Sous-Sus: Premier Jewels

Chapter Seventeen: Brooke's Back

ILSE

"Hey," I greet Mom as I walk past the front desk. I took notice of Ariadne's absence but shrugged. She's been spending less time at the studio lately. "Where were you this morning? Myla and I came in, and Gianna said you weren't here."

"It's a surprise," she responds. "Why are you wearing a mask? Take it off; I can barely understand what you're saying."

I pulled down my mask.

"Aww, Rudolph, the rednosed reindeer, just in time for Christmas."

I sniffle. "Ha, ha, ha. Myla's nose is worse than mine. We came home Sunday night, and Joah and Neil were on the couch covered in tissue. Myla and I woke up this morning and caught whatever they had. Val gave us surgical masks to wear so we don't spread the germs around the twins."

"And you came to rehearsal. Why?"

"We're fine," I reassured her. "We don't even have a fever. Just nasal congestion, and we're sneezing a lot."

Mom nods. "That's good."

"Do I have a solo this week?"

"Yeah, you do. Now scat! Pyramid's gonna start soon."

I looked out the window to see that she was right. Chloe and Paige were walking towards the studio with their Moms trailing behind them. I pull back from the desk. "Okay. I'll see you in there."

"Girls, come on, let's go!" Mom calls us into studio A less than half an hour later. Once we're all in the room, Mom begins the pyramid. "At this time, I would like to officially welcome Kendall. You are a member of the Abby Lee Dance Company. Here we go."

I clap, smiling as Mom holds out an Abby Lee Dance Company jacket for Kendall to take. But I can't help but glance at the moms and notice that the grin on Kendall's face is almost as big as the frown on Leslie's face.

"Now listen to me. This doesn't mean it's smooth sailing from here on out. It means you really have to work hard," Mom tells Kendall before turning to the right. "When you're wearing that jacket, she can't be all hunched over and slouching. So if you see that mom, you take a thumbtack and stick it right in between her shoulder blade."

Pressing my lips together, I block my snort. Mom has never done that to Aria, Myla, or me. And she definitely has never done that to Adrian, and he slouches all the time.

"We are going to Starbound Competition in Long Island, New York. And I'll tell you what. They are ready for us. They want to beat the Abby Lee Dance Company, and they are serious. They're like sharks in the water; they can smell the blood," Mom reaches her hand to the pyramid taking the place card of the last picture to reveal Mackenzie. "All right, now... Mackenzie. You did well with your solo the last time. You need to do even better this time. Nia. Chosen for a special part. Your Mom didn't want you to do it. Not a lot to say."

Holly was shaking her head. Honestly, what did she expect? Mom to forget about it and place Nia on top of the pyramid? Mom never forgets anything, even if it's petty.

"Next, Paige. You didn't do a solo. You didn't do a duet or trio, so there wasn't a lot to judge you on. Kendall. You're off probation. You're a member of the team. However, we need to fix the feet, the turnout, the back of the knees. You still have a lot of work ahead of you. Moving on, Maddie. Did a great job. Won your category, won the overall high score. But I have to keep challenging you.

"Next, I have Chloe. We're gonna give them what they want. Chloe, when you walk backstage into those wings, you have to walk in there with arrogance and your nose up in the air just like you walk into this studio every day. Those other girls should be afraid of you just because you're Chloe, and you're from the Abby Lee Dance Company. Next, we have..."