"Ready, Mads?" I ask.

Today we were once again at DWTS, today Maddie was going to perform with Brynn and Jaycee from Club Dance to the song 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow'.

She nods and I go to the audience with Mom and Kenzie.

~~~

"Let's get to the pyramid, shall we?" Abby asks, "On the bottom of the pyramid, JoJo. I think your feet look horrendeous, and you're not conscious of it."

She reveals the next headshot.

"Next we have Nia." Abby says, "Your dancing didn't stand out in the group routine. You weren't mesmerizing-- That's why you're here. So let's not have that happen again. And--"

Next headshot.

"--We have Mackenzie. You did well, but we kept correcting you on your eyes. You don't express yourself through your eyes." Abby explains and she reveals the next headshot, "And then, Maddie. Now, Maddie, you had the lead in the group routine, and I feel like everytime we do a group that you're the lead in, which is more often than not. You're automatically on top of the pyramid. It's time to knock you down a few pegs, and this is my way of knocking you down."

Now imagine trying to knock Abby down instead.

"Next is Kendall. You took innitiative in the group routine, you were great." Abby says as she reveals the top headshot, "And on top, we have Melanie. Even though your solo was second, you did a great job, even more because that's not your typical pretty lyrical dance. You also got in the group dance at the last second, and you did amazing. You're also back on the team."

Everyone claps.

This is what I've been waiting for, turn it up!

Melanie

Kendall    Maddie

Mackenzie     Nia     JoJo

"This week we're traveling to Escondido, California and we attending the New York Dance Experience. Now, this is actually our countdown to Nationals." Abby announces, "It's gonna start here and now. Our solos are going to go to the person on top of the pyramid, the second person on the pyramid, and the person on the bottom of it. Whoever does better, will proceed in the eliminations for a national solo."

"Wait, is Melanie on the same division than JoJo and Kendall?" Jess asks, "Not arguing, just asking."

"On this particular competition, yes, they'll all be competing head to head." Abby answers, "I would've given Melanie the solo next week, but she's leaving after the competition this weekend to Georgia to film the movie and she's coming back for Nationals."

"Nationals?" Jill asks, "How long is she going to be gone for?"

"Two weeks, and Nationals are three weeks away." Abby tells Jill, "But I plan her to come for the competitions to be in the group dances."

We thought the same thing, Abby. Also, glad to be back.

"Kendall-- Your solo is contemporary jazz, and it's called 'Immortal'." Abby says, "Melanie, your solo is jazz, it is called 'Not a Happily Ever After' and JoJo, I know you like Miley Cyrus, so you're doing a jazz piece, and the name of your music is 'She Can't Stop'." 

Jazz week, I guess.

"Now, the name of the group routine is 'Don't Fence Me In'." Abby tells us, "We're using a big prop: a barbed wire fence. Chain-link fence. And they have to throw their bodies up against it."

"I'm excited to see it." Jess adds.

First day of rehearsal, great, the prop's amazing, it's fun to work with it, and I'm finally back to Abby's 'good side'.

At home, same.

•Two Days To Competition•

"Let's start with your solo while the Moms arrive." Abby tells me and I get into my starting pose.

The song starts and I walk. I do a side aerial and pose. I do another side aerial and high-kick.

"Smile and walk, walk, walk!" Abby says as I continue.

As Abby said, I continue walking and posing to the rhythm of the song. I do a split and blow a kiss. I get up and hold my right leg up. Side aerial again, found out she really likes those, and pose. Next is a renverse tilt jump and following that is a front flip. I smile and go into some turns. After that, high-kick again. At the end, I do some more turns and go into a knee roll. And, final pose! It's just a reverence.

"KALANI!"

We look over to see Kalani coming into the room. Abby looks at me and mouths the word 'stay'. I sigh and go back to practice my solo again.

~~~

We all practice the group routine while Abby and Kira argue about Kalani not being in the group dance. 

"Now, back flip, Maddie and Nia, you're gonna catch her." Gianna tells us.

I do a back flip from the fence and they catch me.

"Great!" Gianna exclaims, "This is a really dangerous trick, she could fall on her head."

I jump from Maddie's arms and look at Gianna nervously.

Now I just gotta do that onstage, I could fall and everything would be over for me, literally.

"I quit." Abby says, "All right, we're finished for today. Everybody's finished for the day."

Kenzie hands me my dance bag and we all go outside. 

One day left.

•One Day To Competition•

"Okay, come on, let's go." Abby says and we start the group dance, "Make that attitude bigger in the back!"

Abby starts yelling corrections as we continue dancing. 

I do the back flip and Maddie and Nia catch me.

"Jump! Jump!" Abby yells and I jump back to the fence.

I climb over it and roll onto the floor. 

The rest of rehearsal was really hard, but we got through it, we still had something else at night, the 'Pitch Perfect 2' premiere.

After all of the photos on the red carpet, all of us girls went to see the movie. It was a great way to distract ourselves from everything.

•Competition Day•

We all get to the competition place and we find the BDA team.

"Looks like you have a new name." Jill says.

"Well, it isn't a new name, it's my name." Jeanette tells Jill.

Last week, Jeanette went to the competition with the name 'Candy Apples', the only reason why they were there and we didn't hear Cathy's obnoxious voice.

"I'll go get ready." I whisper to the girls and go to the dressing room.

There, I scream once I get inside. It's for nothing, just enjoying that I'm completely alone.

I change into my solo costume and start doing my hair as the rest comes in. I do my makep and Mom sits on front of me.

"I know this is the first time you go up against Kendall and JoJo on the show." Mom says, "But you've beat them both on other times, you've beaten everyone on this team except Nia and Kalani because they're much older, just go out there and do the best you can."

"Thanks." I smile, "I really want a solo at Nationals, so I'll try and do my best."

"Of course you'll do." Mom kisses my forehead, "You always do."

"All right, girls, come up on here." I walk up to Abby with Kendall and JoJo, "I just want you to know that you're auditioning for Nationals, to see who does a solo. May the best 11-12 year old win." Abby looks at me, "Or 8-year old."

We all chuckle by that comment and high-five.

We all go backstage.

"Okay, judges, we'll be going to number 601, 'She Can't Stop'." The EMCEE says and JoJo goes onstage.

Her costume's amazing, and the wig's cute.

Your love, your love is a wrecking ball, your love, your love is a wrecking ball. Your love, your love is a wrecking ball, your love, your love. Your love has wrecked me, for the ordinary...

She suddenly starts doing improv.

She forgot.

JoJo comes backstage and Kalani hugs her as she starts crying.

"I can't believe I just did that." JoJo cries, "Abby's going to kill me."

"No she's not." Kalani tells her.

"Yes, she is." JoJo says.

"Judges, we're moving on to number 602, 'Immortal'." The EMCEE says and Kendall goes onstage.

I am in the undefeatable chase. Take your guns  and bullets, watch them ricochet off my face. We are immortals, and I will reign, and I will reign. I'll get you, I'll get you, I'll get you down...

She leaves the stage after finishing her solo.

"Moving on is number 603, 'Not a Happily Ever After'." The EMCEE says and I go onstage.

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

I walk offstage and the girls greet me, Nia hands me my team jacket and we all go outside.

"So, I need to ask you in front of everyone," Abby starts, "What happened?"

"I didn't want to run off, 'cause that'd be worse," JoJo answers, "So it was just like a natural 'Your love,' and--"

"But do you understand, we would've liked to show off our choreography?" Abby asks.

C'mon Abby, it's not like the girl said 'I want to mess up my chance to perform at Nationals, I'll become Miss JoJo!'.

"I don't really like," JoJo tears up, "It was my favorite solo, and I really wanted to do good, but, I just don't know what happened." 

"Come here." Abby says and they hug.

After that, we go back to the dressing room and get ready for the group dance, and we go backstage.

"Next up is number 603, 'Don't Fence Me In'." The EMCEE says and we go onstage.

This time when you came around, I just wanted to break you down, I only wanted to watch you come apart. This time when you came to call I only wanted your guard to fall, I only wanted to shake your hidden heart. Can you blame me..?

~~~

"Let's start with our soloists today." The Announcer says as we all sit down, "The third place score, 'Immortal', Kendall from Abby Lee Dance Company."

We cheer as Kendall goes receive her award.

"Second place, Emma from Touch of Class." 

The girl goes receive her award.

JoJo and I hold hands.

"And our 2015 overall soloist-- Are you ready for this?" The Announcer asks, "Melanie, Abby Lee Dance Company!"

Everyone cheers as I go receive my award.

We all sit back down.

"The overall group-- The judges had it tough with this one. The second place score, 295 points, 'Run, Run, Run', Broadway Dance Academy!"

The BDA team go receive their award.

"All right, the overall group of the day, 'Don't Fence Me In', Abby Lee Dance Company!"

We receive the award and I smile.

I won first, I did everything, and now, I'm going to film the movie. Once I'm back for Nationals, I hope I have a solo and go up against Mariella.