Let's Rock! (10 page)

It took the judges two hours to deliberate and compile their list of winners.

“Do you think we stand a chance?” Bria asked Scarlett.

Scarlett peeked out at the judges' table. “Who knows? We all did the best we could.”

The Divas sat onstage, trying not to look nervous. “Don't let them see you sweat,” Rochelle whispered to Gracie. “Calm, cool, and collected. That's us.”

Gracie nodded. “I'm cool as a pickle,” she said.

“I think you mean cool as a cucumber,” Anya corrected her.

“No, I mean pickle. I like pickles. Especially supersour ones.”

“Gracie, if we win first prize in the Junior Group dance, I will buy you a whole jar of pickles,” Scarlett assured her.

“Thanks, Scoot!” Gracie said, smiling.

The Divas had to sit through several awards until they announced the Junior Solo category. “In third place, ‘On the Good Ship Lollipop,' Hashtag Dance Studios, Los Angeles,” the announcer read.

“Local favorite,” Anya said. “The judges love them.”

“And in second place … ‘Breakable,' Scarlett Borden from Dance Divas Studio, Scotch Plains, New Jersey!”

Scarlett leaped up to accept her trophy. She caught her teacher glaring at her from the audience. She knew second place wasn't good enough for Toni.

“Finally, our first place Junior Solo award goes to ‘Rising Star,' Rochelle Hayes from Dance Divas again!”

“Rock! That's you!” Bria squealed.

“It's me!” Rochelle exclaimed, jumping to her feet. J. J. was standing on his chair in the ballroom, pumping his fists in the air.

Scarlett hugged her BFF. “If someone had to beat me, I'm glad it was you!” she said. “You deserved it, Rock! Congrats!”

The trios and duets were the next to be announced. The
Ghostbusters
trio took home first place and the
Gone with the Wind
duet earned third place. It was down to Divas and City Feet for the top two spots in duets.

Bria covered her ears. “I can't listen,” she said. “I just can't.”

The announcer tapped the mike to make sure it was on. “Okay, this one was a close one. Just one-tenth of a point separates our first- and second-place winners,” he began. “In first place: ‘Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend,' Phoebe
Malone and Addison Gates from City Feet Dance Studio, Long Island!”

Bria's heart sank. Her queasiness had cost them the trophy. “I'm really sorry, Liberty,” she told her partner.

“Why are
you
sorry?” Liberty replied. “You held on to those reins and didn't let go, even though you were ready to barf. That's pretty impressive.”

“Really?” Bria said. “You're not mad at me?”

“Mad at you? No. Mad at those Stinky Feet? Yes. You better believe it. But the best Junior Group hasn't been announced yet.”

Toni and J. J. made their way to the front row. They wanted to be up close for the final awards.

“Great. She's closing in so she can kill us when we lose,” Rochelle said.

The other Charlie Chaplin routine came in fourth. “Oh great,” Anya groaned. “The judges don't like Charlies. We're doomed.”

Bria glanced over at City Feet. Surprisingly, they all looked just as petrified.

“In second place,” the announcer paused. The Divas all held their breath. “‘Listen Up,' Dance Divas Studio, New Jersey!”

The girls all looked at each other. No one even wanted to go up and take the trophy. “You go get it, Gracie,” Scarlett said, elbowing her little sister. Gracie raced up and grabbed the trophy out of the announcer's hands and held it above her head.

“I'm glad someone's happy,” Liberty said grumpily.

“Finally, our first place Junior Group winners, ‘
Lord of the Rings
,' City Feet, Long Island!”

Justine and her team descended upon the announcer and blew kisses to the audience. “We just want to say we're giving all of our winnings to that homeless shelter!” Mandy yelled into the mike.

“Ugh, she doesn't even know its name!” Bria complained. “This is so unfair. After all we did with the Sugar Dolls, the judges still picked them.”

“That's right. They did.” Miss Toni appeared behind them onstage. “And do you know why? Because their routine was better than ours. Not because they promised to give money to the homeless shelter or because we called in a VIP favor. Because they deserved it, plain and simple.”

“It doesn't make it hurt any less,” Bria said.

“No, it doesn't. Losing always hurts. But there will be another competition, and another chance to beat City Feet,” Toni replied. “I'm proud of you girls.”

Rochelle raised an eyebrow. “You are? Even though we blew it?”

“You did a lot more than dance these past two weeks. You made a difference in people's lives. That's the biggest win in my book.”

“Mine, too,” J. J. said. “Plus, my choreography brought us a first prize trophy … Just sayin'.”

“Your choreography and these talented toes,” Rochelle reminded him.

“I hate it when we get beat,” Gracie said,
eyeing Mandy, who was sticking her tongue out in their direction.

“There's always tomorrow,” Miss Toni said. “And for us, tomorrow is a big day.”

“Oh my gosh! I almost forgot about the Sugar Dolls' video!” Bria exclaimed.

“I didn't forget,” Liberty said. “And my audition is going to be unforgettable!”

When the team arrived at 7:00 a.m. at the Hollywood studio for the Dolls' video shooting, they couldn't believe their eyes. The green room was filled with girls of all ages who wanted to be backup dancers in their video. The only ones missing were City Feet, who already flew home to celebrate winning first.

“I told you,” Anya said. “I've been on open calls before. There could be thousands of girls auditioning.”

Liberty spied her mother, talking to one of the Dolls' managers in the back of the room. “Mommy! Mommy!” she shouted. “We're here!”

Jane Montgomery waved but continued making notes on her clipboard.

“What's the matter, Libbylicious?” Rochelle whispered in her ear. “Mommy too busy for you?”

This time, it was Toni who stepped in to referee. “Instead of insulting each other, why don't you go stretch and warm up,” she commanded. “I'm going to see where we are in the lineup.”

Their teacher passed through the crowds of girls and coaches and made her way over to Jane. “Quite a turnout,” she said. “When are the Divas up?”

The Sugar Dolls' manager was a tall man with spiky red hair and sunglasses. He looked down at Toni over the tip of his nose. “Take a number,” he said dismissively.

“Sorry,” she said to Toni. “Busy, busy! It might be a little wait, but I'll make sure the girls get to show their stuff.” She followed the manager out of the room.

Toni walked back to her team. “Well?” Liberty asked. “Do we get to go in now?”

Toni held up the number 128 written in red on a slip of paper. “This is our number,” she said. “There are one hundred twenty-seven other dancers in front of you.”

“We'll be here all day!” Gracie whined. “I'm tired. And hungry.”

“Welcome to the world of showbiz,” J. J. said, handing Gracie a granola bar. “It's a lot of waiting around.”

“Which means you all need to have patience,” Toni said. “I don't need to remind you that anywhere you go, you are representing my studio. I expect you all to behave accordingly.”

It was nearly two hours before Jane returned to the green room with her clipboard to start calling girls in for the auditions. “Numbers one through fifteen, please report to the stage,” she said.

“Fifteen? They're only up to fifteen?” Bria exclaimed. “Liberty, that's your mom up there. Go do something!”

Liberty tried to motion to her mom over the packed room, but it was no use. “She's in work mode,” she said, and sighed. “It's like talking to a brick wall when she's in the zone.”

“Uh-huh,” J. J. said, piping up. “I am very familiar with that zone.” Then he got an idea. “Sometimes your mom just needs a little wake-up call. Get your dance shoes and come with me. But don't tell Toni—she'll freak.”

The Divas did as they were told and followed J. J. through a back door to the soundstage where the Dolls were holding their auditions.

“Oh my gooshness! There they are!” Gracie squealed.

Scarlett clamped her hand over her little sister's mouth. “Gracie, keep quiet! Do you want to ruin the plan?” she asked.

“What's the plan?” Anya asked her.

“I'm not sure. But J. J. knows what he's doing. I think.”

Scarlett looked around, but their choreographer had disappeared.

“He told us to stay put,” Bria said. “And to prepare to be dazzled … whatever that means.”

The Sugar Dolls' “Heaven Sent” song boomed over the speakers as Jane struggled to teach the first group of dancers the choreography. “And a five-six-seven-eight …,” she shouted, demonstrating a series of kicks, turns, and jumps.

“Move over, Janie!” A voice suddenly rang through the soundstage. “Lemme show you how it's done!”

J. J. burst onto the stage. He launched into a breakdancing routine, spinning on his head.

“Stop that this minute, Jerome! Do you hear me?” Jane was bright red in the face and looked like she was going to explode. J. J. did several flips and twirls before landing on his feet right in front of Jane.

“I do believe I have upstaged you once again,” he said, and chuckled.

All the girls onstage applauded.

“Get out!” Jane screeched. “This is my video!”

“Whose video is it?” asked a female voice in
the audience. It was Toni, and she was sitting with the Sugar Dolls watching everything. “I believe it's the Sugar Dolls' video,” Toni corrected. “And we've just been discussing how they are open to some collaboration.”

“What's a cola-bration?” Gracie asked, scratching her head. “Is that like a party with soda?”

“Better,” Scarlett said. “It means Miss Toni has a plan!”

Toni walked up to the stage with the Dolls at her side. “It seems that the Sugar Dolls believe that in art and videos, authenticity is everything.” She winked at J. J.

“Meaning?” Jane asked.

“Meaning that we'd like to shoot the finale for ‘Heaven Sent' in New Jersey at the St. Ignatius Homeless Shelter,” Rag Doll spoke up. “Toni tells us it's an amazing place and the inside of a church would be a great spot for the big dance finale of ‘Heaven Sent.'”

“Yes!” shouted a voice from the wings. It was Bria, and she couldn't contain her excitement. “That is so amazing!”

Both Jane and Liberty gave her a dirty look, but Baby Doll walked over and took her hand. “And since it was all your idea to get us involved with St. Ignatius, I think it's only fair that your friends be our backup dancers and you be our spotlight dancer.”

“What?” screamed Liberty. “No way!”

“OMG! Me? Really?” Bria gasped.

“Absolutely not.” Jane shook her head. “We have all these girls still left to audition.”

“That's too bad,” Toni said. “Because we all have a flight to make if we want to shoot at St. Ignatius tomorrow bright and early. I called and cleared it with the church staff.”

“Awesome!” said Sporty Doll. “This will be the coolest video we've ever made.”

“I haven't even finalized the choreography,” Jane protested. “Or scouted the location, or approved the costumes, the lighting, the sound …”

J. J. put his arm around Jane. “You know. That's always been your problem,” he said. “Too much planning. Sometimes, you gotta roll with it.”

Jane pushed his arm off her shoulder. “Jane Montgomery does
not
roll with it.”

“But the Divas do!” Bria piped up.

“And the Dolls do!” added Baby Doll.