The Callback

by Maddie Ziegler

  “Maybe,” I said. “Before our dance competitions, we’re not allowed to be negative. Stay positive. You got this.”

  I snapped the makeup case shut.

  “We all got this.”

  “You’re not even a little nervous?” he asked me.

  “Oh, I’m really nervous.” I laughed. “I was acting.”

  “Told you that you should try out for the next play,” he said.

  He smiled at me. I smiled at him. We both smiled at each other.

  Eee!

  “Cast!” Mrs. Elliott broke the moment. “It’s almost showtime! Places for Act One . . . Places, everybody!”

  Drew jumped up.

  “Break a leg!” we said to each other.

  “Break a leg!” everyone yelled to one another. “Break a leg!”

  It was time to get focused. It was showtime!

  CHAPTER

  22

  Under the sea! Under the sea!”

  I could hear Sebastian from inside the oyster shell, which was slightly vibrating from the loudspeakers around the stage. I knew that Ariel and Flounder would be standing near stage left, with all of the undersea characters dancing onto the stage.

  And then my oyster shell began to move as they pushed me across the stage. It was almost time! Almost my time! I’d dance my first turn sequence.

  No! No! Wrong dance!

  Get it together, Harper, I thought to myself. I knew my cue was coming up and tried to focus again.

  The shell opened. The lights dimmed and I stood up into my pose onstage and took a deep breath and—I could see my mom! My dad! Hailey! And my brother was here from college! That was a total surprise!

  And wait! Was that . . .

  Vanessa?

  And Lily? Trina? Riley? And Megan? What were they doing here? Was I seeing things? Then the spotlight swung toward me, pretty much blinding me from seeing the audience anymore. Which was for the best, because I needed to get my head in the game.

  It was time to dance!

  I did my leg hold and then jumped off the shell. I wove among the sea creatures and Ariel and Sebastian. Sebastian did his salsa move with his crab hands in the air. The mer-sisters twirled me around. Flounder held his nose and did the swim. Then I did a quick waltz with Sebastian.

  Under the sea! Darling, it’s better—It was better! It was great.

  I smiled at every one of the cast members as I passed them. My nerves were gone. This was what I loved to do: dance with people, whether with DanceStarz or in a big musical like this.

  I was having a ton of fun. And I finally understood what Vanessa was talking about. I finally got what my Mermaid cast was trying to tell me. About emotion. About feeling. And I was feeling GREAT!

  Finally, my big moment came. I went center stage, took my prep, and did my turn series: five pirouettes and a high kick.

  I ended in my split.

  The audience erupted. Cheers! Clapping! I even heard Hailey yell, “Woo, Harper!”

  Okay, having a solo was pretty cool too. Yeah, this was awesome. I soaked up my moment in the spotlight. Then I ran back to the oyster and jumped back in, and the sea creatures closed it up over me.

  Once I was in the shell, I took a huge breath and let it out.

  I did it! We did it! Yay!

  The curtain closed. I jumped out of the shell, and quickly high-fived everyone. I was on an adrenaline high from performing. We didn’t make any mistakes, and I’d gotten amazing cheers for my solo dance! Then everyone else all ran off to get ready for their next scenes. It was a huge relief that it was over for me. Everyone else was onstage in a big group number, so I had time to myself. I made my way backstage to the little greenroom they had for us, where we had gotten ready earlier.

  Whew! I had to process what just happened.

  My brother was in the audience! My dance squad was in the audience! Vanessa was in the audience! I hoped I’d remembered to point my toes! I couldn’t believe they’d all come to see me. It was such a surprise.

  When cast members ran offstage and into the greenroom, where I was, we all hugged and high-fived each other.

  “Harper, you were so good!” they told me. I told everyone they were great too.

  And they were! When the show was over, we all got ready to go back onstage for the curtain call. I went up with the ensemble, holding hands with two of the seaweeds. But I got to take a quick step forward and get my own whistles and cheers. Yay!

  When the curtain went down, Mrs. Elliott told us we’d done a great job. We all went out into the auditorium to see our family and friends. I wove through the crowd until I spotted my brother.

  He was holding a bouquet of purple flowers for me!

  “Good job, kid!” He gave me a hug. “You killed it!”

  “Thanks!” I said. “Thanks for the flowers! How long are you home?”

  “Just for tonight,” he said. “So I’ll see you back at the house. I’m so proud of you.”

  “Group hug!” Hailey ran up to us, dragging my parents by their hands.

  “Harper, you were shining up there,” my dad said. My mom just looked at me and sniffled back tears. She always got emotional when I danced.

  “Did you see who was here?” she asked, looking around.

  “The Squad and Vanessa?” I nodded. “Are they still here?”

  “I’m not sure,” Mom said.

  “I’m going to look,” I said. I hopped on the stage steps until I could see over everyone’s heads. Then I spotted them at the side of the room. I jumped down and ran up to them. At first they didn’t see me.

  “Wow, hi!” I said. “Thanks for coming! I wasn’t expecting that.”

  Lily gave me a huge smile and glanced at Vanessa, obviously waiting for her to speak first.

  “Of course! We all wanted to support you,” Vanessa said. “What a wonderful show. Your dance was lovely.”

  “Thanks!” I beamed.

  “Did you see us out in the audience?” Megan asked.

  “Yes!” I laughed. “Right when I popped out of the shell I spotted you.”

  “I could tell,” Megan said. “You froze for a minute. You’re not supposed to let the audience distract you.”

  Ugh. I could tell Megan didn’t like the attention I was getting—especially from Vanessa.

  “I’m sure she was supposed to do that,” Lily said.

  “Yes,” I said, remembering something Vanessa had told me. “I was connecting with the audience. Engaging them in my story.”

  “That’s exactly what you should do!” Vanessa said approvingly. “Megan, you can actually learn from that. In your dance, you need to be thinking about the audience and not just yourself.”

  Ha! Megan kind of deserved that, but I did feel a tiny bit of sympathy as her face fell.

  “Hey, Harper!” I turned around to see Drew standing behind me. Then he turned to Vanessa. “Hi, are you Harper’s mom?”

  “Ah, no! Vanessa’s my dance teacher,” I said.

  “Oh hey, Trina!” he noticed her. “Trina also helped us learn our dances.”

  Vanessa raised an eyebrow.

  “Yeah,” I said. “We helped out just a little bit.”

  “What? You both totally saved my life onstage,” Drew said. He turned to Vanessa. “They seriously helped us.”

  “I’m glad to hear that,” Vanessa said, although she still looked a little annoyed.

  “Hello, I would have helped too if anyone had even told me about it,” Megan jumped in. She gave him an appraising glance and then looked at me. “I wanted to tell you that you make a perfect prince. I’m Megan.”

  “Thanks,” Drew said to her.

  “She’s on my dance team,” I told him. “Lily and Riley also are on my squad.”

  “That’s cool you all came to support Harper and Trina,” Drew said. “A couple guys from my baseball team came, but only because our English teacher is giving them extra credit.”

  We all laughed.

  “Well, see ya later,�
� Drew said. “Nice meeting you.”

  “I didn’t know you had a boyfriend,” Megan said.

  “What? I don’t!” I protested.

  “That’s a discussion for another time. We won’t keep you,” Vanessa said. “Please let your choreographer know I was impressed with your dance.”

  “Tell Flounder I was impressed!” Trina said.

  “I will!” I said. Vanessa and the Bunheads turned to walk away. I grabbed Lily.

  “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were coming!” I said.

  “I didn’t even know!” Lily said. “I was going to come tomorrow, but just me. We all went to practice today and Vanessa was like, Surprise! We’re going to Harper’s show—get in the car. Megan and Riley were all grouchy about it, but I think they secretly enjoyed the show.”

  Cool! Megan turned around and shot Lily a side eye.

  “We should go,” Megan said. “We’re already missing a lot of practice time for our solos.”

  “Megan,” Vanessa said.

  We all froze as we realized Vanessa had heard her.

  “Not only are we here to support a team member’s dance, but I hope you learned something from watching her today,” Vanessa said. “Stage presence and audience engagement.”

  Really? REALLY?

  “Let this motivate you,” Vanessa said to Megan.

  Vanessa turned back to go. Megan looked at me, scowling.

  “Oh, I’m motivated,” Megan whispered, this time making sure Vanessa couldn’t hear her.

  “Guess what?” I said back. “So am I!”

  CHAPTER

  23

  The Saturday night and Sunday’s matinee shows also went really well, without any surprises. My parents and sister came again, and I think I did a good job. I wanted to just celebrate.

  But it was bittersweet in its own way. Of course, the major pressure was that I knew that after the show, I, of course, had to go to DanceStarz to audition for my solo.

  The other was that nobody else in the play had to do that, so they all made other plans.

  “Can’t you just come to the cast party?” Ariel asked me as she took off her stage makeup.

  After the show was over, there was strike and a cast party. Strike was when you helped break down the set and clean up the stage, and I felt bad about not helping everyone.

  “I can’t,” I said. “My dance thing doesn’t even start until seven, and it’s a school night. I feel bad enough that I have to skip the strike. I’m so unhelpful.”

  “You helped us by teaching us to dance!” Courtney had overheard us.

  “And just by filling in,” Ariel agreed. “It would be fun to have you at the cast party, that’s all. It’s nice to hang out without the stress of the show hanging over us.”

  I sneaked a glance at Drew across the room. Sigh. There were many reasons I wished I could have gone to the party. It was over! The Little Mermaid was over.

  Zora ran up to me.

  “Aw, man, you’re not going to the cast party at all?” Zora asked. I shook my head sadly.

  “Can I have your attention?” Zora jumped up on one of the benches. “One of our cast has to leave early now! Let’s give her some love! The Little Mermaid is over for Harper! Let’s clap her out!”

  Everyone started clapping to a beat. Clap! Clap!

  “What’s happening?” I asked Sebastian, who was next to me.

  “Tradition!” he said. “The last time the actor leaves the set, you clap them out the door.”

  Oh! I smiled as everyone surrounded me and clapped. Some people yelled, “Thanks, Harper!” Others cheered and whistled. It felt really good. I felt a pang, like something special was ending.

  “Good-bye, Harper!” Zora let out a small sob. “Good-bye forever!”

  “Or until lunch tomorrow?”

  Drew called that out and everyone stopped and laughed.

  “See you at lunch!” I yelled back, and walked out the door to the sound of the applause—for me.

  I relived the applause and warm feeling of the musical for one brief second before the door opened and my sister opened the cast door.

  “Harper!” she yelled. “You have to go!”

  “Okay, I just have to change out of my costume—”

  “You’re late!” she said.

  Mrs. Elliott came in behind her.

  “Harper,” she said. “Your parents are waiting in the car out front. Hurry. You can bring your costume back tomorrow. Just go.”

  CHAPTER

  24

  I raced into the DanceStarz lobby, already feeling discombobulated. I hadn’t realized how late it was. A bunch of dancers who weren’t on the Squad were milling about and heading into Studio A, the largest one with the little stage in it. That’s where we’d be performing for everyone.

  “Good luck, Harper!” one of the Minis called out.

  I slowed down, trying to look like I had everything in control. I smiled and waved. Yup, under control, under control . . . As soon as I turned down the hallway to the smaller studios I pretty much lost control. I raced down to Studio D and practically skidded as I burst inside.

  The Squad was getting ready. No—everyone was already ready. Lily and the Bunheads were already in their costumes, with their hair and makeup on point. They were stretching on the floor.

  “Oh, look who’s here,” Megan said. “The dancing mermaid. I see you’re still in your outfit of glory.”

  “It IS an outfit of glory!” Trina said. “It’s so pretty.”

  “Harper!” Lily ran right up to me. “I was starting to get worried! How was the show?”

  “Great—I—”

  “I have to tell you,” Lily said. “Vanessa just made us draw numbers for our order tonight. You’re first.”

  “First?” I said. “I go first? Ack. I have to get ready. Where are our costumes?”

  “Studio C,” Lily said. “The racks by the closet.”

  “Thanks,” I said.

  I raced to get my dress. I ran into the studio—and it was empty. Oh no, someone had moved the rack. I had to go find it.

  I ran out into the hallway—and into Vanessa.

  “Ah, you’re here,” she said.

  “I’m sorry, I know I’m late, but—” I was about to ask where my costume would be, but she continued.

  “I know you had your musical,” Vanessa said. “Please note we all have conflicts and dance competition judges will not wait for anyone. You miss your dance, you don’t compete. That said, we proceeded with the lineup and you’ll be first, so you’ll need to be ready to dance promptly at seven.”

  Which was in ten minutes. I didn’t want her to think there was any way I wouldn’t be ready, so I simply said: “I will be!”

  As soon as she left, I ran back into Studio C and threw open the cabinets hoping to find my costume. Nothing. Maybe Lily had meant Studio B? I ran in there. Nothing. Oh no, oh no. I raced back into Studio D. Everyone looked up.

  “Harper, you do know you’re up first, right?” Megan asked.

  “Okay, has anyone seen my costume?” I asked.

  “Studio C!” Lily said urgently.

  “It’s not there,” I said.

  “Did you ask Vanessa?’ Trina asked.

  I shook my head. “I don’t want to freak her out,” I explain.

  “Go ask Vanessa,” Megan said. “Although, hmm, there’s only a few minutes till showtime, so do you really want to alert her to your disorganization?”

  “Megan. Riley. Do you know where my costume is?” I asked, phrasing my words very carefully.

  “Nope, I do not,” Megan said. Riley shook her head no too.

  “Maybe someone moved it,” Riley said. “Like maybe they moved it because they thought it was so late that everyone had what they needed.”

  “You were late.” Megan nodded. I noticed she was only wearing the top of her costume—the leotard top but without the long skirt.

  “Wait, where’s your skirt?” I asked, hoping it wa
s somehow with my dress.

  “She had a wardrobe malfunction,” Riley pointed out.

  “Okay, my mom is fixing it, all right?” Megan said defensively. “It’s going to be fine. Look, I need to get my head in the game, here. Stop distracting me.”

  “But, guys, our team member has an emergency,” Trina added earnestly. “We all need to help Harper.”

  “We’re not team members right now, we’re rivals. We only have five more minutes. I’m warming up,” Megan said. Riley nodded.

  “I’ll help you look, Harper!” Lily jumped up.

  “No, no!” I said. “You stretch. Trina, thanks, but seriously, you need to stretch.”

  It wouldn’t be fair to get in the way of Lily’s—or anyone’s—opportunity to dance in the solo audition. But she ran over to me anyway.

  “What are you going to do?” she asked.

  “I guess skip it,” I said miserably.

  “Don’t skip it!” Lily said. “Just put on a leotard!”

  “I do keep one in my dance duffel,” I sighed. “No, wait, it’s in my car. Ugh, it’s a plain pink leo that’s probably all wrinkled. Well, it’s better than nothing. I’ll text my mom to bring it to me while I look.”

  This stunk. I didn’t even know where to begin looking. I decided I’d better at least get my hair and makeup ready while I was waiting for either a miracle and someone to bring me my solo costume, or my mom to show up with my wrinkled mess. I went over to the other side of the room and sat down in front of the mirror. Fortunately, I still had my stage makeup on from the musical, and that would have to do. I swiped a quick splotch of pink gloss over my lips.

  I dug through my duffel and found my hair elastics. I quickly swept my hair up into a high ponytail, and wrapped it halfheartedly in a topknot. My heart was pounding. This was a mess. I really wanted to make a good impression with my solo. The entire DanceStarz studio was going to see me in a wrinkled leotard, all frazzled up.

  “Harper?” My sister stuck her head in the door. Then she brightened. “Hi, Megan! Hi, Lily and Trina and Riley!”

  “Don’t distract them!” I ran up to her. “Sorry, sorry, I know you’re being nice, but everyone is way stressed.”

  Then I saw what was in her hand.