L.A. // mackenzie ziegler

Chapter 3 <brooke>

-september 1st,2016-

Mackenzie was tired as anything the day after that party.

The party didn't end until late, and then Mackenzie stayed up a lot later, with Freya, Maddie, and Avery, gossiping and giggling at how Mackenzie tricked one of the hottest guys at their school.

Avery's older sister picked them up in the morning, driving Avery to school and the Zieglers back home.

Their mom wasn't there at the time, and nor was Greg, but their dogs, Molly and Maliboo raced to the doorway, skidding on clumsy paws, when they opened the door.

Both girls went straight upstairs and slept for a couple of hours. Mackenzie had never felt this tired before. The adrenaline had ebbed away, but Mackenzie wasn't back to being her usual self- she could feel herself changing.

When Mackenzie awoke from her slumber, she found a smoothie waiting for her in the kitchen. Next to it lay a note from Maddie, which told her to drink the smoothie.

It was miraculously refreshing. Mackenzie still couldn't help but wonder where that sister of hers was, so she explored the home until she heard faint music coming from their studio basement.

She travelled down the stairs and ventured inside to find Maddie in there, fiercely dancing to a Beyoncé song.

She didn't stop when Mackenzie arrived, and Mackenzie watched until she'd finished.

"Hey, Kenz. Did you like the drink?" Maddie asked, panting a little.

"Yeah, I did, thanks," Mackenzie spoke, her eyes consciously sliding to Maddie's phone on the speaker, where a text from someone with a lot of emoji hearts in their name lay.

Maddie pressed the power button and changed the subject.

"How'd you like the party?"

Mackenzie's eyes lit up; she'd definitely had a great time.

"I loved it," she emphasized.

"I can't believe you kissed Riley, Kenz!" Maddie said, playfully pushing on Mackenzie's arm.

"Well," Mackenzie retorted, "I can't believe you kissed Josh. We know him, we know his family!"

Maddie rolled her eyes at the girl, blushing slightly.

"He's cute, Kenz."

"Who's cute?" someone hollered.

Their mother trotted into the room, her heels clacking on the dance floor, causing-

"NO SHOES!" Mackenzie and Maddie bellowed at their mother. Maybe it was Abby's teaching, maybe it was the fact that this was their domain, not their mothers, and they didn't want her stuffing it up.

She put her hands up in surrender and stepped off it so she was in the doorway.

"Who's cute?" she reiterated, beaming. Melissa Gisioni was ecstatic about the move.

"Niall Horan," Maddie answered immediately. "What do you want, mom?"

"For you to get ready. Girls, we are going to Abby's in ten minutes."

The girls rolled their eyes at their mom and did as she said. Ten minutes later, the Zieglers were on the way to the ALDC.

No one was there yet, except for some homeschooled dancers, the other dance teachers, Gianna, and Abby herself.

Because it was a lot earlier than usual, the cameras weren't here yet.

"My girls! Get into studio A, it's solo and duet time." Abby commanded, shooing Melissa upstairs and following the girls into said studio.