Suicide in the Shadows- Mackenzie Ziegler

Competition

Kenzie's POV: I wake up to the sound of my annoying alarm. In two hours Me and Maddie will be leaving the house for competition. My mom comes into my room. "Kenzie, can you do your own Comp makeup please, I have to help Maddie do hers." Just like every other week. "Sure" I say. I put on my makeup and get my costume on. I put on my ALDC tracksuit overtop and pack my bag. I go downstairs and me and Maddie take a Snapchat to post. We get into Moms car and go to the Studio and get into the bus. I sit by myself but everyone else sits with Maddie but I don't care. I put my earphones in and do my homework.

~At the Competition~

We finish the final touches of our makeup in the dressing room and run our dances. Abby turns my music on and I start dancing. Twenty seconds later she flicks the off switch and rolls her eyes and puts her head in her hands.  She mutters something under her breath and it sounds something along the lines of "What a Disgrace". I pluck up the courage to ask Miss Abby what needs improving. She looks me dead in the eye and says " Mackenzie, It's better to let someone think you are an idiot than to open your mouth and prove it. And also - the answer to your question is everything." She makes a shooing motion with her hand and I run out of the room. I practice in the hallway and make a promise to myself that I'm going to pour so much emotion into the dance and make it so perfect that I win. I go back in the dressing room and get a drink of water before following Maddie and Chloe out into the stage wings. They call up Maddie. She goes to step out onto the stage but before she does she turn around to face me and says "Good luck beating me cause it's not gonna happen" She smirks before gracefully stepping out onto stage. She performs beautifully, probably one of her best dances. She smiles at the judges and the audience applauds loudly and from the side wing I can see Mom sobbing tears of joy and Miss Abby grinning widely. Maddie steps of the stage and they call up Chloe. "Break a leg!" I whisper to her. "Thanks" She says and then sashays onto the stage. Her piece is lyrical as well and I think she did it just as good as Maddie. She nails every Jump and Turn and perfects all her facial expressions. She finishes and drops a curtsey and comes back to the side of the stage. "That was soooo good, Chlo!" I say hugging her. "Yeah . . Whatever" She says kind of brushing off my compliment. She turns to Maddie and they walk off together and don't give me a second glance. But I stand staring after them. Maddie is kind of like a Black hole. She's all cool and interesting on the outside but then she sucks things in and they can never escape. She destroys them. I hear my name being called over the loudspeaker. "And now for Contestant Number 22  - Mackenzie!" I walk onto stage and begin pouring my heart into my dance. My dance is about a girl who is given a chance to redeem herself, and beat all the people who have ever beaten her before. I point my toes and keep my legs straight as I think about all the trophies Maddie has at home. All the Means things anyone has ever said to me. All the times I've been told I'm "Not Good Enough". I slide into my final position and the crowd applauds. I glance out at Miss Abby and she looks bored and I look at my Mom who is checking her Nails. Maddie and Chloe are nowhere in sight. I curtsey and smile at the judges and dance off stage. I go back to the dressing room where Miss Abby and Mom are waiting. "Mackenzie, you did Terrible" Miss Abby booms.

Thx for reading!

Love, Bella 💖💗