"He should be here any minute." Amy told her daughter, Maddie, who was sitting on her lap. Sheldon was late, yet again, for her dance competition. But this one was special. It was nationals, and it was her first time having a solo at nationals.
"You said that ten minutes ago." Maddie sighed.
"Hey, cheer up. Do you really think your father could forget about nationals?" Amy asked.
Maddie shrugged. "It's possible. He's forgotten about competitions before."
A knock was heard at the door. It was a stage manager. "I need any 7-10 solos you have."
It was time for Maddie, Paige, and Chloe to do their solos. The girls held hands as they walked to the wings.
"I love you guys." Paige said.
They hugged, and it was Maddie's turn.
"Next to the stage please welcome entry number 17 in the 7-10 solo category, this is Maddie performing 'In My Heart'." The Announcer announced her on.
Everything seemed to be going fine. In the audience, her family was watching proudly. But that all changed. After she did a turn, she ran off stage. She forgot her solo.
Maddie ran into the wings crying. Chloe and Paige ran over and hugged her.
"What happened?" Chloe asked.
"I don't know. I just blanked out." Maddie sobbed. "I can't believe I just did that."
"C'mon. Let's go see your mom." Paige comforted.
In the audience, everyone was shocked.
"What happened? Is she okay?" Penny asked.
"I don't know. Let's go see her." Amy said, and her, Penny, and Bernadette went to see the girls.
They were walking in the hall backstage looking for them when Maddie ran up to Amy and hugged her. Amy picked her up. "Are you okay? What happened?"
"I don't know. I guess I just wish Daddy was there." Maddie replied.
"Oh no. Uh, Maddie?" Chloe tapped her on the shoulder.
"What?" Maddie asked.
"Sophia's here." Chloe pointed out. Sophia was the girl's biggest rival, and the biggest mean girl in school.
"Of course she is." Paige rolled her eyes. "Why wouldn't she be?"
Sophia walked over to them. "Well that was pathetic."
"Oh, and what exactly are you doing here? Trying to beat us? Again? After we keep beating you? That's pathetic if you ask me." Paige shot back.
"Ohhh snap!" Maddie and Chloe joked.
"Whatever. I'm positive I'm gonna beat you this time." Sophia rolled her eyes.
"That's because I forgot my solo. It's not like you're better than me. In your dreams, maybe." Maddie pointed out.
Just then, Chloe heard her name be announced. "I gotta go. But this isn't over! We will win!" She quickly hugged her mother then went to do her solo.
Sophie just rolled her eyes again and walked away.
"She does realize if she keeps doing that her eyes will get stuck like that, right?" Maddie smiled.
Amy, who still had Maddie on her hip, laughed. "I don't think she does." She kissed her daughter's cheek. "C'mon. Let's go watch the girls."