Dance Till you Drop by Samantha-Ellen Bound

where she was standing.
    â€˜Hi,’ I gave a small wave. Suddenly I felt very shy.
    â€˜Grrrrrrrr,’ growled Lucas. He looked back at me and Ellie. ‘You’re matching!’
    â€˜Paige!’ Ellie said again.
    And then she came rushing towards me and gave me the biggest hug. It had to be at least three weeks’ worth.
    â€˜Oww!’ cried Lucas, squished between us.
    â€˜You made it!’ Ellie said.
    â€˜Of course I did.’
    â€˜But the ballroom competition?’
    I shrugged. ‘I’d rather be here.’
    Ellie hugged me again. ‘I’m so glad that you are,’ she said. ‘It wouldn’t have been the same without you.’
    â€˜Everything looks great,’ I said.
    Ellie pointed at my sweater, laughing. ‘ You look great.’
    I giggled. ‘So do you.’

    â€˜What about me?’ asked Lucas.
    â€˜You look gorgeous!’ said Ash, running in and scooping him up. He squealed and reached out his arms for Riley. ‘Welcome to the party, Paige.’
    â€˜Happy Birthday, Ellie,’ I said.
    Phew. One secret down.
    One to go.

Chapter Seventeen
    Mid-year showcase time!
    Silver Shoes was turned into the performance space of the century, right before our eyes.
    There are three main studios at Silver Shoes – two big ones, which are where the main parts of the church used to be, and then a smaller one out the back (where Benji and I had been practising our ballroom).
    But then there’s the hall at the side of SilverShoes, which has a big old raised stage. Lovely swooshy curtains hang down either side of it and a set of stairs at each end lead down into the hall part where the audience sits.
    Mum was on the Silver Shoes committee, so of course I was there with her at ten o’clock in the morning, preparing Silver Shoes for the performance that night.
    First I had to help her line up the costume racks in the ballroom studio, which was going to be our dressing room (our usual one was just too small). Then I had to check that every single costume was there, and go hunting in the crowded costume closet for missing bows and felt hats.
    Next she tried to get me to help make the sandwiches for lunch, but I quickly passed that off to Ellie, who laughed and said I’d better watch out because she’d put snails in mine.
    Then, along with Riley (who got into the masterclass, by the way!), I had to help put outall the seats in the hall, after we’d swept the floors with this massive broom. But we were quickly sent away because we started trying to sweep each other up instead.
    Finally I had to go and help Ash decorate the reception area. And all this while I was on and off of the stage, rehearsing the dances and going through the running order.
    Well, every dance but my secret one. I’d tucked my costume away in the corner of the costume room. I couldn’t wait to dance in it for the first time.
    There was this amazing feeling of excitement in all the halls and studios, of the teachers, parents and students preparing for the mid-year showcase at Silver Shoes. Everyone couldn’t wait to perform what they’d been working on all year. I felt happy, and I wanted to perform and dance tonight. It was such a great feeling to have back.
    All too soon we were being hurried into the third studio to get ready for the performance. The older girls at Silver Shoes were looking after the tinies, playing games with them and doing their make-up. They were soooo cute! One group was dressed in dinosaur onesies for their dance, the ‘Dinosaur Stomp’.
    â€˜Oh gosh,’ said Ellie. ‘After seeing this, Lucas is gonna want to join Silver Shoes, I just know it.’
    â€˜He’d be a great dancer,’ I said, applying my eyeliner. Out of the corner of my eye I saw someone poke their head around the studio door. ‘Oh!’ I said. ‘Back in a sec. Just have to … check my costume.’
    I ran out and down