Double Trouble

Birthday

September 30th

"Maddie, sit down here in the middle!" Abby steered Maddie into the middle of the room and made her sit down. Maddie blushed uncharacteristically.
Mackenzie, Nia and Kendall, and the new girls JoJo and Kalani sat down in a circle around her, and Melissa and the other moms brought in a pile of brightly wrapped gifts and birthday cards.

Maddie selected a card in a pink envelope. "Oh, it's from McKenzie!" She tore the envelope open eagerly.
"Read it out, Mads!" Kalani encouraged her. Maddie turned it around so they could all see the cover, it was the photo she'd taken with McKenzie two weeks before she'd left, of the two of them with their matching shirts saying "Maddie & McKenzie" with a heart behind it. It said 'happy birthday to the best sister ever, Maddie!' on the front.
"Aw, she sounds so sweet." Kira, Kalani's mom, said. She had never met McKenzie, neither had Kalani, JoJo or Jessalyn, JoJo's mom. "She looks exactly like you, Kenzie!" JoJo exclaimed. "Well yeah," Kenzie smiled. "We are twins."

Maddie opened the card. "Happy birthday to the best big sister in the entire world, Maddie! I love you so much, thank you for always being there for me. Love from, McKenzie xxxx
P.S: Brooke says hi."

"I've been watching you on the show, you're still just as amazing as I remember. I wish I could be back there with you.

All of your solos have been beautiful and I'm so proud of you.

I love you so so much and give my love to mom and Mackenzie and everyone."

Maddie turned to the back of the card, where a selfie McKenzie had taken beamed up at her. She showed it to everyone before reading out "All my love and big kisses on your birthday, from McKenzie."

"Aw, so sweet." Jessalyn said.
Everyone looked happy except Mackenzie. "Who's Brooke?" she asked. "She never mentioned a Brooke in her texts to me."

"Brooke is McKenzie's best friend,"
Maddie told her. "She texted me to tell me."
Mackenzie stood up and stamped her foot. "Brooke!" She screamed. "I'M McKenzie's best friend! I am! What happened to us?! It's not fair!"
The girls and the moms and Abby stared at her, open mouthed. Mackenzie never screamed like that.
Melissa grabbed her daughter by the shoulders. "Mackenzie! Stop being such a brat!" She pulled her out of the room.

In the Dancers Den, Melissa really let Mackenzie have it. "How dare you cause a scene and ruin your sister's birthday like that! It's good that McKenzie is making new friends and it's very selfish of you to say what you just did, Mackenzie! I'm extremely ashamed of you. Go in there, sit next to Kalani and be quiet unless someone speaks to you!"
Tears streaming down her cheeks, Mackenzie returned to the room with everyone else. Maddie gave her a small tentative smile. Mackenzie mouthed 'I'm sorry' to her. She sat down next to Kalani and Kalani wrapped her arm around Mackenzie's shoulder.

Maddie had finished opening her cards and gifts, then her phone rang. She picked it up. "It's McKenzie! She wants to face-time."
She pressed answer and turned the screen so everyone could see.
"Hi guys!" McKenzie grinned, waving at everyone. "Hi McKenzie!" They all waved.
"How are you, sweetness?" Melissa asked her. "I'm great, mom! I'm getting really good marks in my classes and my friends are awesome. I miss you all so much, but I'll be back this summer. I can't wait to see you all again, and Kalani and JoJo I can't wait to meet you!"
Kalani blew a kiss to McKenzie and JoJo smiled widely at her.

"Hey are you okay Mackenzie? You look like you've been crying."
"I heard Brooke was your best friend and it made me sad. I thought I was your best friend." Mackenzie said sadly. "Oh Mackenzie, you are my best friend! You always will be, it's just Brooke is my best friend in this country. You're family. Family comes first." McKenzie smiled reassuringly at her. Mackenzie wiped her eyes. "I love you."
"I love you too."
A voice in the background shouted "Ziegler!"
"Oh god, I'd better go. Happy birthday Mads! I love you all!"
"Bye McKenzie!" Everyone said.
McKenzie blew a kiss and then ended the call.

Back at home, after Maddie and Mackenzie had changed out of their dance clothes, put them away and had dinner, Melissa asked Maddie, "did you have a good birthday, sweetheart?"
"I had the best birthday, mom."