Miss Abby pulls the paper from the picture on the bottom row of the pyramid, and surprisingly, it's not me. It's Mackenzie.
Then it's me.
Then Paige.
In the middle is Nia.
Then Kendall.
And on top is Maddie.
"Now," Miss Abby begins, "since you weren't the best you could be, Maddie, I won't give you a solo. In fact, I'm giving you a duet with the worst dancer here. Meaning, you will have a duet with Chloe."
Maddie smiles at me, and I return the gesture. As soon as Dance Moms ended, Miss Abby has always treated me like dirt. She says I'm not deserving, and that I'm a bad dancer. Since I got my driver's license, my mom hasn't come to rehearsals, which is good. Because if she heard the things Miss Abby said about me she would pull me from dance.
"Usually, I don't use songs that are popular, or were popular, for dances," Miss Abby begins, "but I'd like to use the song 'Same Love' for your duet. Do you know what that song is about?"
"Gay people, right?" Nia says. Miss Abby nods.
"Wait," Maddie says, "we'll be pretending to be gay during the dance?"
"Yes," Miss Abby says. Maddie turns to look at me, and it's hard to read her expression. I'm not concerned about this dance, though. It's just acting.
"Kendall," Miss Abby says, "you will have a solo called 'Love Me Not.'"
Kendall nods once.
"The group will be called 'Change.'"
We all nod this time.
"Now spread out to stretch."
***
"Chloe," Miss Abby says, "you will be dressed up as a boy, and Maddie as a girl. However, in the middle of the dance you will take your hat and coat off, revealing that you are actually a girl. Alright?"
I nod, loving the creativity of this dance. Nobody has ever done a dance like this before, as far as I know. I didn't even know it was allowed.
We begin learning the dance, and all of a sudden we hit a part where I have to hug Maddie and take my boy clothes off at the same time... And it seems like it will be a real challenge.
***
Paige's hair, now down to her abdomen, shimmers as Nia sprays it with hair mist. Since Kendall is working on her solo, and since the seniors are on a trip to Africa, we have all of Studio C to ourselves.
I plop myself down next to Maddie, who is sitting across from Paige and Nia. Her brown hair falls over her face in such a way that she looks much older than her actual age, fourteen.
"Hey, you," I say with a smile. She hugs me.
"Hey Chlo. What's up?"
I shrug, then put my arm around Maddie. We both decided that since we're going to perform a duet about lesbian love, we'll try to get really close this week.
Of course, we're always close.
Kendall walks in and taps Mackenzie on the shoulder. "Miss Abby says she wants to talk to you," she says softly. I wish that I was as smooth as Kendall when it comes to speaking to others.
"Good luck, Kenzie!" Paige calls reassuringly. I smile at Paige. She's the nicest sixteen-year-old I know. She's also the only sixteen-year-old I know that has great grades, is devoted to dance, and isn't in a relationship.
Mackenzie shoots us a weak smile, then exits. Kendall sits down next to Nia and Paige and smirks at Maddie and me.
"You're really embracing that gay love, huh?" she says teasingly. Nia shoves her, and Maddie whisper-shouts "Shut up!" I just giggle.
"RIIIIGHT," I say with a smile. Kendall blushes.
The funny thing is, though, that Maddie still hasn't taken her arm from around my shoulder. I glance at her, and she's rolling her eyes at Kendall. It's ironic, actually, that Kendall brings it up, because her best friend-- a girl at our school named Anna-- is actually bisexual.
Mackenzie walks back into the studio, looking rattled. "What's up, Kenzie-Boo?" I ask.
"Miss Abby says that if I mess up the group dance again, I'm off the team."
Maddie's eyes go wide, and she rises to hug Mackenzie. "She would never do that!" Maddie cries. Mackenzie just shrugs.
"Well, I'd say that your sister is right, Mackenzie," I say. "You're too awesome! And with Brooke off the team, you're the best acrobat on this team! No, in the studio!"
Paige, Nia, Kendall, and Maddie all nod vigilantly. We don't want Mackenzie off the team.
Because if she gets kicked off, I know Maddie will quit too.
