Phoenix: a Dance Moms Fanfic

Chapter 5: No More Mamma Drama Part 1

Monday

I didn't sleep that well last night. All Sunday I was worried about going back to the studio, what my placement will be on the pyramid, and if Abby will kick me out. She didn't mention anything about me leaving the team on Saturday, but she could be saving drama for the pyramid.

But here we are, me and my mom driving to the ALDC for another day. My mom asked me if I actually want to go back to the ALDC- of course I do, but that doesn't mean I'm not nervous.

"Phoenix, relax, it's gonna be fine! Abby won't kick you out, you'll be fine!" My mom says for the millionth time today. I keep tensing up and fidgeting with my sweater. I'm yet to get an ALDC jacket, but nobody else has gotten one yet.

We pull into the studio. My heart pounds so hard I feel like I'll faint. I jump out of the car then start walking towards the entrance with my mom. Just one foot and then the other, that's all it takes.

We enter the studio. Gianna waves and smiles. I wave back. I guess I'm worrying a bit too much, but I'm still nervous for pyramid.

My mom leads me into the dancers' den, where she talks to Stacey and Yolanda. Lilly and Ellie's moms avoid each other's gaze, but chat along with my mom. Lilly, Ellie, and I compare our experiences in ballet. Elliana went to the YAGP, but competed with a lyrical solo instead of a ballet dance. She shows me a video of her solo on her phone, she did beautifully. Her body moves fluidly with the music, as if each movement was playing the sound as if she were a violin.

Lilly competed as well, but with a ballet solo. She was eight at the time, so it isn't as advanced as she does now, but she still did great. I hope one day Lilly, Ellie, and I can do a ballet trio.

While waiting for Abby to call us in, we decide to have an ugly dance off. "Who wants to be the judge?" Pressley asks.

"I will, as Judge Gia," Gia says. We laugh, then get in our starting positions. Gia chooses a song on her phone, then presses play.

We start by doing the ugliest moves we can think of. I do a split leap with bent knees and flexed feet, and land on the floor with a thud. After sprawling on the floor for a minute, I stand up and hop on one foot.

"Pressley, you are not ugly enough!"

I jump on top of Lilly and knock her to the floor. We roll on the floor wrestling. "Elliana, you are too pretty!"

After I see Brady knocking Sarah to the floor while singing along to the music, I can't help but burst into laughter. I roll on the floor, unable to contain myself. "Phoenix, you are not ugly enough!"

After me, Hannah, Brady, then Lilly gets out. Sarah earns the title of "Ugliest Dancer". We spend the rest of the time talking and laughing, then Abby calls us in.

"Hurry, let's go!" She shouts. I look at Sarah, she seems paralyzed with fear, like me.

"I'm nervous," I whisper to her. The dance off was only a distraction, but we're back to reality now.

"Me too," She whispers. I tug the hoodie of my yellow ALDC sweater on my head. It makes me feel secure.

We line up facing Abby. I go to the side next to Pressley, focusing on her gorgeous twin buns. My mom gives me a reassuring glance from the side. You're going to be okay.

"The group was a huge disappointment for me. You had the tools, technique, the choreography. The group dance should have won. Let me ask you a question: Did your mothers have you freaked out the whole week about the water?" Our mothers turn to us and shake their heads, begging us to say no. Honestly, my mom barely mentioned the dance outside the studio, but Pressley and Sarah's mother must have acted otherwise. "Pressley's saying yes, Sarah's saying yes. Maybe your mothers are in your head, you have to hear it in the car, at home, and everywhere."