Are we here to stay?*Rewriting*

11-Under Abby's sleeve

Okay, guys, I was just wondering, what's a story if it doesn't have a little cheesy stuff at least. Are you ready for some fluffiness? Well, then brace yourselves and enjoy the ride :p

PS:Let me know what you think about this chapter.

The trip to the ALDC from the Hylands' house was longer than the drive from the Lukasiaks', and by the time Chloe arrived, she was ten minutes behind schedule and sprinting as fast as she could. She tore off her jeans and sneakers, replacing them with tight black booty shorts and a pale pink sports bra. Normally she took time to adjust her outfit and tighten her ponytail, but it was too late for that.

"Why are you late?" was Abby's first comment when Chloe entered Studio A. The other four original girls were already warming up their dance. Wordlessly, Chloe joined them, blending in as well as she could.

Finally, Abby silently started their music. They posed on the floor, trying to look elegant and queenly. The first minute or so of their dance passed without any insults from Abby. But then her instructor lost it. In rage, she hollered, "Chloe Elisabeth Lukasiak! For God's sake, can't you get a simple back handspring right?"

"I'm sorry, Abby," she whispered, determined to be respectful. She straightened her leg until her calf muscle bulged, then smiled broadly.

But Abby wouldn't stop picking on her. Seemingly ignoring the other four girls, she focused all her energy on Chloe. Somehow, the girl didn't think it was only because she was late. Could it be that Abby had somehow figured out that she had spent the night with Paige and Brooke? And Josh? No. No, that was impossible.

"This is Maddie's moment!" Abby shrieked at Chloe. "You should be shadowing her, in line with the others. Why are you in front of Nia? No, no, no!"

Chloe breathed in through her nose and tried to rehearse over Abby's agitating voice. But it was growing harder by the minute.

By the time Abby dismissed them, giving Nia an order to find the new girls and send them in, Chloe was a nervous wreck. She needed to talk to someone. She wanted desperately to discuss the situation with Maddie, but the older Ziegler was Abby's favorite student. It was too likely that the teacher would find a way to worm the information out of Maddie. Chloe had never been that close with Nia or Kendall. The only other choice was Mackenzie, but she was too young, and she had her own problems right now anyway. And it wasn't like she could confide in the new girls. That was laughable. Even if one or two of them ended up on the 'new and improved' team, none of the original girls would ever befriend them. No, Chloe would have to keep it all to herself. That was a good idea. Really, it wasn't even that big of a deal.

Except for the tiny, insignificant fact that she was absolutely furious at Abby Lee Miller.

First, she gave the original girls barely half an hour total to learn their group dance, while she awarded the new dancers almost three hours. But Abby was just helping the new girls settle in. Yeah, that was it.

And then she spent almost twenty-five minutes individually teaching Mia, Kalani, and Asia their solos, while Nia, Kendall, and Mackenzie were given barely ten and then left to fend for themselves. But that was just because Abby wanted to make the new girls feel welcome and appreciated. Right.

Chloe wondered vaguely whether Abby had still been finding time to give Maddie her personal private lessons. Probably. In fact, Abby was probably holed up with Maddie right at this moment, correcting her technique on her duet with Chloe, or even on the group dance. Well, if that was true, Chloe was going to find and bust them.

Chloe marched through the building, throwing open doors to studios as she passed them. In Studio A, the Senior Elite group was rehearsing a group dance under the rule of Gia, who was conducting the dance with an imaginary baton. Chloe watched the older girls perform a split leap to a roll and marveled at how in sync they were. In Studio B, Mia Diaz was practicing while Kalani Hilliker sat, hugging her knees, and gave her feedback. As she gazed at them, Chloe watched the two dancers switch spots. Now Kalani was demonstrating a scorpion, and Mia was laughing and nodding her head. In Studio C . . .