"And on top of the pyramid, we have Melanie."

Everyone claps.

"I gotta say this, I'm proud of the dancer you've become." Abby says and I hug her.

Melanie

Maddie     Kendall    Kalani

Nia      Mackenzie     JoJo

There were going to be four solos, two aired solos, Kendall's 'This Is Major' and JoJo's 'Straighten Up', and two unaired solos, Kenzie's 'Disco Dude' and my solo 'Need No Man'. My solo is a musical theater piece, and it's interesting. The solo isn't that old, it was the other dance that I could do at the 2014 Showcase besides the tap solo.

The group dance was called 'Platinum', and Kenzie wasn't going to be on it. 

"Let me get to the competition, the competition is Dance Kids USA, it is judges by kids."

All the moms start murmuring.

Sounds cool! Kids judging kids! Wait, do they know about this? Oh oh.

The Moms leave and we start with rehearsal. It was pretty good today, including the fact that I'm front and center on most of the routine. 

•Two Days To Competition•

"I'm starting to get tired of going back and forth between LA and Pittsburgh." Kenzie says as we stretch.

"Same." I add.

"Just a couple weeks more and the new studio will be ready, just wait." Maddie says.

"Yeah--"

"Melanie!"

"Gotta go." I say standing up.

I walk up to the middle of the room and start my solo.

I know, this isn't my typical kind of solo.

"Great, can you call Mackenzie in now?" Abby asks and I nod, "Your facials were amazing, and the technique was great, but we need to remember that the competition is judged by kids. Hopefully they like musical theater."

I laugh and call Kenzie.

Later, Kendall, Kenzie and I were watching JoJo as she did her solo, and it was so cool, but so hard and creepy at the same time.

"That dance could be a winning number." Kenzie says.

"If she doesn't fall and get hurt." I say, "I hope that doesn't happen."

"Yeah." Kenzie agrees, "But it looks fun!"

"And you're gonna dance on a wig." I tell her, "That's also fun."

Abby suddenly yells at JoJo and we all look over to her.

"Gianna, Kalani should be the one doing the solo." Abby tells Gianna and looks at JoJo, "Get your act together. You don't have your act together. You're just schlepping through things--"

I notice Kendall laughing and I clear my throat, making her look at me. I mouth the word 'stop'. She shrugs and we look back at Abby.

"--Now all these faces you're doing, you're not focusing on the three people judging. Your head's all over the place. This is a very important routine. It can be make it or break it."

And she went back to that old phrase.

They start working with the solo again and we watch JoJo.

She must be really good to be dancing in that, because it looks really hard. 

•One Day To Competition•

Today we were going to see the ALDC LA studio for the first time. We all get off our cars and walk towards the entrance, back entrance, or whatever. 

"Hello!" Abby says as she opens the doors.

"We're so excited!" Mom exclaims.

"Okay, I'm gonna take the girls in first." Abby says and we cheer as we enter, "I don't want any jaded opinions first."

We all enter and start walking around the empty and dirty building.

"Okay, so there's bleachers all here for everyone to sit and watch. So, think of colors 'cause I have to pick paint today."

"Ooh, we can paint for you." Kendall suggests.

"No you're not painting for me." Abby tells us, "We can pick the paint colors."

"I'm good at painting." JoJo adds.

"All right." Abby says as we continue walking and I laugh.

"You're it!" Kenzie says touching my back.

"Hey!" I say and Kenzie runs away.

"Girls! No running!"

"You're it!" I exclaims touching Kalani's arm.

I run away and the rest of the girls follow me.

"All right, I'm gonna call your Mothers inside."

I run into another room with Maddie and lock the door.

"These are--" Maddie says and I turn around, "The super ugly and dirty bathrooms."

"Oh, but we need to stay in here until the game's over." I say and sit on the sink.

"I don't think you should--"

The sink falls and I go with it. Maddie gasps and bursts out laughing. I cross my arms and start laughing too.

"What happened in there?" We hear Gia ask.

"Um, nothing!" Maddie says, "Let's get out now and not say anything."

I stand up and walk up to her.

"Pinky promise?" I ask and stand up my finger.

"Pinky promise." Maddie says and we pinky-promise.

We open the door and run outside.

"You're it!" I hear Nia say and notice that she touched Maddie.

"No, no, no, you are not touching me!" I yell and run away.

That was one of the greatest games ever, but it had to end, soon we had to leave the studio and get ready for the competition.

•Competition Day•

I do my final pose of my solo and everyone cheers as I leave the stage.

All of the solos had already gone onstage, I was the last ALDC soloist of the day. 

We all go on front of the dressing room and I start taking off my makeup.

"You all right?"

"YES!"

I know Kendall's upset, but she shouldn't talk  to Jill that way, but again, who am I to judge?

"If you cry, you're doing a thousand push-ups." Abby says, "I can't even look at this." 

"She's not." Jill says, "She's not."

I throw the wipes away and start undoing my hair.

"It was everything. Everybody rushes me!"

We all go into the dressing room and get into the group dance costumes. We go backstage and wait to go in.

"Please welcome to the stage, 'Platinum'." The EMCEE says and we go onstage.

•Awards•

"Starting with the junior solo category. Fifth place goes to act number 28, 'This Is Major'." The Announcer says and Kendall goes receive her award, "Fourth place goes to act number 33, 'Disco Dude'."

Kenzie for receive her award and JoJo and I hold hands.

"Third place goes to act number 32, 'Suspended'. Second place goes to act number 39, 'Need No Man'."

I smile and go receive my award.

"And first overall goes to act number 54, 'Untouchable'."

We all go sit back down.

"Now we're moving into our overalls for small groups." The Announcer says, "Second overall, goes to act number 5, 'Down By The River'. And first overall goes to act number 55, 'Platinum'."

Now we went platinum, I think we'll be able to keep it that way back at Pittsburgh.