Maddie's POV

I stretched my sore arms out yawning. I feel Mackenzie's, my 7 year old sister, warm body moving up and down as she breathes. I yawn turning over slowly.

I blink Staring at the stream of sun peeking through the rip on the curtains of my room. The grimy window made the stream seem steamy.

I glance at my alarm jerking awake.

"Mackenzie! Get up we have to go to dance were gonna be late! It's already 9!" I shrieked shaking Mackenzie roughly. My arms tremble as I run to the bathroom pulling out my dancewear from last week making sure it isn't that dirty before throwing on the clothes quickly scrambling around brushing my hair at a vicious pace.

I grabbed my bag of makeup scrambling for my concealer dropping 2 mascaras, and eyeliner and my lipstick while I struggled for it. I patted on concealer and blush covering all my scars.

I hurried out of the bathroom rushing back to pick up my dropped makeup as I crush it back into the bag. I pulled on a sweater and grabbed my dance bag lugging it behind me with Kenzie scrambling after. We ran down the street to the bus stop. I stuffed a bunch of dimes and nickels into the bus's payment and pulled Mackenzie in with me. I tied my hair up in a tight ponytail on the bus. We got off at our stop and speed walked to the ALDC dance company.

We rushed inside into the empty change rooms. Practice starts at 9.30... Its 9.38!

"Oh god were late!" I moaned throwing my bag down pulling off my sweater.

"Maddie, my hair!" Mackenzie whimpered as I rushed to the door. I hesitated, then turned back rushing back to my baby sister. At 10, I was basically her mom, and I can't abandon her. I put her hair up in a bun tying with a ribbon.

"You're good, let's go!" I pull her to the door pausing to catch my breath and straighten my back before opening to door quickly walking in with Mackenzie trailing behind me.

"There you are! Your ten minutes late! We were about to start without you!" Abby snarls at me her eyes flaring.

I heard my mom sniff angrily her arms crossed against her chest. I pull down the front of my shirt shivering slightly and taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry, we couldn't find a ponytail for Mackenzie." I lied quietly hiding my emotions.

Abby glared at me then at Mackenzie. "Get in line!" We hurried to line.

I shiver in fear.

Everyone who watched the show and all the girls around me patting my shoulder in pity thought I was scared of Abby's anger. There wrong.

I'm scared of my mom.

Recently money has been very tight. Mom is overstressing herself more than ever, taking late and early jobs, using as little money as possible, and tightening everything. It's horrible and mom has got very cruel. Even more cruel than usual. And the worst part is she doesn't want ANYONE to find out. Not Abby, not my teammates, and not dance moms nation. And that is nearly impossible.

So we were supposed to pretend our mom dropped us off, even though she was actually taking an early job to earn some money. However, since mom arrived before us, it looks kind of suspicious. I don't know if my lie worked. Either way mom will be furious.

I wrap my arms around my chest trembling. I bite my lip avoiding my mom's terrible glare.

I can promise you one thing; I thought as Abby turned to the pyramid, my mom is a monster.