THE OLDEST ZIEGLER | dance moms

- abbygeddon -

"any plans this weekend, malia?" bree asked, popping a grape into her mouth as the friend group sat at their usual lunch table that afternoon.

malia's 13th birthday was this week, yet the girl barely thought about it. her tray sat in front of her—cafeteria taco, chips, and a red gatorade. she swirled the bottle a little, distracted.

"probably not," malia shrugged, picking up her taco and taking a bite.

leo's eyes widened. "wait, why? you're the first one to be a teenager in the group and you're not doing anything?" he looked at her like she'd just said she hated birthdays.

"guys i literally leave for new york after school today." malia said casually

kaz reached for her bottle and twisted the cap off without a word, sliding it back to her. "after school? wait seriously since when?"

"thanks," she said, smiling softly and taking a sip before answering. "since last weekend. we have a audition for the joffrey school of ballet this week so we're in new york all week."

"wait that means you get to miss the math test on wednesday." oliver chimed in, completely jealous.

"i've been trying to find ways to skip that test all week," adam groaned, adjusting the beanie on his head. "let me go in your suitcase."

malia laughed as bree turned to her, "well at least you'll be in new york. you've always wanted to go right?"

chase answered before malia could, "is that even a question? she did a project on new york last year and got an A."

"your just mad my project got a higher grade then your north carolina project." malia called out

"well what's their to do on north carolina!" chase exclaimed, still salty

"we should celebrate when you get back then." leo chimed in.

"definitely."

~~

it was now tuesday morning, and the abby lee dance company had officially touched down in new york city.

after getting breakfast together at the hotel, the girls were now walking through the halls of the rented dance studio abby had booked for the week.

malia and chloe chatted side by side like always, their voices light with excitement as they passed familiar posters of broadway shows and rows of studio doors. eventually, they found their waiting area and began unpacking their dance bags.

without wasting time, the girls changed out of their street clothes and into their dancewear.

"girls! come on, get in here!" abby's voice rang out from the other room.

chloe reached for the door first, pulling it open while the rest of the team followed behind her to line up in front of abby for pyramid.

malia tugged at the waistband of her black leggings, smoothing them over the navy leotard she had on underneath, just as abby launched into her usual dramatic monologue.

"girls, this is the big time. we're in new york city—the dance mecca of the world. take it all in. every person you pass on the street has probably taken a dance class at some point in their life. do you understand that?" she paused, looking around the room for confirmation. "yes, there are a lot of kids who win competitions. a lot of kids get crowns. but only a handful actually make it in this industry. remember that."