ALDC: A Lot Does Change

Chapter 1: Ball and Chain

My solo music slowly began to increase in volume, I three step turned out from behind the curtain and into the spotlight of the stage. I completed the first set of five pirouettes then nailed my step step switch leap. The rythm of Leave The Light On gracefully moving my feet in a frenzy of turns and leaps. I began the first position of my final set of turns.

I pushed onto releve and soon found myself spiraling to the floor. A sharp pain in my right angle kept me from standing up and completeing my dance. I sat hopelessly in center stage and wept as the last note of my solo ended. The spotlight finally faded and stage crew assisted me off stage.

Questions were flying from every direction. "Are you ok?" "Where does it hurt?" "Do you need to go to the hospital?"

I disregarded them all, my mind set on the Joffery Ballet scout seated in the third row. He had just seen my beautiful solo end in disaster. I couldn't breathe, much less answer the questions pouring out of these people's mouth. So instead I asked my own "Could someone find Abby and my mom?" my words coming out in short, exaggerated sobs.

They hastily stuck me into the back of an ambulance. Abby seated to my left, I saw a hint of sadness in her hard expression. "Miss Abby, I don't know what happened. It didn't hurt the entire dance, but toward the end it just gave out. I know you're dissapointed in me, but as soon as I heal I'll be back at rehearsal," I spoke quietly.

"Chloe, the performance was absolutely stunning. I'm not dissapointed in you, what could you have done about your ankle giving out? I'm upset because I know how badly you wanted to perform at nationals in three weeks, but a broken ankle won't heal that quickly," Abby returned.

The realness of her statement was beginning to set in. Nationals hadn't even crossed my mind. The tears began to blur my eyes again. I had been hoping to get a solo for nationals and finally my duet with Paige. My mom's hand gently brushed the tear from my cheek.

We arrived at the hospital and I was ushered into an emergency room. After a painful hour of poking and proding at my newly injured ankle. She uttered the words I had been absolutely dreading to hear. "Well it's clearly broken and unfortunately that means a boot. It'd only be on for five weeks, then afterward there will be about a two week period where you'll have to get used to standing and walking on it, basic movements only though. Your dance career might have to hold off for seven weeks."

There was nothing I could do or say as the doctor fitted me for my boot. I looked down at my ball and chain in shame. Not practicing for seven weeks would set me back so much. I'd miss nationals, I'd miss the Joffery auditions, I'd have to cancel my spot in the music video. This couldn't have come at a more inconvenient time.

The three of us headed back to the competition in an attempt to catch awards. Using crutches was annoying, but I somehow made it through the auditorium to where Holly, Kelly, Jill, and Melissa were sitting. They didn't say anything, probably because they know I'd just cry. Their sympathetic looks were louder than words anyway. "It's time to begin awards for junior small groups," the announcers voice boomed over the speakers.

"In fifth place we have Abby Lee Dance Company with Land Unforgiven".

The girls faked a smile and went up to recieve the trophy. I could see the look of dissapointment on all of their faces even from the tenth row of the audience. My absence had probably thrown the spacing off and I wasn't there to help Paige lift Kenzie. This was the worst place we had gotten all competition season. "Moving on to Junior Solo awards," the announcer informed the audience.

"In third place we have Nia Frazier with 20 Scat," I applauded for Nia.

"In second we have Maddie Ziegler with Looking For A Place Called Home."

"And in first place over all. Winning by a margin of 2 points, Paige Hyland with City Of Angels."

Paige's solo had just beat out Maddie's! I stood up to give Paige a standing ovation and found myself face first on the ground. I had forgotten all about the boot and my ankle in the second of overall hapiness. Paige rarely gets first, let alone beats out Maddie for first! Kelly quickly helped me to my feet.

"And what dance company are you from?"

"Abby Lee Dance Company!" Paige exclaimed.

"And who choreographed this dance?"

"Abby Lee Miller!"

Paige excepted her trophy and crown for Miss Energy. Maddie seemed generally happy for Paige, which was good because I figured she'd be upset. Which left me to think what I would of placed if I hadn't fell. The moms stood up and we all headed to the green room together.

The green room was absolutely insane when we arrived, 15 minutes after leaving the auditorium. It's very difficult to manuevur crutches through huge crowds of sobbing dancers and buzzing dance moms. Nia was admiring her trophy, Maddie was removing her makeup, and Paige was doing pirouettes around her award. The room silenced when I hobbled in. Paige quit spinning and rushed up to me. "Chloe I know if you wouldn't have gotten hurt you would have gotten first, your solo was amazing!"

"No Paige, you deserved that crown. I mean I didn't get to see you perfrom, but I'm sure it was beautiful," I replied happily with a hint of angst from her comment.

Nia smiled sympathetically and held out her third place trophy. I nodded happily and looked over to Maddie. Who in all the commotion was still removing layers of shadows and fake eyelashes. I bet she heard Paige's comment about me winning. Kenzie cartwheeled over to where Paige and I stood. "Hey Chlo! I'm sorry about your ankle, are you ok?"

"I'm fine Kenzie. I didn't get the oppurtunity to tell you good job on your solo. It was very cute," I replied.

"Not cute enough to place," she said and I could see tears beginning to fill her big doe eyes.

Melissa rushed over and picked up Kenzie, attempting to comfort her. I spotted Brooke in the back corner frantically trying to find her phone charger before her cell ran out of battery. I'm sure her head was wrapped around how she was going to reply to Brandon. "Congratulations everyone. Mackenzie, save those tears for the pillow. Unfortunately we're going to be down a dancer for seven weeks," Abby announced over the voices filling the small room.

"Seven weeks? But that means you'll miss..."

"Nationals. I know," I finished Nia's sentence a little too harshly.

The room silenced and everyone began packing their things. No one spoke as we left the green room. The car ride to the airport was even silent. Once we made it to LAX the girl's began to chatter and the mom's began their gossip. We made it swiftly through security and were soon seated at our gate. In all of the commotion of the day I hadn't even noticed that I still wore the navy blue velvet dress. My costume hung off me in a crumpled heap of fabric. All my clothes were in my suitcase and there was absolutely no way to change. The outfit becoming more noticably uncomfortable.

I realized that I still had on full stage makeup only now it was smudged from the tears. I wasn't the only one that noticed either people were beginning to focus on my abnormal look. I quicky slipped on my hot pink, ALDC jacket and zipped up in attempt to cover up. Today was absolutely awful and all I wanted to do was be at home crying into my pillow.