BIANCA'S POV
this morning my mom let my sister and i stop at clean juice. lately i've been obsessed with acai bowls after getting some last time we were in new york.
i wore a blue aldc sports bra with black shorts. my hair was in two french braids as we walked in the studio. i sat beside maddie as i took my hoodie off.
"ooohhh can i have some?" maddie asked looking at my food. "yeah, it's a strawberry smoothie and a dragon fruit acai bow." i told her and she nodded taking a bite
"that's really good- oh my gosh." she looked amazed as she tried it "where is this from?"
"clean juice, it's like walking distance from my house. next time you come over we'll get some." i told her and she heavily agreed taking another sip
what slightly confused me was when peyton walked in with her mom getting ready to head in the studio with us. i'm not the biggest fan of peyton, mainly because she and her mom don't like me, my sister or my mom.
something about abby giving official spots to "strangers" and special treatment and cause of that she isn't the nicest to me and birdie.
i put my turners and knee pads on and followed the girls in the studio. "i wanna talk about, our win up against cathy, the wicked witch. and we won the high score. so we won, a perfect ten. ten new routines in a row, ten competitions in a row undefeated." abby said proudly. she quickly glazed over the fact fallon wasn't here before moving onto pyramid.
in the middle of pyramid a fight broke out between leslie and abby about peyton's break down at the beginning of the season. peyton walked out, then leslie them abby. we all just talked a little before they all came back in.
Bianca
Chloe, Maddie, Kendall
Birdie, Payton, Nia, Mackenzie
"and on top of the pyramid, the lead in the winning group and overall solo, is bianca." she exclaimed and i smiled "you received not only one award, but three. the technique award, the moving award and the overall high score solo. and your duet with chloe was first in duet/trios."
i'm very proud of myself i have to say. my sister high fived me proud as well.
"we're attending a new competition this weekend. world class talent competition in rockville, maryland. now you can all see that leslie is here, and her daughter, peyton . you were brought on because I had an idea, a concept, a piece that i wanna do and i needed somebody to be my lead. we are going
our version of kinky boots." once abby said her last sentence the moms cheered louder then they've ever had a pyramid
"isn't kinky boots about drag queens?" nia asked and it was.
everyone was in the group this week and it was called lift you up. it was about confidence, showbiz and performing. she also had 5 solos. oh god.
"the zieglers, and the nolets will be competing against each other. all four head to head. now they've competed against each other in there own categories. so we're putting them all up for a showdown." abby told us, a little surprising but i guess the age divisions are different at this competition.
kenzie was doing maddie's old solo, cry and maddie was doing a tap solo called the game of love.
"birdie you are competing a lyrical solo called rise up. bianca you are doing a solo in the specialty category called rule the world." she told us and we nodded.
the moms went upstairs afterwards and after warming up we started the group. i was so happy it was musical theater and it was also quite sassy.
"bianca finally gets to do a musical theater group!" maddie cheered making me smile
"we're you bummed you weren't in the last one?" abby asked me
"super bummed. but what made up for it was our duet." i smiled bumping chloe's hip.
~~
once the group was over we started solos. abby was making it seem that maddie and i were competing against chloe when really she was in teen and we were in juniors. we were only competing against each other in the overalls.
after maddie and chloe it was my turn to learn my solo. the music was very mysterious. "ok bianca stretch out your back cause there's a lot of flexibility."
we didn't finish my dance since all the movements had to be precise and she wanted them to be clean from the start.
once i was done i took a break while birdie went in.
BIRDIE POV
i went in after my sister and started my solo. it was lyrical and really pretty. it was really mature and i was very happy with it.
there was a lot of technique that needed to be perfect and a lot of emotion. she put some turn combinations in after having me do my best ones.
"pretty and clean tilts ok? do it again but slow." abby said and i did so. i think she wanted to see my leg strength. "a little wobbly on your supporting leg. work on it. let's continue we're almost done"
we ended up finishing it and would clean it tomorrow
TWO DAYS TILL COMPETITION
"momma!" my sister yelled running down the stairs
"yes bianca?" she asked from across the counter from me. she was packing us and my brothers snacks while i finished some homework while already in my dance clothes.
"can we please stop and get an açaí bowl?" she asked pleading
"what's your obsession with those lately?" blake asked her while texting some one
"have you ever had one?" she asked and he shook his head no "then you can't speak."
"sorry babe but melissa's taking you guys to dance." she told us
"why aren't you?" i asked. not upset melissa's taking us but confused since she hasn't mentioned it.
"i have a few meetings that i can't reschedule. i'll be there later and if not i'll pick you guys up." she told us handing bianca our lulu bag of snacks
"blake why are you texting maddie?" bianca said horrified peaking over blake's shoulder
"i'm not- get out my business." he said pushing her away
"since when we're you two friends?" she asked with her arms crossed
"we've talked a little when she comes over and waits for you. she's cool, invite her over more." he said and she rolled her eyes
"more? maddie and kenzie are here like everyday. it's rare that there not or these two are at there hosue." brandon said while helping feed bowie
"girls! melissa is outside grab your stuff!" my dad called from his office. his office window faces the driveway so i'm sure he saw her car
"my sweet twin. i'll help you with your dance bag." blake said getting up way to quick.
"nice try blake. you gotta pack your stuff for hockey. your dad fixed your stick." my mom said opening her computer
"ha- loser." bianca cheered and went off to her bag
"you don't like kenzie right?" i asked my twin. he shook his head
"kenzies cool. she's good at playing mario party. but like her? ew no." he said getting up as well making me thank the lord.
i grabbed my dance bag from the couch and slipped on my uggs. my sister jumped off the last two steps of the stairs with her bag and hoodie on along with her air forces.
after saying our goodbyes we made our way to melissa's minivan. bianca opened the door and immediately cheered. too loud.
"madison i will for ever love you!" bianca cheered. i looked seeing maddie hand her an açaí bowl. i laughed and crawled in the back seats with kenzie
"i assumed you guys didn't eat, maddie said you love those bowls so we picked them up real fast." melissa told us
"thank you so much."
BIANCA POV
once we got to the studio i had over half of my bowl finished and i sat with maddie in the den. "have you been texting my brother?" i asked her
"whatttt? who said that. he's lying." she said to quickly
"i seen him texting you this morning. you have a very weird taste in guys." i told her taking the last few bites.
"your one to talk. lucas ring any bells?" she said and i gasped standing up
"me and lucas are friends. and he's not your brother." i said tossing my empty bowl away
"would you like me to stop talking to blake?" she asked as we put our turners on
"no i honestly don't care." i shrugged.
~~
after running solos for a little, we started rehearsing the group. it was still pretty messy. i don't know how this number is gonna win.
"alright now listen to me. this is the first group dance that we're doing, that maddie and bianca aren't the leads. peyton you realize that? this season every single solitary routine we did, they were the lead. and we are ten for ten. so you guys have to realize that this is a big deal. perfect ten. but what do we say, eleven is heaven."
we then all went in the den for water while abby started with kenzies solo. we all pulled out homework since our classes didn't start for an hour.
"bianca what's your grade in math?" kendall asked me
"and a plus." i shrugged pulling my english work out. i got all my work done last night so i was gonna start on a project early.
"can you help me? cause i'm confused." she asked and i nodded as she smiled sitting next to me
"i can help too kendall." peyton told her and kendall shrugged
"bianca's in honors though. plus the way she explains things just makes sense." kendall said making me smile. i did see peyton's eye roll though.
not subtle.
after about an hour or so, birdie and i were called in the studio. she's started with birdie and i sat next to abby.
birdies solo was really pretty. so was the song. she had a super good chance of beating all of us this weekend.
once she was done i took her place. we ran it twice then finished it. the music was so dark and i loved getting to play that role.
"oh your costume is here!" abby cheered. gianna handed it to me and i smiled.
i went in the den and put it on. it was a black one piece with some lace at the legs and a small tutu.
"oh that's so pretty." gianna said when i walked back in.
"that is, ok let's practice to see if we need to tweak anything."
gianna started the music and i did my dance full out. it took a lot out of me i won't lie. it has so many tricks and flips. i was definitely sweating up my costume.
ONE DAY TILL COMPETITION
today after running solos for a few hours we went in for the group. "girls we have the boots." gianna told us making us all cheer
we ran one to her all grabbing a pair. all of ours were silver and peyton's were red. we all slipped them on then marked the group first.
i thought it was cute how kenzie and birdie didn't have a heel on there boots while the rest of us did.
once the music ended the door opened. "hello, hello, hello!"
in walked two stunning drag queens "great to see you again!" abby smiled going over to hug them. the moms all rushed in excitedly a few moments later.
we all introduced ourselves to them and they happily gave us hugs. "let me introduce you to miss lola. and blade." we all cheered for them as they hit a pose. "we are going to competition this weekend. This is a tribute to the boadway show kinky boots . we have won ten times in a row. we are at the perfect ten. it's a new competition. i need the girls really to embrace being a performer, stepping out on that stage and owning who you are and what you are. bowlegs and all."
miss lola then showed us how to perform how she would. we watched them strut and joined in matching their sass. i looked over seeing melissa christi and my mom strutting together with there arms looped.
"Do you think that you could help, maybe with a little bit of the makeup? The drag queen, over the top?" abby asked the two
"i think so." "should we do a makeover?" we all immediately cheered at that.
miss lola and blade then took peyton into the den to do her makeup and hair so the moms could get an idea for competition.
let's just say peyton looked great.
DAY BEFORE COMPETITION
it was the day before comp and like usual we all met at the studio. we got our wigs that miss lola and blade lended us from yesterday.
i packed both my costumes up and rolled my suitcase to the bus. it was very cold out so i was rushing.
i sat in the back besides chloe. "i'm so excited for the group." chloe told me as we pulled off and away from the studio
"me too. it's so fun and different then the rest of this seasons dances." i nodded pulling my computer out
"and we're in those boots. there super cute i might need to wear them on halloween." chloe suggested and i smiled big
"amazing idea. we're doing that."
during our bus ride abby surprised us with like chocolate pasties that had crème filling. they were extremely good.
COMPETITION DAY
the following day we all got to the competition and went straight to the dressing room to start getting ready for solos.
i kinda looked like an evil angry bird in my costume but i liked it either way. birdie wore a two piece lavender costume with a skirt on the bottom that looked really pretty.
while abby ran birdies solo and kenzie doing 'maddie face' i ran my dance in the corner. i was actually very calm this week despite the stakes.
after abby's pep talk of not making the aldc look like a sloppy mess we all went backstage. maddie was first and i watched her tap with a smile on my face. maddie was extremely good at tap and barley got to show it.
when she came offstage i hugged her tight. "i love watching you tap mads." i told her and she smiled brightly.
"really? i haven't competed tap in so long." she said grabbing a water and i waved her off. "it was amazing. broadway material."
before kenzie went on it was birdies turn and i went over to her as she cracked her knuckles. "hey. your amazing. you've won all season. be beautiful ok? rise up. use the beautiful extension i know you have. use the face that most girls your age don't. use the technique that a lot of girls your age don't. i love you bird." i said and she nodded, looking calmer then before.
i hugged her and she went in the wings. she went onstage and did exactly what i said. be beautiful. i pulled her into a hug after she came off then took my spot in the wings.
i stretched my back quickly, barley having time to stretch earlier since i was rushed out the dressing room. it was really bad since i have a lot of tricks and flexibility in my dance. but ignoring that i went onstage and did the best i could.
the girls hugged me when i walked off and then we watched kenzie and chloe do amazing on their solos.
"bianca did you stretch in the dressing room?" nia asked and i shook my head while drinking water. my back was kinda sore, should've stretched while watching maddie.
"didn't have time. it's whatever i'll be ok." i assured and pushed them to let it go. we all then traveled to the dressing room and all got our big wigs installed.
we all then changed into our pink costumes with our knee high boots. our makeup was really loud but we looked cute.
"my wig is bigger then my head." birdie said as gianna fixed her skirt.
"if looks heavier too." kenzie said with a laugh.
"why'd i get the biggest wig?" she asked the girls and i marked the dance behind her.
"cause you have the most hair." i said but we were soon interrupted by abby and sent backstage.
to us the group looked really good but we're in a more conservative town. not sure anyone liked it.
we all stood in the wings catching our breath afterwards talking about it. "i don't think the judges liked it." peyton said
"i don't think they did." maddie said as i unzipped my boots. my feet were killing me.
"i couldn't tell if anyone liked it." chloe said catching her breath.
"b where'd your shoes go?" nia asked looking at my feet and i held up my boots.
"my feet hurt." i said simply as we all went for a lunch break. an hour later we all sat onstage for awards and i put my boots back on
it was the solo division and we all held hands as they went straight to the top five.
"and 5th overall is entry number 27, follow you. 4th overall is entry number 26, cry. 3rd overall is entry number 23 cry." birdie and i squeezed hands. this is it. no matter who won, the nolet sisters won the sister showdown.
"2nd overall is entry 24, rise up. and 1st overall is entry number 25, rule the world." i stood up with a huge smile on my face, taking my trophy.
i hugged my sister as we took a bow. "you had the highest scoring solo of the entire day. well done." the announcer told me and i smiled.
"thank you."
we all sat down and waited for awards. this could literally go either way. i was just praying for another win.
"and this last division, our advanced division, goes to... Abby Lee Dance Company, act 83." we all stared at each other pretty shocked as we all stood up to get the trophy.
we all took a bow and a lot of pictures for the competition. we waited in the hallway for a hit until bursting in with cheers "eleven is heaven!"
we celebrated for a little then abby took us to go thank the judges. i was behind and listened to the moms attack melissa and my mom over me, my sister and maddie and kenzie being out on a pedestal
i don't understand why we can't have a good week. we won. why does something our moms have no control over make the moms so mad? either way i just ran off to celebrate with my team. abby was right,
eleven in heaven.