Hazel Vertez

Revenge of the Replacements

Last week I won with my solo. I showed Miss Abby that I still have the win in me.

We were all in studio A and Abby came in.

"Well, once again, i'm not very happy. When I left that competition everybody was gloating about how amazing you were. The big winners. Nothing blew me away. I think all of you would be interested in knowing that our duet, "Sugar and Spice," did not win. It was a mathematical error. And that means that "Sugar and Spice" Maddie and Kendall, were not the overall high score winning duet Trio" Abby says.

"So, Greensboro, North Carolina, which we thought was a smashing success, turned out to be a big letdown"

" I watched the group number. I saw some superb dancing and I saw some horrendous dancing. Kendall, whose place did you take?" Abby asks.

"Sophia's" Kendal answers.

"Sophia's. Did you look like she would've looked doing that number?" Abby asks.

Kendall shrugs.

" you don't know. i'll tell you—-no way" Abby says.

Kendall starts crying and I and Chloe hugs her.

" listen to me. Learn this, every single one of you, when you're in here rehearsing and you keep screwing up, you don't need me to stand there and point out every mistake. Can't you see it?!" Abby says.

Pyramid

"Kendall, you worked your way up that pyramid and now you're right back where you started from"

Ugh, can she stop picking on my sister..

"Next, Maddie. All for one, one for all—it's about the team. Kendall's there you went with her"

"Nia, you did an okay job, I just don't see the feet getting any better"

"Paige, you placed in the top five. That's an improvement"

"Moving up, Chloe. I thought you really stood out starting the group dance. Was the group fabulous. No. I think if mother was more honest with you, like she used to be, two or three years ago, you continue to improve"

"Next, Mackenzie. Feels like you bumped Maddie right down there. Doesn't feel good to be at this high" Abby asks.

Kenzie nods.

" well guess what, you are back in the group routine. If you can go against nine year olds And when, then you can dance with the nine-year-old"

I clap for her.

"And on top of the pyramid is Hazel. You won, you showed me that you wanted to be my number one girl. You proved me wrong and you showed me that at the competition" Abby says.

I beam.

Hazel

Mackenzie      Chloe

Paige    Nia    Maddie    Kendall

"This weekend, we will be traveling to intensity Dance in Woodbridge, Virginia. Your replacements will be at the competition along with the rest of their studio" Abby says.

I raise my eyebrows.

"Mackenzie, you have a solo. You are in this weeks group routine" Abby says. 

I smile at my best friends.

Hazel, you have a solo and not only are you in the group but you are going to be featured in the number as well— that's because this week, we are doing an acrobatic routine" Abby say.