Megan was still the clear queen bee of the Bunheads, the clique she, Trina, and Riley formed way before Lily and I got here.
“I can handle it,” Riley whined. “But are you for serious? Rats?”
“Why don’t we talk to someone who’s actually been there?” said Lily, looking at me. “Harper practically lived there.”
“Connecticut is not New York City,” Megan pointed out.
“Just a short train ride away,” I said, remembering those special trips into the city to see a show or the dazzling holiday lights. This would be my first time going back home. “You’re going to love being in New York. There’s so much to see.”
“Like celebrities!” said Riley, swooning. “I’d give anything to bump into Trey Thompson.”
Lily clapped her hands like a baby seal. “He’s so dreamy. I love him in NYC High!”
“I just want to check out the street fashion,” said Megan. “If we go up there and everyone is walking around in schlumpy clothes, I’ll be disappointed.”
“Great pizza, perfect bagels, yummy cupcakes—trust me, there’s something there for everyone,” I said.
“My favorite cupcake is that one with the green icing,” Trina cooed, sitting back down.
“We’re talking about New York ones,” Megan said.
“Yeah, my favorite cupcake place is that one in the West Village,” Trina said.
“Wait, you’ve been to New York?” Megan asked her.
“Yeah, I have,” Trina said. “You know that I visit my aunt in Midtown for Thanksgiving.”
“Well, that’s cool,” I said. “Trina and I can be the New York experts and show you all around.”
“Oh, I always get lost,” Trina said. “Harper, you can show us all around.”
“I practically know New York,” Megan grumbled. “Like, I know not to walk too slow and look up at buildings or you look like a tourist. I’m obsessed and totally going to live there someday.”
“With me!” Riley added cheerfully.
“I’m so excited!” Lily said. “We’re all going to New York together!”
Everyone smiled as they ate their fro-yo and drank their smoothies. I knew we had to keep this team dynamic going. If there was one thing I’d learned, it was that strengthening our team bond was just as important as getting our routines down. We did amazing things when we put team first, and we’d need to be extra tight when we were up against intense competition in New York City.
Even though at some point, we’d have to compete with one another in the solo category. We were all going to be working on getting solos down for the competition too.
“You know who else we’d have to compete against in solos?” I pointed out.
“Yeah, I can’t believe Isabella will be there,” Riley complained. “How did she get an invite? How did she get enough points?”
“Isabella always gets what she wants.” Megan sighed. “I just hope it’s not first place at nationals.”
CHAPTER
4
An overflowing bowl of popcorn in hand, I headed to the living room, where my family was already set up for game night. My malti-poo, Mo, jumped around my feet, hoping for some dropped kernels.