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open.”
    â€œMaddy told me something about that. The guy—I can’t remember his name right now, too much on my brain—is going to get in touch with her if he likes what he sees,” Gina said.
    â€œThat’s the best.” Devane tried not to think about the fact that the producer wouldn’t be making the call based on seeing any of her moves. Tonight wasn’t about that. It was about getting off probation. “Hey, here come the twins.” They both applauded when they saw the sign. “I’m going to go check out the competition. I’ll report back,” she told Gina.
    â€œO-kay,” Gina said.
    Devane slowly made a big circle of the backstage area as it gradually filled up. She eavesdropped, trying to get the rundown on what moves were going to be in the competition’s routines. She watched warm-ups and run-throughs wherever she found them. Then she returned to the Hip Hop Kidz.
    â€œI don’t think we have too much to worry about,” she told Gina. “The Storm Lords and the Plain Janes bring some heat. Nothing that ill papi and M.J. can’t outdo.” Devane wanted to add that she had the best of the best beat, too. But she wasn’t in the competition. Dancing wasn’t her job tonight.
    â€œDo any of y’all need anything?” she called. Her whole crew was there now. Eatin’ their bars. Havin’ their water. “Want help with your makeup?” she offered.
    Wait. Devane looked around and realized someone was missing. Ill papi. “Has anyone seen ill papi?”
    â€œHe’s not here?” Gina asked, scanning the area.
    â€œI haven’t seen him,” Sammi said.
    â€œMe either,” M.J. added.
    Devane checked the clock. The competition was supposed to start in fifteen. Ill papi had to make it here. They needed him. What she’d seen on her stroll had convinced her of that.
    I was going to take care of everything tonight, Devane thought. But I’m not sure what I can do to fix this.

CHAPTER 6
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    â€œThe competition is actually starting, and ill papi still isn’t here.” Sophie felt like her skin was a size too small—just itchy and uncomfortable and wrong . “Something’s up. Something bad.”
    â€œYou don’t know that,” Emerson said. “He could be late for lots of reasons. Things just happen, Soph. Everyday things.”
    Sophie shook her head. “This isn’t a missed-bus kind of deal. It’s something else. I know it.”
    â€œMaybe we could ask his dad,” Emerson suggested. “Maybe ill papi even came with him.”
    â€œIf he came with J-Bang, he’d be here. J-Bang already introduced the first group,” she shot back. Her voice came out a lot louder than she meant it to. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to get snappy. I’m just worried.”
    â€œI know,” Emerson said. “I get it. Ill papi’s always on time for class and everything.”
    â€œHow screwed are we if he doesn’t get his butt down here?” Chloe asked as she and M.J. joined the pair.
    â€œI don’t even care about that,” Sophie said.
    â€œWhat?” M.J. demanded. “We don’t make the cut tonight and we have no shot at the championship. How can you say you don’t care?”
    â€œOkay. You’re right. I care.” Sophie scrubbed her face with her fingers. “I just meant—don’t you guys think ill papi has been acting weird the last few weeks? Don’t you think something could be up with him? Something maybe he needs us to help him out with.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about? Weird how?” M.J. asked.
    Sophie knew it would sound stupid if she tried it put it into words. She couldn’t say that ill papi hadn’t been laughing at her jokes or talking to her that much. And that maybe it was just because he’d figured out she liked him.
    No, she definitely