On The Dance Floor

Auditions

I finished my bun off with one last spray of hairspray and made my way downstairs. 

"Ryder!" I yell. 

He walks down the hallway fully ready to go. 

"Wow, I'm impressed" I nod, grabbing my Spotlight dance camp duffle bag, that was now my dance bag.

"I've become very responsible" He nods. 

"Sure" I laugh. 

"My wedding is soon, I have to grow up" He shrugs. 

We walk out to his car and climb in. 

"We all know Paige will love you no matter what" I laugh. 

"I know!" He smiles.

Auditions. 

At our studio it was the same as auditioning for a show. 

We got a number and did skills and then the audition piece. 

My number was 13. 

Aka my lucky number. 

As I walked in Kendal smirked in my direction. 

We all knew she was auditioning for Clara. 

But she didn't threaten me. 

Sophie was my biggest competition at this audition. 

She was the best at ballet out of us junior team members. 

It was my first time back at the studio after spotlight dance camp. 

And it felt...different. 

Not like I had been dancing here for years.

I felt like a guest. 

"I saw the poster of you for the spotlight showcase" Kendal says to me as I walk in "How much did you have to pay to get on there?" 

"I didn't have to, We all got photos taken and The senior and Junior dancer of the year got to be on the poster" I explain, lacing my pointe shoes up. 

"Well it doesn't matter, because while you were gone, I was here training" Kendal smirks "Training to get better than you" 

I shrugged her comment off and stood up. 

"So, What was it like?" Makayla asks, walking over to me. 

"It was amazing!" I smile "What about the competition?"

"The group didn't place but I got first overall with my solo" Makayla smiles. 

"Two  times in a row! Go Makayla!" I smile. 

"Sophie and I's duet got second" she says "Sophie isn't very happy about it" 

I noticed Sophie was over by herself. 

"Weird" I furrow my eyebrows.

The boys exited the studio and Mrs. Hanna called us girls in. 

I looked up at the viewing room.

Tristan and Ryder were chatting and joking like the old days. 

"To the barre!" Mrs. Hanna orders. 

We all walk over to the barre.

Kendal pushing me out of my spot in the front and taking my place. 

Sophie glared at her "She's gotten worse" 

"I can tell" I whisper back.

"Glad to have you back Ava" Mrs. Hanna smiles. 

"Glad to be back" I smile. 

Paige leads us through a warm up and then we move on to technique. 

I found it easy compared to the stuff we did at camp. 

When we were done we were dismissed into the hallway.

We started our one by one auditions in studio C.

I executed mine perfectly, only wobbling on a few turns. 

Once I was dismissed I walked out and over to Jordan. 

"Hey!" I smile. 

"Hey!" He smiles back "It's weird right?" 

"Getting used to this speed again?" I ask. 

"Yup" He says popping the "P" 

We sit and patiently wait to be called in for the cast announcement. 

When we walked in for the cast announcement I was shaking with nerves. 

Mrs. Hanna started with the "Ensemble" Aka the party guests and snowflakes, Makayla and faith were in that group with several other kids our age.

"The snow King and Queen will be Jordan and Ava" 

My heart sinks. 

"Ava you will also be the understudy for Clara and Jordan you will be the understudy for the nutcracker prince"

I swallow the lump in my throat as Sophie is announced as The sugar plum fairy. 

"The nutcracker prince will be Mason and Our Clara will be Kendal" 

My stomach is flipping. 

I'm Kendals understudy?

First year of auditioning for the leads and I blew it.

You're kidding....