"Last week, we found you in your pajamas, not ready to do pyramid, so this week, we find you ready to go." Jess says, "Is it because Maddie's back?"

"No." Abby answers.

"You told me, 'I don't have the passion. I'm not interested in this anymore.'." Holly tells her, "Has that changed?"

"Is this every week?" Maddie whispers.

"They need the money somehow." I whisper back.

"Do I have the passion to teach dance, to choreograph, to create?" Abby says, "Absolutely. That is my passion. It's not about quitting because I'm afraid of hard work. I'm not."

"Then, Abby, what is it about?" JIll asks, "All those times where you didn't want to be here, you didn't want the kids here, you didn't want to do it, you didn't want to show. What is it about, and-and has that changed, so now can we have Abby back?"

"It's financial issues." Abby tells us, "I think all of your kids respect that and you know that. It's the way it is."

Cue uncomfortable silence.

Brynn and I look at each other as we try not to smile.

"Okay, congratulations, girls." We both look back at Abby, "It was a very successful trip to Arizona. Maddie, you're back." We all clap, "You were doing a movie. You were a winner up until that point. When you came back, and went and came back and went, you didn't win. You need to get into the groove, and you need to be my number-one girl out there every week again. Do you understand that?"

"Yes." Maddie nods.

"Did you see her do the Ellen?" Mom asks, "Did you see the video?"

"I didn't."

"I sent it to you."

Shady much?

"I'm just busy, I'm just doing other stuff."

How the tables have turned.

A full 360.

"Pyramid." Abby announces, "On the bottom of the pyramid, we have JoJo. Nia. Maddie, and Mackenzie. In the group dance, you all really, pulled it down a notch."

I quickly notice Mom rolling her eyes and Ashlee grinning from ear to ear.

"Next up, Kendall. You looked well. To me, it looked like you loved the dance and that you loved what you were doing." Abby reveals the next headshot, "Then we have Brynn. Regardless of what the judges thought, I thought you were beautiful to look at. You were a good representative for the Abby Lee Dance Company." Brynn smiles, "Next is Melanie. Your dancing last week is exactly what you need to do every week. You were in love with the dance, your facials were amazing, your technique was flawless, you were a joy to watch. Congrats."

Kalani

Melanie   Brynn   Kendall

Mackenzie   Maddie   Nia   JoJo

The group dance is entitled 'Seven Deadly Sins', and each girl has to portray a sin, season one style. This time, I'm the only 'human' of the dance. Throughout the dance, I have to portray each one of the sins as soon as they touch me. The thing is, they portray one, but I portray all. There's also three solos and the soloists are Nia, Kenzie, and JoJo.

•Two Days To Competition•

I've grown to realize that the show wasn't for us to make it to Broadway. It wasn't for anything at all. If it was for Broadway, I'm pretty sure that Maddie and I would have been long gone. If it was to be successful and win national titles, I think no one would be here anymore. But that's not the reason. Every single time we get an opportunity or something, it's just taken away from us. It's like they never want us to go. We will, someday. Not today, but someday. Another thing is the not showcasing all of us abilities. Like, how many side aerials have I done in a LYRICAL solo. It's not acro, right? Have I ever done a russian switch leap in a solo? What about a penche? We can do so much more of what we're currently doing, they just won't give us the chance.

Now, Abby basically has one foot in jail, she's stressed out, she's taking it out on us. Even though I blame her for a lot of stuff, there's some stuff I don't blame her for. The moms can be really nosy sometimes, the producers can be pushy, the world can be completely against you. But she has also done a lot of bad stuff, like mentally and verbally abusing people, stealing, lying, and even more. Because of that, she's not the one she used to be. She's not passionate about dance anymore. She only really cares about the money anymore.  We're blamed for everything, she can't be responsible of absolutely nothing.

We're stuck in a cycle, we live the same thing every week. New dances, new problems. We don't do anything new besides dance. The cycle is waking up, breakfast, school, dance, sleep. Only three hours of school and about eight hours of dance. When will all of this be over?

"Reach out!"

I snap back into reality as I do the ending with the rest, that is my laying on the floor, trying to reach out to the judges while all of the girls hold me from behind.

After the group dance rehearsal, she started working with the three solos. While that happened, Maddie, Kalani, Kendall, Brynn, and I were back at the Dancer's Den.

"Opinions about this week?" Kalani asks.

"Don't even know what to comment anymore." Kendall says.

"Same old?" I ask, "Weird Abby, competition this weekend, no solo?"

"Perfect." Brynn adds.

"Does anyone want to do something tonight?" Maddie asks.

"Like what?" Kalani says.

"I don't know, hang out, do normal stuff?" Maddie suggests.

"Where?" I ask.

"Our house." Maddie answers, "We could play some games, gossip about who knows what--"

"I'm in!" Kendall exclaims.

"Guess we're all in." Brynn says, "I don't think the moms will say no."

"So it's all done." Kalani smiles, "I'll bake cookies!"

"We can just buy from the store." Maddie says, "Or we can all do it together."

"Ooh." I smile, "I wanna help--"

"No!" Kalani laughs, "Last time you did, the fire alarm went off."

"Worth a shot." I shrug.

~~~
I sat in the living room with Kenzie and JoJo while the rest of the girls were in the kitchen. The three of us were not allowed to be in the kitchen, typical.

"We should've gone to the movies." Kenzie comments.

"Or roller skating." I add.

"Anywhere but here." JoJo finishes.

My face lights up as I stand up from the couch and turn to face the girls.

"I have an idea." I say with a smirk on my face.

"I should be worried." Kenzie says, "But spill."

"Mom's up in her room." I start.

"Okay?" JoJo smiles.

"I don't know, we could ask her to take us to the movies." I suggest, "Without the other girls noticing."

"You think that would be a good idea?" Kenzie asks, "Because if you think so, I'm in!"

"Me too." JoJo says, "But you gotta go ask her.

"I'll go." Kenzie offers and runs away.

"Win win." I smile, "Let's get ready."

The night was exactly what I wanted, an unforgettable one.

•Competition Day•

Mads and I were rehearsing our parts in the group. Now that Brynn is the new shining star, Abby doesn't really care about Maddie anymore. Just like she did with Brooke back at 2010. Everyone else was inside the dressing room, helping the soloists get ready. There's another thing I've always wondered. Everyone knows that Brooke was the favorite before Maddie, but who was the favorite before Brooke? How long has Abby been doing this little game?

After our little practice, we went backstage and met up with the girls.

"Who's going first?" Maddie asks.

"JoJo." Kendall answers, "It's gonna be great!"

I'm livin' in the sound
And drinkin' up the fire
And going all over town

"Ladies and gentlemen, entry number 6.1, it's Mackenzie." The announcer says and Kenzie goes on stage.

"That costume looks cool." I smile.

"Not, it looks fire." Maddie chuckles and I roll my eyes.

You without my juice aye
Don't know how to use it
Talking 'bout losin'
Tryna take my fire

Everyone cheers as she walks off stage and we greet her. I toss her a water bottle as she catches her breath.

"You were on fire." Maddie comments.

"Really?" I look at her, "It's not funny."

"Ladies and gentlemen. Nia with 'Money Makes the World Go Down'." The announcer says and Nia goes on stage.

Money makes a difference in my life
Money makes me happy makes me smile
Money you don’t know it but you’re the one
You bring me change, you bring me days in the sun

A perfect song to describe Abby.

~~~

I was the only one whose hair was down for the group dance. We were working with the final touches before performing the dance.

"Maddie." Abby starts, "Take those rings off your hand right now."

"Oh, sorry." Maddie apologizes.

"That was weird." Kendall whispers, "They were just rings."

I sigh as we start our way backstage. Maddie catches up with us right in time to do the handshake.

"Okay, guys, we're gonna kill this dance."

"Good luck, I love you."

"Let's go kill it."

"This is entry number 32, 'Seven Deadly Sins'." The announcer says and I go on stage.

The rest of the girls enter and we get into our positions.

The darkness is sneaking in
It creeps into my window and seeps deep into my skin
It sinks into every pore
And before you know it inside out I'm torn

Solos. Nia was fourth, JoJo was third, and Kenzie was first. The group was also first, Abby Abby seemed please. Is she just acting again, or is she genuinely happy?