine off and then everyone else enters and i make sure my fascists are off the charts and i absolutely nail this routine

we finish of the routine and i think we nailed it

the crowd cheers and the announcer comes onstage for the critiques

she stands beside Kenzie

"beautiful job let's hear from the lovely Rachelle Rack"

"aw ladies beautiful i think that you took this charleston and old time feel and brought a new life to it you all look fantastic it really showed off your personality and that was great thank you" Rachelle says

"hi ladies first of all great teamwork careful we're not rushing a tad and hitting all those accents with our faces um just technically you could you the floor a little more and yeah but i loved it i thought it was really clean" Lydia says

we then get directed offstage

|Awards|
"now it's time for our top five overall soloists of the day." the announcer says

i take Maddies hand

"here we go in fifth place number 120 Journey To The Past"

"fourth place thats 223 Chained"

"third place 270 Sensation Army"

"we're getting down to our top two places"

"second place had a score of 297 wow.. 302 miss Kayla from Abby Lee Dance Company"

i smile and i get up to get my award

"it is now time to announce our overall soloist off the day..please scream and shout for 300 The Mannequin Maddie from Abby Lee Dance Company"

Maddie comes up and gets her award

and i give her a side hug

we take a bow and we sit down

"alright moving into our last section folks our most exciting groups"

"fourth place a score of 296.5 Menacing Release"

"third place has a score of 296.7 scream and shout for 333 Decadent Darlings Abby Lee Dance Company"

i smile and Kenzie gets our award

we come back to the dressing room and mom already has our stuff

we get back into comfier clothes and we leave immediately..

what happened?