Transitions

A Thousand Oceans

We sat in our seats for a good hour watching the different dancers. There were kids as young as 4 years old, and I swear, it was so cute. Finally JoJo came out to do her solo. Her technique was outstanding. When her solo ended, Mackenzie's was next. I sat on the edge of my seat waiting for her to come out. Her costume was a simple red leotard, but she had pigtails and red hearts painted around her eyes. She did her acrobatic tricks amazing, sticking every landing. The whole audience gave her a standing ovation. After a few more acts, the lights came on signaling intermission. I left the boys to go get snacks, while I went to go find the dressing rooms and go see Mackenzie to help her get ready for the group dance. Following the staircase back out to the main area, I searched for an event security staff to find the directions to the dressing area. I was directed around the corner to follow the sign that says staging area. I opened the door and walked the length of the hallway until I saw the door with the correct dance studio name. I knocked on the door and JoJo opened it.

"Hey Riley! Come on in; Mackenzie's getting changed right now. She is probably going to need help with her hair and makeup."

I stepped into the room full of girls of all ages in costumes. Their mothers were standing behind them, fixing their hair. Mackenzie came out from behind the curtain in her costume.

"Kenzie! That looks awesome! I'm so excited to see this routine."

She was wearing an orange jumpsuit with the arms and legs rolled up. The top of the jump suit was unbuttoned, revealing a black and white bikini like top with an orange bow in the middle. I walked her over to one of the little makeup tables, looking around at the types of hairstyles the other girls were wearing. It looked like it was either straight down, or in braids. I asked one of the other moms how their dance teacher wanted Mackenzie's hair and makeup done. JoJo's hair was braided back in small 1 inch sections. I did the same with my sisters hair, watching her apply eyeliner delicately. We finished getting her ready to perform and then I sent her to go rehearse with the other girls. I walked back out to the arena to sit with the boys again. Michael and Ashton were stuffing their face with popcorn. I sat down next to Mikey and he wrapped his arm around me.

"Hey beautiful. How's your sister?"

I looked at him and smiled, "She's good. Their act is up next after the intermission. The costumes for this routine are awesome."

Shortlyafter, the lights dimmed again alerting us that the next sets of performerswere getting ready to come out. The curtains opened up and there stood mysister, JoJo and the other girls in their group, dressed in prison jump suits.The routine was more jazz/hip-hop like. I was amazing watching all the stuntsthat my sister had to do throughout this routine. Once all the routines hadfinally ended, all the girls from the whole competition joined each other onstage to do the awards ceremony. They got through the micro and mini divisionsand then they started announcing the finalists for the solos. JoJo placed 3rdand Mackenzie got 1st. They announced the winners for the groupawards, and their routine 'Stomp the Yard' won. We stood up and cheered. Whenthey announced the overall winner for the whole competition, it was a girl fromanother dance company, but we were happy that Mackenzie just got to danceanyways. The girls scattered off the stage back to the dressing room to packup. I left the boys to go sign out Mackenzie and bring her back upstairs. Iwanted to run upstairs and play with my guitar for a while and escape fromreality. I walked back up to the hotel and unlocked the door. My guitar wasstill in its box standing against the wall. I gently picked up the box and laidit on the bed. 

Taking the guitar out from the box, I gently placed it on the bed while I grabbed the capo to tune it. I placed the capo over the fret to assist in tuning the guitar. Once it was tuned to my liking, I sat down on one of the bean bag chairs that was in the room and placed my fingers on the starting chords for 'Wherever You Are".

For a while we pretended,

That we never had to end it.

But we knew we had to say goodbye.

You were crying at the airport,

When they finally closed the plane doors,

I could barely hold it all inside...

Torn in two, and I know I shouldn't tell you

But I just can't stop thinking of you,

Wherever you are.

You,

Wherever you are.

Every night I almost call you

Just to say it always will be you

Wherever you are.

I could fly a thousand oceans

But there's nothing that compares to

What we had and so I walk alone.

At that moment in time I was interrupted by applause.

"Wait, how long have you guys been standing there?" I asked, looking at the 3 musketeers standing in the doorway.

"Pretty much the whole time, you were so zoned out you didn't even hear us walk in. That was amazing though. When we go on tour, you need to sing with us." Ashton said, emphasizing the e in need.