"Aaaand, jump!" Abby instructs us as some photos are taken, "Juniors, you're up next. Is everyone ready?"

"All ready!" Kenzie answers.

Here we are, almost a month after the chaos at Nationals, we had the annual ALDC Showcase. For the first time in 5 years, the showcase will not be filmed for the show, which means one less dance.

"Klara and Summer, I want you in your acro duet's costumes, same as Emma and Rylee, and Melanie and Liam," Abby looks over to me, "Tell Liam."

I nod and walk out of Studio B. I go into Studio C, where some of the juniors, seniors, and teens were playing some board games.

"Liam." I call him, "We need to get ready, Romeo and Juliet duet costume."

"You don't seem so excited." Maddie teases and I roll my eyes.

"Just stop." I tell her, "GINO."

Some of the dancers start laughing.

"LIAM." Maddie tells me.

"GINO."

"LIAM."

"GINO."

"LIAM."

"GINO."

"LI--"

"Hey, you're gonna waste my name." Liam says and we both look over to him surprised.

"You still didn't leave?" I ask, "Why are you so slow, Liam Brandon Bryant!"

"You didn't tell me where." Liam tells me.

Great.

I walk over to him and put my finger on front of his face.

"You didn't hear anything." I say, "We'll still wait."

"Wait for what?" Payton asks and we look at her, she was sitting on the floor playing some Monopoly City along with Nick, Auriel, and Kassidy, "Aaah, young love."

"Shut up!" Liam and I say at the same time.

"The duets!" We all hear Sarah say.

I go change into my duet costume and they quickly work with my makeup.

The two of us go back to Studio B.

"Great," Gianna says, "Go in." 

We hold hands and go in front of the camera.

"I'm picturing, I'm picturing." Abby says looking at us, "I got it! Liam, pick Melanie up."

We look at her confused.

"Sofia," Abby looks at one of the assistants. "Please help them."

And so, Sofia helps us get into our position.

"Melanie, rest your head on Liam's shoulder." Abby instructs me and I do it, "Also close your eyes and smile."

We get ready and they take some photos.

"Now, Melanie, go change into your 'Heather' solo costume and come back immediately, don't take so long like last time." Abby tells me and I leave.

I change into the costume and they work with the makeup again.

For that one, I had to do three different poses.

After that one, I had a 30-minute break, so I went back into Studio C, and sat down beside Kendall, who was playing Sorry with Emma, Klarissa, and Kennedy.

"I win!" Klarissa exclaims as she moves her yellow pawn 1 step forward, into the home slot.

"Again?" Emma asks and looks at me, "Larissa has won at least 5 times already."

"I give up." Kennedy says as I chuckle, "Wanna replace me?"

"Sure." I say and sit down where she was.

"Peter, Kennedy, Klara, Amira, Maddie, and Ryleigh, get into the costumes Miss Abby told you and go to Studio B." Nia tells everyone.

The dancers Nia called stand up and leave. And the rest keep on playing board games. 

•Two Days Until The Showcase•

Another busy day, two days until the showcase and I'm freaking out.

"You can't lose energy at the end!" Gianna instructs us as we do the ending pose to our hip-hop group, "You need to be energetic from start to end."

I didn't have any problem with the dance, but some of the other kids had trouble keeping up.

"Let's go over it again." Gianna says as I catch my breath, "After this, go to Studio D where James will  go over the tap group."

After both the hip-hop and tap group dance rehearsals, we finally got a break. All of us new juniors were laying on Studio C's floor, that was empty.

"What is the point of this?" Rylee asks as we all stare at the ceiling, "I feel dead, my body feels dead."

"My body hurts." Emma adds.

"I have an idea." Peter says standing up, "What if we go to the arcade?"

"Arcade?" Amira asks, "I'm in!"

"Sounds fun." Liam says, "But who's gonna take us?"

"If you guys figure out who's taking us, I'll pay for everything there." I say.

"Yes, waste money!" Klara exclaims.

"Not like that, Lara." I tell her and everyone, including me, chuckles.

We decided that we were going to ask all of our parents to take us.

The ones going were Amira, Klara, Emma, Rylee, Peter, Liam, Summer, Tim, and I.

We got there at 6:30 pm and we all met up inside.

"The fact that Donkey Kong is still available nowadays is amazing." Liam says.

"I know, right?" Tim agrees.

"Who wants pizza?" I ask and everyone raises their hands, "Pizza it is. I'll go order."

"I'll go with you." Liam tells me.

"Wonder why." Klara says and Emma nudges her arm.

We both walk away and get in the line to order.

"So," Liam attempted to make conversation, "We haven't really talked lately."

"We talked yesterday." I tell him.

"Right, well, are you hungry?" Liam asks.

"We are on the line to order food." I answer.

"Are you excited for the showcase?" He asks.pp

"Maybe." I answer.

Mel, stop being so hard on the poor boy, he's trying.

"I haven't really seen your little sister lately," I say, "How is she?"

"She actually quit dance." Liam answers and I look at him shocked.

"When?" I ask.

"About 2 months ago now." Liam tells me, "She started playing soccer."

"It actually sounds fun." I tell him, "You know, Kenzie once quit dance for soccer, but she came back."

"And what about you, have you thought about quitting dance for something else?" Liam asks.

"Not really, I love dance." I answer, "Maybe not as much as before, but I like it."

"And Abby as your dance teacher?" Liam asks again.

"Nah." I say and he chuckles, "She's just so, so, her."

"We'll sum up her personality in one word, 'her'." Liam says and we laugh.

"Next!"

We walk up to the counter.

"Your order?"

"2 large pepperoni pizzas." I tell him, "With a soda bottle."

"Name?"

"Melanie Br-- Ziegler."

"Only first name."

"Melanie."

"In about 30 minutes, go around and kill some time."

"Thank you." Liam and I say and we walk away.

"What was that about?" Liam asks.

"I just got confused." I answer, "Wanna play some Pac-Man?" 

The rest of the night was amazing, we played together, we played with the rest, we ate pizza, and we even tried to play those dance arcade games. Needless to say, those never work. Especially for a bunch of 8-9 year old dancers.

•One Day Until The Showcase•

Today was dress and tech rehearsal day, also known as the calm before the storm.

"Get moving!"

Or that was probably last week.

I was on my pajamas eating breakfast on the dressing room. Mom literally forgot that I existed and left with Mads and Kenz, she found out that I wasn't on the car on the way and she had to come back for me.

"Nice pajamas." Klarissa sits beside me, "Was it pajama day and I didn't know?"

"I wish." I tell her, "I gotta go change, but Mom said 'Eat your cereal'," I mimic Mom's voice, "But I'm not hungry, do you want it?" 

"Fruit loops?" Larissa asks and I nod, "Yup."

I give her the bowl and go change, even though I had to change about a thousand times more throughout the day.

•Day Of The Showcase•

"Don't get distracted, do everything on time." Mom tells us as she parks the car, "Don't be loud--"

"Mom, we've been to like more than 10 showcases, we know how this works." Maddie interrupts.

"I know." Mom answers, "Just saying."

"And I'm just answering you." Maddie says as she gets off the car.

"Good luck." Kenzie tells me, "And see you in a couple hours."

We both get off and follow Maddie into the building.

~~~
Chaos, that's the word.

I had been at least to 14 group dances, 5 trios, but still no solos, and I had three duets, one with Kenzie, one with Liam, and one with Maddie. The one with Kenzie was 'Psycho', the one with Liam was 'Romeo and Juliet', and the one with Maddie was 'My Big Sister'. Yup, the one of the drama, the one that I originally did with Kalani, but since Kalani isn't an official ALDC member, with that I mean that she doesn't train at the studio, I'm going to do it with Maddie, my actual big sister. Now that I remember, I have another one with Maddie, the 'We Remain' one of two Nationals ago.

I change into my duet costume with Kenzie and quickly work with my makeup.

"I love this duet!" Kenzie exclaims when we meet backstage.

"Moving on, the next number is a contemporary-jazz duet, 'Psycho'." Abby says and we both go onstage.

You chain me up, still speculating
Never enough
But soon you'll see I'm unrestrainable
I'm uncontainable
Any moment I'll have you begging
Don't turn your back
Oh, can't you see that I'm untamable?
I'm unmistakeable?

I'm hearin' it all, I hear it in my head
Whisperin', they're whisperin' again
Hearin' it all, they see me as a threat
Pushin' me, keep pushin' to the edge

You keep calling me a psycho
Got it in my head
Careful what you say
Think you might be right though
You made me a psycho
A psycho

You keep calling me a psycho
Thought that I was scared
But I came prepared
Think you might be right though
You made me a psycho
A psycho

You made me a psycho
A psycho
(I'm a psycho)
You made me a psycho
A psycho
(I'm a psycho)

You won't stop me, don't bother trying
Never enough
'Cause soon you'll see I'm unrestrainable
I'm uncontainable
I'll always search for light in darkness
You'll never think I'm weak
'Cause I'm untamable
I'm unmistakeable

I'm hearin' it all, I hear it in my head
Whisperin', they're whisperin' again
Hearin' it all, they see me as a threat
Pushin' me, keep pushin' to the edge

You keep calling me a psycho
Got it in my head
Careful what you say
Think you might be right though
You made me a psycho
A psycho

You keep calling me a psycho
Thought that I was scared
But I came prepared
Think you might be right though
You made me a psycho
A psycho

You made me a psycho
A psycho
(I'm a psycho)
You made me a psycho
A psycho
(I'm a psycho)

I'm hearin' it all, I hear it in my head
Whisperin', they're whisperin' again
Hearin' it all, they see me as a threat
Pushin' me, keep pushin' to the edge

You keep calling me a psycho
Got it in my head
Careful what you say
Think you might be right though
You made me a psycho
A psycho

You keep calling me a psycho
Thought that I was scared
But I came prepared
Think you might be right though
You made me a psycho
A psycho

Everyone cheers as we go off stage and we hug. I run off to get ready for my duet with Liam. I change into my costume, do my nakeup, and meet up with him backstage.

"Ready?" He asks, smiling.

"Of course." I answer and we hold hands.

"Next up is a lyrical duet, 'Romeo and Juliet'."

We were both young when I first saw you
I close my eyes and the flashback starts
I'm standin' there
On a balcony in summer air
See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns
See you make your way through the crowd
And say, "Hello"
Little did I know

That you were Romeo, you were throwin' pebbles
And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet"
And I was cryin' on the staircase
Beggin' you, "Please don't go, " and I said

Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone
I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes"

So I sneak out to the garden to see you
We keep quiet, 'cause we're dead if they knew
So close your eyes
Escape this town for a little while, oh oh

'Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter
And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet"
But you were everything to me
I was beggin' you, "Please don't go, " and I said

Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone
I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes"
Romeo, save me, they're tryna tell me how to feel
This love is difficult, but it's real
Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess
It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes"
Oh, oh

I got tired of waiting
Wonderin' if you were ever comin' around
My faith in you was fading
When I met you on the outskirts of town, and I said

Romeo, save me, I've been feeling so alone
I keep waiting for you, but you never come
Is this in my head? I don't know what to think
He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring
And said, "Marry me, Juliet
You'll never have to be alone
I love you and that's all I really know
I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress
It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes"
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
'Cause we were both young when I first saw you

Next up, My Big Sister.

I change into the costume and Maddie does my hair after she finishes hers.

"This is what you wanted." I tell Maddie as we walk down the hall, "Make the best out of it."

"I'll obviously do it." Maddie smiles and we run backstage.

"Lyrical duet, 'My Big Sister'."

We both go onstage and dance.

Last one, We Remain.

"Lyrical duet, 'We Remain'."

All the ways that you think you know me
All the limits that you figured out, limits that you figured out
Had to learn to keep it all below me
Just to keep from being thrown around, just to keep from being thrown around

Yeah every single time the wind blows
Every single time the wind blows
I see it in your face (Mmm)

In a cold night
There will be no fair fight
There will be no good night
To turn and walk away

To burn me with fire,
Drown me with rain
I'm gonna wake up
Screaming your name

Yes I'm a sinner
Yes I'm a saint
Whatever happens here
Whatever happens here
We remain

Now we talk about a wasted future
But we take a good look around
Yeah we take a good look around

Yeah we know it, it hasn't been for nothing
'Cause we'll never let it slow us down
No we'll never let it slow us down
(Oh yeah)

Yeah every single time the wind blows
Every single time the wind blows
I see it in your face (Mmm)

In a cold night
There will be no fair fight
There will be no good night
To turn and walk away

So burn me with fire,
Drown me with rain
I'm gonna wake up
Screaming your name

Yes I'm a sinner
Yes I'm a saint
Whatever happens here
Whatever happens here
We remain

Said we remain, we remain

Burn me with fire
Drown me with rain
I'm gonna wake up
Screaming your name

Yes I'm a sinner
Yes I'm a saint
Whatever happens here
Whatever happens here
We remain

I didn't have time to celebrate, still had solos to work on. I was going to perform four, 'Heather', 'WOW', 'Stay Away', and 'Not a Happily Ever After'.

I change into the 'Heather' costume, do my hair and makeup.

"One of the best solos ever." Nia says as soon as she notices the costume, "Good luck."

"Thanks." I smile.

"Junior lyrical solo, 'Heather'." 

I still remember
Third of December
Me in your sweater
You said it looked better

On me, than it did you
Only if you knew
How much I liked you
But I watch your eyes, as she

Walks by
What a sight for
Sore eyes
Brighter than a
Blue sky
She's got you
Mesmerized
While I die

Why would you ever kiss me?
I'm not even half, as pretty
You gave her your sweater
It's just polyester, but you like her better
Wish I were Heather

Watch as she stands with
Her holding your hand
Put your arm 'round her shoulder
Now I'm getting colder

But how could I hate her?
She's such an angel
But then again, kinda
Wish she were dead, as she

Walks by
What a sight for
Sore eyes
Brighter than a
Blue sky
She's got you
Mesmerized
While I die

Why would you ever kiss me?
I'm not even half, as pretty
You gave her your sweater
It's just polyester, but you like her better
I wish I were Heather

Wish I were Heather
Wish I were Heather

Why would you ever kiss me?
I'm not even half as pretty
You gave her your sweater
It's just polyester, but you like her better
Wish I were

I go change into the next one.

"I'm starting to get tired." I tell Rylee as we wait to go in.

"Me too." Rylee agrees, "But the show must go on."

"Ballet junior solo, 'Stay Away'."

It's so hard to be close when I feel this way
Lookin' up at the skies through a wall of gray
When you promised the stars, but all I see is rain
You're messin' up my head with every careless word
Then you come around knowing how to find a cure
But my heart can't take another Civil War

I can't take this, but I'll take that kiss
'Cause all I know is

You're so good, it's all good
Then you do me wrong
I come back, you come back
It's the same old song
I wish we could
We, we, we could
I wish we could stay away
You're so wrong, it's all wrong
Then we make up
Try to stand, take a stand
You make it tough
I wish we could
We, we, we could
I wish we could stay away
I wish we could
We, we, we could
I wish we could stay away

It's so hard to love someone like this
Caught in a blizzard, now I'm searching for a bliss
When I'm away, it's only you that I miss
Wish I could bottle all my feelings, send 'em straight to you
I'd overnight 'em, 'cause
They're long overdue
But somehow I can't find the strength to
Woah

You're so good, it's all good
Then you do me wrong
I come back, you come back
It's the same old song
I wish we could
We, we, we could
I wish we could stay away
You're so wrong, it's all wrong
Then we make up
Try to stand, take a stand
You make it tough
I wish we could
We, we, we could
I wish we could stay away

You're a guitar and I'm a string
Wind me up, you make me sing, but
I'm outta tune and your rhythm's all wrong
It's so obvious this can never be our song

You're so good, it's all good
Then you do me wrong
I come back, you come back
It's the same old song
I wish we could
We, we, we could
I wish we could stay away
You're so wrong, it's all wrong
Then we make up
Try to stand, take a stand
But you make it tough
I wish we could
We, we, we could
I wish we could stay away
I wish we could
Maybe we could
I wish we could stay away

Ohhh
Yeah, yeah
Stay away

So tired.

But I need to continue. 

"Almost over." Maddie tells me as soon as she gets off stage from her ballet group 'White Swan'.

"Yes!" I exclaim and she laughs.

"Jazz solo, 'Not a Happily Ever After'."

I'm mad at Disney, Disney
They tricked me, tricked me
Had me wishing on a shooting star
But now I'm twenty something
I still know nothing
About who I am or what I'm not

So call me a pessimist
But I don't believe in it
Finding a true love's kiss is b*******

'Cause I felt sad love
I felt bad love
Sometimes happy love (Happy love)
Turns into giving up (Giving up)
I felt hurt love
By the word love
What the h*** is love supposed to feel like?
What the h*** is love? What the h*** is love?
What the h*** is love supposed to feel like?

My fairy grandma warned me
Cinderella's story
Only ended in a bad divorce
The prince ain't sleeping when he
Takes his sleeping beauty
To the motel on his snow-white horse

So call me a pessimist
But I don't believe in it
Finding a true love's kiss is b*******

'Cause I felt sad love
I felt bad love
Sometimes happy love (Happy love)
Turns into giving up (Giving up)
I felt hurt love
By the word love
What the h*** is love supposed to feel like?
What the h*** is love? What the h*** is love?
What the h*** is love supposed to feel like?
What the h*** is love? What the h*** is love?
What the h*** is love supposed to feel like?

I'm mad at Disney, Disney
They tricked me, tricked me
No more wishing on a shooting star

"Last solo of the day," Abby says, "Junior hip-hop solo, also a national title winner, 'WOW'."

I go onstage and start.

Baby, I'm not even in a gown
I'm just in a T-shirt on the couch
The way you want me makes me want you now
The only thing you have to say is (Wow)

And I feel this way with no chemicals in my system
Babe, it's incredible
When you're touching me, yeah, that says it all
You said it all (Yeah)

Baby, I'm not even in a gown
I'm just in a T-shirt on the couch
The way you want me makes me want you now
The only thing you have to say is (Wow)

Make your jaw drop-drop
Saying, my, drop-drop-drop
Make you say "Oh my god"
My, drop-drop
Make your jaw drop
Make you say "Oh my god"
And you never felt this type of emotion (Oh)
Make your jaw drop-drop
Saying, my, drop-drop-drop
Make you say "Oh my god"
My, drop-drop
Make your jaw drop
Make you say "Oh my god"
And you never felt this type of emotion
Make your jaw drop-drop
Saying, my, drop-drop-drop
Make you say "Oh my god"
My, drop-drop
Make your jaw drop
Make you say "Oh my god"
And you never felt this type of emotion (Never, never, never)

In a crowded place, can you just imagine?
It's unparalleled, the way it all just happened
If you can't have me, you don't want no one
You don't want no one (Mm)
I got all my friends asking what it's like
To be loved like this, to be recognized
Behind the scenes and be vulnerable
Your name is so vulnerable, oh

Baby, I'm not even in a gown
I'm just in a T-shirt on the couch
The way you want me makes me want you now (Want you now)
The only thing you have to say is (Wow)

Make your jaw drop-drop
Saying, my, drop-drop-drop
Make you say "Oh my god" (Say "Oh my god")
My, drop-drop
Make your jaw drop
Make you say "Oh my god" (Say "Oh my god")
And you never felt this type of emotion
Make your jaw drop-drop
Saying, my, drop-drop-drop (Make you say "Oh my god")
Make you say "Oh my god" (Make you say "Oh my god")
My, drop-drop
Make your jaw drop
Make you say "Oh my god"
And you never felt this type of emotion

Never, never, never, oh
Never, never, never, oh
Never, never, never, oh
Never, never, never, oh

Everyone cheers as I walk off stage and I go change into the curtain call outfit. I take my crown and my banner.

"Kendall Vertes."

Kendall walks onstage and everyone cheers.

"I'm next!" Nia exclaims.

"No, I am." Kenzie says.

"Maddie Ziegler."

"Maddie was." I laugh as Maddie walks onstage and everyone cheers.

"Nia Frazier."

"Mackenzie Ziegler."

I exhale and smile.

"Melanie Ziegler."

I walk onstage and the crowd goes wild. I wave and walk up beside Kenzie.

This has been a crazy year, from losing Chloe to filming my first ever movie. Moving to LA, becoming the favorite, then being hated on by Abby, having a lot of family drama, performing at Dancing With The Stars, having an ALDC Tour, going to Australia, filming another movie, and a chaotic Nationals, the 2014-2015 dance season was one full of surprises, some good, some not so good, but I do know something, I am ready for a sixth season with everyone I love. I don't know how long we'll be on the show, but at this point, I think we'll be there until everything is over. It's so hard living on the dance floor, but after everything, it is worth it.