|Pyramid|
we walk into studio A and Abbys mad and she's going to take it out on us all week
"i just want to look at what fourth place looks like, this weekend we will be travelling fortwaine New Jersey we will be attending Onstage America i don't want to be fourth again." Abby says
"on the bottom Mackenzie, you will not be performing in the group routine this weekend."
"next Maddie, at nationals you were amazing just as good as Chloe but Chloe won and every since then" Abby shrugs
"Paige, once again it's the same pattern Kelly it's like she doesn't have to work anymore..i won i got third."
"Nia, you're doing fine but is fine going to make you a star?"
"Kendall, you didn't pull my eyes in a negative way you actually pulled them in a positive way when i don't say your name and stop yelling at you get worried."
"and Chloe, i thought you looked great it was good did you do exactly what you were supposed to do? no. go out there and do the routine you were taught the way i envisioned it or better yet Chloe do it better than i can imagine it."
"and on top of the pyramid Camila, you are up here because of your score, not your dancing..if it was about your dancing you'd maybe be beside your sister or even beside Maddie..get with it kid step it up."
i really wish i wasn't on the top.
Camila
Chloe Kendall
Nia Paige Maddie Mackenzie
"Brooke i don't have you on the team." Abby says
"she's been here every week what is the purpose of her coming every week if you're not going to put her on the pyramid?" Kelly asks
"Brooke do you wanna be here?" Abby asks
Brooke nods
"see that to me is not a response i'm looking for" Abby says
"this weekend we are doing a group routine called Pink Lemonade, Brooke i plan for you to be in the group routine..Kendall you have a solo"
we clap for Kendall
"your solo is entitled Owe You Nothing remember that..i owe you nothing you are very lucky embrace this opportunity and make the most of it"
"Nia you also have a solo, your solo is entitled a hundred years from now is it going to take a hundred more years to straighten those legs and point those feet? or are you going to do it now?"
"Camila you also have a solo this week, it's entitled Tightrope a tight rope is something you balance on or make it across..will you make it across and win a title?"
i hesitate before nodding
"i have one more solo..Chloe do you think you can do the dance i teach you?"
Chloe nods
"have you talked to your mom about stopping the avacastiy for all the other mothers?" Abby asks
"Chloe this is a contemporary routine there's lots of hits and accents it's stronger than what you've been doing before and it is called Left In The Dark."
i smile to Chloe
"the group routine is entitled Pink Lemonade you're using hats and the hats are a prop..drop your hat and your off the team" Abby says
i furrow my eyebrows..what?
we start to laugh
"that's a little harsh!" Kelly says
|Solo Rehearsals|
"make it pretty." Abby says
i do a section of my solo and it's a lot of ballet technique
"you're on top of that pyramid..right now you're my best dancer you either sink or swim..don't blow it kid."
i nod
and we continue my routine
it's gonna be a long week
|Group Rehearsals|
"the song is called Pink Lemonade but it's about life pink lemons..pink lemonade..okay let's try that with the music" Abby says
we do the routine and it's a gorgeous routine i really love it
"drag..ball change get your hat on..arms" Abby calls out
|Two Days To Competition|
we do the routine and this time we have hats so that's fun
"Chloe you're flexing your palms on the arch the hands are clean" Abby calls out
"nobody was good." Abby says
"this is turning, leaping, jumping not one person can leap because when that hats off everybody can see it"
after group me and Chloe go up to the moms to get a drink
"did you start your solo?" mom asks Chloe
Chloe shakes her head
"no?" mom says and she rolls her eyes
"whatever."
"i don't know when i'm going to learn it" Chloe says
"i don't either" mom says
"Abbys being really hard on me." i speak up
"saying what" mom asks and i sit on her lap
"like you're on top of the pyramid but you didn't dance to be on top..and you're the best dancer right now and you aren't showing it and that me and Sophia would be actual competition but she'd win because i'm not the same dancer as i was and that i'm spending to much time with Chloe so i'm picking up her bad habits" i whisper the last part
mom sighs
"you deserve to be in top you danced your heart out..and no you aren't the same dancer you were you're and even better dancer." mom says
i nod and i go to the dancers den with Chloe
|Solo Rehearsals|
"let's go." Abby says
i do my routine and i keep getting corrected
Sophia does the turns better
you would've nailed this routine at seven you're nine..grow up
that was terrible..do it again
what is wrong with you?!
i do my ending pose
"everything could just be better, you should be grateful you have this routine finished..your sister hasn't even started hers! this needs to be perfect for tomorrow or you'll never win." Abby says
"yes" i whisper
"good..i'd start working on that routine..maybe give Sophia a call she'll help you." Abby says
as i go into the dancers den
|One Day To Competition|
|Group Rehearsals|
"slow down there, Brooke you're never straighten your front leg at all..make sure your hats on your head" Abby says
we carry on with the routine and my hat has fallen off in rehearsal so i hope it doesn't fell off onstage
we then do the routine with the costume
"Kendall..you're not turning in releve" Abby says
"sloppy feet Kendall!" Abby yells
Abby keeps picking on Kendall..
"i guess this is it i'm going to dismiss you..Kendall i don't think you'll be doing your solo your mother was to have that costume here today..she knows everything fine i don't think your doing a solo" Abby says
Jill then comes storming in
"let's go, it's not my fault but even more so it's not her fault" Jill says
"why wouldn't you just take what i was offering? you're a grown adult woman" Abby says
"that's right..no i am a grown adult woman and we are done with this" Jill says and she takes Kendall out of the room
deja vu.
"girls i'll be on the bus. i just find it humours that the moms sat in the parking lot for two days because Brooke and Paige weren't here but now Kendall's not here it's screw you honey every man for themselves..look at Brooke and Paige they didn't shed a tear." Abby says and she leaves the room
|Competition Day|
we arrive at the competition and i wave to the fans
we head to the dressing room and i start my makeup for my solo
mom does my hair then she does Chloes
i pull out my costume
"it's like an angel!" i beam
"i did good good job then" mom smiles
"for once." i joke
"i always do a good job on your costumes!" mom says
i smile
Camilas solo costume:
"i knew something was up when we hadn't seen Cathy in weeks..and now i know what her game is she has an all boys team that's we MO cause you all know that the judge goes for the boys because they want to keep them dancing..you girls are a dime a dozen" Abby says
we run through the solos and Abby is just seething
we then head backstage and i hope i can pull this off
"whatever we get be happy..and don't be mad at eachother" Kendall says
Nia performs first
and i think she did a really good job
i wish she got more solos this this
Kendall performs next
and she did a really good job
she had the sass
Chloe is the next to perform
and she did really good
her acting was amazing
"good luck..show Abby you are one of the best dancers" Kendall hugs me
"competing in the Miss Onstage America this is act number 116 Camila, Tightrope" the announcer says
i enter the stage and my music starts and i make sure my emotion is amazing
and that my turns are flawless and that my technique is amazing
it's a beautiful song and it really helps to do the routine
i finish my solo on the floor and i reach out to the audience
i then exit the stage
|Solo Awards|
"my second runner up goes to number 127 Owe You Nothing Kendall" the announcers says
i clap for Kendall
"my first runner up for Junior Miss Onstage America goes to number 126 i'm going to love you Brooke."
i clap
it's between me, Chloe and Nia..this could end up in flames
"and the winner for Junior Miss Onstage America goes to drum roll please"
we all do a drum roll
"number 116 Tightrope, Camila"
oh..OH that's me!
i stand up to get my award and i get crowned with a banner
"congratulations"
i smile i look to the audience and i see my mom smiling and Abby..well Abbys not to keen.
we go back to the dressing room and mom hugs me
"well well well..i didn't pick four soloists to come here to put you in the competition for some of you to not do well..the thing that takes the work..the sweat..when is the last time you went into a class and actually were dripping with sweat..when is the last time your feet were so blistery on the bottom they backed open and bleeding when is the last time that happened?" Abby asks
i literally won the title.
we get ready for the group routine and i've never been more nervous
"think about Cathy's boys think about your reputation as the national champions" Abby says
"don't embarrass yourself more importantly don't embarrass me out there" Abby says
we all head backstage and i make sure my hat is on tight
Candy Apples perform first
and oh my gosh
they are phenomenal
we are doomed.
"up next to the stage please welcome 215 Pink Lemonade" the announcer says
Maddie enters first
and then we all enter
i make sure to put my all into it
and for my hat to not fall
we finish the routine and i think we nailed it
and i didn't drop the hat! bonus!
we exit the stage and i give Maddie a hug
"i dropped my hat." Chloe says
"what?" Paige says
"when we go to the floor..my hat fell off" Chloe says
"you're joking." i say
Chloe looks mortified
everyone start praying,
we head back to the dressing room and i'm so scared
"good job!" Kelly says
i sit beside mom and so does Chloe
"just so you know Abbys going to come in here..it's going to be awful" mom says
i feel sick.
"nice job Chloe! huh? nice job" Abby storms in saying
"let's go, we're leaving..you want my kids gone we're gone." mom says
i get up and i get my stuff and so does Chloe
"gets up and bobbles all over the place with the turns." Abby says
"no she didn't." mom says
"then drops her hat..yes she did!" Abby yells
"no she didn't..know what you go ahead and replace me i'm leaving i'm not going to make a scene with you." mom says
"oh that's the easy way out.." Abby says
"no i'm done this is not what i signed up for humiliation for my daughters" mom says
"i didn't humiliate them! they humiliate themselves! i have not a clue how your kid keeps winning and winning titles because what i saw was awful!" Abby yells
can we leave, hurry up.
"Abby shut up! my kids are amazing dancers and you just cannot accept that people see Camila a better dancer than Maddie! you hold that against her! she's nine years old grow up and stop picking on my kids!" mom yells
we then leave the room and i start to cry
Chloe takes my hand as we walk down the hall
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" mom yells as a producer comes close
"let's go." mom says as we exit the building
Chloe gives me a hug
mom calls a cab
"why does she hate us?" Chloe whispers
"because people love you and she can't get over it..i'm so done" mom says as a producer follows us
"you do this to my kids! i'm so sick of it!" mom starts to yell at the cameras
we get in the car
i keep crying
i don't want to do this anymore.