Sous-Sus: Premier Jewels

Chapter Ten: Cathy Brings It's On

ARIADNE

My brow raises when I walk into the studio. "Why do you have a whistle?"

Mom's head snaps to me. "You're here. I didn't think you were coming in until tomorrow."

"I got an earlier flight," I reply, hugging her. "I missed you, Mom."

"I missed you too," Mom smiles before letting me go. "How was your bachelorette?"

"A blast," I grin at the memory of hazy nights, good food, and blue waters. "How were the competitions? You said you had a talk with Christi?"

Mom frowns. "They haven't won at all. And Christi was just complaining like usual."

Complaining or airing her legitimate issues with Mom's treatment of Chloe? I'm leaning towards the latter but either it makes no difference to Mom.

"At least Cathy is no longer here." I grin at the chiding look Mom sends me. "If she was truly your friend, she would have stayed."

In my opinion, Cathy not being on the team will only add to the team. She's rude, self-centered, and holds Vivi-Anne back. Her daughter wants to shine but yet isn't willing to travel around the world to give her exposure.

Mom rolls her eyes at me. "Alright. I have a surprise for the girls?"

My interests peak. "Oh really? What?"

Smiling smugly, Mom presses her lips together, mimicking a zipper.

Before I could question her further, I hear the door swing open behind me and turn.

"Aria!" I open my arm as Myla runs into it. "You're here!"

"I'm here," I grin, squeezing her.

"Hi Ariadne," Ilse walks over, covering a yawn. "I thought you were coming in tomorrow."

"Don't look so excited to see me," I tease her, hugging her.

"Hi," she hugs back before letting go and turning to Mom. "Why do you have a whistle?"

Mom opens her mouth to answer, but the door swings open and Gianna pops her head in. "The moms and girls are here."

Mom nods. "Send them in."

"Aria!" Nia cheers, leading the girls in.

Smiling, I wave at the moms and girls before walking over to the side, out of the camera's view.

Mom brings the whistle around her neck to her mouth with a mischievous smile, and I instantly cover my ear.

Fweet

Ilse narrows her eyes at her, scowling. "I think I figured out what the whistle is for."

Mom grins at her before focusing on the others. "Ladies, here we are in Los Angeles, California for the iHollywood National finals, and you are in the city of dreams!"

The nationals at Hollywood this week are essential because it's the last national before our final Nationals in Lake Tahoe. We haven't been winning lately, so it would be nice to win here and set a precedent for Lake Tahoe. It'll be good morale for the girls to go into next week with a win.

"There are going to be children that you recognize. The kids that are in the movies, the kids that are on television. These kids here in Los Angeles audition on a weekly basis. They are 'pros.' Maddie, your Mom, is not here; we all make choices she chose to be away instead of being here with you. So the two of you are gonna be with us this week. And you may get to do things that not everybody else gets to do. I'm gonna move on to our lovely pyramid and the bottom row, and I have..."