Last week ever on Pittsburgh, it's really weird to think about it, it all began here, and I just thought it would end here too. Everything before pyramid was really sad, but I was just ready to dance and win. 

Mom, Abby, and Maddie were talking about how cool it was that Maddie performed on the Grammys. Same old stuff, same old stuff. 

"Speaking of milestones, actually, Evan is planning to do something. For Nia's video." Holly tells us, "We're going to have a premiering this Saturday in between classes and the competition downtown--"

"Sounds fun." Kenzie whispers.

"Yeah, but don't we have competition that day?" I whisper back.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to go to the premiere, it's just that we have competition that day, and it's of the last ones in Pittsburgh.

"It's Valentine's Day, isn't it?"

"It is."

I'm sorry." Mom says, "I'm going to dinner with my husband. I'm sorry."

"It's daytime."

"During the day."

Theur conversation is soon over and the focus goes back to Abby.

"The moment is here. Before we go to LA, we are going to Australia."

And now that's a big deal! 

"Let's get to pyramid. On the bottom is Kendall." Abby says as she reveals Kendall's headshot, "You're not here because you didn't do that solo perfectly. You know why."

Kendall meltdown, of course.

"Next. Mackenzie. You did not perform with the group." Abby tells Kenzie and she nods, "Moving on."

She reveals the next headshot, that was Nia's.

"Nia. As far as I'm concerned, you always want to get higher in relevé." Abby explains, "You always want go leghten your limbs."

Abby reveals the next headshot.

"Next on the pyramid, we have JoJo. I thought you were good." Abby says, "It is very difficult to do turn sequences with your arms like this. Next--"

The next headshot was Kalani.

"Kalani. You did a penché. It was beautiful." Abby tells her, "I'd like to see you take more of a leadership stance."

Maddie and I look at each other smiling as Abby reveals the next headshot.

"Second of the pyramid, is Maddie. She's a great leader. She was amazing in the group dance, but--"

She reveals the top headshot, that was mine.

"Melanie was the lead, she pulled my focus on a positive way."

Everyone claps.

Melanie

Maddie     Kalani      JoJo

Nia        Mackenzie       Kendall

"This weekend we will attend, Starbound National Talent Competition, here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. So, solos. Kendall, I'm giving you the opportunity to redeem yourself. You will be performing a solo. My next solo is going to Kalani. The group routine is deep."

Hopefully she won't say 'Mackenzie and Melanie won't be in the group dance because it's too mature', aka the excuse for the first three seasons. 

The Moms leave and we all warm up.

"No Sign Of Life, like a catastrophe." Abby tells us and we start dancing.

"Get closer."

As we continue dancing, Abby is looking at her phone and saying random stuff like always.  After the group dance rehearsal we go back home, and I instantly fall asleep.

•Three Days To Competition•

"Okay, Melanie, you're dismissed for now." Abby says when we finish the group dance, "You have a ballet class and after that you've got an acro private."

"Busy day, Mel." Kalani says as she puts her hand on my shoulder.

"I know." I smile at her and start walking towards the door, "Goodbye."

I leave Studio A and enter the Dancer's Den.

"Miss Kayla is already waiting for us." Klara tells me as I walk over to my dance bag.

I put my tutu and tights on. 

"Lara?" I hear a small voice say.

"What's up, Larissa?" Klara asks as her younger sister walks over to us.

Klarissa is Klara's younger sister, about 9 months younger than Klara and 10 months younger than me.

"Miss Kayla told me to come check on you two." Klarissa says as I put my shoes on.

"We're almost done." I say, "Do you want me to help you?"

Klarissa nods and I help her put her shoes on. 

Klara, Klarissa, and I all go to Studio D and Miss Kayla starts with the class. As the class continues, the more focused I become. 

I do an arabesque when the door opens and my Mom is standing there.

"Can I have Melanie for a minute?" She asks.

"Sure, but quick because I need her for demostration." Ms. Kayla says and I walk up to my Mom.

We both get outside and I close the door.

"So this isn't the first time I tell you." Mom tells me, "But you were cast in another movie."

I gasp.

"It is one of the Alvin and the Chipmunks movies, and you're playing a character called Camila." Mom says.

"That sounds so cool." I say, "But we're going to Australia."

"Filming starts after that." Mom says, "Now go back inside."

I go back to ballet class with the Oladis. Once the class is over, we all leave Studio D.

"Remember what we said about the brownies last time?" Klara asks.

Klara and I had been talking about making brownies for a long time, but then I left to LA.

"Yeah, what happened?" I ask.

"I was thinking we could make them tomorrow." Klara says, "I know you're leaving for Australia soon, so we could try and do it."

"I need to ask my Mom." I tell her, "But first I need to go take my acro private."

"Go fast, because if not Abby will get mad at you." Klara tells me, "And it isn't the best time for an Abby tantrum."

I laugh and walk into the Dancer's Den. I take off my tutu, tights, and shoes. I run into Studio B, where the private was being held.

"Okay Melanie." Gianna says, "So let's go with what we left on last time."

I get on the mat and do a back handspring.

After the acro private we were all ready to go back home, I asked Mom about going to Klara's, and she said yes. So now I know what I'm doing tomorrow.

•Two Days To Competition•

Today was pretty simple. We had rehearsal and I went over to Klara's, it was really fun.

•One Day To Competition• 

Kendall, Kalani, Kenzie, Maddie, and I were all at JUMP. A lot of other ALDC dancers were also there.

We were all stretching when my phone buzzes and I check it, it was a text from Nia.

Nia💕💃🏾: You coming?

I feel a pit on my stomach, today's the premiere of the video, and I can't even get there on time!

I put it back on my dance bag and try to focus on the rest of the classes, even though it was really hard.

Somehow I really felt bad, I mean, Nia has always been so supportive of everyone, why can't everyone else do the same for her?

After a couple clases I decided to FaceTime her, so I went into a bathroom stall and locked the door.

"Hi, Mel." Nia says, smiling

​​​​By the look on her face I knew she was hurt.

"I'm really sorry I couldn't be there, no one would take me if I asked, but hope the premiere was fun." I say.

"Yeah, even Cathy and Jeanette were here."

I'll probably have the award of the worst friend ever.

"Whoa, well-- Congratulations and-- Hope everything goes well, see ya tomorrow." I tell her.

"Bye!"

I hang up and sit against the door.

Am I a bad friend? 

"Melanie?" I hear Kenzie say and I open the door, "You okay?"

"Yeah." I tell her.

"I just need to say, there's a gift for you outside." Kenzie says as we both leave the bathroom, "From Prince Charming."

I groan as she laughs and Maddie gives me the gift, it had a note that said:

Dear Melanie:

Happy Valentine's Day! I know you're really busy today with JUMP and stuff, so I decided to give you this, hopefully we'll be able to hang out in the mid-season break at least once. 

Miss you,

Liam.

•Competition Day•

"When are these classes over?" Kalani asks as we start our tenth five minute break of the day.

"I don't know." Mads says and opens her Snickers chocolate bar, "But we need to be at Starbound."

"The competition is like-- right now." Kenzie says.

"Right now?" I ask and she nods, "We need to go."

"I know." Kendall adds.

After that we go into another class and both Kendall's and Maddie's phones start buzzing with texts from their mothers.

The problem is, we need to be at Starbound right now but if we leave early we won't get our scholarships.

We get the scholarships, take our bags, and run of to the bus.

"Do you imagine how much drama there must be there right now?" I ask as the bus starts moving.

"The producers must LOVE it." Kenzie adds.

I sit back and close my eyes. I feel someone shake me and I open my eyes.

"We need to be ready to run inside." Maddie tells me.

"Or else the group will be disqualified." Kalani says.

"If they didn't scratch it already." Kendall says.

"They did not." Kenzie says, "I'm sure of that."

"I'm so nervous!" I say.

"Me too!"

"Me three!"

"Me four!"

"Me five!"

We all laugh and feel the bus stop.

"Go!"

We take our stuff and run into the competition building. We soon find the dressing room and enter.

"So glad to see the rest of the team!"

Abby instructs us as I start taking off all of the makeup. 

Five minutes later, chaos rules the dressing room. I manage to get my hair and makeup ready, but I can't find the other earring.

"Does someone have an extra earring?!" I yell, freaking out.

"I know-- the blind leading the blind?"

"Can I please have a makeup wipe? Someone."

"Hold this, I don't have-- Did you bring your makeup bag?"

"No."

"I don't have any of my stuff!"

"Get off your butt and do so-something!"

"You're the one on your phone all the time!"

I find and earring on the floor and pick it up.

"Is this someone's?"

No one answers, so I put it on and do some final touches on my makeup.

"I'm not playing games! Give me the makeup now!"

We can clearly hear the EMCEE calling us. 

"Go get the makeup."

JoJo and I run into another room and take some more makeup. We go back and finish everything.

"Let's go! Come on!"

We all run backstage.

"ALDC, last call before disqualification."

We all go onstage and dance, after all the chaos, it actually feels like there's no sign of life.

•Awards•

JoJo's solo was third in the junior category and I'm pretty sure Nia placed on the teen category, but in the show the would make it seem like she didn't place at all, which is really sad.

"All right, junior groups-- only half a point separating second and first place." The Announcer says, "Second place overall, 'The Patriot', Candy Apples Dance Center!"

I'M SO SCARED!

"Are you guys ready for the top overall junior group of the day? 'No Sign Of Life', Abby Lee Dance Company! Stand on up!"

We all go receive the award, we were late and almost disqualified, but we still won! I don't want to live that ever again. 

"What studio are you from?"

"Abby Lee Dance Company!"

Going back to the dressing room, there was big, pink cake with a picture of us, and it said 'Hollywood or bust!'. 

I didn't really care, because it was delicious. 

Next stop, Australia.