"Isn't it weird how, like, Kalani isn't here?" Maddie asks.

We were all at the studio stretching, and there's three people missing, Kira, Kalani, and Abby. Not surprised, but at the same time I am, I need Kalani to help me get through the day.

"She was crying with us backstage." Kendall says, "And she told us that that dance was probably the last one she was ever going to do with us." 

"What I'm more curious about is Abby." Maddie adds, "I wonder if she's gonna show up today."

"I just think that she has so much going on with the new studio and everything." Kendall tells us, "Like, it's overwhelming to her."

"So, I mean, the competition this week was not, like, the perfect competition." JoJo says. 

"Far from that." I add, "It wasn't just not winning, but it was also the fight. It's hard to see Kalani cry, because we never see her cry."

"Stop!" I hear Maddie yell and look over to her, "You're the most annoying little girl!"

Kenzie laughs at Maddie.

"Honestly, I hope Abby shows up." Kendall finishes.

"Are you sure?" I laugh.

"Kinda." Kendall answers, "It's just weird without her."

"It is still weird with her, but I get your point." Kenzie says.

"By the way, when are you leaving for Georgia?" Nia asks, looking at me.

"In three weeks." I say, "Hopefully, if Abby still isn't mad at me, she'll allow me to be in the group dances." 

"Just tell me if they're real chipmunks." JoJo comments.

"They're not, but okay." I answer.

"They should." Maddie says.

"Really?" I ask, "Real-life singing chipmunks that wear human clothes and are pop-stars?" 

"Forget about that." Kendall says.

"Come on in." We hear Gianna say and we enter the Studio 'A', where the Moms were.

"So what is going on?" Jill asks as we start warming up.

"Well, I'm just warming them up now." Gianna answers.

"Have you spoken to Abby?" Gianna shakes her head, "But do you know where we're going this week?"

"We're going to Sheer Talent, I know it's solo week." Gianna announces, "So everyone has a solo and there's no group."

I do LOVE solo week.

"Another thing," Gianna says as the Moms are about to leave, "Maddie is off probation, she's back on the team.

Everyone claps and the Moms leave.

~~~

"Your Love's Like, it's about a girl, she has this huge crush but she is way too shy to confess her feelings." Gianna explains my solo, "So she decides to write a love letter, and you're going to dance with it."

I take the letter and get on my starting position, that is me laying on my stomach, pretending to write on it.

As soon as the singer starts I slowly stand up and do my first move, when it says 'And I can't breathe' I pretend to get excited over something I read on the letter, next is a tilt and a kneedrop. After that I bring my leg up as I keep looking at the letter. I bring the letter close to my chest and sigh. When it goes 'Your Love's Like', I start doing some turns. I do the next move, I lie there for a moment and then get up. I run and do a front aerial. I run and do a grand jeté and do an arabesque. At the end I do some turns and roll onto the floor, I'm supposed to literally make a paper airplane ONSTAGE and then throw it offstage, and lie on the floor.

"Any questions?" Gianna asks as I stand up and I nod, "What is it?"

"How do you make a paper airplane?" I ask, "I honestly have no idea."

I spent the rest of the rehearsals sitting on the corner of the studio with a thousand papers. Trying to make a perfect plane, even more if the letter's supposed to be heart-shaped.

That's also how I spent my time back home.

•Two Days To Competition•

"Yeah, I'll call Mom, she'll tell Dave, they'll come and fix everything because this is just a misunderstanding, then we'll go home and everything will be perfect." I read my lines for the movie.

"Why can't you help for once?" JoJo asks, reading the other lines.

"I've helped the whole time and don't forget that I'm here just because I couldn't stay home alone!" I yell.

"Melanie, we're in the middle of rehearsal." Gianna says looking at me, "Lower your voice please." 

"Sorry." I apologize and put everything away.

"So I guess your character argues, a lot." JoJo whispers.

"Not a lot, but still." I tell her.

Rehearsal today was calm, obviously because Abby isn't here, but besides that, nothing really did happen. Only that Kenzie is super excited about her solo this week, and now that I remember, I'm going up against her this week. Anything's possible.

•One Day To Competition•

One more day 'til competition and still no Abby. I'm not really shocked about it but again, where in the world is Abby Lee Miller?

That's what your love's like

I do my ending pose and everyone claps. 

Gianna decided to make a little show to show the Moms all of the solos she's working on this week alone.

I take the paper airplane and sit on the floor and Kenzie starts performing her solo.

"Do you know how to do it?" Maddie asks, sitting beside me.

"Finally." I tell her.

"Still think that's kind of a weird prop." Maddie tells me.

"I know." I agree and she leaves.

Again, simple day, but Maddie stayed up all night practicing her solo, I know it because I heard some glass shatter at two in the morning, which I think that came from her doing turns.

•Competition Day•

We were all standing around Gianna, waiting for the final instructions.

"The last two soloists that have won are Mackenzie and Kalani, right?" Gianna asks, "Which wasn't last week. None of the solos won last week, right? We need to change that this week. Nationals is too close, and this is your shot. I said this time and time again and I'll say it again--"

Mom gives me the letter/prop for my solo, it was pink by the way.

"Even though she's not here, she's gonna see these dances." Gianna tells us, "She's gonna see every move you make. Keep that in mind. Ready guys?"

Kenzie tosses me my team jacket and I run outside to catch up with her. We both go backstage and wait to be called.

"All right, number 54, junior solo with 'Your Love's Like'." The EMCEE says and I go onstage.

Sometimes life gets bitter
I get strung out, caught in the middle
And I can't breathe
I just need a little taste of paradise
I know a place I can escape to
Where I go, troubles never break through
The grass is greener, my head is clearer
I got peace of mind when I fall into your eyes

Your love's like breathing in the salty air
Of summer on a private island just for me
Your love's like the feeling I get
When my favorite songs spinnin' in my head
Keep it play playin' on repeat
It's like flowers in the spring time
Every day is Valentine's
So good it's hard to describe
It's like Paris after midnight,
Dancing in the moonlight
That what your love,
That's what your love's like
That's what your love,
That's what your love's like
That's what your love,
That's what your love's like

Stop signs, I keep on runnin' into
Red lights make me wanna scream like
Why can't it just be only you and me all the time
In a world no one can find

Your love's like breathing in the salty air
Of summer on a private island just for me
Your love's like the feeling I get
When my favorite songs spinnin' in my head
Keep it play playin' on repeat
It's like flowers in the spring time
Every day is Valentine's
So good it's hard to describe
It's like Paris after midnight,
Dancing in the moonlight
That what your love,
That's what your love's like
That's what your love,
That's what your love's like
That's what your love,
That's what your love's like

When life has left me numb
And I need a pick me up
There's no better rush than your love
Your love, your love

Your love's like breathing in the salty air
Of summer on a private island just for me
Your love's like the feeling I get
When my favorite songs spinnin' in my head
Keep it play playin' on repeat
It's like walking on the ceiling
Can't compare the feeling
Better than I could ever describe
It's like soaking in the sunrise
Not a worry on my mind
That's what your love,
That's what your love's like
That's what your love,
That's what your love's like
That's what your love,
That's what your love's like
That's what your love,
That's what your love's like
That's what your love's like

The paper plane flies into the left wing, where Kenzie catches it, and I lay on the floor. Everyone starts cheering as I leave the stage and Kenzie hugs me, but she had to go onstage.

"All right, next up. Number 55, junior solo with 'Superstar'." The EMCEE says and Kenzie goes onstage.

I unfold the paper plane and throw it to a trashcan near there. I take a water bottle and start taking sips of it as Kenzie continues with her solo.

As soon as she finishes, I run and hug her.

"I fell!" Kenzie says.

"I didn't see it." Maddie hugs her, "You were good, it was funny."

Maddie leaves and Kenzie stares at her.

I chuckle and follow Maddie. I hang out with Maddie and Kalani while the rest go in, and soon is Maddie's turn, also the last one of the day.

These days I'm having trouble dreaming, can't keep my feet on solid ground. My hopes are shaking, barely breathing, and tears replace my joyful sounds. And I turn to you...

~~~

"Starting with junior solos." The Announcer says, "In third place, entry number 6, 'Little Me'."

A girl goes receive her award and I take Kenzie's hand.

"In first place there was a tie." The Announcer tells everyone, "The judges had a hard time choosing between these two amazing dances and incredible dancers--"

Just tell already!

"In second place, separated by one point, is entry number 55, 'Superstar'."

Kenzie goes receive her award.

"First place in the junior solo category goes to entry number 54, 'Your Love's Like'." 

I go receive my award and we all bow to the crowd. We all sit back down and wait for the next category to be announced.

"Next, we have the preteen solo category." The Announcer says, "Entry number 54, 'Welcome to my Life'." 

Kendall goes receive her award.

"First place goes to entry number 53, 'Golden Girl'."

We all cheer as Maddie goes receive her award, two more.

"Next we have the teen solo category." 

Nia and Kalani, have a good feeling about this, except Nia's costume, maybe.

"Third place goes to entry number 17, 'Possibility'. Second place goes to entry number 56, 'House of Voodoo'."

Nia's second!

"And first place goes to entry number 57, 'Reign'."

Kalani goes receive her award and after award we celebrated.

Three first place wins, two second place, and one third place, clean sweep if you ask me.

"We got a clean sweep!" Mom exclaims as soon as we step foot on the dressing room.

"I think Abby would be proud of you guys, too." Gianna adds as Mom hugs me.

I start taking off my makeup.

"Yeah, Maddie, why don't you call Abby?" Mom asks, "From your phone, not from my phone, 'cause she won't answer if it is from my phone."

"Hopefully she isn't mad at me anymore." Maddie says.

"I don't think so, after all you're back on the team." Kenzie tells Maddie as her phone rings.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Miss Abby." 

"Hey babydoll, how are you?"

Guess Maddie's back to the number one spot.

"I'm good, how are you?"

"I'm okay."

"We just finished awards, and we got a clean sweep."

"A clean sweep."

"We missed you this week, and hopefully we'll see you soon." 

"All right, well you won."

"Yeah, finally."

After the call, all of us girls went outside to take some pictures, mine were for Instagram. 

The Moms, they argued. Jill and Holly to be exact.

This was a way better week than last one, I can't wait what happens on Wednesday.