First up, the solos. Lily got third! Lily got to jump onstage and get a small trophy and stand with the top three!
“Top three!” I practically shrieked at her when she sat down.
“It’s not first place, sorry,” Lily said, worried.
“Yeah.” Riley rolled her eyes, looking at Megan for confirmation.
“Nobody was expecting first place,” Megan said. We all looked at her. “What? I’m trying to say third place is good for regionals. It’s top three, trophy, and good to keep us all in the running for nationals.”
Wow! I had to agree with Megan there. Lily smiled.
“Let’s move on to the duets!” the announcer called out. Suddenly, a hand gripped mine. Megan’s. I gripped it back. They announced the fourth-place duet. Then, third place was… Riley and Trina!
“Third placers!” Lily held her fist up to bump when they sat down with their trophies. Trina bumped happily; Riley, not so much. I barely noticed because Megan was squeezing my hand so hard.
“First place, first place,” she whispered. I could see she was side-eyeing the Bells, who were ignoring her a little too obviously.
“Second-place duet is… DanceStarz Academy!”
We got second. A loud squeal came up from the Bells, who were stomping the floor.
“You get the trophy,” Megan whispered. I figured she’d want the glory, but I guess it was hard to get second place in front of the Bells. But second place was great! Top three! Especially with that ripped leotard. I was happy to go up and accept the trophy. I could hear my parents and sister cheering for me. Yay us!
Then it was time for the grand finale, the big one, the group dance, the opportunity to go to nationals.… It was all coming down to this moment.
“Our final category is Group Dance! In third place, Energii!”
What? Third? We all looked at each other as we clapped. Third? They’re a go-hard squad who consider second place a crushing defeat. Sure enough, they headed to the stage with sour faces. Isabella and Bella avoided eye contact with the bullpen contestants as they went up to get their trophy.
“Do you think we actually beat them? Do you think we got second?” Lily whispered to me.
“In second place, the Groove Thangz!” The crowd cheers, and the team in dazzling gold jumpsuits who did a hip-hop routine happily accept their trophy.
That threw everything upside down. Number two is our usual spot. Did we not rank at all? Or… or… We all held our breaths. Say DanceStarz, say DanceStarz…
“And our number one group dance is… DanceStarz!”
Oh. My. Gosh. We did it! We did it!
WE WON!!
We screamed and jumped up and down all the way up to the stage. Megan took the trophy first, and then held it out so we could hoist it in the air together. I saw my mom, dad, and little sister, Hailey, in the crowd waving their homemade DANCESTARZ sign like crazy!
“THAT’S MY SISTER!” Haley screamed, and I spotted her doing a high-five thing with Riley’s sister, Quinn. Maybe someday they’d be up on the stage too. Lily, Riley, Trina, Megan, and I gave each other a genuine group hug. We’d proven something to ourselves. And we’d proven we were ready to compete on a national stage. NATIONALS.
New York City, HERE WE COME!
CHAPTER 3
Free fro-yo for the number one dance team of all time!” said Lily’s father, beaming from behind the counter.
“Well, that’s a bit much.” Lily smiled at him.
“It won’t be!” Megan said. “After we go to New York City and win nationals!”
We all held up our yogurts and smoothies and did a “cheers.”
The four of us took a seat at the round table by the window. I dug into my cheesecake yogurt topped with blackberries and whipped cream. I looked across the palm-tree-lined plaza at the front façade of DanceStarz Academy. They’d already placed a banner out front: HOME OF THE DANCESTARZ SQUAD—REGIONAL CHAMPS. I smiled at that—and at the sight of the tiniest dancers milling into the studio for a peewee dance class. That was how young I was when I got started back home in Connecticut. I loved it from the start.
“This is the best celebration ever,” Trina said. “Also the best yogurt.”
“What even is on that?” Megan looked at Trina’s overflowing bowl.
“Candy corn, cinnamon cereal, brownie bites, kiwi, gummy fish, pretzels, marshmallows,” she replied. “Oh my gosh, I forgot to put yogurt in it.”
We all laughed as Trina stood up to go over to the yogurt handles in the wall.
“I cannot believe we are going to New York City,” Riley said. “I mean, I am going to live there someday. Right, Megan? We’re going to be roommates! I’m going to be a big fashion designer! Megan is going to be a famous dancer and a huge star! Everything is better and bigger in NYC!”
“Like the rats,” added Megan.
Lily made a face.
“I’m just saying,” said Megan. “Let’s be real. It’s a pretty tough city. We’ll see if you can handle it.”
Megan was still the clear queen bee of the Bunheads, the clique she, Trina, and Riley formed way before Lily and I got here.
“I can handle it,” Riley whined. “But are you for serious? Rats?”
“Why don’t we talk to someone who’s actually been there?” said Lily, looking at me. “Harper practically lived there.”
“Connecticut is not New York City,” Megan pointed out.
“Just a short train ride away,” I said, remembering those special trips into the city to see a show or the dazzling holiday lights. This would be my first time going back home. “You’re going to love being in New York. There’s so much to see.”
“Like celebrities!” said Riley, swooning. “I’d give anything to bump into Trey Thompson.”
Lily clapped her hands like a baby seal. “He’s so dreamy. I love him in NYC High!”
“I just want to check out the street fashion,” said Megan. “If we go up there and everyone is walking around in schlumpy clothes, I’ll be disappointed.”
“Great pizza, perfect bagels, yummy cupcakes—trust me, there’s something there for everyone,” I said.
“My favorite cupcake is that one with the green icing,” Trina cooed, sitting back down.
“We’re talking about New York ones,” Megan said.
“Yeah, my favorite cupcake place is that one in the West Village,” Trina said.
“Wait, you’ve been to New York?” Megan asked her.
“Yeah, I have,” Trina said. “You know that I visit my aunt in Midtown for Thanksgiving.”
“Well, that’s cool,” I said. “Trina and I can be the New York experts and show you all around.”
“Oh, I always get lost,” Trina said. “Harper, you can show us all around.”
“I practically know New York,” Megan grumbled. “Like, I know not to walk too slow and look up at buildings or you look like a tourist. I’m obsessed and totally going to live there someday.”
“With me!” Riley added cheerfully.
“I’m so excited!” Lily said. “We’re all going to New York together!”
Everyone smiled as they ate their fro-yo and drank their smoothies. I knew we had to keep this team dynamic going. If there was one thing I’d learned, it was that strengthening our team bond was just as important as getting our routines down. We did amazing things when we put team first, and we’d need to be extra tight when we were up against intense competition in New York City.
Even though at some point, we’d have to compete with one another in the solo category. We were all going to be working on getting solos down for the competition too.
“You know who else we’d have to compete against in solos?” I pointed out.
“Yeah, I can’t believe Isabella will be there,” Riley complained. “How did she get an invite? How did she get enough points?”
“Isabella always gets what she wants.” Megan sighed. “I just hope it’s not first place at nationals.”
&nbs
p; CHAPTER 4
An overflowing bowl of popcorn in hand, I headed to the living room, where my family was already set up for game night. My malti-poo, Mo, jumped around my feet, hoping for some dropped kernels.
“There she is!” My dad clapped when I joined them. Hailey was sitting on the floor, and my parents were seated around the low coffee table. A board game was set out, along with game pieces, dice, and cards.
“What’s with the applause?” I asked him, smiling. “Should I bow or…”
“We’re just so happy the popcorn is ready!” said Hailey, jumping up taking the bowl from me.
“Actually, we are clapping for Harper and her big win. In honor of your upcoming trip, we thought we’d play a game from my childhood,” said Mom.
“Ugggghhh. Mom made Dad dig in the attic again.” Hailey spoke and crunched at the same time.
“It’s the Wizard of Oz game, based on the novel and movie!” said Mom, giving the surprise away before I could look for myself. Mom was not one for suspense.
“Get it?” said Dad, driving the point home. “The main character, Dorothy, is on a quest to get back home. And you’ll be heading back to the northeast—your home.”
“Remember Connecticut? My room, which was peach and looked out onto that big, leafy tree with Timothy the squirrel? The gray one. I wonder if you’ll get to visit Connecticut while you’re there,” said Hailey dreamily.
“She’ll probably be so busy rehearsing and keeping to a tight schedule,” answered Mom.
“I don’t know.” I reach over to Hailey and grab a handful of popcorn. “I hear there’s a lot of wait time, because we are staying in town for longer. The competition is only three days.”
“Oh, goody,” Hailey said. “Say hi to Timothy for me, okay?”
“Any of your old friends competing?” Dad asked.
“I don’t know yet,” I said.
“Aw, you and Eliza used to be joined at the hip at your old dance studio.” Mom smiled at the memory. “I still have so many old pictures of you two in my phone. You didn’t tell her?”
“It’s just I don’t know if they made nationals,” I said. “And I don’t want to rub it in or brag or anything.”
“You could start by saying you’re coming to New York,” Mom suggested.
“That’s actually a good point,” I said, pulling out my phone.
“Not now, because it’s game time!” Dad said.
I learned that that the object of the game was pretty straightforward. It was a super-cute game for kids way younger than me, but my parents were so happy. Okay, it was kind of fun when the flying monkey game pieces chased us around the board.
After Hailey won, and after I endured her “In your face!” rants, I headed up to my room. I pulled up Eliza’s name on my phone.
Guess who’s coming to NYC?
It only took three seconds before she texted back with smiley-face emojis.
WHEN?
I hesitated and then just went for it. I texted that I was coming for nationals. And then the answer that came back made me smile bigger.
Congrats on making it to nationals! We’ll be competing too!!!! Well—not our old team. I have news! I made the ELITE TEAM! I’m the youngest on it!!!
We texted back and forth. We were both so excited! I told her I didn’t know if I could come to Connecticut, but now we’d be able to hang out in the city together, like we used to!
I smiled. Eliza and I hadn’t kept up with texting as much as we did last summer. Things got busy with DanceStarz, and then I had to adjust to going to a new school. But Mom was right. We’d shared so many fun times together. Plus, we made a dope dancing duo. It felt good that she was just as excited to see me as I was to see her.
What are you dancing? I asked her.
Small group, duet, and solo! she texted back. Hbu?
Just small group, I told her. It’s my studio’s first nationals, so we’re only in one category.
Cool! Eliza texted back. But sorry, no offense, we are going to CRUSH you at nationals ;)
Eliza had said what we were both thinking. Well, I’d been thinking we would crush them at nationals. But still. I plopped down on my bed and stared at the Dance City trophies around my room. My closet door was open, and the rows of bright, sparkly dance competition gear caught my eye. It was a little weird because not so long ago I would have been on that team. Now we would be competing against each other.
I miss uuuu! she texted, and I sent her a happy GIF of our favorite dancer on TV.
I headed to bed even more excited about our trip, but also a little weirded out. My old studio friends and my new studio friends, my old life and new life—all in one place. How mind-blowing was that?
CHAPTER 5
I wish I could go to New York City,” said Zora as she ate the lasagna from her hot lunch. “How fun would that be if the whole cast of The Little Mermaid went? We could go to a Broadway show! Then we’d all be discovered and be on Broadway!”
“Not me—crowds make me anxious,” said Flounder. Flounder wasn’t his real name, of course. His real name was Taj, and he’d played Flounder in the school musical I did recently. And his name had stuck. “I’ll stay here.”
“I went to New York once,” Drew said. Then he smiled at me. Drew had played Prince Eric in the show, and I’d helped him learn his dances. “We went to that Thanksgiving parade. I remember I was so excited to see SpongeBob, and my mom said I was yelling for his autograph.”
We all cracked up.
“I wish you guys could be in the spring musical,” Zora said sadly.
“I do, too,” I said. But dance was taking up more and more of my time. It had been challenging juggling both before, but now with nationals coming up there was no way. “You know I’ll be there to cheer you on.”
“It overlaps with baseball practice,” Drew said. “We’re hoping to get to the tournament. Regionals, not nationals like some special people.”
He looked at me and smiled. I smiled back.
“I do want to try out for the fall show,” I said. “Dance is sort of calmer in the fall.”
“Yay!” Zora said dramatically. “Meantime, soak up some Broadway vibes for me. Yell at all of the theaters: ‘Zora is coming for you!’ ”
We all laughed.
“Trina is going to have to miss our battle-of-the-robots tournament while you’re on your trip,” Frankie said. “But she promised she’d help me program ours. We named it Boop the Destroyer.”
I smiled at the thought of Trina maneuvering a robot called Boop the Destroyer. Frankie had invited Trina to the robotics club, and Trina was having fun with that too.
“Every time she tears another robot’s limb off, she says, ‘BEEP BOOP,’ ” Frankie said. “It’s awesome.”
“Hey, where’s Lily?” Zora asked.
“She’s doing some extra training during lunch,” I said. “In the gym, over video. With her solo coming up, it’s pretty intense for her.”
“Are you sad you didn’t get the solo?” Zora was always up front with her thoughts. “Like I was sooo jealous of Ariel when she got the lead.”
“Don’t put her on the spot!” Frankie admonished.
“Um,” I said. “No, I’ll answer. I mean, I definitely wanted the solo. I mean, I can’t always dance the lead. Plus, my best friend on the team got it, so I’m happy for her! But yeah, it’s complicated when there’s only one spot.”
“Could be worse,” Frankie said seriously. “In robotics battle tournaments, if you don’t get the lead, you get your metallic pieces ripped apart and flung outside the ring into the audience.”
Nobody said anything for a second. Then we all laughed.
“Good point,” Zora agreed.
As we were winding down, Courtney, another girl from the show, came over to our table. “Hey, Mrs. Elliott asked me to come tell you guys that the new makeup palettes came in if you guys want to go practice!”
“Yeah!” Almost everybody chimed in. I noticed Drew d
idn’t, but when Courtney offered to make him up like a zombie, he jumped up with everybody else. I felt a little bit left out. It wasn’t their fault—they had been super welcoming to me, and I loved that we still hung out. I just felt like lately, I had one foot in each world. I was a dancer who liked hanging out with the drama group, but didn’t have time to be in the plays (actually, since I couldn’t sing and I was new there, I wasn’t sure I had the talent to be in the plays! But it was fun! So who knew?!).
“Okay, you guys have fun!” I told them.
“You have to come with us!” Zara insisted. “I know you don’t have your own makeup palette, but that’s okay—you can do someone’s makeup or just come have fun.”
She had a point. I jumped up and went with them backstage. There was a room that had a lot of makeup mirrors set up, and after everybody had gotten their makeup kits they all scrambled to get a seat.
“Harper, it’s so nice to see you here,” said Mrs. Elliott. “I wish I had a makeup kit for you, but we did a special order. You know, if you have time in your schedule, I’m going to be having an introduction to drama class, and you should join us!”
“I’d love to!” I said, and I meant it. At least I’d get to be part of drama during the school day and it wouldn’t interfere with dance rehearsals! The makeup started in earnest. Courtney was making Drew into a zombie. Ariel was doing her own makeup to look glamorous and even more fabulous than she always does. Zora turn herself into… I wasn’t sure, but it was very colorful!
“Harper, do you want to do my makeup?” Frankie asked. “I was going to try to turn myself into a robot, but I’m not good with makeup.”
“How about I do something super-high-tech-looking?” I offered. After Frankie nodded, I had a great time finding silvery colors and metallic shimmers. I put silver and metallic blue on her eyes and a shimmery, sparkly powder all over her face, and then did her lips in a deep blue metallic-flecked matte lipstick. I loved to play with makeup at home, so this was really fun.
“Oh, wow—everyone look at Frankie!” Ariel pointed at us.
“I love this so much, and I don’t even like makeup!” Frankie smiled. Everybody complimented each other on their makeup jobs and was appropriately scared of Drew’s zombie look.
The Competition Page 2