Megan grabbed hers, and then the assistant handed me mine. It was really pretty—a burgundy long-sleeved leotard we wore with a matching vest that had crystals embellished on it. It also was warm from being steamed.

“Break your legs!” my mom called out and left with Megan’s mom to head to their seats in the audience.

I pulled on my costume—and noticed something weird. The leotard sleeves seemed a little long. Huh. Maybe steaming wrinkles out lengthened them. Megan came over wearing an identical outfit and ponytail.

“You look great,” I told her. She was pulling at her sleeve. “Hey, is your sleeve bugging you, too? Mine feels stretched out.”

“No,” Megan said, pulling at her other sleeve.

“Why are you pulling at it?” I asked her.

“I think my arms grew. Yes! My arms may have lengthened because I’ve been doing all of my stretches in preparation for today. It will make my lines look amazing.”

“Wait, if your sleeves are weird too, then—”

“Really? You’re complaining right before our duet? Are you trying to bring me down with your negative energy?” Megan asked me.

“What? No, I just thought it’s weird that—”

Vanessa walked in the door. She looked at us both and immediately picked up the tension.

“Let’s see that partnership shine out there,” she said. “Any missteps will be more obvious, so remember you’re in this together, girls.”

“Yes, Vanessa.” We both nodded, our ponytails bobbing.

Megan pretty much should have said No, Vanessa. When we took the stage, the music started—and Megan went into solo mode.

Step, high kick, and . . . What in the world was going on?! Megan took an extra step forward, hogging the spotlight. I tried to give her a side eye, but she gave me a toothy smile back. Her face was wide-eyed and expressive, working the audience. There was hardly any connection between us. The only connection I was feeling was between her and the audience. I guessed I had to just focus on myself. I twirled (yes, twice), did my turn series, and kicked. Then we got ready for our signature partner trick. This one relied on us being perfectly in sync.

Megan did a leap toward me, looking like she was going to crash into me. I knew the audience would be at full attention, and so did Megan. She gave them a dramatic, overly surprised face. Then she slid forward on the ground so that she was right underneath my leg. Just as my leg would have hit her, she melted down into a hinge.

I twirled my leg horizontally over her, and then popped up. Then I twirled back over her, and she ducked down over and over. I finished with a turn holding my leg high and straight, with Megan underneath me, and held it for a few seconds. We did it perfectly! Yes! Whew! Then I brought my leg down and spun. Megan stepped in front of me, which by then I was getting used to. But that’s when it happened.