Aurelio (Dance Moms Fic)

Chapter 10: Start of a Rivalry

Competition day had finally arrived. The Burbank Airport Marriott & Convention, host to iHollywood, buzzed with excitement as dancers, parents, and judges prepared for a day of fierce competition. One of the meeting rooms had been transformed into a makeshift dressing room for the Abby Lee Dance Company (ALDC), where Maddie and Chloe were perfecting their solos while Mackenzie and Brookie readied themselves for their duet.

"Remember," Abby said, her tone authoritative and unyielding, "when you head off stage, you want the dancer coming after you to think it was the best performance they've ever seen! Make them work hard to top you!"

As Abby's words hung in the air, the door to the dressing room swung open. In walked Cathy Nesbitt-Stein, a striking woman with short blonde hair and a bold red dress. Cathy was around fifty-two and held a picnic basket, a somewhat peculiar accessory for a dance competition. Accompanying her was her six-year-old daughter, Vivi-Anne, with big brown eyes and curly brown hair. They were flanked by two additional dancers: an eight-year-old boy with reddish-orange hair named Justice McCort, and a ten-year-old girl with blonde hair named Taylor O'Lear.

"Surprise!" Cathy announced with a dramatic flair that seemed to electrify the room.

Abby's face registered shock, a rare and fleeting expression of surprise for someone so used to the unexpected. Aurelio's eyes widened, and the rest of the moms and girls exchanged puzzled glances. Tiffany and Kaitlin, in particular, looked confused, their faces reflecting a mixture of curiosity and skepticism.

"Who is that?" Tiffany asked Aurelio, gesturing toward Cathy with a bemused expression.

"That's Cathy Nesbitt-Stein," Aurelio explained. "She runs a dance studio in Canton, Ohio, called Candy Apples Dance Center. Her daughter, Vivi-Anne, auditioned for Abby's team in March, but she was cut. Brookie got the spot instead, despite being here since she was two. Cathy and Vivi are not alone; the other two are Justice and Taylor."

"Oh, now I get it," Tiffany said, nodding with dawning understanding.

"Cathy looks like someone who just escaped from a mental institution," Kaitlin remarked, her tone tinged with disdain.

"Yeah," Tiffany agreed, her eyes narrowing. "And obviously, she stole that picnic basket from Yogi Bear."

"Good one," Kelly laughed, shaking her head.

"Everybody," Cathy's voice cut through the laughter, "I'd like to introduce you to Justice and Taylor." She gestured to the two additional dancers. "Taylor's a three-time title winner. Want to tell them what you've won?"

"Junior Miss Dynamite, Junior Miss KAR, and Junior Miss Nexstar," Taylor said confidently, her tone full of pride.

Cathy and her group eyed the others with a mix of curiosity and challenge. "Mom, who are they?" Vivi-Anne asked, her voice small.

"I don't know," Cathy responded, glancing around with a faint trace of frustration.

"You must be Cathy, right?" Kaitlin asked, stepping forward.

"Yeah, that's me," Cathy replied, her tone clipped.

"I'm Tiffany, and this is my mother, Kaitlin. We didn't know they allowed prunes from Ohio in competitions," Tiffany said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

The room erupted in laughter, but Cathy, Vivi, Justice, and Taylor remained stone-faced.

"Good one!" Maddie said, giving Tiffany a high-five.

"It's a surprise to see you here, Cathy. We thought you were done for the remainder of the season," Holly said, addressing Cathy with a hint of disbelief.