Daisy woke up at 5am feeling refreshed. As it turns out, her conversation with Phillipe was just what she needed. She was happy and stress free. She took a warm shower and got dressed in a tank top and leggings. She wore her hair out, having it flow down her back. "You look rather chipper. I take it last night went well?" Julissa asked. "Yeah. It turns out Phillipe is better company than I thought." "See? And you didn't even want to go." "Are you gonna call Kyle?" Daisy asked. "Maybe. Probably. I'm gonna take a shower," Julissa said. Daisy nodded and as soon as she heard the shower running, she went straight for Julissa's bag and grabbed a handful of pills. She stuck some into her own bag and swallowed two of them.
By 6am the bus pulled out of the hotel parking lot and headed for the competition. When the girls got to the competition, they saw teams from all over the country. Ones they knew and ones they didn't.
"Girls line up! I want to run through the group dance." "Miss Lillian who is doing the solo part?" Angelina asked. "Daisy. The part was designed for her and she's here so she's doing it." "Big surprise," Lexi mumbled loud enough for Daisy to hear who rolled her eyes. "Oh. Okay." Daisy felt bad. She could hear the disappointment in Angelina's voice. She knew Angelina would love the opportunity to be front and center if even just once but Lillian would never give her that because she favoured Daisy. She always had and she always will. They ran the group dance flawlessly. Daisy had an extra burst of energy. Xanax made all the difference.
"Okay we're gonna do solos first. As usual, Daisy and Angelina stood in the wings, watching the other dancers perform. Angelina heard her name being called and Daisy turned to face her. "Good luck Angie." The two shared a quick hug before Angelina walked on stage. Angelina's dance was titled, The Ugly Duckling. It was based off the story but instead of an actual duck, it was about a bullied girl who undergoes a magical transformation overnight and becomes the most beautiful and desired girl in the entire school. Angelina starts off dancing in rags and halfway through the song, she ditches the rags in favour of a beautiful white swan dress. "You were amazing!" Daisy pulled Angelina into a hug. "Thanks," Angelina said. "Now ladies and gentlemen from Live, Breathe and Sleep Dance Company we have Miss Daisy with Hold On." Angelina hugged Daisy before Daisy took her place on stage. Daisy's outfit was a sky blue flowy costume with pointe shoes. Her dance was beautiful and she executed it perfectly, despite her sloppy solo rehearsals at practice. When Daisy walked off the stage, there was not a dry eye in the house. Angelina applauded her best friend and hugged her. Angelina knew her dance was good but knew Daisy's dance was better. Daisy would win. Angelina was used to that. She and Daisy competed for a lot of things in both school and dance and Daisy beat her almost every time. Still, she smiled as she watched Daisy dance. She truly was a beautiful dancer.
"Can we applaud our two soloists?" Lillian asked, applauding both Daisy and Angelina. "Angelina you were beautiful on stage. You really told the story of that bullied girl and then when you switched out and became beautiful and popular, it was outstanding. You applied the corrections from class and you went out there and owned that stage. I am so proud of you." "Thank you," Angelina smiled. "Daisy honey you looked like a movie star out there. You weren't just dancing you were telling a story. You made everyone cry. Even me and you know I don't cry. You are going places kid." Daisy smiled. At the beginning of the week she wasn't even sure if she was going to the competition but after the audience's reaction to her performance and Lillian's praise, she knew that right there up on stage was where she was meant to be.
"Okay girls time for the group dance. Now remember. You're Vegas showgirls so I expect the number to be sultry, sexy and mature. It's all about the face. You all need to give the judges and the audience face while you're dancing okay?" "Yes Miss Lillian," the girls said.
The girls went on stage dressed in black sequin body suits with black stockings, black heels and white feather boas. The title of their song was Gotta Be Me. The style was very jazzy with a hint of Burlesque. The girls were flawless on stage. They hit every trick, every turn, every formation and Daisy was phenomenal in her solo aspect of the routine. Their routine was far superior to any of the other teams but you never know with the judges.
The girls sat in a circle in the wings as they waited for the judges to deliberate. "You were amazing on stage Daisy you're totally gonna win," Angelina said. "I was amazing but so were you. You never know the judges might relate better to the ugly duckling better than the suicidal teen," Daisy said. Angelina shrugged. "Either way both of you were amazing," Julissa chimed in. "I think Angelina's solo was better but maybe that's just me," Lexi shrugged. "I'm gonna get some water," Daisy got up. She watched Julissa who was heavily engaged in a conversation with Angelina and Lexi.
She put her hands inside her dance bag, retrieving the pills she took from Julissa earlier. She took one and washed it down with water. "You okay?" Daisy jumped a bit, choking on the water. "Whoa. You okay?" Davia asked. "I'm fine," Daisy said, a bit nervously. "Don't listen to Lexi she just likes Angelina better besides we all know you can beat Angelina any day of the week." "I'm aware. We should go back. I'm sure the judges will be announcing the winners soon," Daisy said and pushed past Davia. Instead of rejoining the girls she decided to sit in the audience with her mother and sister. "Hey superstar. Why aren't you with your friends?" Her mom asked. "Just wanted to see you guys," Daisy lied. "You kicked ass sis!" Dana threw her arms around Daisy. Daisy laughed. "Thanks D."
"Okay can we have all the dancers to the stage please? Starting with the solo division," the host announced. Angelina and Daisy held hands as they each awaited the results. In fifth position….. in third place, Brady Atkins from Julio's Dance Academy." Brady stood up and accepted his plaque, taking a bow. In second place from Live, Breathe and Sleep Dance Company is Miss Angelina Bygrave." Angelina stood up with a smile and accepted her plaque, blushing when Brady winked at her. "Our first place winner is Miss Daisy Black with Hold On!" Daisy smiled as she accepted yet another trophy and crown. Angelina looked at Daisy, silently wishing she would have won but applauded her best friend nonetheless. "Now on to group awards, starting with our first place winners, we have Gotta Be Me from Live, Breathe and Sleep Dance Company." All the girls cheered as they accepted the giant trophy.
Daisy was happy another week of dance was over. All she wanted to do was go home and sleep till Monday which was exactly what she planned on doing.