Let's Rock! (9 page)

“Whoa!” Gracie gasped. “That was cool!”

“She's fierce,” J. J. said, grinning. His prized pupil had the audience on their feet, clapping to the beat as she rocked it out. She kicked her feet straight in front of her, then shuffled left and right before executing a perfect back walkover.

“Was that the Cupid Shuffle?” Scarlett asked.

“I prefer the J. J. Shuffle,” the choreographer replied. “I gave it my own twist.” Rochelle suddenly jumped up on the toes of her sneakers and spun in a circle.

The judges jumped out of their seats and clapped enthusiastically.

“Well, whaddaya know, a standing O!” J. J. exclaimed. “Not bad, eh, Toni?”

Toni kept a perfectly straight face. “I'll let you know when I see their scores.”

Rochelle raced back to the wings, still pumped from the routine.

“That was the best I have ever danced!” she told her teachers and teammates.

“Really? Because I saw sloppy feet and bent legs all over the place,” Toni corrected her. “It was exuberant, but far from technically perfect.”

Rochelle looked at J. J., hoping for a better review. “What did you think?”

“I think the Rochelle Shuffle may be the hot new dance,” he said, winking. “I saw those judges shaking their booties.”

Rochelle sighed. At least
someone
approved.

“Don't take it personally,” Scarlett whispered. “Toni's just distracted and upset over the whole St. Ignatius thing.”

Bria and Liberty reappeared. “I think we have a solution,” Bria said. She pointed to the stage, where Mrs. Montgomery was having a few words with the announcer.

“Oh no. Bri, what did you do?” Scarlett asked nervously.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer bellowed into the mike. “May I have your attention
please? It seems we have some VIPs in the audience who would like to come up here and say a few words.”

“VIPs? What is he talking about?” Rochelle asked.

The announcer cleared his throat and held his hand in the air to silence the buzz in the audience. “Please, put your hands together for THE SUGAR DOLLS!”

The room suddenly exploded with screams, cheers, and chants as the pop stars made their way onstage. Even City Feet couldn't contain their excitement.

“OMG! I love them!” Mandy squealed and raced to the wings to get a closer look. “Baby Doll is my favorite. She is so cute!”

“I love Rag Doll!” Addison added. “Her clothes are the coolest!”

“What are they doing here?” Scarlett asked Bria and Liberty.

“Let's just say, they did us a huge favor.”
Liberty smiled. “They were just down the block at their recording studio, and they were more than happy to come and announce their big fundraiser.”

Toni raised an eyebrow. “What fundraiser?”

Bria was happy when the Dolls interrupted Miss Toni's question and she didn't have to answer her. She wasn't sure how she'd feel about her going to Liberty's mom and asking for help without letting her know beforehand. But the way Bria saw it, there wasn't any other choice.

“Hey, dolls!” Candy Doll said, taking the microphone. She tossed lollipops from her purse into the crowd. “We're so excited to be here!”

“Totally!” Baby Doll chimed in. She wore a pacifier necklace and carried a pink blankie. “We wanted to share with you something really cool that we're going to be doing with our next video.”

Toni glanced at Bria, who could tell her teacher didn't like the sound of this.

“We're really excited to hear that one of the dance groups here has been doing amazing
things to help the homeless,” Sporty Doll continued.

“That's us! That's us!” Mandy jumped up and down. “They heard we're donating our money to the homeless!”

“Miss Toni, would you mind coming up here?” Jazzy Doll requested.

Mandy's jaw dropped. “No way! They have the wrong team!”

“
Shhh!
” Addison elbowed her. “Would you be quiet, Mandy? Justine stole the idea from their dance number anyway.”

“Yoo-hoo! Miss Toni!” Rag Doll called. “Where are you?”

Toni's cheeks flushed red. “Go on.” J. J. gave her a little shove. “The whole St. Ignatius thing was your idea. Tell 'em.”

Toni took the stage and shook hands with each of the Dolls.

“She's gonna kill us,” Anya said, watching her teacher squirm. “Bri, what were you thinking?”

“I was thinking that we deserve the credit,”
Bria replied. “It was Miss Toni who had her heart in the right place, not Justine.”

Toni cleared her throat. “Thank you,” she said simply. “I'm glad I have the opportunity to tell you what my Divas and I have been doing at St. Ignatius Homeless Shelter. We've been volunteering at the soup kitchen, preparing meals and handing them out to the homeless families. We've sat with them, talked to them, and pitched in however we could. It's been a life-changing experience for all of us.”

J. J. waved from the wings and gave her a thumbs-up. “You go, girl!” he shouted.

“It's truly been our privilege to do this,” Toni continued. “We've been very moved by what's going on in our very own community, and we intend to continue helping in any way we can.”

Rag Doll spoke up. “We'd like to help you help them,” she said. “So we're donating part of the proceeds of our new video, ‘Heaven Sent,' to St. Ignatius. Every time someone downloads the song and video, the shelter will be getting money.”

Toni's eyes grew wide. “That could be millions of dollars.”

“Let's hope!” Baby Doll said. “Good job, Divas! Let's hear it for them!” The crowd began chanting “Divas! Divas!”

“I think we just one-upped Justine's one-up,” Rochelle said. She glanced over to see the City Feet coach pouting in the corner and Mandy throwing a tantrum.

“The important thing is that we are going to make a lot of money for St. Ignatius,” Bria pointed out. “That's what matters.”

“It is what matters,” Toni said, returning to her team backstage. “But you know how I feel about sneaking around and not playing fair, Bria.”

“Aw, come on,” J. J. said. “Those Feet didn't play fair. Bria was just evening the field.”

“I'm sorry,” Bria said. “I wanted to help.”

“It's very generous of the Dolls to do this,” Toni said. “And I'm sure the shelter will be thrilled. But I won't have any of you stooping to
Justine's level. Is that clear? Next time, Bria, you come to me instead of going behind my back. Clear?”

Bria nodded. “Yes, Miss Toni.”

“I think it's awesome,” J. J. spoke up. “That money is going to make a huge difference in so many lives. I wish I had thought of it.”

Liberty interjected, “Excuse me? I convinced my mom this would be great publicity for the Sugar Dolls,” Liberty interjected. “Isn't someone going to thank me?”

“If you get out there and do a flawless duet, I'll thank you,” Toni said to Liberty and Bria. “If you mess it up, not even the Sugar Dolls can save you.”

It took the announcer several minutes to calm the crowd down after the Sugar Dolls' appearance. “Yes, that was very exciting, wasn't it?” he said, trying to be heard over the cheers. “And here's something else that's exciting: our next category, Junior Duets. Please put your hands together for our first pair, Bria and Liberty from Dance Divas Studio doing an acro routine to ‘Lone Ranger Rewind.'”

The girls galloped onstage and took their positions. Liberty and Bria were dressed in black catsuits, cowboy hats, and silver vests. “Hi-ho, Silver!
Away!” they shouted as they launched into an amazing series of splits and tumbles.

“Nice needle,” Anya said, watching Liberty stretch her leg straight behind her and touch her head to her knee.

“I think Bria's better,” Rochelle insisted. “Did you see that back walkover from her sitting position?”

“They're both amazing,” Scarlett said. “They have to win. They just have to!”

At the end of the number, they pushed two mechanical “horses” into the middle of the stage and climbed into the saddle.

“Let's pray this works,” Anya said, crossing her fingers.

The saddles bumped up and down, backward and forward, as the girls held on to the reins.

Liberty took off her cowboy hat and waved it in the air. But Bria didn't look as comfortable and confident in the saddle.

“What's up with Bria?” Rochelle asked Scarlett. “She looks green.”

“Oh no,” Scarlett replied. “It's the Tilt-A-Whirl all over again.”

The audience cheered as the saddles rocked back and forth, faster and faster. Bria held her breath and hoped that she wouldn't barf right there on the stage. When the horses finally stopped moving, they climbed off. Liberty took her bow, but Bria raced offstage, straight for the bathroom.

“Outta my way!” she cried, pushing past City Feet and her own teammates.

“What's the matter, Bria?” Phoebe called after her. “Did you get a little sick from your dance? I did, too.”

“Lay off, Phoebe,” Liberty warned her. She had her cowboy hat back on her head and looked like she meant business. “I'm sure your routine with Addison is going to make us all lose our lunches.”

“I don't know about your lunches,” Addison retaliated. “But you'll definitely lose the first prize trophy. Watch and weep.” She and Phoebe peeled
off their hoodies to reveal rhinestone-studded leotards and blond wigs.

“I told Toni I wanted to wear rhinestones,” Liberty bristled. “Those costumes are so much better than ours!”

“Seriously? Are they Marilyn?” Rochelle gasped. “Scarlett, they stole your character.”

Scarlett shrugged. First there were too many Charlies and now there were multiple Marilyns. No matter what the Divas did, they couldn't catch a break.

“Let's give a warm welcome to Phoebe and Addison from City Feet Dance Studio dancing a jazz routine to ‘Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend'!” the announcer said into the microphone. A crystal chandelier descended from the ceiling and twinkled in the spotlight. The girls did multiple kicks, flicks, and leaps. The music switched from Marilyn singing to an electrifying version of Madonna's “Material Girl.” They were on fire!

“Oh no,” Anya cried. “It gets worse by the minute. They are killing us!”

Bria made her way back to the wings, leaning on her mom, and sat down on the floor. “You okay, Bri?” Scarlett asked her. “Can we get you some water? A cold washcloth?”

“A barf bag?” Liberty said, smirking.

Bria shook her head. “No, I'm okay. I felt much better when I splashed some water on my face.”

“Too much Tilt-A-Horse?” Scarlett tried to cheer her up.

“I guess,” Bria said, smiling weakly. “At least I didn't throw up onstage. That would have lost us the Junior Duet title for sure.”

“Take a look out there.” Liberty motioned to the stage. “We've already lost it.” Phoebe and Addison were doing
arabesques
in perfect sync.

“Their technique is sick,” Anya said, sighing.

“Please,” Bria begged. “Don't say sick.”

The audience and the judges gave them a standing ovation.

“I guess horses aren't a girl's best friend,” Addison said as she shoved past Liberty in the
hallway. She sniffed in the air. “Do you smell something, Pheebs?”

Phoebe wrinkled her nose. “Yeah, it smells like a stable. Oh, wait!” She got in Liberty's face. “That must be you!”

“Liberty,” Scarlett warned, holding her teammate back. “It's not worth it. Remember what Miss Toni said about sinking to their level.”

“All I was going to say is ‘Good luck!'” Liberty replied with a forced smile. “You'll need it.”