I couldn't tell her. If she found out, she'd tell Mom would think the other moms were right and not let me do stuff with Abby anymore. Then Abby will get mad and yell at me.

Then I won't be safe anymore.

I had to make something up on the spot without looking suspicious. It ended up being easier than expected.

"The moms. I don't want them to continue hating me." I cry.

Her eyes softened as I mentally cursed myself.

I was being a crybaby again. I wasn't supposed to be crying, but yet, here I am, being an attention seeker.

"Come here," Kara says.

She opened her arms as I stood up from my seat and accepted the hug. I wrapped my arms around her as she wrapped hers around me.

It was a moment I wished would last forever.

At one point, I thought Kara could be the one. She could be the one to protect me from the moms. She could be the one I could trust with everything, but then I remember, she's the one that could ruin everything. Abby could still help me. She would help me and not ruin everything. She could, and I trust in her.

After some more reassuring words ― and some unnecessary ones about taking a break ― we were back to our normal selves, talking about everything during the flight and the ride back home. Then, I had to go back to the studio the next day.

I had no idea of what had happened. Especially as soon as Giselle met up with those who were her mortal enemies three days ago. The four of them walked into the studio, with me having a surprised look on my face as I walked with Mom.

"I know, I was just as surprised as you are," Mom tells me. "Apparently, Abby was right and all they needed to do was get through their issues by dancing."

"They're weird," I comment as I pushed the door open and entered the building.

"Hello." Abby smiles as she worked with something at the front desk. "How was it?"

"It was really good," I answer, a small smile coming onto my face.

She looked just as excited as when I did my audition.

"Tell me about it." She says, ignoring all of the work and giving me all of the attention.

"They were just two scenes, but they were crazy," I explain, the smile growing. "They were really fun to film, everyone was really nice, oh, and I did a solo. I had thirty minutes to learn it and perfect it, but I did great."

"How was your dancing?" Abby asks, now looking way more invested than before. "Did anybody say anything?" At my visible confusion, she explained a bit further. "Were they impressed?"

I nodded eagerly in response, and the smile came back onto her face.

"There was a guy that told me that he couldn't believe I was only nine," I tell her. "He thought I was at least twelve."

"But you don't look twelve." Abby comments.

I shrugged in response, not saying anything.

Genevieve: Filming Drop Dead Diva was really fun, but now I'm back to get ready for the competition tomorrow.

After our conversation was over, I walked into the dancer's den, which was empty. Without thinking about it, I placed my dance bag on an empty chair before tightening my ponytail and walking into studio "A", where I went over the group dance.

I wished I had rehearsed as much as I told myself I would during filming, but it was really hectic. I barely had time to learn the dance for the show to have time to work with one that doesn't have anything to do with it.

As I was stuck in my train of thoughts, I didn't notice Abby walking into the room. She watched me as I did my final pose. Still not noticing her, I lay on the floor, where I finally noticed her.

"Did you work on this number while you were filming Drop Dead Diva?" Abby asks.

Using my arms for support as I sat on the floor, I nodded. "A couple times, but I also needed to learn the other one."

Abby nodded before dismissing me. Confused, I walked back into the dancer's den, which was still empty. I sat down as I attempted to grab my dance bag, which was now gone.

Being even more confused than before, I stood up and walked out of the dancer's den, deciding to ask Mom about it. However, I was stopped by Riley, who was on her way downstairs as I tried to go upstairs.

"Hi." She let out. "How are you?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Good..? Do you know where my dance bag is?"

Annie then appeared out of nowhere behind Riley, who looked back at her. Whatever Riley just did, Annie's eyes widened in response as she looked back to me, acting as if nothing was wrong.

"Could you show me where the bathroom is?" She asks.

"Don't you already know?" I ask.

"I forgot!" Annie exclaims, bounding down the stairs as she grabbed my arms and took me with her. "Let's go!"

I looked back to Riley, who was now gone. I decided to lead Annie to the bathroom, who pushed me inside as soon as I opened the door. She also got inside, closing the door behind her. I tried not to laugh at Annie's attempt at having a nonchalant face.

"Well, we're here." I break the silence. "This is the bathroom."

"Yeah, it looks very bathroom-y to me." Annie answers.

After a couple more seconds of silence, I sighed. I then walked over to the door before being pushed back by Annie.

"What the heck?" I ask as I looked back at her. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing." She answers. "Absolutely nothing. No way. no how."

"Ann's," I say.

"I swear." Annie raised her hands in surrender.

At that moment, a light bulb went off in my head.

"Annie, if you tell me what's going on, you're getting my earnings for a month," I tell her.

Her eyes widened again.

"No, Annie, don't be greedy." She whispered to herself as she broke eye contact. "Don't be greedy, don't be greedy--"

"You wouldn't be greedy." I interrupt her, an amused smirk coming onto my face. "I'm just giving it to you as the good samaritan that I am."

"The girls planned something!" She blurts out.

My eyes widened at her response, not at the plan thing, but at the way she revealed it. I was in a mix of being surprised and shocked, all at the same time.

"What?" I ask.

"Like you were gone for your first--"

"--And only--"

"--Acting job." She continues, then stops. "Wait, only?"

"Yes," I answer.

"Only acting job." Annie corrects herself. "They decided to do something to celebrate it, even though I don't think they knew it's the only one. They probably think you're just kidding. Moving on, it isn't only them. Other dancers decided to help and bought a cake. It's really cute. It's pink and white and it has written: Congrats, Eves. It was supposed to be congratulations, but like the cake is round, it doesn't have enough space. And it was supposed to be Evie instead of Eves, but Olivia spelled it wrong and John had to come in and save it by using Eves instead, You use Eves, right, Eves?"

At that point, I was grinning from ear to ear. Partially because of Annie's enthusiasm. Partially because of the sweet gesture they had done. And partially because of my own amusement.

I wish I hadn't bribed her for it, but it was hilarious.

"I do," I tell her. "Now, what if we go wherever they are and pretend I don't know."

"And the money?" Annie asks.

"It's in the dancer's den," I answer. "I'll give it to you once we go back, but don't tell anyone why, and hide it."

"Okay!" She exclaims and there's a knock on the door. "Give me a sec."

It was obviously Chloe the one that had knocked on the door. Annie then left the bathroom, with me following her to the dancer's den, where they all stood with the cake.

All right, can't let my only acting experience go to waste.

"Aw, guys!" I exclaim, smiling. "This is so sweet! Thank you!"

After lots of congratulations and stuff, I sat down ― surrounded by the girls from the team ― as I ate a piece of cake. Without anyone noticing, Annie managed to take the five dollars out of my dance bag. She looked at me for reassurance, and I misled before going back to listening to Paige's monologue about how John, even though he saved the name part of the writing, almost let the cake fall on the way out of the bakery. She also talked about how Olivia then held the cake for the rest of the time and didn't trust anyone to hold it. Somehow, Maddie managed to convince her to let her hold it at the end, so she was the one who held it when I walked in.

~~~

After a four-hour bus ride and a sick Kenzie later, we reached the competition place. As we started our way to our dressing room, I found myself looking around excitedly. I watched as some people sat down to watch the performance. I caught a glimpse of a senior contemporary solo. I also watched as a dancer and their mother rushed to sew in a headpiece for, apparently a duet. Mainly because the other mother was complaining that they took too long as the other dancer went over the dance.

I took a glance at the silver sign that said ALDC in bold, black letters, as we entered the room and I rushed to sit down on the first seat I could find. As they all started working, I started doing my makeup for the group dance. Mom was working with Giselle's hair as she worked with her own makeup. Leslie, surprisingly and apparently, hadn't opened her mouth yet. She just commented every now and then, but she wasn't your typical Leslie, which was weird. Maybe she realized that her daughter caused enough drama and decided to keep it to herself.

Wish Payton caused drama every week, then.

Brooke, according to everyone ― including herself ― was even worse than before. Her hip was worse, and I started to wonder if the group dance had to be turned into a trio between Nick, Payton, and Giselle.

I changed into my group dance costume after finishing with my hair and makeup, soon following the others as we made our way backstage.

"All right, up next in the small group theater musical category, "Allouette"." The announcer says and the audience cheered. "Number 590."

The music started and Maddie walked onto the stage, doing some turns. She was followed by Kendall, who was followed by Chloe. I followed Chloe and was followed by Nia. who started off doing a side aerial.

The dance was a really fun one, and it sucked that the big finish arrived soon. After we performed, we waited for the other four to perform their contemporary dance, which featured Brooke, who looked a hurt look on her face, but it wasn't because of the drama, it was because of her hip.

I was starting to wonder how bad it actually was.

There was a lift Brooke decided to skip, and it looked like Nick knew it because he didn't even try to do it. Back at the dressing room, we were all really happy with the dance, but Brooke talked about the lift, with Nick agreed with her.

Also, not going to lie, but my mouth opened in shock when Leslie told my Mom and Kelly that the group dance was great.

Who is she and what did she do to Leslie?

Soon, we were back on stage for the awards ceremony.

"All right, folks, we're gonna find out who our top Junior Petite group is." The announcer says.

At that point in the day, I was getting really tired. Apparently, the jet lag kicked in two days too late, and I was almost falling asleep on my sister, who shook me awake. The girls soon cheered and I stood up. All of us received the award and bowed.

I guess we were first.

The other group dance was also first, and we went back to the hotel after that.

Tomorrow, the Zieglers were performing their solos. Kendall and Chloe were going to perform their duet too. At least it meant that I had nothing to do the next day, so I could sleep peacefully without worrying about any dance.

But it wasn't like I remembered any of it as soon as my head hit the pillow.