UPSIDE DOWN. (aldc)

seven

"What was that all about." Yasmine's mom says to us as we walk back into the dressing room to start warming up.

"Oh nothing Abby just wanted to talk to  Katie about what that other mom said and how she was sorry." My mother replies trying to cut the conversation short and not mention the fact that Abby said that she noticed me.

All she did was nod her head and continue working on yasmines hair for the group routine. I shook it off and and walk to my chair and pulled out my makeup case with all my hair things in it. I see some of the other moms talking quietly in a corner and I look over at my mom to see her roll her eyes and look down at her phone. Of course this whole Abby thing was gonna start drama and I wasn't here for it I mean who cares if Abby noticed me it's not like she wants me on her team or anything. I go over to my suitcase and pull out my two piece sparkling blue costume that I would wear for my solo. I simply place it on a chair next to my makeup station and begin doing my hair in a French twist with a silver pin on the right side of it. I do my makeup lightly but complimenting with red lipstick and darker winged eyeliner, after doing my hair and makeup I go into a corner and change into my costume. I go over to Mrs.Fowler so she could see my outfit and she was very impressed with it.

"Wow Katie that blue looks amazing on you." Mrs.Fowler says as she moves her finger indicating she wanted me to spin around.

I did a turn and felt the blue material at the end of the dress flow out around me it was super pretty and it made me feel really good about my routine and the costume. I began running my routine in the middle of the floor and doing leaps and turns while the other girls and their moms sit behind me. After I finish running my dance I go back to where Kaylee and I were sitting and I go talk to her.

"So what do yo think of my costume." I say smiling and flaring the material out with my fingers like a princess jokingly.

"Why don't you ask Abby Lee Miller how your costume looks since she knows so much about you." She says back rolling her eyes and going back to doing her makeup.

"Hey what are you talking about." I say confused I wasn't sure why she was acting this way since I didn't do anything.

"Look Katie your my friend and everything but what you did in the hallway was really bratty and rude and of course since it was you who said it you don't get in trouble it's like no one cares what you do because your perfect and that's not okay with me, it wasn't fair that Abby noticed you and not the rest of us and it's all because you ran your mouth like a brat." She preached to me with tears in her eyes and I could tell she was hurt but not as hurt as me I mean my bestfriend just called me a brat and basically said I didn't deserve to get recognized.

"I spoke up because we all had to go warm up and it's not my fault Abby noticed me and not you guys and I'm not perfect I'm far from it just because I can dance and I stick up for my self doesn't mean I'm a brat!" I yell back to her before gabbing my team jacket and walking away to go sit with my mother.

The entire room was quite and no one said anything as I sat in the corner next to my mom and played on my phone trying to ignore the feeling of tears coming to my eyes. As Ms.Faith walked back into the room she could tell something was off I watched her scan the room before simply saying "it's time for the solos." As soon as she says that I set my phone back with my mom and walk out of the room not waiting for the other girls like I normally do. Down the hallway walking out of their room I spot Abby with Maddie and Brynn and I instantly know that I have a solo against them. They stand near the door and I see cameras swarming them so I guess that Abby was giving them a pep talk. I simply walk down the hallway in their direction trying to get to the stage so I could wait for my solo turn. As I was walking past Abby I see her face light up as she walks towards me.

"Girls I would like you to meet Katie Cohen from what I have seen she is an amazing dancer and a very outspoken girl." Abby gushes about me to the brunette and blonde girls and they smile and wave at me.

"Awh Ms.Abby your too kind, if anything these two are amazing dancers I mean I've looked up to these girls for so long." I say towards Maddie and Brynn and they both laugh.

"Oh my god no way we've seen you at other competitions and let me just say you were amazing." Maddie says with a warm smile on her face.

We talk for a couple more seconds before Gianna Abby's assistant tells us that it's 5 minutes until solo  time. We each say our goodbyes as I walk by myself up to stage to get ready, I do a couple of turns and give myself a silent pep talk since none of the girls are here to see me perform. Two more girls go on stage before it is finally my turn and I'm as ready as I will ever be, I walk on stage strutting like I own it and sit in my beginning spot making sure to project the smile on my face. I run the dance over in my head while they introduce me and I wait for the music to start. 30 seconds later I hear the soft words of the song fill the entire room and I let my emotions drain out on stage. I make sure to give the judges eye contact while also portraying the character that I need to do. The dance was absolutely beautiful and my leaps and turns were amazing I made sure to point my toes and straighten my knees and do everything to the best of my ability. Half way through my solo I saw Maddie and Brynn both watching me like a hawk through the wings. I give myself a mental smirk and continue on with the dance knowing that I was amazing and they knew it too. The music finally started  to slow down and my movements got softer and more angelic. I crawl onto center stage and take my ending pose with my hand on my face and my eyes towards the crowd. I hear the room fill with claps and cheers for me as I walk off stage feeling like I did my best, I was met by Maddie and Brynn who both congratulated me and even gave me a hug. I thanked them both and then proceeded to head back to the room since it was almost time for the groups after the solos.

As I walk back to the room I hear yelling and noise coming from down the hall. But this time it was our dressing room not the ALDC's.

"Why can't you just admit your child gets special treatment." I hear Candice's mom say from inside of the room.

"My daughter worlds just as hard as your girls work and I'm sorry that she got noticed that wasn't my fault but I think it's really disgusting that you would allow your daughters to be mean to my child just because she got a compliment handed to her." I hear my mother yell from inside the room and I immediately know what the argument was about.

I walk into the room with my head held high not wanting to let the drama get it me. As soon as I walk into the room everyone goes quite and the girls and all the moms just stare at me silently with annoyed looks on their faces.

"Oh please don't stop just because I walk into the room you guys want to talk about me go ahead I did nothing wrong and neither did my mother." I say in an angry voice at all of the moms and girls.

Everyone just stares at me in disbelief because I never say things like that or get rude but right now I was upset. They picked on my mom they picked on me and then they had the nerves to get mad over a stupid compliment that didn't mean anything. I simply walked over to my makeup area and began getting ready for the group dance not wanting to talk to anyone but my mom. The girls hurt me especially because they knew that it didn't mean anything and they still decided to be mean to me for no reason. Every time one of the girls would get close to me in the room I inched away not wanting to be near any of them at that moment.