Aurelio (Dance Moms Fic)

Chapter 2: The Competition Dilemma

The morning light filtered softly through the curtains of Abby's living room. The scent of coffee and the soft hum of the air conditioning set a calm atmosphere, but Abby was far from relaxed. She was in her usual spot on the couch, surrounded by a clutter of competition brochures and costume sketches. Aurelio, however, was in his bedroom, sprawled on his bed, engrossed in his laptop. His Facebook feed had just updated with a recent picture of him and Abby. Abby was making bunny ears behind his head, and the playful gesture made him chuckle.

"Aurelio, can you come here, please?" Abby's voice cut through his amusement.

"On my way!" Aurelio called back, closing his laptop and placing it carefully on his bed before heading downstairs.

"What's going on?" Aurelio asked, as he joined Abby in the living room, a curious smile on his face.

"I found the costume we'll be using for the group dance this weekend," Abby announced, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she pulled out the costume from a bag.

Aurelio sat next to Abby and took a good look at the ensemble. It was a striking set of shiny black and turquoise shorts, paired with a black crop top. The knee-high socks, adorned with turquoise bows, were designed to sit two inches above the knee. Aurelio's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Wow, I thought I had seen it all until now," Aurelio mused silently, though his expression was anything but reserved.

"Thought?" Abby inquired, her tone sharp yet curious.

"I think the costume is great, but a fair warning—the moms are bound to whine and gripe about it. Though, let's be honest, they complain about everything. It's your call, as you run the show," Aurelio responded candidly.

"Well said, Relio. At least you agree with me," Abby said with a nod, clearly satisfied with his perspective.

A day later, Abby gathered the girls and their moms for a discussion about the previous competition. Aurelio stood at the other end of the chalkboard, observing silently as Abby laid out the critiques.

"Phoenix was rough," Abby began, her tone stern. "You got your behinds handed to you. You've won everything in Chicagoland and even in downstate Illinois, but when it comes to traveling—whether by plane, bus, or train—it's a different story. For years, I've taken the kids myself. I made sure their hair and makeup were right, and the headpieces were on. Nowadays, the moms want to come because they're revisiting their childhoods through you, and that's where the trouble starts. I'm the leader and dance teacher; you do what I say. When your mother tells you something different, that's a conflict. Got it?"

The girls nodded in unison, their expressions a mix of apprehension and determination.

"Nia, how do you think you did?" Abby turned to her with a piercing gaze.

"We could have improved," Nia admitted. "I need to work on pointing my feet because we were sloppy—especially our feet, legs, arms, and shoulders. They need tuning."

"Good. Those little mistakes pull the group down," Abby said approvingly. She then turned her attention to Chloe. "And you, Chloe?"

"I admit it was my fault. My headpiece was down, and I could have prevented that," Chloe said, her voice laced with regret.

"Good," Abby responded. "These little mistakes are what can drag the group down. This new group is called 'Electricity'. Maddie, you'll be front and center since your mother didn't give me any trouble. We also have two solos: Maddie, your solo is named 'Cry,' and Chloe, yours is 'Baby Mine'. We've got a duet called 'Why Can't We Be Friends' with Mackenzie and Brookie. We're heading to StarQuest in Green Bay, Wisconsin this weekend. Moms, you can leave now. Girls, let's start rehearsal."