Living in the Spotlight

YOU'RE TAMAR BRAXTON

(Cat's pov)

Alright everyone, welcome to the un-glorious life of Cat Chmerkovskiy. Today, I have to go to DWTS Studios, again, because both of my parents have rehearsal. Typical.

"Caitlin! We have to leave soon!"
"Coming Mom!"

I grab my dance bag and a couple things before heading down to the kitchen. Now the problem was, I was wearing a crop top and jean shorts. Let's just say that didn't sit well with my dad.

"Go change!"
"It's just a darn crop top!"
"Well you're my daughter and I don't want you to go around looking so desperate,"
"Desperate for what?"
"Boys,"
"Mom wore crop tops all the time when she was younger,"
"First, she's your mother, Second you look..."
"like a slut dad?"
"Yes,"
"Yeah I know, I'll get my jacket,"

I grab my jacket from my room before grabbing breakfast and sitting down.

"Hey Dad, aren't you meeting your partner today?"
"Yep,"
"Can I come?"
"Sure, Shadow,"

Now I must explain Shadow. This is my nickname because I'll follow people around and play pranks on people, all while being silent. Yes, Uncle Sasha taught me a few things.

I get into the car and wait a couple minutes before my parents come. As they drive to the studio I plug in my headphones and listen to my playlist.

I was listening to Pentatonix's new album and "If I Ever Fall In Love,"
O I forgot, if this is anything important,  I have absolutely no relationship drama, no first kiss, etc. My dad is pretty proud of that^^.

Soon, we're at the studio. Of course, the paps are across the street as always. I try to hide behind my parents, as normal.

We get inside the studio and I look around. There's Aunt Witney and Uncle Mark, Uncle Derek, Aunt Brit, wait who are those 3 girls?

My parents drag me over to say hi.
I hug my aunts and uncles.

I lightly hit my mom and whisper in her ear
"Who are those girls?"
"They're Uncle Derek's daughters and Mark and Witney's daughter,"
"Ok,"

They introduce themselves as Sena Hough, Elle Hough, and Mia Ballas. I waved.

"Alright, I have to go to rehearsal. Bye everyone!" My mom says.

My dad is off talking to people where I go off. There's a note on one of the studio's doors.

Val,
You will not be meeting your partner here in the studio. Drive to Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank. They will be taping a show. The crew knows you are coming. Please be patient, you will see her.
Sincerely,
The Producers

I grab the note off of the door and walk out toward where my dad is.
"Dad!"
"What?"
"I found a note, you might want to read it." I say before handing him the paper.

We got into the car and drove again.
As we pull up to the studio, there's no paps, weird. Dad and I are ushered to a studio and we sit backstage. Dad is getting prepared to go onstage.
The doorbell rings and I push my father out onto the stage.

The audience claps.
"Hey!"
"Val!"
I sit there in the wings with a wide grin on my face.
"So you're Tamar's partner."
I sit there shocked, HE KNEW, THE PRODUCERS KNEW THEY PLAYED ME
"What dance style do you have this week?"
"Quickstep,"
"That's a hard one."
Tamar turns and asks,
"Where's your shadow?"
She knows about me what?!? He told her, I've never even been there for a practice what even?
"Who's Shadow?"
"That's my daughter, she's back there in the wings."
"Well let's bring her out here."

Shit.
Someone pushes me out onto stage and I wave to the crowd. Slowly I make my way toward the table where all the people are.

"Hi! I'm Caitlin or Cat!" I say.
"Yep, this is my daughter."
"O shoot, she doesn't have a chair." Jeannie says.
"That's fine," my dad says, "I'll drag her over here and make her sit on my lap."
"Or I can stand." I respond.
"I like the first option better." Tamar says. The other girls agree with her as well.
Shoot, well at least I tried. My dad wraps his arm around me and drags me over to his chair. Ugh.
"So can you perform part of your quickstep for us?" Tamara asks. (Sorry if her name is wrong it isn't Tamar tho)
"Yeah?"
"Go Dad and Tamar!"

They get up and the music starts to play, and I finally get a seat to myself. They cut to commercial break and then I pack up and get ready to leave.

Once my dad and I get into the car he pulls out his phone. What a self-obsessed man. He starts to tape an Instagram video, and you know me, gotta be a stinker.
"So I finally met my partner,"
"Yep, she's cool,"
"She's amazing,"
I nod toward the camera.
"I think you're all gonna love it."
"And yeah that's it."
I wave before the video ends and my dad posts it on Instagram.

For some reason I'm heading back to the studio, hmmm...well at least I get to see mom.

My dad goes off somewhere and I enter an empty studio. I turn on my Spotify playlist and Maniac played as I set my phone on the ground.

Yes it's that song my mom had a solo to on tour with the 80s clothing.

I just wanted to dance, without someone behind my back.

I started doing tricks, slowly forming a routine.

I heard a bunch of footsteps behind me.

There stands most of the troupe and some of the pros.

I see them, but I don't stop dancing until the music end.

I do an aerial and hit the end pose before turning around and seeing everyone

"Oh my gosh! Hi Everyone!"

I go around hugging everyone. There's Emma & Sasha, Brit & Paul (he's back,) Alan & Hayley, Lindsay is here too, so is Sharna.

Everyone talks for a couple of minutes and one by one each person leaves until I'm left with Lindsay.

She starts to talk to me,
"You're really good you know, at dance."
"No, I'm not Aunty you know that."
"No, you're good, but I think you don't believe that because everyone points out all those little mistakes."
"Maybe one day I'll have confidence."
"Oh honey, don't talk like that come on let's dance! You can teach me that routine you made."
"Ok!"

For the next hour I was dancing in Studio 3 with one of my aunts. We even streamed it on Periscope. I love Aunt Lindsay so much.

Today was a good day, I love my life.

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Well I rushed the end... Please comment your opinions below!
~Cat
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