Need You Forever

Chapter 1: Normal

Mom bought us new tap shoes today.
Mine were already getting a bit old. Maddie was growing out of her's. I was tired of having to put up with white tap shoes. It's harder getting new tap shoes with your sister.
"Hi Abby!" Mom greeted our dance teacher cheerfully. She didn't look to happy back.
"You're late," Abby hissed. "Why do the girl's look like they're off to the pool?!"
"Because we're going swimming today," Mom soothed uneasily. "The girls are having their break."
Miss Abby didn't look at all happy. She glared at Maddie, then me, then back to Maddie.
"I want to see you working your butts off tomorrow," Miss Abby argued. "No attitude. Got it?!"

Maddie is my sister. The worst part is that she's older than me, which makes me look so much younger. I'm not that young: well, I'm only 10. People wouldn't usually make fun of a 10 year old but the fact I'm Maddie's sister, everyone sees it.
Maddie is, and has always been the centre of attention. She's Miss Abby's Star Student; everyone knows it, even Maddie. At the start of the year, some mom's made fun of her. If I had the guts, I would be mean as well. But at night, I realised something was up with her. I just removed myself from the couch and sloped upstairs to her bedroom. I heard soft muffles and I had to comfort her.
My mom says we're not normal kids. She says we were both born to dance: Maddie's a mini version of Darcy Bussel and I'm a mini version of Maddie. It's what I hate the most about dancing with her. People always compare me to her. Which is wrong, because I'm not Maddie Ziegler - I'm Mackenzie Ziegler. I'm my own person, and when I grow up I don't want to be Maddie, I just want to be like Maddie. People just don't understand our differences. Maddie is more into acting. I'm more into singing. People just don't understand.