we arrive at the studio and we head into the dancers den and Ashlee and Brynn walk in

"hi Brynn" mom says

|Pyramid|
"hello! so we have Brynn here with us this week Brynn i brought you here to Pittsburgh because you're an Abby dancer you have the legs you have the feet i think you have it all but you don't have the wear with it all the education and i think you can learn that here. I'm gonna get on to the pyramid now exiting part that you all wait for" Abby says

"Nia, the golden rule if you get a solo you place but you didn't do that"

"next JoJo, you didn't stand out in the group routine and that's a good thing although you weren't memorising you did stay on the music you did keep time with everybody else and that's an improvement"

"thank you" JoJo says

"and next we have Mackenzie, Mackenzie your ability to comprehend the choreography is amazing for your age" Abby says

"next we have Kendall, Kendall happy birthday"

we clap

"thank you" Kendall smiles

"happy birthday!" mom says

"Kendall you did a solo i thought you were outstanding from where i was sitting it was great just one thing i think it would've been safer to stay the age that the twins aren't than staying the age that the twins are, you were eleven they were twelve it was good if it was eleven and under twelve and over now boom you're right there with them again." Abby says

"next we have Maddie, you were back in the group maybe that has something to do with the win."

"and next we have Kayla, i thought you were outstanding in the group you and Maddie compliment eachother when you dance together it's flawless"

i smile

"and on top of the pyramid Kalani"

we clap for Kalani

"congratulations Kalani you were not only the high score of the teen division but you were the highscore soloist that day"

"so this week we are travelling to Waine New Jersey we're going to Sheer Talent."

we clap

"and Cathy will be there.. my first solo is going to Maddie"

we clap for Maddie

"Maddie you are performing a solo entitled Vertigo you know Maddie i wanna mention at this point with the solo that you have a reputation to uphold cause the Chandelier video was a piece for art and i'm very proud to tell everybody that it's been nominated for four Grammys"

i smile and clap for Maddie

"so we're going to the Grammys!" Abby says all excited and Maddie walks over to high-five her

"so my next solo is going to our new guest Brynn"

we clap for Brynn

"the title is Diamond In The Rough that's what i think you are."

"the group routine the title is Dance In The Rain we use this term often here in pittsburgh with our gray skies we can't wait for the storm to pass we dance in the rain and that's what we're going to do this week." Abby says

"we have two days to rehearse we're going up against people that you know you know what we have to do.. one more think Mackenzie and Nia you are both national title winners at Sheer Talent i suggest you bring your crown and your banner"

i smile to Kenzie who is beaming

"are you not going to bring your crown and banner?" Abby asks Nia

my head shoots round and i look to Nia

"you don't want too? don't ask to go into another title again."

"Abby why would you say that to Nia?" Holly asks

"i just saw the look on her face and she was like" Abby says

"no Abby she can't do anything right she's just standing there if you ask her to bring it she'll bring it like enough of Nia and the criticism and this underlining tension and tolerance i'm just saying enough that's all" Holly says

"enough" Abby says

"yes enough" Holly nods

"get out i'm not wasting anymore time." Abby says to the moms

|Group Rehearsals|
"saturday you compete against somebody who thinsk they're my rival or something i don't know who Cathy has is radio city music hall i don't know who she has going to the Grammys so think about the dance go ahead start rehearsing" Abby says

we learn the routine and it's pretty

we go from the top and it feels like a whole musical number

|One Day To Competition|
i put my bag down in the dancers den and i staft stretching

"where do you guys think Nia is?" Kendall asks

"she said she was going to be late" Maddie says

"i feel like just every week something bad happens with Holly and Abby like it's just going on and on and on"

"yeah but also it would suck to have to come to dance every single day and your teacher being mad at you for something your mom did" Kalani says

"i feel like now the situation between Abby and Holly are starting to get a little bit like Christi and Chloe." Maddie says

"you know the way they kinda went back and forth with eachother if it continues to happen it will become something that big."

"yeah probably but like Abby just hated Chloe because of her family." i say

"i know but i feel like it could become that big" Maddie says

"i just feel like Holly and Nias situation is different from Christi and Chloe similar but different" i say

"i guess yeah" Maddie says

|Competition Day|
we arrive at the competition

and the crowd is cheering

and Cathy is there

"we are back!" Cathy says through a megaphone

"don't even acknowledge her." Abby says

and the crowd is chanting

"Abby! Abby! Abby!"

we walk through the crowd and i wave to everyone

we walk into the building and we go to the dressing room

we set up the dressing tables

and Maddie starts her makeup for her solo

i start mine for the group routine

"oh hey!" Bridget from CADC come in it's the same mom who played Chandelier at nationals

"just came to say good luck i'm gonna be a good sport if nobody else is"

"thank you we appreciate that" Abby says

"so good luck ladies." Bridget

"thank you." Abby says

the moms goes to leave then Cathy walks in

"oh exactly what are you doing in there?" Cathy asks

"why were you in there?"

"i just came to say good luck" Bridget says

"are you the welcome comity?" Cathy says

Cathy then leaves with Bridget

we head backstage for the solos

i give Maddie a hug before she enters

Maddie starts her solo

and she's incredible

Maddie finishes her dance and exits the stage

"well done" i say and i hug Maddie

i walk over to Brynn and i give her a quick hug before she enters

Brynn enters for her solo and she's a very good dancer

Brynn finishes her number and exits the stage

we head back to the dressing room and we start getting ready for the group number

group costume: (Maddies one)

"listen up we talked about the lightening the thunder that's chaos we're not waiting for the storm to pass we're not waiting they can scream they can yell they can do this they can do that but we know we're gonna dance in the rain so do this for me please i want it to be a happy day" Abby says

we nod

we head backstage

"our next entry is number 102 please welcome to the stage Dance In The Rain" the announcer says

we enter the stage and we get into our starting position

we start the routine and it's very flamboyant so i make sure my technique and turns are flawless

i do my last turn sequence and into the finishing pose and we all exit the stage

the Candy Apples enter and they start their routine

it feels unbalanced because there's three boys in

black and only two girls in white they don't really dance for half the routine also

they finish their number and exit the stage

|Awards|
for solos Maddie got first place

and Brynn got second place

so i think Abby will be happy with that

"going into the high score for pre teen groups" the announcer says

"second place goes to entry 103 War"

i squeeze Maddies hand

"and first place in the pre teen group category number 102 Dance In The Rain"

we cheer and we get up to get our award

i jump up and down and then we take a bow

we run into the dressing room cheering

"congratulations to the whole entire group congratulations Maddie, congratulations Brynn you did well on your solo i mean you didn't beat Maddie but you were second to her so that's great i don't think i'm gonna have you back next week  just because you leaving your home and you need to make arrangements and all that but i would love to work together in the future" Abby says

"i just have one question whys this here" Kenzie asks and holds up the megaphone

"you can use it." Abby says

me and Maddie run over to Kenzie and Maddie tries to turn it on but the siren goes off and Maddie jumps back and i scream and we start laughing

"ALDC" Kenzie yells into the megaphone

"ALDC!" we chant back

Maddie takes the megaphone

"W I N N E R" Maddie chants

"what does that spell" i say into the megaphone

"WINNERS" the girls cheer