“Megan, step over to the right on your partner trick—you’re blocking Riley.

“Trina, watch your facials. You looked a bit stressed.

“Harper. Watch that footwork.” Vanessa looked at me, and I nodded. “Make it look easy.”

We each were wearing a numbered bib, pinned on our backs for the judges’ sakes. They would be grading our individual strengths and deciding which of us would return.

Group dance time!

The team that took third place, the Scottsdale Steppers, suddenly jumped up and ran out the door in a flurry. They were up! Soon, it would be us!

We didn’t get to see Scottsdale Steppers perform. Our view was blocked by extra curtains. The handler shuffled us into the wings only mere minutes before we were going to dance.

“Let’s give it up for the Scottsdale Steppers!” We could hear Trey Thompson’s voice. I looked over at Riley, but she seemed to not even register Trey Thompson’s presence. We were that focused. I didn’t like the feeling of sitting in a boiling pot of emotions. The Steppers’ jazz music kicked off loudly.

“Okay, let’s focus on us,” Megan said. We all huddled to do our ritual.

“Dance!” Trina led the cheer. But without her usual enthusiasm, and her voice was shaking.

Lily, Megan, Trina, Riley, and I all did our little dance move—halfheartedly.

“Starz!” Trina continued.

We fluttered out fingers like sparkling stars. Then we leaned into a huddle and said:

“Squad!”

“Okay, I have to interrupt this ritual!” Vanessa surprised us backstage. “That was the weakest one I’ve ever seen.”

“We’re nervous,” I confessed.

“Way beyond,” Lily added. Everyone else chimed in: “Terrified. Stressed out. About to throw up.”

“Of course you are,” Vanessa said. “But you’re ready. I know you’ve got this. Take it from the top.”

“Dance! Starz! Squad!”

And then Vanessa surprised us as she held out her hand, palm down. “On three!” We stacked our hands on top of hers, one by one. Vanessa started us off: “One, two, three—”

“Squad!” we all shouted. All of us except Vanessa. She said something entirely different, though no one was sure what. All I could make out was that it was something with two syllables.

“Just so you all heard me,” said Vanessa, a glint of mischief in her eye, “I said, ‘HAVE FUN!’”

I looked blankly at Vanessa for a second to get her meaning. What had happened to her ongoing pep talk on going harder, nailing each little step, getting it perfect? I guess she thought we’d done that. Nothing left to do but have fun.

Lily put her hand out, palm down. Vanessa stacked hers, followed by the rest of us.

“On three,” said Lily. “One, two three—”

And this time, we all said the same thing: “HAVE FUN!”

Trina hopped up and down, Jackie and Miguel style. And just like that we chanted and jumped until—

“Please welcome back the Squad from Florida’s DanceStarz Academy!” Trey Thompson extended his right arm in our direction, and we jogged onto the stage, waving and cheering. The bright and sparkly fuchsia we wore only leveled up the energy. Our high-spirited arrival got the audience extra excited. They jumped and cheered along with us when the beat dropped. Some of them even got out of their seats.