ℒ𝒾𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒪𝓃 𝒯𝒽ℯ 𝒟𝒶𝓃𝒸ℯ ℱ𝓁ℴℴ𝓇 [𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟏]

𝟐.𝟏𝟖- 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬

˚✧.⋅₊˚ ‧ 🩰⋅୨୧ ⋅🦢  ‧₊˚ ⋅.✧˚

["Dance To Express, Not Impress"]

The following Monday afternoon, Emily sat in the front seat of Katie's car, her dance bag tucked at her feet, as they headed to the studio for the start of another busy week. The midday sunlight streamed through the windows, and Emily, still glowing from the weekend's competitions, animatedly recounted the events to her mom.

"So, we had two competitions, right?" Emily began, her voice bubbling with excitement. "At the first one, I did my solo Shift, and I got first place in the mini category. Maddie did her solo, Looking for a Place Called Home, and she won first in the junior category. Then we did our duet, Masterpiece, and we won first place in the teen duet category too!"

Katie smiled warmly, "That's amazing, Emily. You worked so hard on that duet. Abby must have been thrilled."

Emily nodded eagerly, "She was! She said we were really in sync, and she hardly gave us any corrections afterward."

Katie glanced at her daughter, pride evident in her eyes, "You deserve it, honey. That's incredible."

"But wait!" Emily said, leaning forward in her seat. "That was just the first competition. At the second one, I did a different solo- Hellen
Keller- and I got first place in the mini category again. Maddie did her solo Cry, and she won first in the junior category. And our second duet, Everlasting Friends, won first in the junior duet category too! So, in total, I won four crowns this weekend!"

Katie's jaw dropped slightly as she processed the whirlwind of victories, "Four crowns in one weekend? Emily, that's unbelievable. I'm so proud of you."

Emily beamed at the praise but quickly added, "Maddie won a lot too! We were both so happy. But it was crazy performing so much- I was so tired after the second competition."

As Katie turned into the parking lot of the studio, something gnawed at her. She had known about the first competition all along, but this was the first she was hearing about the second one. She decided to probe gently, keeping her tone neutral.

"So, where were the other girls during the second competition? Were they there cheering you on?"

Emily shook her head, her excitement dimming slightly, "No, they stayed at the first competition. They had to film a scene for the show. It was just me, Maddie, Melissa, and Abby at the second one."

Katie nodded slowly, her hands tightening slightly on the steering wheel. She had no idea Melissa had taken Emily to another competition behind everyone's back. Abby must have approved it, of course, but the secrecy didn't sit well with her. Katie felt a flicker of frustration, both at Abby for entering Emily in a second competition without telling her and at Melissa for not mentioning it.

Katie forced a smile as she parked the car, "It sounds like you and Maddie had an amazing weekend, though. Four crowns, Em. That's a huge accomplishment."

Emily grinned, the sparkle back in her eyes, "Thanks, Mom. I can't wait to see what we're doing this week!"

Katie couldn't help but feel proud of her daughter's success, but as they walked into the studio, she couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that something wasn't right.

After parking the car, Katie hugged Emily goodbye and sent her into the studio. The lively chatter of the girls already in the dancer den could be heard as Emily walked in, her dance bag slung over her shoulder. Maddie was already there, waving enthusiastically.

"Hey, Em! Ready for acro?" Maddie asked, grinning.

Emily nodded, setting her bag down and slipping off her Uggs, "Yeah, but I'm not ready for ballet," she muttered under her breath, earning a laugh from Maddie.