The Eldest Ziegler

Brooke's Back

I can't believe that we are already 4 weeks into the dance season and I already cried on tv. After what happened with Payton last week, I didn't know what Miss. Abby was going to say about the whole situation.

"Girls! Come on!" Miss. Abby yelled as we walked into the room, "Let's go. Moms, in here."

Once everyone was in the room, Miss. Abby started with pyramid.

"At this time, I would like to officially welcome Kendall. You're a member of the Abby Lee Dance Company," Miss. Abby told us and everyone clapped as Miss. Abby gave Kendall her sweatsuit, "Here you go."

After Miss. Abby gave her the sweatsuit, I threw my arms around her because Kendall was like another little sister to me and I like having her around.

"Now, listen to me," Miss. Abby says to Kendall after we finished celebrating, "This doesn't mean it's smooth sailing from here on out. It means you really have to work hard. When she's wearing that jacket, she can't be all hunched over or slouching. So, if you see that, Mom, you take a thumbtack and you stick it right in between her shoulder blades."

I looked over at the moms and I got some mixed expressions. Leslie didn't look too upset which surprised me after what happened last weekend. Jill was grinning from ear to ear like the best thing ever happened. The other moms looked excited but not as excited at Jill.

"We are going to Starbound Competition," Miss. Abby continued, "in Long Island, New York. Now, I'll tell you what. They are ready for us. They want to beat the Abby Lee Dance Company, and they are serious. They're like sharks in the water. They can taste the blood."

"All right, now... Monica," Miss. Abby says as she reveals my headshot at the bottom of the pyramid.

"What?" My mom asked, giving Miss. Abby a confused look. I had the same look on my face, I don't understand why I'm on the bottom of the pyramid.

"Let me--"

"No!" Mom says getting upset, "My daughter got attacked by an older girl and you're putting her on the bottom of the pyramid."

"Melissa."

"Payton didn't attack your daughter," Lesile says, getting involved.

Mom snorted, "Yeah she did. She told my daughter that she was useless and that she sucked at dancing."

"Payton was just being honest," Leslie says, shrugging her shoulders. "Don't you dare--"

"Stop!"

Miss. Abby yelled, then turned to look at me, "Monica, I put you on the bottom of the pyramid because there are always going to be people that put you down, they are just jealous. But you shouldn't let those people hurt you again, so no more tears. You're a strong dancer and you should never second-guess yourself."

"So your saying Payton is jealous?" Leslie says, becoming annoyed.

"Yes I am," Miss. Abby says.

"She's not jealous!"

"I'm not jealous of Monica!" Payton joins in, "Why would I be?"

"Don't say anything about my daughter," Mom says.

"Moving on," Miss. Abby says before Mom and Leslie could continue, "Mackenzie. You did well with your solo the last time. You need to do even better this time. Nia. Chosen for a special part. Your mom didn't want you to do it. Not a lot to say."

I turned to see that Holly had an annoyed look on her face.

"Next... Paige," Miss. Abby continued, "You didn't do a solo. You didn't do a duet or trio. So there wasn't a lot to judge you on. Kendall. You're off probation. You're a member of the team. However, we need to fix the feet, the turnout, the back of the knees. You still have a lot of work ahead of you."