Showtime! by Sheryl Berk Read Free Book Online

Revenge

    Miss Toni sat in silence the entire bus ride back to New Jersey.
    â€œShe’s scaring me,” Rochelle remarked. “Why doesn’t she say anything?”
    â€œMaybe she’s mad at us?” Bria suggested. “Maybe she’s going to kick us all off the team?”
    Scarlett shook her head. “No, I don’t think she’d do that. I think she’s just as devastated as we are.”
    Liberty was lying across the seat behind them, snuggling her poodle pillow. “Nope. I think she’s planning her revenge against thatrotten team. Which is what we should be doing instead of sitting here feeling sorry for ourselves.”
    â€œThat’s easy for you to say,” Rochelle piped up. “You won first place in solos. You beat City Feet. Miss Toni is loving you.”
    Liberty smiled. “Everybody loves me.”
    â€œNot everybody,” Rochelle muttered under her breath.
    â€œMaybe Liberty is right,” Scarlett said, considering the possibility. “I mean, what good is it feeling sorry for ourselves? We lost. What are we going to do about it?”
    Liberty yawned. “Personally, I’m going to get some sleep.”
    Bria placed her head on Scarlett’s shoulder. “Me, too.”
    Rochelle stretched out across a seat in front of them. “Me, three.”
    But Scarlett couldn’t sleep a wink. Her mind was too busy going over the group number: every step, every turn, every detail. She thought that ifshe could just understand where they had gone wrong, it would make her feel better. She could close this chapter in the book and move forward. She drifted off to sleep, dreaming of the girls carrying her on their shoulders and feeling the sensation of floating weightlessly in the air.
    â€œWe’re home, girls,” her mom said, gently waking her as the bus pulled in front of the Dance Divas studio.
    â€œWhat a day!” Mrs. Montgomery said. “Wait till I tell Madonna that Liberty won! She’ll be so thrilled!”
    Scarlett’s and Bria’s moms were less enthusiastic.
    â€œI feel drained,” Scarlett’s mom said. “I’m glad it’s over.”
    Scarlett looked into her dark-brown eyes. “Sorry, Mommy,” she said. “I didn’t mean to disappoint you.”
    â€œDisappoint me? You didn’t disappoint me, honey!” she insisted. “You gave it your all. You know you can’t win every competition.” She swepta red curl out of Scarlett’s eyes and tucked it behind her ear. “You have to let the other teams win a few trophies, right?”
    â€œNot City Feet!” Rochelle said, gathering her bags. “That is one team I NEVER want to see win again.”
    â€œThat is one team I never want to see again . . . period,” Liberty said. “I’ve had enough of Mean Justine and her Tiny Terror.”
    Scarlett suspected Miss Toni felt the same. As they piled off the bus, Toni didn’t say a word to the Divas or their moms. Not even good night.

    Scarlett wasn’t sure what to expect Monday afternoon in dance class. The last thing she saw coming was a giant candy bar!
    â€œWhat in the world is
that
?” Liberty gasped as Miss Toni strolled into the studio carrying an enormous wooden chocolate-bar prop. She leaned it against the wall, dusted off her hands, and placed them on her hips.
    â€œDoes anyone know what this is?” she asked.
    â€œUm, about a dozen cavities?” Rochelle joked.
    â€œA huge bellyache?” Bria suggested.
    â€œKing Kong’s snack?” Liberty threw out.
    Toni shook her head. “No, no, and no. It’s sweet revenge. Which is what we’re going to get this weekend when we face City Feet again.”
    The girls looked at each other, confused, then at their dance teacher.
    â€œWe don’t get it,” Scarlett said, speaking for the team. “What’s this weekend?”
    â€œThis weekend is