Chloe, Nia, Kendall, Kenzie, Scarlett, Sarah and I were the the dancers at pyramid. The rest of the select team was still gone, and Maddie was in LA this week. 

"Rise to the occasion to be the best, be the favorite. All right, let's get to the pyramid. On the bottom of the pyramid, Scarlett. You weren't here with us last week. Next, Maddie, only because she's not here today. And next we have Chloe. Do you want to get that leg up higher that you're flexible for. But you bounced back."

I just ignore her as she continues talking.

Melanie

Kendall  Mackenzie  Sarah

Nia Chloe  Maddie Scarlett

"We are traveling to Shenandoah Valley where we'll attend Powerhouse. Dance Competition. Now, the group routine, which Maddie is in, is a musical theater piece titled 'Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves'. A tramp in theatre means something else, like Charlie Chaplin was a tramp. This week, for the first time ever, I have 5 solos. I'm looking for the child who can be my Maddie when Maddie's not here. The first solo is going to Scarlett, it's a lyrical piece called 'Almost Home' and you're going head to head against Melanie, who will have a contemporary piece called 'Opportunity', this is your opportunity to show me that you can be my Maddie on the category eight and under."

The other solos went to Kendall, Chloe and Nia. Group dance rehearsal was good today, and it was actually the only thing that we did today.

•Two Days To Competition•

"Turn, turn, stop. Scarlett don't look at me, look at yourself on the mirror." Abby tells Scarlett.

We were all in studio A and I had to watch Scarlett's solo rehearsal.

"Okay, Melanie, let's work with yours."

Scarlett goes to the back of the room and I stand in the middle.

"Your solo is called 'Opportunity'. You have the opportunity to go up against Scarlett and beat her, you have the opportunity to be the best one out there, are you going to live up to it, or will you choke?" 

After 20 minutes, we were just practicing the end.

"Front aerial, turn, turn, down to the floor and lay down. Great! Come over here."

I stand up and go stand in front of Abby as she smiles.

"You literally remember me completely of Maddie when she was your age, and that makes me excited." She says and I smile. 

We both leave and go to the Dancer's Den.

"James was looking for you earlier." Brooke (K) says as soon as we enter.

"I've been busy the whole time I've been here today." I tell her and sit down, "Did he say for what?"

"No, but I think that it was for something for the showcase." Brooke says.

"What is really the showcase?" Scarlett asks and Brooke and I look at each other.

"The showcase is an event where we show all of the stuff we've been working with throughout the year." I tell her, "They also sometimes give awards for different stuff, and we get to dance with all of our friends. I'm pretty excited."

"Sounds cool." Scarlett says.

"It isn't cool, it's epic!" Brooke adds, "But also really stressful."

"Group rehearsal for the show." I hear Kenzie say and I stand up.

"Right now?" I ask and she nods, "I just wanted a break."

"After rehearsal we're leaving, Mom said we were going to get ice cream." Kenzie says and I smile.

"Yes!" I yell and they all look at me, "Huh huh, sorry."

We enter studio A and start with the rehearsal.

~~~

I put my street clothes over my dance clothes and close my dance bag. I take it and go to the entrance where Mom was with Maddie.

"Where's Kenzie?" I ask.

"She had some tap stuff to do." Maddie says and I laugh.

"Tap stuff." I say and she laughs.

"What are you laughing about?" Kenzie asks walking towards us.

We go outside and walk towards the car.

"I call shotgun!" Maddie says.

"You're the only one that can be shotgun." Mom says, "For now."

"That will be my seat soon." Kenzie says and Maddie looks at her. 

"In your dreams sista'." Maddie says.

We all get inside and Mom starts driving.

"So James told me that he was looking for Melanie today." Mom says.

"Brooke told me, but I didn't have any time." I tell her, "What did he want?"

"He said that he was looking for someone to perform at the showcase, because Kenzie doesn't want to." Mom says.

"It would just be too weird." Kenzie says laughing.

"Wait wait wait, he wants me to sing at the showcase?" I ask.

"Cool! Now both of my sisters could be singers!" Maddie exclaims, "And I'll be Hannah Montana, living a double life!"

"You're crazy." Kenzie tells Maddie.

"Yeah, but what do you think?" Mom asks me.

"It sounds fun." I say.

Soon, we arrive to the 'Ice Cream Place', let's call it like that. We get off and enter.

"I'll take strawberry!" Kenzie exclaims.

"Strawberry? I prefer vanilla, thank you so much." Maddie says.

"You're both so boring, I want chocolate, but not just chocolate." I say, "I want rocky road!"

We get our ice cream and sit on a table.

"What are you most excited for this week?" Mom asks us as we eat.

"The group dance, it is so much fun and so different, and Kendall has the spotlight on her this week." Maddie tells us.

"I'm most excited for all of the solos." Kenzie adds.

"I think I'm most excited for my solo, because I'm going against Scarlett and Abby told me that I remembered her of Mads when she was younger." I say and eat some more ice cream.

"I'm really glad you're all enjoying it, even though the last couple of months have been really stressful because of the show" Mom says.

"Yeah, but I'm glad things are kinda back to normal." Maddie says and finishes her ice cream, "The new normal."

"What do you think about Sarah dancing with us?" Kenzie asks.

"She's an amazing dancer and really sweet, but her Mom ruins everything." Mom says and I nod.

"Christy just says everything she has on mind." I say and we all laugh.

We all finish our ice creams and leave.

•Competition Day•

"Where's my pink lipstick?"

"Do you have another bobby pin?"

"Warm up, warm up!"

I close my eyes and inhale. Just breathe Mel. I go change into my solo costume
I do my makeup and then do my hair.

"Are you nervous?" Kenzie asks as I spray my hair.

"I think that as long as I don't see Scarlett I--" say but suddenly stop when I see, you know, Scarlett coming into the dressing room.

I knew it was going to be a hard competition this week, Scarlett is a great dancer, and we know that Abby wants some good competition between the two of us. Her costume was also really cool. This was going to be even harder.

"Girls come over here." Abby says and we all walk over to her and I look at the other girls' costumes. Kendall has a pretty typical Maddie costume, Nia is dressed up LIKE A DOG and Chloe is basically an ALDC billboard.

"Today is gonna dictate your future. The Abby Lee Dance Company should be one, two, three today. Understood? Who has what is need to be number one? Okay, let's go!"

We all go backstage and I start rehearsing.

"I think you're gonna get tired if you keep doing that." Scarlett says as I turn and I stop.

"I just want to be on top of my game, I've been here for four seasons and I'm not slowing down and getting second." I tell her.

"Just saying." Scarlett says and I smile.

"Okay, so are you next?" I ask.

"Yeah, my first solo for Abby, I'm nervous." Scarlett says.

"Don't be nervous, just have fun." I say and she smiles.

"Judges, next up is act number 59, this is a mini lyrical solo, please welcome Scarlett with 'Almost Home'." The announcer says and Scarlett goes on stage.

I've seen the light in the sky
In the skies are like fireflies
Burning bright, just to vanish in the dark

I've held hope in my two hands
That there would be another chance
To find the kingdom, I'm believing in my heart
Cause underneath the good there's something greater than you know

When you're almost there
And you're almost home
Just open up your eyes and go, go
When you're almost there, almost home
Know you're not alone
You're almost home

When you run, run so far
You've forgotten who you are
Where you're from, it's like some other universe
You count your steps, like they're regrets
You catch one breath then lose the rest
Wrong is right, right is left
And there's nowhere left to turn

So don't believe in everything
You think, you think you know

When you're almost there
And you're almost home
Just open up your eyes and go, go
When you're almost there, almost home
Know you're not alone
You're almost home

When you let your heart be the compass
You won't get lost, not if you trust it
When you hear the sound of the trumpet
Louder than ever before

Oh, when you're almost there
Almost home
Just open up your eyes and go, go
Cause you're almost there
Almost home
Know you're not alone
You're almost home

When you're almost there
Almost home
Just open up your eyes and go, go
Almost there
You're almost home
Know you're not alone
You're almost home

Everything goes great until she falls from her last turns and improvises the ending. We cheer as she comes backstage, but then she runs off.

"Next up is act number 60, this is Melanie with 'Opportunity'." The announcer says.

"I'll go talk with her, you go and dance now." Chloe tells me and I nod.

I go on stage and lay on the floor doing my starting pose and smile.

Under the glow of the very bright lights
I turn my face towards the warm night sky
And I am not afraid of a thousand eyes
When they're above five hundred smiles

Oh I used to think (she used to think)
What wouldn't I give (what wouldn't she give)
For a moment like this? (For a moment like this?)
This moment this gift

Oh, now look at me and this opportunity
Is standing right in front of me
But one thing I know it's only part luck and so
I'm putting on my best show
Under the spotlight I'm starting my life
Big dreams becoming real tonight
So look at me and this opportunity
You're witnessing my moment, you see?

Now I find myself here, and it's time
Yes this is real, and it's a gold-mine
I'm not afraid to fly
When it's above five hundred smiles
Oh I used to think (she used to think)
What wouldn't I give (what wouldn't she give)
For a moment like this?
This moment, this gift (for a moment like this?)

Oh, now look at me and this opportunity
Is standing right in front of me
One thing I know it's only part luck and so
I'm putting on my best show
Under the spotlight I'm starting my life

Big dreams becoming real tonight
So, look at me and this opportunity
You're witnessing my moment, you see?
My big opportunity
I won't waste it, I guarantee

Everyone cheers as I leave the stage and look for Chloe and Scarlett, but I don't find them and go to the dressing room. I change into the group dance costume and the rest then comes, including Chloe and Scarlett.

We go and perform the group dance and after a couple hours we go on stage for awards.

"All right ladies and gentlemen, we'll start with the awards. Starting with our mini solos. In fifth place  with a score of 257.3 points is act number 40, this is Miss Isla with 'I'm Outta Here'."

Maddie holds my hand and I close my eyes.

"In third place with a score of 272 points is act number 59, this is Miss Scarlett with 'Almost Home'."

Scarlett stands up and goes receive her award.

"And in first place with a score of 292 points is act number 60, this is Miss Melanie with 'Opportunity'."

I stand up and go receive my award. Scarlett and I sit down together and wait for the preteen solos. Nia was fourth, Chloe was second and Kendall was first.

"Our group awards. In second place, with a score of 259.6 points, 'Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy' from Skane School of Dance. Your highest-scoring group routine with a score of 282.4 points, 'Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves'."

We go receive the award and celebrate.