We look cool." Klara says as we look at ourselves on the mirror.

"Aww, I already knew it." Emma says and we laugh.

The makeup was just natural, and the hair was down. We just have about two more minutes before we had to go backstage. The opening number was a line, and it was hard. Now, we just gotta survive three hours.

"We got the Wii." Summer says as she walks into the dressing room, "So I'll beat your butts later."

"You wish." I laugh as we leave the room and start our way backstage.

On our way, we find Kenzie and Brooke rushing down the hall. Typical. We all get backstage.

"Next is a junior jazz group, 'Keep It Undercover'." Abby says we go on stage.

Oh, oh, oh
Oh, when danger come to you
You know I'll stand beside you
'Cause ain't nobody keep their head so cool
I always find a way, a way out of the fire
But don't tell nobody, tell nobody
I'm not perfect, so many things I wanna tell you
But I, I keep it undercover
Living my life on red alert
Doing my thing, gon' make it work
Know I'm the realest, baby I'm fearless
But I always got your back
Nobody can do it like I can
I gotta find out who I am
Ain't gotta worry, about me
It's all part of the plan
I keep it undercover
I keep it undercover
You know, I'll always find the truth
No matter where it's hiding
So you can always run but you can't hide
Keep it classified, I'll always come out fighting
'Cause it's all or nothing, all or nothing
I'm not perfect, so many things I wanna tell you (No, no, no, no)
But I, I keep it undercover
Living my life on red alert
Doing my thing, gon' make it work
Know I'm the realest, baby I'm fearless
But I always got your back
Nobody can do it like I can
I gotta find out who I am
Ain't gotta worry, about me
It's all part of the plan
If you're back's against the wall
Then all you gotta do is call me
I'm doing the impossible
So you just gotta trust me
Ya ain't gotta worry about it
Ain't gotta ever doubt it
I'll be there no matter what it takes
I keep it undercover
Living my life on red alert
Doing my thing, gon' make it work
Know I'm the realest, baby I'm fearless
But I always got your back (Yea)
Nobody can do it like I can
I gotta find out who I am (Yea)
Ain't gotta worry, about me (Yea)
It's all part of the plan (It's all part of the plan)
I keep it undercover
I keep it undercover
I keep it undercover

Everyone cheers as we go off stage.

"That looked so fun." Maddie comments as we walk over to her group.

"Supportive sister, we love to see it." Klara smiles.

I make a face at her and look back to Maddie.

"When you have a break, let's meet up at the pre-schoolers dressing room." I tell her and run off.

"Good!"

I go back to the dressing room and change into the 'Written in the Stars' costume. I work with my hair and sit down.

"How can you do your hair so fast?" Klara asks as Quinn works with her hair.

"Experience." I shrug.

"You girls excited?" Quinn asks as she finishes with Klara's hair.

"Yeah, this all feels so cool!" I exclaim.

"I'm gonna miss this." Klarissa says.

"Well, we'll probably do cool stuff at Dance Mechanics." Klara tells her sister, "And all of your friends will be there."

"Including Ceara?" Klarissa asks.

"Yes." I smile, "Including Ceara."

"Larissa! Let's go!"

Klarissa runs out of the dressing room.

The juniors boys come back into the dressing room, clearly exhausted.

"How did it go?" Quinn smiles and Klara stands up.

"I don't like Abby's hip-hop." Tim answers, "It's ugly, weird, and it makes me even more tired than normal hip-hop."

"We've got a hip-hop group." I tell myself, "Well, two."

"And what?" Liam asks as he takes a water bottle.

"I have an idea!" I smile, "But I need all of the dancers that are going to be in the 'Almost Love' group."

"Emma and Rylee are performing with the juniors." Peter tells us, "Summer, Amira and Selah are helping the minis."

"Okay, after we perform 'Written In The Stars'." Klara says, "Do you guys have any dances right after that?"

"No." Ryan answers, "We've got about thirty minutes and we go directly to 'Almost Love'."

I smirk comes into my face.

"I'll be back later." Quinn says and kisses Klara's forehead, "Good luck to all of you!"

"Thank you!"

"Thanks Quinn!"

"Bye!"

She closes the door and the boys walk over to me.

"I have an amazing idea." I tell them and Klara hits me with her ponytail, "The heck?"

All of the other dancers were going to have their hair in a ponytail; I was the only one with it down.

"Sorry, but it was fun." Klara says and we all laugh.

After I had my choreographer moment, Klara and I go backstage and meet up with the other girls.

"What took you so long?" Summer asks.

"Some plans about the 'Almost Love' dance." Klara answers, "We'll tell you after we perform this dance."

"Junior contemporary group, 'Written In The Stars'."

You can feel it, I can feel it
Like we're both awake and dreaming
There's nowhere else we'd rather be
We're making our own history
'Cause we're a page turner
Heart murmur, science fiction fantasy
We can go to the moon and back
To the moon and back
Without ever leaving
We're right here and we're gonna write the story
Written in the stars like graffiti can't ignore it
Light years and you'll see the comets falling
This is the moment where it all began
They'll see it written in the stars
They'll see it written in the stars
They'll see it written in the stars
We were here
We were here
Every single hero has to start out
Looking like me and you
So never mind excuses
We can do this if we really want to
Yeah, we can go all around the world
All around the world
And we're not even dreaming
We're right here and we're gonna write the story
Written in the stars like graffiti can't ignore it
Light years and you'll see the comets falling
This is the moment where it all began
They'll see it written in the stars
They'll see it written in the stars
They'll see it written in the stars
We were here
We were here
We're right here, right here
Written in the stars, stars
We're right here
Written in the stars, stars
We're right here and we're gonna write the story
Written in the stars like graffiti can't ignore it
Light years and you'll see the comets falling
This is the moment where it all began
They'll see it written in the stars
They'll see it written in the stars
They'll see it written in the stars
We were here
We were here

All the girls leave the stage and I run to the opposite direction. We all meet up and go back to the dressing room.

"Where are the boys?" Emma asks as we look around.

"Here we go again." I run out and down the hall into the break room, "Boys! We have to rehearse!"

"On it!" Peter exclaims, "But I won, guys!"

"No one cares!" Liam yells as we all run down the hall again.

We enter the dressing room, where the girls were all wearing their 'Almost Love' costumes.

"Good!" Klara smiles, "So Melanie and I are going to teach the new choreography."

"All right, Miss Oladi, everyone, let's work!"

After twenty minutes, we all knew the new choreography. We would start off with Abby's boring, non-hip-hop choreography, and then we change to some real hip-hop.

"Melanie and Liam!" Kendall rushes into the dressing room, "Your duet is up now!"

"Wasn't it later?" Liam asks.

"No!" Kendall answers, "It's literally right now!"

The two of us look at each other.

"We're not even wearing our costumes!" I yell.

"Change fast!" Kendall tells us.

I rush to the bathroom and get changed into the duet costume.

I brush my hair down and get out.

"Where's Liam?" I ask.

He enters the dressing room and the two of us go backstage.

Kendall does a thumbs-up and runs away with some other dancers to get ready for another dance.

"Junior lyrical duet, 'Alive'."

The music starts and we go on stage.

I was born in a thunderstorm
I grew up overnight
I played alone
I played on my own
I survived
Hey
I wanted everything I never had
Like the love that comes with light
I wore envy and I hated that
But I survived
I had a one-way ticket to a place where all the demons go
Where the wind don't change
And nothing in the ground can ever grow
No hope, just lies
And you're taught to cry into your pillow
But I survived
I'm still breathing, I'm still breathing
I'm still breathing, I'm still breathing
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I found solace in the strangest place
Way in the back of my mind
I saw my life in a stranger's face
And it was mine
I had a one-way ticket to a place where all the demons go
Where the wind don't change
And nothing in the ground can ever grow
No hope, just lies
And you're taught to cry into your pillow
But I survived
I'm still breathing, I'm still breathing
I'm still breathing, I'm still breathing
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
You took it all, but I'm still breathing
You took it all, but I'm still breathing
You took it all, but I'm still breathing
You took it all, but I'm still breathing
You took it all, but I'm still breathing
You took it all, but I'm still breathing
You took it all, but I'm still breathing
You took it all, but I'm still breathing
I have made every single mistake
That you could ever possibly make
I took and I took and I took what you gave
But you never noticed that I was in pain
I knew what I wanted; I went in and got it
Did all the things that you said that I wouldn't
I told you that I would never be forgotten
And all in spite of you
And I'm still breathing, I'm still breathing
I'm still breathing, I'm still breathing
I'm alive (You took it all, but I'm still breathing)
(You took it all, but I'm still breathing)
I'm alive (You took it all, but I'm still breathing)
(You took it all, but I'm still breathing)
I'm alive (You took it all, but I'm still breathing)
(You took it all, but I'm still breathing)
I'm alive

We walk off stage and we hug.

"We always work it out!" I exclaim, "And we have to get ready for the dance."

The two of us get back to the dressing room and change into the 'Almost Love' costume.

"I'm so freaking excited!" Emma exclaims, "And Abby's gonna be mad!"

"It's not like I really care, though." Peter says, "After today, we won't be part of the Abby Lee Dance Company anymore."

"Couldn't have said it better!" Summer exclaims, "Should we rehearse one last time?"

"Let's do it quick so they don't get suspicious." Rylee says.

After rehearsing once more, we all go backstage.

Maddie walks off stage after performing her 'The People's Choice' solo. She walks off with some other teens.

"Junior hip-hop group, 'Almost Love'."

"Lights, camera, action!" Emma smiles and we go on stage.

Ah, yeah-yeah-yeah
The moment when the light is red before the go
The moment when the curtain's down before the show
The moment when you're done, but maybe just one more
That's how I feel before I get you all alone
We could give it a minute
But what's the fun in a minute?
When we could push all the limits
Ah, yeah-yeah-yeah, yeah
Shirt hanging off my shoulders
Both hands wanna hold ya
So, baby, what's the hold up?
Yeah, yeah
Can you feel the tension rising?
Now you're, now you're getting it close
Now you're, now you're getting it close
Almost love, it's almost love
Speed this up 'cause I'm excited
No more, no more taking it slow
No more, no more taking it slow
Almost love, it's almost love
Almost love
Almost love, but it could be love
Almost love
Almost love, but it could be love
Almost lo-lo-love
Almost love, but it could be love
It could be love, it could be
I want you like a midnight hour wants a view
I want you like a loner wants an empty room
I want you like a kiss that's long and overdue
I need you more than I have ever needed you
And we could give it a minute
But what's the fun in a minute?
When we could push all the limits
Ah, yeah-yeah-yeah, yeah
Shirt hanging off my shoulders
Both hands wanna hold ya
So, baby, what's the hold up?
Yeah

"Whooooo!"
At that moment, we start doing the choreography and the crowd goes wild.

Can you feel the tension rising?
Now you're, now you're getting it close
Now you're, now you're getting it close
Almost love, it's almost love
Speed this up 'cause I'm excited
No more, no more taking it slow
No more, no more taking it slow
Almost love, it's almost love
Almost love
It's almost love, but it could be love
Almost love
Almost love, but it could be love
Almost lo-lo-lo-lo-love
Almost love, but it could be love
It could be love
It could be, yeah, no, no
We could give it a minute
But what's the fun in a minute?
Can you feel the tension rising?
Now you're getting it so close
Now you're getting this so close
Almost love, almost love
Oh, 'cause I'm excited
No more, no more taking it slow
No more, no more taking it slow
It's almost love
Almost love, oh, baby
It's almost love
'Cause it's almost love, but it could be love
Almost love and you know
Almost love
But it could be love
'Cause it's almost love, but it could be love
Yeah, it could be love, eh

I blow a kiss as we all leave the stage.

"We did it!" Amira exclaims and we all hug.

"That was so cool." Brooke says, "Wait, was that Abby's choreo?"

"Nope." I answer, "It was ours. And the crowd loved it."

"It was actual hip-hop." Sarah smiles, "Brooke, we should go meet up with Kenz and the group."

I start my way back to the dressing room with the rest. Once Summer closes the door, we all cheer.

"That was awesome!" Liam exclaims.

"They all loved it!" Ryan adds.

"And Abby must hate us!" Summer says and we stop cheering, "I meant it in a good way, come on!"

We all start cheering again.

After that, we continue with different group dances and more stuff with the other dancers.

~~~

Hold, hold on, hold onto me
'Cause I'm a little unsteady
A little unsteady

Everyone cheers as I leave the stage with Maddie and Kenzie.

"Whoa, everyone loved that number." Kenzie comments, "They were so amazed."

"I mean, it's the Ziegler trio." Maddie comments and we all laugh, "Let's continue." She sighs.

I get ready for my 'Monster' solo. I go backstage again, just in time for Emma to come backstage after performing her solo.

"Junior hip-hop solo, 'Monster'."

I'm a monster, I'm a m-monster
I'm a monster, I'm a m-monster
I'm a monster, I'm a m-monster
I'm one of a kind, got everybody in love
And I don't have to try, I just do what I does
Don't have to tell me, I already know
They all want me
Yo, I run this, I smash it
Like my bass real hard, boom-bastic
Speed race baby, I'm a lot faster
'Cause trouble, never listen to my master
New Benz all black, from Malaysia
Can't drive, but my mama don't care yup
To the top, I'm a take it to the ceiling
I'm on the moon but I feel the sun beaming
I'm so dope like ooh la la
So so fly like a helicopter
Sup to the hood and the homies on the block
Doin' it big, ya you know, what's up
Some come and try to say I'm a problem
So crazy, gotta put 'em in an asylum
Some come and try to say I'm a problem
Ha, solve it
I'm a monster, I'm a m-monster
I'm a monster, I'm a m-monster
I'm a monster, I'm a m-monster
I'm a monster, I'm a m-monster
I'm a monster, I'm a m-monster
I'm a monster, I'm a m-monster
I'm a monster, I'm a m-monster
I'm a monster, I'm a m-monster
I'm one of a kind, got everybody in love
And I don't have to try, I just do what I does
Don't have to tell me, I already know
They all want me
Yo, yo, yo
I ran this, I rock this
I can see the future, no optics
More androids, robotics
Beam up hot chicks like I'm Spock
They be chillin' in my cockpit, my spaceship got exotic
One be trippin', come n' whip, hypnotic, they be talking 'bout ooh la la
Let's go far, way past them stars
We don't give a, let's go to Mars
Ay, yo
I'm just tryna get it poppin'
I wanna be the first dude to love a martian
She love a man, cut the swag that I'm droppin'
I kill the game til it's chillin' in the coffin
When I start, there ain't no stoppin'
Yo, yo
Yo, yo
Yo, yo
Yo, yo
Don't be actin' like
Like you didn't know
Like you didn't know
Like you didn't know
Like you didn't know
I'm one of a kind, got everybody in love
And I don't have to try, I just do what I does
Don't have to tell me, I already know
They all want me
I'm one of a kind, got everybody in love
And I don't have to try, I just do what I does
Don't have to tell me, I already know
They all want me
I'm a monster, I'm a m-monster

After performing the solo, I go back to the dressing room, where Gianna was talking with Klara, Liam, Ryan, and Rylee.

"And I think it was great." Gianna says, "But I don't think Abby will be that happy."

"Believe me, with everything that's going, she'll forget it." Ryan tells her.

I walk over to them and look at Gianna.

"Yup. Like Ryan said, she'll forget it within an hour." I add, "And if she doesn't, we won't really be here anymore."

After talking with Gianna and James, who came right after, I got ready for the 'Phoenix' group dance along with Klara, Rylee, Emma, and Summer.

I look at the costume as I finish with my hair.

"Believe me, they weren't actually upset." Klara says, "Like, they actually seemed happy."

"Who cares anymore?" Emma asks, "Last night, remember?"

"What time is it?" Rylee asks.

"Seven thirty." Summer answers.

We all go backstage and meet up with the other dancers.

"Are we all here?" Kenzie asks as she looks around, "I think we are."

"Junior jazz group, 'Phoenix'."

Why you hanging in the background
Like a painting that's been turned 'round
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Why you humming with the mashup
It's like Aretha singing back up
Come on, come on, come on, come on
You know the words go write the song
Make it alone
It's your time now
Can you feel it now?
You got the heart of a phoenix
So let them see you rise, hey-ey-ey, hey-ey-ey
Let them know that you mean it
Let them see you rise, hey-ey-ey, hey-ey-ey
You feel it burn when you're knocked down
But let the fire be your crown
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Go and claim your kingdom
Then enslave all your demons
Come on, come on, come on, come on
I know you know where you belong
Don't look now
But you're off the ground
Can you feel it now?
You got the heart of a phoenix
So let them see you rise, hey-ey-ey, hey-ey-ey
Let them know that you mean it
Let them see you rise, hey-ey-ey, hey-ey-ey
Let's see you show 'em how you get gold
Flying right past the ones who said "no"
Let's give them all one hell of a show
Hey-ey-ey, hey-ey-ey
You got the heart of a phoenix
So let them see you rise, hey-ey-ey, hey-ey-ey
Let them know that you mean it
Let them see you rise, hey-ey-ey, hey-ey-ey
You got the heart, you got the heart
You got the heart of a, of a, hey
You got the heart, you got the heart
You got the heart of a, of a, hey
You got the heart, you got the heart
You got the heart of a, of a, hey
You got the heart, you got the heart
You got the heart of a, of a
You got the heart of a phoenix
So let them see you rise, hey-ey-ey, hey-ey-ey
Let them know that you mean it
Let them see you rise, hey-ey-ey, hey-ey-ey
You got the heart of a phoenix
So let them see you rise, hey-ey-ey, hey-ey-ey
Let them know that you mean it
Let them see you rise, hey-ey-ey, hey-ey-ey

Next dance for me was the 'Clouds' duet.

"Are you going to miss this rush?" Liam asks as we wait to go on stage.

"Yeah, but no, I don't know!" I admit, "A part of me definitely will, but the other one, not so much."

"Junior contemporary lyrical duet, 'Clouds'."

I fell down, down, down
Into this dark and lonely hole
There was no one there to care about me anymore
And I needed a way to climb and grab a hold of the edge
You were sitting there holding a rope
And we'll go up, up, up
But I'll fly a little higher
Go up in the clouds because the view is a little nicer
Up here my dear
It won't be long now, it won't be long now
When we get back on land
Well I'll never get my chance
Be ready to live and it'll be ripped right out of my hands
And maybe someday we'll take a little ride
Go up, up, up and everything will be just fine
And we'll go up, up, up
But I'll fly a little higher
Go up in the clouds because the view is a little nicer
Up here my dear
It won't be long now, it won't be long now
If only I had a little bit more time
If only I had a little bit more time with you
It could go up, up, up
Then take that little ride
We'll sit there holding hands
And everything would be just right
And maybe someday I'll see you again
We'll float up in the clouds and we'll never see the end
We'll go up, up, up
But I'll fly a little higher
Go up in the clouds because the view is a little nicer
Up here my dear
It won't be long now, it won't be long now

After that group dance, I started doing what I kind of thought I would never have to do, take a lot of photos for memories. Even the stupidest moments, I had photos for all of those.

Now, all of us juniors and pre-teens waited to go on stage

"Half of the concert over." Nina says, "We've still got the other half."

"Believe me, everything has gone by so fast." Kenzie admits, "Our final bow will be soon."

"So weird." Emma adds.

"Pre-teen contemporary jazz group, 'Space'."

Under pressure (pressure)
Questions all around, but there's no answers (answers)
Try to keep my pace, they want it faster (faster)
Records all around, they give me shelter, shelter (shelter)
No need to hurry, no need to rush
I tell them my story, it's never enough (it's never enough)
I'm hiding from my shadows, running inside my dreams
I know that you are watching, you're right there watching me
I need a taste of freedom, I need some room to breathe
But I know that you are watching, you're right there watching me
So give me a little, give me a little (ah), a little more space
Just give me a little, give me a little (ah, more)
Satisfaction (satisfaction)
All we ever want, but I can't have it (have it)
Scribbles on a page, they call it magic (magic)
Makes me wanna be what you imagine, imagine (no)
No need to hurry (no need to hurry)
No need to rush (no need to rush)
I tell them my story, it's never enough (it's never enough)
I'm hiding from my shadows, running inside my dreams
I know that you are watching, you're right there watching me
I need a taste of freedom, I need some room to breathe
But I know that you are watching, you're right there watching me
When the eyes are all around
Give me, give me, give me space
Keep it low, don't make a sound
Give me, give me, give me space
When the eyes are all around
Give me, give me, give me space (space)
Keep it low, don't make a sound
Give me, give me, give me space (space)
I'm hiding from my shadows, running inside my dreams
I know that you are watching, you're right there watching me
I need a taste of freedom, I need some room to breathe (give me some room to breathe)
But I know that you are watching, you're right there watching me (oh, no, no)
When the eyes are all around (I'm hiding from my shadows)
Give me, give me, give me space
Keep it low don't make a sound (I know that you are watching)
Give me, give me, give me space
When the eyes are all around (I need a taste of freedom)
Give me, give me, give me space (give me some room to breathe)
But I know that you are watching
Give me, give me, give me space (you're right there watching me, watching me)
So give me a little, give me a little (ah), a little more space
Just give me a little (just give me some space) give me a little (ah), a little more space
Just give me a little (just give me some space), give me a little, a little more space (a little more)
Just give me a little, give me a little-
Just give me some space, baby

After a couple more dances, we were towards the end, but we still did not have a freaking break.

Now, Emma, Klara, and I were all backstage waiting to perform our trio.

This trio was cool, Emma danced a part, Klara danced another part, I danced another part, and then three of us. I loved it.

"Junior contemporary-jazz trio, 'Dance 'Til We Die'."

Running circles in my head
Laying on the bedroom floor
Tryna catch up to my breath
But I don't know what I'm waiting for
Must be after midnight forget it
Every word on my mind every you read it
Hold on even way the windows your side
Where's your going my way, won't be long
You and i can dancing the drive
We're just like our song play
On and on and on
Even when the world say denied
we're live on the light
And dance 'till we die
And dance till we die
I've never lost it, no
We are stronger than an eco
When knocking never let you go
The edge of my side
You said it
Every word on my mind you've rewrited
Hold on even way the windows your side
Where's your going my way, won't be long
You and i can dancing the drive
We're just like our song play
On and on and on
Even when the world say denied
we'll dance till we die
We will dance till we die
Hold on, hold on
Tryna catch up to my breath
But i don't know what I'm waiting for
Hold on even way the windows your side
Where's your going my way, won't be long
You and i can dancing the drive
We're just like our song play
On and on and on
Even when the world says denied
we're live on the light
And dance 'till we die

Everyone cheers as we go off stage and Emma squeals. We look at her confused.

"My mom was there!" Emma exclaims, "She got here right now!"

Oh, yeah, Charlotte was working late again, so we were scared that she couldn't show up.

"Congrats!" Klara exclaims and the three of us hug.

After that dance, we perform a couple more, not really having any breaks.

But there's a hope that's waiting for you in the dark
You should know you're beautiful just the way you are
And you don't have to change a thing
The world could change its heart
No scars to your beautiful
We're stars and we're beautiful

Ready or not, here I come, here I come
You're like a breath of fresh air in my lungs
You and me dance from the night to the dawn
Ready or not, here I come, boy, it's on

We are young, we are gold
Trying things we didn't know
Looking at the sky
See it come alive
All our fears became our hopes
Climbed out every locked window
We rode a lion's mane
And fell upon the rain

The hardest dance was up next. It was a line number, and it was a mix between jazz, samba, and stuff like that. I was a little bit too scared.

"You look cute." Maddie comments as she walks up to me as I finish with my hair.

"I look like a bird." I tell her.

"That's the point." Maddie says.

"How does it feel to be the only blue bird around?" Nia asks.

"Cool, but weird." I answer, "I'm literally going to have all eyes on me."

I put on my glitter heels and meet up with everyone else backstage.

"This has to be the best of the best!" Brooke exclaims.

"If something goes wrong, I'll be hiding behind Peter." Klara says.

"And I'll be hiding behind Maddie P." Peter says.

"I'll be hiding behind Liam."

"I'll be hiding behind Kenzie."

"I'll be hiding behind Alex."

"I'll be hiding behind Sarah."

"I'll be hiding behind Nia."

"I'll be hiding behind Kendall."

"I'll be hiding behind Nick."

"I'll be hiding behind Rylee."

"I'll be hiding behind Emma."

"I'll be hiding behind Melanie."

"I'll be hiding behind Brooke."

"I'll be hiding behind Maddie Z."

"I'll--"

"Senior line group, 'I Wanna Party'."

"Come on!" Maddie yells, "I was having my five seconds of fame right now!"

"You've had six years of fame already, Mads." Payton comments.

We all go on stage, the lights were out, everything was silent.

Let's party.

Party in Ipanema, baby!
I want to party
I want to samba
I want to party
I want to samba
I want to party
And live my life (live my life)
I want to party (party)
And fly
Imma fly, fly just like a bird
(But you are a bird! )
Oh yeah, you're right,
So let me fly just like a rocket, then (okay)
Fly so high where I need to come down for oxygen
Cause once we start it, baby, ain't no ain't no stoppin' then
'Cause I just want to live my life, and party
All I want is to be free, and rock my body
Ain't nowhere around the world that I want to live my life
In Rio
'Cause in Rio
In Rio, I realize
I want to party (party)
I want to samba (party)
I want to party (party)
And fly
I'm that samba, samba
Master, master, master
Master, master
Who shouts out?
Imma get your blaster, blaster,
Blaster, blaster, blaster
You dance fast,
But I dance faster, faster, faster
Faster, faster
You're too slow
You need to catch up
You can dance, and dance, but I
I want to party (party)
I want to samba (party)
I want to party (party)
I want to samba (party)
I want to party (party)
And live my life (live my life)
I want to party (party)
And fly
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Laya
Laya
Laya
Laya
Hey
Laya
Laya
Laya
Laya
Laya
Laya
Laya
Laya
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey

We all leave the stage as the crowd goes wild.

Right after that, I performed my last solo ever, and you know what solo.

I waited to go on stage, and I remembered something really old. My first solo ever. It was at the 2009 recital, it was entitled 'Little Waitress'. It was really simple and funny. I just pretended to be holding a plate with my left hand and I had my right hand behind me. I just did whatever trick I knew at the moment, that were almost none. I was three back then.

Time flies.

"Junior contemporary solo, 'The Woman With The White Hat'."

I go on stage and start dancing. This time I didn't end up crying and all of that, but it felt right.

This was my last solo with the Abby Lee Dance Company. All of the solos I ever performed came back to me. The first place wins, the second place wins, third, and the infamous fifth place. It was just . . . Unreal, it was all gone within a couple of hours.

After I left the stage, I had an hour off, so I went to the break room.

"You're here!" Tim exclaims, "We are playing Mario Kart Wii, like always, and it's going to be four by four."

I smile as I take a wiimote and the wheel.

First up, Klara, Rylee, Liam, and I.

3

2

1

GO!

"Move out of the way!" Klara yells.

"You are in the way!" Liam yells back.

Second round, everything was even worse.

This time, the ones playing were Peter, Ryan, Amira, and Summer.

"You did it on purpose!" Ryan yells.

"You knew that I had to throw the red shell, it's not my fault that you were on front of me!" Summer yells.

Third round, chaos.

"Who threw the blue shell?!"

"Melanie!"

"I did not!"

"It was Emma!"

"Shut it!"

"Just finish already!"

"Stop cheating!"

"We can't even cheat in this game!"

"Stop!"

"Move out of the way!"

"Shut up!"

"I hate you all!"

"Chill!"

"It's almost over!"

"Go go go go go go go!"

"Whooooooo!"

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"YOU CHEATED!"

"I DIDN'T CHEAT!"

"SHUT UP, ALL OF YOU!"

"ALL RIGHT, THIS GAME IS OFFICIALLY OVER!"

I unplug the Wii and the TV goes black.

"Finally." Summer smiles and we high-five.

"You cheated!" Peter yells.

"I never cheated!" Liam defends himself.

"All right, all right, chill the f out." Klara stands in between the two of them.

"We have one last dance." Emma continues, "It's the final dance of the concert, the final group, and our final dance with the ALDC."

"So I suggest that we stop fighting and go get ready!" I finish, "So let's go!"

We all go back to the dressing room and start getting ready for the final dance.

I change into the 'Let Me Move You' costume and tie the shoelaces.

"This is gonna be epic." Liam says as he helps me.

"You finally calmed down?" I ask and he chuckles.

"Yeeeeah." He answers and we both stand up.

"Well, this is the last time." Summer says and we put all of our hands together, "This has been amazing, and it's kinda sad that it has to end."

"The memories are the best things to ever have." I say, "And photos."

"Juniors!"

After that, we take some photos and selfies. We all go backstage and I put on the microphone headset.

Yeah, I had to literally sing.

This group was pretty good, besides the fact that it was hip-hop, I had to sing, and this dance was choreographed by the LA choreographers, so it's really amazing.

"Guys, smile!"

We all smile and pose as Maddie takes a couple photos of us.

"The final performance of the night, a junior hip-hop group, 'Let Me Move You'."

Everyone cheers as we go on stage.

We get into our starting poses and I smile.

Sing, dance, do it all, all I wanted to do all along.

Said there's nothing that we can't do when we're dancing
I can feel the music more when I'm with you
With your hands on me, I feel my heartbeat racing
Now
Had to let go of everything that I've known
Before-ore-ore
One, two, three, come with me
We can work it differently
One, two, three, and dance with me tonight (tonight)
And maybe all our dreams are coming true
And, baby, I can feel you feel it, too
So just let me move you (umm)
One, two, three, come with me
We can work it differently
Said one, two, three, and dance with me tonight (tonight)
And maybe all our dreams are coming true
And, baby, I can feel you feel it, too
So just let me move you
Let me move you
Yeah, little faster, little slower, it don't matter
'Cause I never known myself this good till now
And I hope you know it's changing me forever
Forever
Had to let go of everything that I've known
Before-ore-ore
One, two, three, come with me
We can work it differently
One, two, three, and dance with me tonight (tonight)
And maybe all our dreams are coming true
And, baby, I can feel you feel it, too
So just let me move you (umm)
One, two, three, come with me
We can work it differently
Said one, two, three, and dance with me tonight (tonight)
And maybe all our dreams are coming true
And, baby, I can feel you feel it, too
So just let me move you
Let me move you

The crowd goes wild as we go off stage and we all hug.

I go back to the dressing room and change into a blue dress and black heels. I do my hair and makeup.

I smile as I look at myself in the mirror. Satisfied, I walk backstage, where I meet up with my sisters.

"I'm so scared." Kenzie admits, "The last time is finally here."

"Yes, but we still won't cry, right?" Maddie asks.

"In five minutes." I answer, "But for now, try not to do that."

All the dancers go on stage, except for us.

"Maddie Ziegler!"

Maddie goes on stage and the crowd goes wild. She takes a microphone and starts talking.

"Do you have a farewell speech?" Kenzie asks and I shake my head, "I just have to make something up."

"Yeah, but make it good, but also kinda short." I tell her and we both laugh.

"Who would've thought that this was all going to be over someday?" Kenzie smiles and we look at each other.

"It's weird to think that this is all going to be in the past." I admit, "I'm so excited for everything that is about to come, but I'm also going to miss this drama world."

"Me too."

"Mackenzie Ziegler."

"My cue." Kenzie says and she goes on stage.

Once again, the crowd goes wild.

As she talks, I look around the empty area, everyone is either on stage, or in the audience. No in between.

Okay, Melie, you know what to do. You've done it before, you definitely can do it now.

"Melanie Ziegler."

I smile as I walk on stage and the crowd goes wild. I take the microphone and face the audience.

"As you know, I'm Melanie Ziegler, I'm nine years old, and I've been dancing here since literally forever." I start, with a huge, and real, smile, "I met Abby when I was barely three months old, so I don't really have a life out of this place, studio, and people. This new chapter is really going to be challenging, but with everything I've learned, I am sure that I can take on the world." I sigh, "All of the tears, all of the stress, those were all worth it. All of the smiles, all of the laughs, all of the good memories, they were all worth it too. Everything I've learned these past seven years will stick with me forever. And you know, this probably isn't the goodbye for most of us, but it it for some others. For those others, thank you so much for everything, thanks for all the lessons. For the other ones, we'll probably see each other next week." They all laugh, "The thing is, I'll continue fighting for my dreams, I have a lot of things that I do want to accomplish, and slowly, I will. Don't ever forget to give it your all and reach for the stars. Thank you all so much for listening, have a good night."

Everyone cheers and claps as I walk up to the rest of the dancers.

Maddie, Kenzie, and I all hug and bow as the curtain closes.

Now, all I have to do is be a star, but first, I have to reach for the stars.

The End