Bittersweet | Dance Moms

THE BATTLE BEGINS (s2 ep13)

"Is your knee okay?" Liora asked Virella as they drove to the studio.

"Yeah. I just have to wear this knee brace so it like puts pressure on it," Virella explained, lightly touching the brace around her leg.

Liora nodded before turning her attention to Elizabeth, talking about school and homework.

About 15 minutes later, they arrived at the studio. Virella and Liora grabbed their dance bags while Elizabeth helped organize the younger girl's things.

The three walked into the building, but there was no sign of Abby anywhere.

"Where's she at...?" Virella muttered, frowning as she looked around the entrance.

"Let's just go inside," Elizabeth said, trying to keep her daughters focused. She walked Liora to her acro class in Studio B before returning to Virella.

"Virella! How's your knee?" Chloe asked as soon as she spotted her.

"It's better, but it still hurts," Virella replied, attempting a small smile.

Time passed, and the girls still hadn't been called into Studio A for pyramid. Finally, they decided to peek in themselves.

"Where's Abby?" Kenzie asked, craning her neck to look around the empty room.

"She ditched us in Jersey. Maybe she didn't come home," Christi joked with a hint of sarcasm.

"Who thinks Miss Abby is going to apologize for leaving us stranded?" Kelly asked.

"Oh God, no," Christi replied with a dry laugh.

"Maybe she's in the ladies' room," Melissa suggested, though she didn't sound very convinced.

About thirty minutes later, Virella and Brooke were in the middle of a handstand competition to see who could hold it the longest. Just as they both came tumbling down at the same time, they saw Abby walking in. The two girls immediately scrambled to their feet, brushing themselves off.

"Does anybody see a black cloud approaching?" Christi muttered under her breath.

"So, I guess it's a welcome back," Abby said briskly, addressing the room. "New York City didn't turn out exactly the way I hoped. Chloe, congratulations. You were the winner. You didn't only win for yourself; you won for the Abby Lee Dance Company. You won for me, for my name, and for my reputation. So that was good."

"Thank you," Chloe said politely.

"Uh, Holly," Abby continued, "You were quite upset with me. I think you assumed that I was upset because Virella got hurt, she fell, and ran off the stage. And you're absolutely right. That's why I left."

"As their coach, as their teacher, they all deserve a hug," Holly said firmly.

"Nia had you!" Abby snapped. "She went to you when she forgot her dance."

"Why don't you be the adult and the leader and console them first?" Christi shot back.

"You yelled at Brooke when she was hurting, you yelled at Paige and told her she was stupid, but when Virella does it, oh, you forgive her. It's not her fault!" Kelly exclaimed.

Hearing this, Virella looked down at the floor. Her confidence was already in shambles after last week, and her knee ached just from standing there. She could feel tears welling up again, but she bit her lip to keep them at bay. The last thing she wanted was to draw more attention to herself.

"I think the case in point is that we know you don't care," Christi told Abby.

"Some kids are just special!" Abby shouted in frustration.