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Week 10 Part 6 (Friday)

     I'm good at picking up choreography, I think. I hope the girls and maybe even Brady will help me before we go on the stage tomorrow. I stay behind with Ms. Abby and we work on my solo. I have this new trick that I've performed before, but I haven't mastered. It's a moving tilt.

     "Suck in your stomach, Lilly! Engage it!" Ms. Abby yells out.

     I'm already sucking it in as hard as I can, but I suck it in more. You need to get your abs more toned, Lilliana. Ms. Abby still thinks you're fat, and you know what, she's right. I finish up my solo, wanting to cry, but I don't have enough energy to cry and dance.

     The girls and Ms. Abby help me quickly pick up the choreography as we re-block the number, and it really isn't that hard to tackle. The only tough part will be remembering it in conjunction with the other parts of the number and remembering the new spacing. We run it once, and I luckily remember the new choreography.

     "All right, let's go! Everybody get your stuff, get on the bus," Ms. Abby yells out, and Pressley and I run out last to grab our items.

     I change out of my dance attire to some white sweats. I double-check everything in my suitcase is there, and I get up from my seat.

     As I'm about to start walking, Elliana approaches me and asks, "Busmates?"

     I nod and give a smile as I start rolling my suitcase to the front doors. As I walk out, I see Sarah and Ms. Michelle returning. They were in Studio C, so maybe they left and came back? But why are they here? They're not even competing.

     Sarah walks up alone and we say hello before she walks in. Maybe she's going to ask Ms. Abby for another chance. Elliana and I agree to make a video of the choreo at the hotel to send for Sarah for a last-case scenario.

     Immediately, like ten seconds after she walks in, Sarah walks out in tears. I know what happened. We all start crying a bit ourselves as she runs over to our mothers for comfort. We all decide to board the bus so that Ms. Abby won't see us crying. Mom gives her a small hug before Ms. Michelle comes out of her car and gives her a bigger one.

     "I hope she'll still come to the competition. We need her," Hannah points out.

     Sarah has the sassiest facials out of all of us, even sassier than Gia. The moms gang together to create some kind of plan to get Sarah to at least attend the competition. We all press our faces to the windows to see the commotion. Ms. Abby wheels out, seeming aloof and angry, and Mom and Ms. Tricia walk over to her.

     "We're hoping that you can compromise and let me take guardianship for Sarah temporarily," Mom suggests.

     Ms. Abby, seeming done with all this, replies, "No, I don't really- I'm doing a job this week. This is my livelihood. We're going to a competition, and I need to keep my focus on your daughter, on your son, and the group. It's not Bring a Friend to Work Day."

     "We'll keep Michelle away from you. I don't think anyone's gonna-" Ms. Tricia adds on, before being cut off by Ms. Abby.

     "Nope! Nope!" Ms. Abby screams, wheeling off to the coach bus.

     We all run off and engulf Sarah into a big hug before she joins her mom in the car. Sarah deserves to dance, Lilliana. You don't. You're a much worse dancer and your mother is a lot worse than her mother. You shouldn't be grateful that you're not pulled. You should be upset that you haven't been pulled.

     They don't drive off as we get back on the bus. I sit with Elliana on the bus. She manages to get the window seat first, so I'm stuck with the aisle seat. But at least I'll be able to get up easier in case I need to use the bathroom.