“Uh, thanks?” Lily said. “I think?”

Vanessa came in and told Lily SHE WAS PROUD OF HER! Yes! I wanted this moment to last forever for her. I was super proud of her too.

“Hit the stage, my select team,” Vanessa said. “Time for results. This is it, girls.”

Eep. Trophy time! (Or no-trophy time!) A backstage wrangler dressed in all black and wearing a headset ushered us to a roped-off contestants’ bullpen in front of the stage. We sat in a tight huddle and listened anxiously. The lights shone in our faces, and we could kind of see the audience waiting in suspense as the announcer went on and on about how the judges tally the points—adding or subtracting points for choreography, execution, stage presence, and difficulty. And then, finally, it was time.

First up, the solos. Lily got third! Lily got to jump onstage and get a small trophy and stand with the top three!

“Top three!” I practically shrieked at her when she sat down.

“It’s not first place, sorry,” Lily said, worried.

“Yeah.” Riley rolled her eyes, looking at Megan for confirmation.

“Nobody was expecting first place,” Megan said. We all looked at her. “What? I’m trying to say third place is good for regionals. It’s top three, trophy, and good to keep us all in the running for nationals.”

Wow! I had to agree with Megan there. Lily smiled.

“Let’s move on to the duets!” the announcer called out. Suddenly, a hand gripped mine. Megan’s. I gripped it back. They announced the fourth-place duet. Then, third place was . . . Riley and Trina!

“Third placers!” Lily held her fist up to bump when they sat down with their trophies. Trina bumped happily; Riley, not so much. I barely noticed because Megan was squeezing my hand so hard.

“First place, first place,” she whispered. I could see she was side-eyeing the Bells, who were ignoring her a little too obviously.

“Second-place duet is . . . DanceStarz Academy!”

We got second. A loud squeal came up from the Bells, who were stomping the floor.

“You get the trophy,” Megan whispered. I figured she’d want the glory, but I guess it was hard to get second place in front of the Bells. But second place was great! Top three! Especially with that ripped leotard. I was happy to go up and accept the trophy. I could hear my parents and sister cheering for me. Yay us!

Then it was time for the grand finale, the big one, the group dance, the opportunity to go to nationals. . . . It was all coming down to this moment.

“Our final category is Group Dance! In third place, Energii!”

What? Third? We all looked at each other as we clapped. Third? They’re a go-hard squad who consider second place a crushing defeat. Sure enough, they headed to the stage with sour faces. Isabella and Bella avoided eye contact with the bullpen contestants as they went up to get their trophy.