Studio Showdown by Samantha-Ellen Bound Page B

I really just needed an excuse.’ She gave us a wink and left.
    Ellie and I stared at each other. Ellie held the smaller cushion in her hands. She looked down at it. ‘I was at the competition on Sunday, Paige,’ she said. ‘I saw you win. I was really proud of you. You looked beautiful.’
    I blinked and shifted on the couch. ‘I didn’t see you there,’ I said. ‘You weren’t sitting with Riley and Ash.’
    Ellie gave a little giggle. ‘I was sitting way, way up the back, in the shadows.’ She looked up at me. ‘I was hiding because I didn’t think you’d want me there and I didn’t want to put you off.’
    I wiped away the tears on my cheeks and pushed my hair out of my eyes. ‘Of course I wanted you there, Ellie,’ I said. ‘You’re my best friend.’
    Ellie sniffed and picked at the frayed edges of the cushion. ‘You called me a princess.’
    â€˜You called me a goody goody,’ I said back.
    The same smile tugged away at the corner of Ellie’s mouth. ‘You are, Paigey,’ she said. ‘But in a good way. You’re a good goody goody! You make me act less, well, princessy.’
    This time I was the one who smiled. ‘Well, you’re princessy in a good way, too,’ I said. ‘No one wears a crown like you.’
    Ellie laughed then got up and sat next to me. ‘I’m sorry, Paige,’ she said. ‘I really am.’
    I reached for her hand. ‘I’m sorry, too,’ I said. ‘And I actually think your dance is really amazing.’
    Ellie kept laughing. ‘Oh my gosh, I love yours, too! When you do that spin flip? So cool!’ She bit her lip. ‘I’m sorry that I barrelled in and took over without asking you what you wanted to do. That was a bit rude. I was just so excited to get started! My head was bursting with ideas! I didn’t realise thatyour head was probably bursting with them as well.’
    I squeezed her hand. ‘I know. Both of us could have acted a little better about it. We just dug ourselves a grand-jeté-sized hole!’
    â€˜Hmm.’ Ellie leaned forward onto her knees. ‘I don’t know how on earth we’re going to put the two dances together. But I’m sure we can figure it out.’
    â€˜If we can figure out how to ruin a practice rehearsal, I’m pretty sure we can figure out some old dance.’
    Ellie giggled again. ‘Did you see everyone’s faces when the iPod dropped?’
    â€˜Yes! And Jay was just sitting back with his head in his hands!’ I squeezed Ellie’s hand again and then stood up. ‘Should we go tell Miss Caroline we’re ready to work together?’
    â€˜Sure.’ Ellie stood up and made to leave. But at the last moment she spun around andwhacked me with the pillow. ‘But first I have to get you back!’ Giggling, she jostled me onto the couch and started attacking me with the pillow. I shrieked and gathered up all the cushions, and threw them in her direction.
    â€˜Paige!’ She laughed. ‘That one made my ponytail come out!’
    I guess you can say that, after that, Miss Caroline definitely had an excuse to buy new cushions.

Chapter Eighteen
    Everyone shuffled down the thickly carpeted steps and spilled out onto the stage, talking and chatting and pushing each other, excited for the show ahead.
    The end-of-year performance.
    After weeks and weeks of intense rehearsal, the big night had come, and here we were at the Grand Palace Theatre, ready to show our family and friends, and perhaps a fewtalent scouts, what we’d been working towards all year.
    Miss Caroline had just taken warm up out on the stage and given us a pre-show pep talk. Now we were supposed to head to our change rooms and start getting our make-up and costumes ready.
    I waited, though, until everyone had disappeared through the dressing room doors.
    Then I let myself just sit