Book One: One Direction's Dancer

Chapter 16- Changed? I Don't Think So

Word Count: 2554 (Not really my best)

BTW, Does my user pic make me look like a carrot? Answer that please!

Kailyn's P.O.V.

My heart sinks. The smile I once had dropped as soon as the words leave his mouth.

"We're really sorry for the mistake. Have a nice day." He says before exiting the room. Reluctantly, I walk over to Maddie and hand her my award.

"Congratulations." I speak barely above a whisper.

"Thanks." She smiles, taking it and stalking away.

I turn on my heel, pushing the door open and walking out to find the bathroom.

"Kailyn!" I hear Chloe behind me. I quicken my pace, just wanting to be alone right now.

"Excuse me?" I stop a lady in a fancy blue dress, which allows Chloe time to catch up to me.

"Can I help you?"

"Uh, I was wondering if you knew where the bathroom was?" I say, swallowing the growing lump in my throat.

"You're heading in the right direction. A little bit further down and turn left. Second door on your right." She speaks and Chloe comes up beside me.

"Thank you." I run, following her directions, Chloe right beside me.

"Why are we running?" She says, out of breath.

I don't respond, turning left, just like the woman said. I push open the second door, rushing into a stall. I sit on top of the toilet seat, bringing my knees up to my chest. I don't cry, listening as Chloe pounds on the door.

"Kailyn. I know how you feel. This hasn't happened to only you." She gives up on knocking.

"Really?" I speak quietly.

"It's happened to almost everyone on the team." She says with a laugh. I bring my eyebrows together in confusion.

"Why?"

"Well, most times, whenever someone beats Maddie, Abby goes to the judges and says something about how the score should be higher." Chloe explains.

"And they listen to her?" I say, my voice cracking, "Aren't they the ones judging? Not Abby."

"Well, Abby is known for producing stars. Some judges are desperate for Abby's opinion."

"Do you think that's what happened with my score?"

"Maybe. I wouldn't be surprised. It could really could have been an honest mistake though."

I stay silent. Abby would really do that? Go to the judges and change my score?

I finally speak up, "H-Has it happened to you?"

Chloe doesn't respond at first, but then speaks, "Yeah. Twice."

"Twice?" I say, surprised. That's awful.

"Yeah. Kailyn, can you come out? If someone walks in here, I'll be embarrassed." She says and I laugh.

I open the stall and come out, closing the stall door and sitting against it, Chloe in front of me.

"Continue."

"Well, once I beat Maddie. I was really happy and excited. Once we came backstage, I said congratulations to her, but she didn't respond. I shrugged it off, thinking she was just upset. We went to the dressing room and Abby wasn't in there. A few minutes after, she came in with the director of the competition," she retells her story. I nod, motioning for her to continue.