The Male prodigy(Slow updates)

Chapter 21: The Aftermath of the Competition

The final curtains closed, and the auditorium lights slowly turned back on, revealing an atmosphere charged with excitement and anticipation. The judge stood at center stage, armed with a microphone and a golden envelope that held the fate of each dancer.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, the moment we've all been waiting for – announcing the winners for this year's dance competition!" The announcer's voice echoed throughout the auditorium. The dancers anxiously waited in their respective groups or pairs backstage.

"In the teen division, we have Chloe from Abby Lee Dance Company, who has placed fifth," the judge continued. Abby Lee Miller's face fell slightly; Chloe could feel her own disappointment building.

"However," the judge continued with a sense of enthusiasm, "in first place...Kalani!" The teen division winner entered, beaming with pride. Kalani's victory only fueled Abby's anger. Kalani was not part of her team – yet – but rumors floated that she would soon join ranks as a member of Abby Lee Dance Company.

As they moved on to announce winners in the petite junior division, Mackenzie crossed her fingers and held her breath. "In second place...Mackenzie!" Relieved and proud, Mackenzie walked forward to accept her trophy. Despite not winning first place, Abby displayed a mix of empathy and understanding; she knew that Mackenzie had been dealing with her mother's drama over the past week.

Last but not least, they announced the junior duet division winners. As Maddie and Ethan nervously awaited their results backstage, a ripple of applause confirmed it: "First place goes to...Maddie and Ethan!" Their eyes lit up as they rushed onto the stage to collect their gold trophies.

Abby couldn't contain her elation. Her talented duo had taken home first prize in their division – a true reflection of exceptional teamwork and technique. Their success brought Abby to her feet, cheering and clapping proudly as all of the dancers gathered back on stage for a final group picture.

Behind-the-scenes tensions seemed to fade temporarily as dancers congratulated one another, hugging and snapping candid photos to commemorate this moment.

As the awards ceremony came to a close, the dancers and their families returned to the dressing room, a mixture of pride, relief, and exhaustion in their eyes. The atmosphere in the room was tense as everyone knew that Abby Lee Miller wasn't pleased with the team's overall performance.

Chloe, still holding her 5th place trophy for her solo, hesitated at the entrance of the dressing room. Before she could step inside, Abby Lee Miller's booming voice stopped her in her tracks. "Chloe, seriously?! 5th place? This is completely unacceptable! If you want to stay on this team, you need to push yourself harder!"

Tears welled up in Chloe's eyes as her mother, Christi, immediately stepped forward in defense of her daughter. "Abby! Give her a break! She's worked incredibly hard!"

Sensing that things were about to erupt between Abby and Christi, Ethan took control of the situation by rounding up the rest of the young dancers. Amidst all the chaos and screaming between their dance teacher and one of their mothers, he managed to usher them out of the room and into a quieter area where they could have some semblance of normalcy.

Even though Ethan felt responsible for his team members and protective over their well-being, he couldn't shake his own feelings of disappointment; despite having just won 1st place in the junior duet division with Maddie. The excitement of their victory was overshadowed by Abby's fury and it seemed unlikely that she would acknowledge or celebrate their accomplishment anytime soon.

As Abby and Christi continued to clash in the dressing room with raised voices and unabashed fury, Ethan rallied Maddie and other dancers outside. He tried his best to refocus their attention on enjoying each other's company rather than allowing Abby's tirade inside to infect their spirits.

Ethan shepherded the girls towards the bus, glancing back at the dressing room door occasionally. He could still hear Christi's shouting match with Abby echoing down the hallway. The other moms had opted to stay behind, lending their support to Christi in her crusade for justice. All of their faces had been etched with concern - concern for their kids and for each other.

As they boarded the bus, it was evident that the long day had taken its toll on everyone. The reality of how little sleep they'd had, combined with the emotionally charged atmosphere, made their exhaustion palpable. Ethan helped each girl find a seat and made sure they were comfortable.

Within minutes, it seemed as though all the kids were asleep. Brooke and Maddie had nestled themselves on either side of Ethan, their heads resting on his shoulders. Mackenzie was sprawled across his chest, her arms wrapped around him tightly.

Ethan couldn't help feeling upset that he hadn't had a chance to say goodbye to Kalani and congratulate her on her win. He knew how hard she'd worked for it, and he wanted nothing more than to share in her moment of triumph.

But the scene unfolding in the dressing room made that impossible.

He sighed quietly, trying not to disturb the sleeping girls around him. They were all so young, and though they were growing up fast in this high-pressure world Abby was helping to create, he knew they still needed moments like these - moments of peace and comfort amidst all the chaos.

An hour had passed since they'd left the dressing room. The incessant screaming had finally ceased, replaced by an eerie silence that echoed through the hallways. Still seated on the bus amidst his slumbering companions, Ethan wondered what was happening behind those closed doors.

He couldn't shake his disappointment about not being able to share Kalani's moment with her. It was an unfortunate side effect of the uncontrollable whirlwind that was their dance world. But the sleeping girls around him served as a reminder of just how important his role as their protector and support system truly was.

Though he couldn't be there for Kalani in her moment of triumph, he’d be there for all of them, through thick and thin. Sometimes, that’s just what a family does.

1032 words