Bittersweet | Dance Moms

THE COMPETITION BEGINS (s1 ep1)

Virella and Elizabeth sat in the car, the soft hum of the engine filling the quiet space between them as they drove toward the Abby Lee Dance Company. The sky outside was a dull gray, the kind of overcast that seemed to sap the color from everything beneath it. Early morning fog clung stubbornly to the streets, blurring the edges of buildings and cars as they passed by. Inside the car, the warmth of the heater contrasted sharply with the chill outside, but it did little to dispel the tension that simmered between mother and daughter, an unspoken undercurrent that neither could ignore.

Virella was in the back seat, her fingers scrolling through her phone with the kind of practiced ease that comes from hours of repetition. Her expression was distant, her eyes fixed on the screen as though the world outside it didn't exist. The familiar routine of checking social media, responding to texts, and watching dance videos provided a comforting distraction.

Elizabeth, sitting in the front, occasionally stole glances at her daughter through the rearview mirror. Her eyes were a mix of pride and concern, emotions that had become all too familiar in recent years. Virella had always been so driven, so focused on dance, but as her mother, Elizabeth couldn't help but wonder if that drive was starting to take its toll. The long hours of practice, the relentless pursuit of perfection, the constant need to be the best—it was a lot for anyone, let alone a young girl who was still figuring out who she was.

Elizabeth's fingers tightened around the steering wheel, the leather cool beneath her palms. She hesitated before speaking, carefully choosing her words as she tried to gauge Virella's mood. "Are you excited for recording today?" she asked, her voice light, though the question carried the weight of a mother trying to bridge the growing distance between them.

Virella didn't look up from her phone. "Yeah, I guess," she replied, her tone flat and uninterested. Her thumbs continued to dance across the screen, eyes still locked on the glow in front of her. The brief, indifferent response stung, but it wasn't entirely unexpected.

Elizabeth sighed softly, a sound almost lost beneath the rumble of the engine. Her smile faltered, just for a moment, before she forced it back into place. This was typical of Virella lately—detached, preoccupied, always caught up in her own world. Elizabeth knew that the pressure of being Abby's favorite came with its own set of challenges, ones that weren't always easy to handle. Even for someone as talented as Virella, the weight of expectations could be overwhelming.

"Remember, it's not just about winning," Elizabeth said, her voice gentle but firm, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. "It's about showing everyone why you deserve to be at the top."

Virella finally lifted her gaze, meeting her mother's eyes in the rearview mirror for a fleeting moment before looking back down at her phone. "I know, Mom," she said, a hint of impatience creeping into her voice. The dismissal was clear, but so was the underlying exhaustion that Elizabeth had come to recognize too well.

Elizabeth bit her lip, holding back the urge to push further. She knew that pressing too hard would only make Virella retreat even more. Instead, she nodded, her smile returning, though it was more subdued this time. "Alright, sweetheart. Just remember, I'm proud of you no matter what."

Virella didn't respond, but Elizabeth noticed the slight relaxation in her daughter's posture, a small sign that the words had reached her, even if she didn't say anything. It was a subtle victory, one that Elizabeth would take, even if it was bittersweet.

The rest of the drive passed in silence, the Abby Lee Dance Company drawing closer with every mile. Elizabeth focused on the road, while Virella remained engrossed in her phone, both of them mentally preparing for the day ahead—another day of competition, another day of proving their worth in Abby's demanding world.