Just Like Maddie

{9} Competition head on

Chapter 9-

Competition head on

By the time Greg came home, Mackenzie was all dressed for the last dance class before the big competition. Usually Melissa wouldn't allow Mackenzie to go to dance class if she had the day of school but she wasn't there and Mackenzie had Greg wrapped round her little finger. "Mackenzie I thought you were sent home from school? You can't go to dance if you're ill," Greg said searching the cupboards in the kitchen for something to eat. The cupboards were empty and Greg sighed. "I was but I'm feeling a lot better now and I really want to go as my teacher and I have been working really hard on this beautiful dance. I could run to the shops if you want before my teacher gets here to give me a lift?" Mackenzie said flashing her winning smile. It was important to her that she could go to dancing as it was her last practice. Greg rolled his eyes and smiled slightly, "A big mac and fries from McDonalds, you better start running." Greg chuckled to himself tossing Mackenzie a £20 note from his wallet and instructing her to buy something for herself while she was there. The McDonalds was only about a 15 minute walk but with Mackenzie running her fastest she managed it in a mere 5. She huffed and puffed as she ordered Gregs dinner, Mackenzie wasn't hungry despite only having a cereal bar earlier that morning. Thanfully it wasn't busy in McDonalds and she managed to get her order and run all the way home in 10 minutes. Mackenzie slumped on the couch out of breath. Trying to return her breathing rate back to normal but was interrupted by a car horn beeping outside her house. Realising it was her lift to dance she grabbed her stuff and yelled goodbye to Greg, Mackenzie was so ready for the competition. Those aldc girls had better watch out.

The car ride consisted of some horrific singing and small talk before arriving at the dance studio and slipping into the dressing room. Mackenzie was the second girl to arrive. Demi was tapping away looking rather frustrated. "Hey Mackenzie," she said falling onto the bench, "ready for the competition?" She asked politely. Mackenzie smiled and nodded, strangely enough she was but judging by the look on Demi's face, she clearly wasn't. "And you? Mackenzie returned the question politely. Demi sighed pulling her tap shoes of her feet. "I guess, I don't know. I have done it before and I have perfected the steps but it's off. I can feel it, it lacks a spark? You know what I mean?" She questioned moving to sit next to Mackenzie. Mackenzie smiled slightly, she knew exactly what she meant. "I do actually, I know exactly what you mean," Mackenzie sighed, "my old teacher Abby would go on and on for hours on end about how I lacked that spark that Maddie had. It sucked." Mackenzie told Demi truthfully. Demi shifted slightly at the mention of Maddie, through the whole time Mackenzie was there she would never talk to the girls about Maddie, but they knew about what happened. Everyone knew what happened. "Sorry, it must have." Demi said unsure of herself. Mackenzie smiled softly slipping her turners onto her feet, "Don't be. It helped me in the long run," she shrugged, "I'm no Maddie though. She was a tapper you know? She was great, not far fro your level but a bit behind. She knew how to use her face to her advantage though, that's what you need to try and do. Get really into, tell a story." Mackenzie smiled at a nodding Demi before standing up to attend her solo rehearsal. Just as she opened the door Demi called her name, Mackenzie turned round to face her. "You're right, your not Maddie but you're Mackenzie and anyone would be lucky to be half the person that you are," Demi said softly blushing slightly. A big grin fell on Mackenzie's face. "Thank you," Mackenzie said from the heart. She went into her private with newly found confidence, it is true what they say a small compliment can make a huge difference.

Rehearsal was pretty uneventful for Mackenzie yet Demi's comment stuck in her head. She was probably the first person on the team she had spoken to about Maddie, maybe even one of the first people ever as it wasn't a topic she liked to discuss, it was definitely reassuring for Mackenzie. It allowed a small amount of pressure to fall from her shoulders. Her dance was shaping up nicely and with the convention begining tomorrow it was just as well. Mackenzie thanked her teacher for her ride and said a brief goodbye, she was seeing her first thing in the morning anyway. The convention was only an hour and a half drive but the team had decided to book a hotel instead of travelling each day. She was being picked up in the morning by Savannah. Amber, Ruby, Coral, Demi and Ava were all coming along as well. The team travelled to competitions without their mom's as her studio was very intolerant of 'momma drama' much to Mackenzie's relief. While Mackenzie packed her things she checked her phone to recieve a message for little Brooke. 'Kenzieeee! We are on the plane now, can't wait to see ya!' it read along with a selfie of all the girls. Brooke and Paige had rejoined the team once Abby went soft, well softer than before anyway, and little Brooke took Mackenzie's spot on the team. Abby had a few replacements for Maddie but none of them lasted long, Mackenzie guessed they couldn't live up to Abby's unrealistic standards. Mixed emotions ran through Mackenzie's body yet she wrote back a simple, 'right back at ya Brookie.' After all Brooke was one of the few she wasn't dreading seeing.

A/N- Ok, so a lot of you have been asking what happened to Maddie and I can only tell you that it will be revealed in the next few chapters bit by bit so you will have to keep reading! However if you have any other questions or just want a chat message me as I hardly see the comments(: