Red(68)

She strode out onto the stage, one hand cocked on her hip, and kept her eyes on the judges for her first set of poses and pivots. And then she moved toward the other side of the stage, where Jonathan was sitting. He sat on the very edge of his seat, staring intently with his lips slightly parted, and the moment Felicity locked eyes with him, a delicious heat suffused her. She forbade herself to blush—even the slightest pink tinge would be obvious on the exposed, milk-white canvas of her skin. Even when she forced herself to break eye contact and turn around, she could still feel his gaze hot on her back. She spun once more, gave him a final dazzling smile, and walked offstage, breathless.

“You looked great out there,” Haylie whispered as she got in line for the full-group walk. “Way to flirt with the audience!” Felicity felt the blush she’d been holding back rush to her cheeks, and she was grateful no one could see it in the dark.

During the full-group walk, Felicity caught her mom’s eye and saw that Ginger was teary with joy—so far, everything was going just as she had hoped. Felicity felt sick as she pictured what her mom’s expression would look like when “Cookie-Cutter Girl” started blasting through the auditorium. But the judges would probably love her edgy new tap routine, and if she scored well, Ginger would have to forgive her subversion. Maybe she’d even respect Felicity for taking charge.

The thought buoyed her, and Felicity felt strong as she changed into her tap costume. She looked forward to being out there on the stage, showing off who she really was for the very first time. After she did some quick warm-ups in the hall, she found Ivy, and together they went upstairs to watch Haylie’s talent routine.

Felicity and Ivy both hugged her for luck, and then Haylie ran out onstage in her red toe shoes, gave the crowd an enthusiastic wave, and struck her opening pose. When her music began, Haylie was transformed. Felicity had watched her friend dance countless times, and she had never doubted that Haylie was talented. But today’s performance went far beyond anything Felicity had ever seen. Haylie seemed to feel the music down to her core, and emotion radiated from her tiny body all the way to the back row. When she jumped, hair flying and legs stretched to their full extension, she embodied reckless abandon and precise control all at once.

When the routine ended, the audience leapt to its feet. Haylie took a gracious bow and ran offstage. “Was it good?” she asked, her face glowing. “It felt really good.”

“Are you kidding? It was amazing!” Felicity said. “I’ve never seen you dance like that.”

“You’ve got this in the bag, Hays,” Ivy agreed.

A volunteer rushed out onstage to reset the microphone, and then Cassie hurried by them, the lights glinting off her windswept cloud of hair. “What’s she doing for her talent?” Felicity whispered.

“I’d like to share with you a poem I wrote,” Cassie said, as if in response. “It’s called ‘Diva Power.’ ”

Ivy’s eyes widened. “Oh my God, I can’t wait to hear this.”

Cassie cleared her throat and began her recitation.

“Yeah, I’m a diva,

don’t try to pretend like I’m not.

You might not like my sassy attitude,

but you definitely think I’m hot.

“Yeah, I know I look good,

my makeup takes me an hour.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not tough and badass;

I am totally about girl power.”

Felicity turned to give Ivy an incredulous look and saw that her friend was doubled over, both hands clapped over her mouth as she giggled uncontrollably. The sight of her nearly undid Felicity as well, but she bit her tongue hard and tried to keep herself in check. Cassie continued reciting, a strange swagger creeping into her voice.

“Yeah, I’ve got mad skills, too.

You’ll see what I mean.

When you see me strut my stuff,

with jealousy you will turn green.

“Yeah, I’m the greatest one here.

I won’t go off on a tangent,

but I’m gonna crush my competition

and win this pa-pa-pageant.”

The audience was deathly silent for a minute, unsure whether Cassie was finished. Finally, she said, “Thank you,” which triggered tentative applause. Cassie strode offstage, looking pleased with herself. Much to Felicity’s relief, she headed straight to the dressing room without stopping to chat.

Ariel appeared in the doorway, decked out in a plaid skirt and argyle knee socks, and waited in the wings for the volunteer to remove the microphone. She was clutching her swords so tightly her knuckles were white. When Felicity walked over and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, she jumped as if she’d been zapped with a Taser.

“You’re going to do great,” Felicity whispered.

“Go, Ariel,” Brenda told her. “You’re on deck, Felicity.”

The sword dance flew by in a flash, and before Felicity knew it, Brenda was saying, “Any time you’re ready, honey.” Then Haylie was squeezing her hand, and Ivy was massaging her shoulders as if she were a boxer. Felicity stood at the edge of the wings with her eyes closed, breathing deeply and centering herself. You can do this, she thought. You are going to rock those judges’ worlds.

Her eyes flew open when Brenda gasped behind her. “Felicity, what did you do to your beautiful costume?”