Sous-Sus: Premier Jewels

Chapter Twelve: There's Only One Star

MYLA

I yawn, letting Ilse push me into the dance studio.

"Well, you thought you were going home after Lake Tahoe, and here we are back in LA," Mom tells us.

I nod. I did think I was going back home, and I still wanted to go back home and see my new room, but it's okay.

"I have a big surprise," Mom smiles. "It's very exciting. Before I get into that," Mom gestures to the mirror where all our headshots are lined up in a row. "You notice there's no pyramid, yes?"

"Yay!" I clap. We all won, so we all should be on top.

"Everybody's in a straight line. 'Cause here in LA, it's not really about the talent; it's about the look. In Hollywood, it doesn't matter how well you dress, how well you look, or how well you sing," Mom explains. "If you're not the look they need and not the package they're searching for, you're not going to get the job.

"I'm ready to talk a little bit about the surprise. This is L.A, the best people in the world come here. They're all vying for the same job. Everybody wants to be a star. You are going to get the opportunity to audition for a major music video."

"Ahhhhhhh!" I scream, wrapping my arm around Ilse. "Music video! Music video!"

"I don't know who's going to get it," Mom tells us. "I don't know who's going to get it. I don't know if all of you are gonna get it or just some of you. It's not up to me. I don't make the decision, so it's every man for themself."

Mom turns to other moms. "Tomorrow, instead of a rehearsal, we will be having a class. I'm going to teach a hip-hop combination since that audition is going to be in hip-hop. This is Hollywood.

"They can chew you up and spit you out, or they could make all your dreams come true. It just depends. You have to be at the right place at the right time. And you have to be prepared for the worst."

I can handle it. This week is different from any of our other weeks, and I'm so excited.

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On the day of the audition, I look around at all the kids and parents in the room and want to run away. There are so many people, and some look like they'll be good at hip hop.

"Okay there, Myla?" Aria asks me.

I nod, squeezing my eyes tight. "Nervous."

"It's okay to be nervous," she bends, smiling at me. "I was nervous whenever I auditioned too. You just have to go out there and do your best. If you don't get the role, you don't get the role. Okay?"

"Okay," I mutter. I want to get the role, though. I want to make Mom proud and impress MSA. Maybe they'll sign me if I do well enough.

"You'll do fine," Aria hugs me, kissing me on the cheeks. "Stick with Ilse, alright."

I nod, humming, before walking over to Ilse, who smiles at me.

"Don't worry so much," she tells me, taking my hand as we file in with the hundreds of other dancers.

J.C. Guiterrez, an agent from MSA, stands in front of us. "As you all know, MSA represents the top dancers and choreographers in the business. What we're doing here today is looking for our next generation of stars. So with that, please have fun, and I look forward to seeing you in the room."