Chapter 13: Home.

                                    

                                          
"Chloe." I heard my name being shouted. It sounded so distant though. 
                          
"Chloe!" Louder. It was louder this time. 
                          
"CHLOE!" My eyes flung open. Nia was leaning over my bed, shaking my shoulder. "Alright, alright I'm awake." She took a step back, "Good!". Groaning, I threw my pajama-clad legs over my bed. "We've got to leave in 45 minutes. Get ready!! I trudged over to the bathroom joined to my bedroom. I shut the door and started the shower. 
                          
5 minutes later the hot water slowed to a stop and I stepped out and into a warm, fluffy towel hanging on a rack. After quickly drying myself I ran back to my room to change. I chucked on some jeggings and a loose shirt that had the American flag on it. I grabbed one of my competition jackets and pulled that on as well. I shoved my feet into some creamy UGGs. I rushed back to the bathroom. I blow dried my hair then curled it quickly. I braided a piece and wrapped it around my crown, securing it with a pin. I curled my lashes and coated them in mascara. I applied some eyeliner and brown eyeshadow as well. I shoved all my things into a case to take to the competition. I brushed my teeth and ran out to my room. After I packed everything I picked up my duffel bag and threw it over my shoulder. "Sorry."I muttered as we exited the room. I pulled out my phone and texted Josh all the way to the comp.
                          
After grabbing some breakfast across the road from the venue I went to the dressing room to get ready for the group which was at 12:15. "Gia can I please have my group and solo costume?" She turned to the rack of costumes behind her. "Here's the group. I'm not giving you your solo costume until later." I sighed but nodded as she shoved a costume bag into my hands. Her and Abby haven't been letting me see my costume all week. I wonder why. Hopefully it's nice. I unzipped the bag in my hands and pulled out the costume inside of it. It was gorgeous. It was a creamy white and encrusted in tiny diamonds and gold flakes (fake of course). The top was tight and pretty low cut. It had spaghetti straps. Around my waist it flowed out into this loose, flowy skirt. It had 'wings'. Basically their was loose strips of fabric hanging from either side of my arm that had an elastic band that's meant to go around my finger so when I dance they ripple. I gasped. It was perfect. I looked around the room to see the others pulling out other costumes, similar to mine. They didn't have such intricate designs as mine and they were different colors. And they didn't have the wings like mine. Brooke and Kendall's costumes were a light peachy color. Paige and Nia's were light aqua. Maddie was in a dark red dress with black lace woven through the skirt. Our costumes were gorgeous, the music was perfect, I think we can pull out a win. 
                          
"Now we have a junior small group, please puts your hands together for the Abby Lee Dance Company with Shake It Out!" I waltzed onto the stage and curled up into a ball. The other girls then came on and made a circle around me, making me invisible to the audience. I smiled at Brooke who was in front of me just as the music started to play..
                          
I heard Abby's croaky voice in my head as I did every step. I applied all her harsh corrections. In the back of my mind worries about Mom and Paige threatened my focused dancing. I tried my hardest to push them away as I entered a turn sequence. I fell to my knees as Maddie stepped onto my back. 'And it's hard to dance with the devil on your back..' I flung my body upwards and the weight was released from my back. I knew Maddie had just flipped into Brooke's arms. 'So shake him off, oh woah oh.' The rest of the dance carried through flawlessly. The last notes played through the speaker and I was left alone on stage just like we started. My chest rose and fell and tears flowed down my cheeks. The crowd went crazy. Just as I was walking on I could swear I saw my mother standing with Kelly and Holly, cheering like always. Before I even had time to take a second glance I was scooped into a giant hug from Maddie which quickly turned into a group activity. Of course Paige was no where to be seen. "Chloe!!" I felt a warm hand rug and my arm and lead me to the dressing room. Gianna was standing beside me walking briskly down the halls. "Abby was just on the phone with the hospital. Your mothers condition has gotten worse. You are still competing your solo. But, instead of staying with the other girls for the extra sight seeing day tomorrow Abby is flying home with you tonight. After the comp you are leaving straight away. Don't try to think about your mother, okay? It'll just distract you from your dancing. But, if you can get on stage and pour all this emotion into your dancing, you are surely going to pull out a win." I nodded, not trusting myself to speak as I tried to process everything. Gianna pulled me into a tight hug before she ran off to find Abby. I was now alone in the dressing room. I knew the girls and the moms weren't coming back. I guess I have to get ready by myself. 
                          
Half an hour later my hair and makeup are perfect. All I've got to do is tie the ribbon in my hair and put on my costume. I still haven't seen it. It took me a few minutes to find my costume bag. I was actually kind of excited to see it. Abby and Gianna have been making such a big deal out of it. It must be beautiful. I unzip the bag slowly, anticipating the contents. I gingerly pull out the costume. My jaw drops. It's gorgeous! It's a blue dress that's entirely encrusted in small light blue jewels. I know that when I dance the stage lights will reflect off it perfectly. It has a tight top with a satin collar thing. The sleeves are puffy and are lined with a lacy frills with crystals woven through it. At the waist there is a big satin ribbon that ties into a big bow behind me. The skirt is 7 layers of tulle with the beautiful crystal overlay. It's the perfect Alice In Wonderland dress. I slip into the stunning costume behind the dressing curtain in case some one walks in. I then twirl across the floor watching the specks of light from the jewels dance across the walls. I pick up my black bow and fasten it into my hair. I make my way over to the full length mirror. The girl that stares back at me isn't Chloe Lukasiak. She is a gorgeous and glitzy Alice. She doesn't have a dying mother. She doesn't have a best friend that hates her. She has a fairy tale. 
                          
"Now please welcome to the stage Act 123, Miss Chloe Lukasiak with Home." I stepped onto the stage. I'm blinded immediately by the lighting but I'm used to it. Because I'm a dancer. And we are born to do this. The stage is my home. 
                          
** Authors Note** 
                          
OMG I AM SO SORRY GUYS!!!! I haven't updated in so long!!! I'm honestly so sorry! I've just been so busy with life and stuff! Lol that was a weird sentence! I'm so close to getting this finished! Well not really but I have it all planned! Oh and I've decided that this book is really badly written. I started writing this like 2 years ago so particularly the start of it is really bad. So once I finish this and Little Miss Perfect I'm going to rewrite it. It'll be better and possibly a little different so once it's up I suggest you read it. So I'm hoping that you guys haven't like deleted this from your library and that some people will actually read the rest of the story! Wow this is getting really long so I'll stop.. Thanks for being amazing! Xoxoxo