(unedited)

For anyone unable to view the Group Dance it's on Youtube: Senior Jazz Dance Group 'Let's have a kiki'- Brooke Henderson Dance Studios.

*

"Alrighty! We went to Youngstown Ohio to Intensity dance and won. We should have won , yous are national Champions! Now on the bottom of the pyramid is Chloe. Remembering your choreography that is what you need to work on! Write it down! Maybe if your write it out it will sink in! Try that" Abby instructed.

Eden cringed at her tone, never would her mom allow anyone to talk to her like that. Not even if she messed up. From the reflection Eden was surprised to see Christie nodding in agreement. What was happening in the Abby Lee Dance Company.

"Next, Nia. Nia you don't apply the corrections, that is what you need to do! Try writing them down" Abby said, quickly moving on. 

"Next, Mackenzie. I took you out of the group, I gave this little cue part to do and thank goodness it was humorous because if we they had started to time the number we would have been disqualified! And the Abby Lee Dance Company does not get disqualified!" 

Eden eyes widened so far it was nearly comical, she had not seen Abby so fired up for pyramid in a long time.

"You will not be involved in any of the groups dances going forth, not until they are age appropriate for you" Abby told the little girl, she nods her head a frown  settled on her face.

"And Paige, you got the featured part, you had the big jump, the lift with the big whack. You could have made it fabulous, but you didn't. You were given an opportunity and instead of running with it... it was mediocre"  Kelly frowned in defeat, Abby would never stop taking out her frustrations on her two kids.

"Next Maddie! you were good? I noticed you had the Sophia hair duo, how about we have the Sophia energy, Eden's turns? not worry about the hair duo" Abby announced, hoping to embarrass the girl.

 Melissa shuffled uncomfortably on her feet, she was not use to Abby not favoring her daughters. She deeply regretted leaving for Kelly, if she knew about the consequences it would have never of been a thought to enter her head.

Eden watched, taking in all the drama around her. Who knew she had missed so much drama in the three days she had missed.

"Next on the pyramid is Kendall. You were in the front, you were given a correction.. a hundred times. Did you keep up with Sophia? I don't know?" Abby questioned, leaving Jill frothing. 

"On Top of the pyramid is Sophia and Eden-Rose" Abby smiled, the moms did not fail to hide their aggravation. "Kind of a given, Eden you won in your duet, it was the highest scoring dance of the entire competition. Sophia came first in her solo, beating Chloe."

Eden glanced towards the moms, Kelly was smiling her mouth slightly hung open in shock. They couldn't believe a dancer who was not even a member of the team had made her way on top the pyramid. The only person who seemed remotely happy for the girl was Eden. Who's smile had not dropped or faltered in any way.

"Where is Sophia? She's at the top of the pyramid and she's not even here!" Kelly laughed obnoxiously loud. "Sophia is in LA filming a movie, she's were your children dream of being. Sophia is still a member of this team." Abby ranted effectively shutting up any further argument.

"We will be travelling to Greenboro North Carolina, we will be attending Dance troupe challenge" Abby announced slowly, immediately Kelly raised her hand to interrupt. 

"Since Brookes not on the pyramid, does that means she's not attending this weekend?"

"Well...Brooke I want to know what happened over the weekend?"

"Friday, I was here and then I went home"

"Right"

"Then Saturday I went to my friends house. Then Sunday I worked on a project all day"

"So you didn't come to rehearsal Sunday? Your fourteen! You've been taking ballet classes since you have been six or seven years old?.."

" But Abby if she's going to do that, she spent the entire week learning the routine with this group... why wouldn't she compete" Kelly defend tirelessly.

"But that doesn't mean you don't do anything dance related all weekend! Abby scolded, finishing the argument.

"Moving on! Maddie and Kendall you will be doing a duet! It's called 'Sugar and Spice', you will be going head to head with Eden and Sophia who are also doing a duet" Abby announced happily, she loved a good piece of competition.

Jill and Melissa's smiles dropped off their faces immediately, much to the enjoyment of Christie and Kelly.

"Now I know your moms are going to whine and complain about you two having to go up against the best, but don't worry they only have a day to learn their routine. A way to balance the odds" Abby told them, Melissa and jill were slow to catch on to the insult.

Eden you will be joining the senior team for this competition, so you will not be dancing in this group dance.

"Thank you Ms.Abby " she nodded gracefully, excited for the week ahead. 

*

"Hi papi" Eden sighed whimsically into the phone, "I miss you".

"I miss you too, princess. How is everything going with your Aunt Sarah?" Robert asked, he hated not being able to do anything when she was sad. 

"It's alirght.. I miss mom though, I don't like being away from the both of you when I'm at home" she replied honestly. 

"She's only gone fro a few weeks, and your meeting her out in La next week" Robert tried to ease her worries. "How was your sleepover at Jacobs? Did Lucas and Zachary show up?" 

"Yeh, it was loads of fun! The boys seemed to fight a lot, but Mrs. Duffy said that's what boys do. So I helped her make cookies when they did that" Eden rambled, giggling quietly down the phone.

"Did they now" Robert chuckled, shaking his head. "Well who was the victor?" 

"No one, they both all ended up hurting one another, and broke Mrs.Duffy new vase. So she made them wash the dishes whilst I sat eating my cookie, it turned out pretty well in my favor. Although Jacob did eat half of it when I wasn't looking" she sighed in  defeat, the thought of her cookie still hurt her heart.

"How dare he!! that cheeky boy, taking your cookie!" Robert joked, fake sympathy oozing from his tone. 

"Thanks dad I knew you would understand",

"So hows the top secret Iron Man movie going?" Eden whispered playfully down the line. 

"Ha- ha, aren't you funny. It's going good we're nearly half way done. The next time your down I'll sneak you onto set" Robert announced, smiling at the cheers his daughter roared through the phone. 

"So baby how's dance? You doing any new dances?" Robert cleared his throat, as he waited for a reply. "Yeh, I'm doing a duet with Sophia. She's a new girl on the team, she's very nice" Eden chirped, her mood lifting. 

"It's a contemporary piece entitle 'I won't', Ms.Abby's doing it. The other moms don't seem to happy with us performing a duet against the other girls" Eden nervously confined in her dad.

"Well you don't listen to any of them, your at a dance studio to dance. You'll know who your real friends are when their there for you in your highs and lows. Okay baby?"

"Yeh, thanks daddy! love you" she giggled through the phone, she could always count on her dad to reassure her.

The father and daughter continued to chat and laugh, the hours passed undetected it wasn't until Eden's eyes begin to droop did they call it quits.

"Night baby, love you sweetheart" 

"Night dad.." she whispered, a snore coming from her a second later. 

Chuckling Robert stayed on the line for a minute later, every since she was a child Eden snored. It wasn't loud or annoying, he thought it was an adorable feature.

*

The following day Maddie and Kendall were in Studio A learning their duet. The girls were riddled with nerves having to go up against Sophia and Eden. 

"We're going to start you duet today" Abby tells them, watching as the two smile happily. It annoyed her greatly.

"I don't know why your all laughs and acting silly! A short time ago you were doing a solo and near the top of the pyramid. Now your her duet partner!" Abby snapped, causing Maddie's smile to drop quickly.

"You should be dancing alongside Eden or trying to at least.... your letting Sophia come in here and take over your spot!" 

With those final words Abby moved on to teach the girls the dance. Both less than enthusiastic than before.

*Up in the Viewing Room*

"A duet or a trio is still a lovely thing to do, it's not a downgraded opportunity" Holly defends, a confused look plastered on her face.

"That's what I said" Melissa agree's.

"So you don't think it's a downgrade?" Christie asks turning to face Melissa.

"No absolutely not, I think a duet is a great dance!" lying point blank to the moms. Internally Melissa was a nerves mess, Abby was treating her daughters horribly and it was all her fault.

"So what do you think about going up against Eden and Sophia going up against your daughters?"  Kelly asks turning her attention to Jill.

"I'm nervous, I can't deny that Sophia and Eden aren't amazing little dancers. But I think Kendall and Maddie have a great shot at beating them. They have more time to learn their duet, because Sophia's in LA..." Jill replied, her eyes focused on her little Kendall.

"And you Melissa?" 

"I-I'm confused on why Abby's putting them head to head, but it's the people who dance the best on the day" Melissa answers vaguely.

Kelly and Christie exchanged a knowing look, there was no way Melissa was pleased that Maddie was going up against Eden. They knew she was secretly frothing. Maddie only had one solo with Eden and it was a musical theater piece.She wanted Abby to put Maddie on the same level as Eden.

*

Half an hour later Melissa headed down to help in the Abby Lee Dance shop. She was still trying to earn back Abby's favor.

"So how are we feeling about the duet?" Abby asks making polite conversation.

Looking up, Melissa pauses for a second. "I'm not happy about that...but" she revealed shrugging her shoulders in dismay.

"Maddie was the one doing a solo every week and now she's doing a duet with Kendall..." Abby continued, waiting to her reaction. 

"I mean...yeh"

"Your daughter isn't improving and she's no where near the level as Eden! You need to start focusing on your kids, not trying to please the other moms" Abby told her, leaving the room and Melissa downtrodden.

*

Whilst Melissa continued to work, the moms encourage Jill to talk to Abby. They were tired of her complaining non-stop about her poor Kendall, like their daughters weren't treated the same or worse.

Jill agreed stepping into the Studio ready to give Abby a piece of her mind, she didn't appreciate how Abby was describing Kendall as a downgrade.

"Hi Abby, I just wanted to say I didn't appreciate the way you kept saying how doing a duet with Kendall was a downgrade! I wasn't thrilled by it"

"Hey!! Melissa was the one that told me that she wasn't thrilled about her kid doing a duet with Kendall" Abby said raising her voice.

 Jill gasped out in shock, not expecting her to reveal that. Melissa lied to her, and she had never been more disappointed in her friend.

To say it annoyed  Jill would be an understatement, and she wasn't about to let it go.

*

"Barbie... Barbie!!!" Jacob shouted,he had been calling her name for the past two minutes without a response. Her eyes were focused on a book,  he watched as she scanned the pages in a frantic manner. Rolling his eyes, he deciding to take action. He hated when she didn't pay attention to him.

Peering over her he grabbed the book, breaking her concentration. 

"Jacob!" She pouted angrily, she was half way through a page. 

"You weren't paying attention to me!" he quickly replied, slight anger in his tone. "No because we're both suppose to be reading! You promised!" she huffed trying to reach for her book back.

"Yes... but I got bored" he huffed, knowing he was in the wrong. But he would never admit it.

"Just let me finish this chapter and then we'll do something!" Eden pleaded, holding her hand out or the book. Huffing Jacob handed back the book. "What's so special about 'The Little Woman' anyway?" he boredly muttered only to receive a long lecture in return.

"It's a book about five sisters, one of the sister's Jo writes it detailing their lives. It's amazing, my favorite is Tara. Every sister has a talent, and her's just happens to be dancing, ballet to be exact. Her Aunt takes her to Paris where she practices with the best of the best and Her neighbor falls in love with her but she never realizes it but they meet each other in Paris and fall in love" Eden gushes out, clutching the book to her chest. Awwing at their love story, it was one of her favorite books.

Jacob smile amused, she really got carried away with her books. "It sounds interesting, I might just be persuaded to read it. Is there a movie?" he asked curiously.

"Yeh.. it's old though. I think it was made in 1994 or 5" Aurora retorted already reopening her page. "I wish there was a more recent movie, I think it would be epic!"

"Yeh! and you could be Tara" Jacob encouraged lying back down on the sofa.

"That would soo cool!" Eden agreed smiling softly at him.

*

It was the day of the competition, and tension was running high in the dressing room. Holding her Aunt's hand Eden entered the room swinging her bag by her side. She was up first having to compete with the Senior Company. It was a fun dance based off an episode of Glee.

Eden and Sophia sat together giggling  they were watching the glee's version of 'Let's have a kiki'.

The girls watched on in jealousy, not knowing what they were watching. 

"Eden darling! Let's get you ready for the group dance" Abby announced, catching her attention. 

"Okay, Ms.Abby" Eden chirped passing her phone to Sophia so she could finish watching. "What do you think of the dance? Eden" Maddie chirped up, she had always anted to perform with the senior team.

"It's good! You'll love the song" Eden replied giggling "It was hard to get the spacing right and my ques but I think we got it down" 

The girls smile listening to Eden with full attention. Although envious they all strived to be on the same level as her, she set the bar for the elite team. It was a huge accomplishment to be asked to perform with the Senior girls.

Half an hour later and Eden was in the Senior dressing room going over the routine. When it was time head backstage, Eden lead the group excited to be performing with them.

Walking down the hall Eden couldn't help but sing the catchy song 'Now let me see you work! Kiki is a party.... to settle all your nerves. We're spilling tea and dishing just deserts" she sang exaggerating the movements cuasing the older girls burst out laughing. Even messing around Eden voice was amazing, she was a rare jewel that Ms.Abby was lucky to have.

(Dance is above)

The routine itself wasn't technical challenging, but it did come with own sets of challenges. Eden had never danced with so many people at a dance competition, they had to be synchronized. There was no other option.

The audience loved the routine, it was a fun upbeat number with a catchy song. Dancer's backstage tried to copy their actions, laughing in enjoyment.

Coming of stage Eden was delighted with herself she didn't mess up, and she had the best time doing it. She could get use to dancing with the Seniors. "Well done you did so well Eden" they gushed around her, hugging her proudly. "Thank you! You guys are amazing!" Eden chirps in excitement.

Her cheeks aching as her grin spreads across her face. "Let's get you back to the dressing room and ready for our duet? Okay?" 

"Yeh! Let's go!" Eden laughs, she hadn't had so much fun at a dance competition without Jacob attending.

*

Meanwhile in the dressing room the drama was only beginning. 

"So Abby you came right out and said that Melissa said she doesn't want to do the duet?" Jill announced catching the other moms attention.

"We were discussing the duet and she said I'm not too crazy about it either"

"That's not what I said!" Melissa interrupts tired of being called out by the moms. "I said I'm not too crazy about not having a solo this week, is what I said".

"Well I think everybody in this room knows how you have a selective memory Melissa" Abby retorts. 

Melissa shakes her head in-denial, rubbing the tear that had escaped her eye. It was always her that got picked on by the moms or Abby. She could never win.

The moms watch on in silence, not wanting to cause any more drama before the girls already dance.

Eden sat down quietly watching as Kendall and Maddie practiced their duet. She listened as Abby shouted critiques left, right and center. In no time Jill exploded upon Abby filling the dressing room with tension and unnecessary screeches. It as quite stressful.Turning away from the drama, they began to mark their routine. 

They were ready to win. Confident in each others abilities the duo walked down the hallway accompanied by Shane who was in an unusually chirpy mood. Her Aunt Sarah and Shane seemed to get on swimmingly, much to her delight.

Maddie and Kendall were up first, their duet 'Sugar and Spice' was good. Ms.Abby seemed pleased from what Sophia could see.

"Goodluck" Eden whispered, hugging Sophia before they were on.  Her pre-dance nerves were at an all time high.

"Please Welcome to the stage, in our Junior trio/duet category,' I won't'"

*

Happy with their performance they skipped off back to the dressing room, ready for Ms.Abby's critiques.

Their giggles come to an erupt halt as the enter the tension riddled room. Something must of happened before they came in. Abby had a sour look plaster on her face identical to Jill's.

"Well done girls! you both went out there and did an amazing job!" Abby encouraged standing up to encase them both into a hug. Her mood flipping completely as she welcome her star performers.

"Thanks Ms.Abby" they smiled, not noticing Jill's disgruntled face.

 Why didn't her daughter get greeted warmly, it just wasn't fair for her little Kendall!

*

Before long, It was time for the  award ceremony... and the girls were nervous. Each duo wanting to win. 

"Our Top highest scoring duet/trios are... and in Third Place goes to 'Sugar and Spice! the Abby Lee Dance Company!" earning a cheer from the crowd as the girls go to accept their award. Their little hearts sunk into their stomachs, they hadn't even placed second. Ms.Abby was defiantly not going to be happy.

Waiting in patiently Eden and Sophia locked hands as they waited for second place to be called. Huffing out a relieved sigh when their number wasn't called they crossed their fingers in hopes of placing first.

"And our Top Overall Junior duet/trio is ...'I won't', Ms Eden-Rose and Sophia!" the emcee announced, hyping up the audience. 

The girls screamed in delight leaping to their feet, the thunderous applause adding to their good mood.

The award was tiny but it didn't matter to either of them, they had won and remained Abby's top dancers. That was all that mattered.

"Congrats girls" Maddie smiled, hugging Eden tightly. 

"Thanks Mads" she giggled, squirming in her hold as tried to breathe.

Finally the dressing room was full of positive energy. The moms happy that the group dance placed first. 

"Well done, sweetie" Sarah complemented, wiping Eden's face clear of makeup. Eden had won first place in both of her dances. They even got a special award for the Senior group dance. Sarah was beyond proud of her niece that she treated her like a daughter she never had. 

"We'll have to call your mom and dad and tell them the exciting news!" Sarah chirped happily, she loved to show Eden that her accomplishments even the smallest ones meant something and they should be celebrated.

It was a good life lesson.

A/n

A day early! 

Hope you enjoy!