Read Online Showstopper by Sheryl Berk - Free Book Online

about Alexei. Scarlett knew how worried she’d be if Gracie was ever hurt. Hermind wandered off, and before she realized it, she had missed her opening cue.
    She quickly rolled on her stomach and stretched her hands out to the audience. Maybe the judges wouldn’t notice she was a few beats behind. The music was slightly haunting, with whispers of wind and hints of chimes in the distance. She got on her knees and stretched backward, twisting from side to side in one graceful, fluid motion. She poured her heart and soul into the dance, letting all the sadness about Anya leaving pour out of her.
    â€œWhoa, she’s killin’ it!” Rochelle said, watching from the wings.
    For her last move, Miss Toni had told her to “be a wave crashing across the sand.” So she rolled across the stage, letting the layers of her skirt fall around her like the foamy water. The judges were mesmerized. Finally, she kneeled, hugged her arms around her shoulders, and bowed her head as the lights dimmed to black. It was a good thing the audience couldn’t see herface—there were tears streaming down her cheeks and her bottom lip was quivering.
    â€œGood job,” Toni said as Scarlett raced backstage and dabbed her eyes with a layer of her skirt. “You were in the moment, and it showed.”
    Scarlett nodded. “I just can’t stop thinking about Anya,” she said. “I feel like there’s a big hole in my heart.”
    â€œI know,” Toni whispered to her. “We all feel that way. And you did the right thing. You found a way to channel the emotion into your dance.”
    Next up was Rochelle with her rechoreographed routine without Anya. Toni handed her a top hat. “Keep it together,” she warned her. “Smooth and controlled.”
    Rochelle checked her pockets and her jacket sleeves to make sure all her props were in place. “I’ll do my part,” she assured Toni. “But I make no promises for your little feathered friends.”
    â€œPerforming a Broadway-style routine to
Pippin
’s ‘Magic to Do,’ please put your hands together for Rochelle!” the announcer said.
    â€œHere goes nothing,” Rochelle whispered into her collar. “Doves, do your best!”
    She shimmied across the stage dressed as Leading Player in a top hat, black leotard, and tuxedo jacket with tails. As the voices on the track crooned, “Ooh, ooh, oooh,” she wiggled her hips and twirled a magic wand in her hand. With a wave, it suddenly sprouted a bouquet of flowers. The audience applauded as she tossed it to the front row. Next, she did a series of
fouetté
turns and the doves flew out of her hidden jacket pockets. Another dove popped out of her hat as she took it off and tipped it at the judges.
    â€œOMG! That is sick!” Bria cheered from the wings. “Go, Rock!”
    Suddenly, she reached above her head and grabbed a trapeze that appeared from the ceiling. She flipped upside down and twirled highabove the stage, hanging upside down by her knees.
    As the trapeze lowered, she descended into a split and ended her routine by waving her wand at the judges. In the blink of an eye, the wand vanished in thin air. The audience jumped to their feet and applauded wildly.
    â€œThat was amazing!” Scarlett said, hugging her friend as she came off the stage. “I’m calling you the Wizard of Rock from now on!”
    Phoebe was waiting for her turn and overheard them. “Don’t you mean the Wizard of Pathetic?” she asked, smirking. “I have a Broadway dance solo, too. And it’s gonna blow yours away—literally.” She strutted out onstage as the announcer read, “Please welcome Phoebe, performing ‘Let’s Go Fly a Kite’ from
Mary Poppins
. . .”
    Rochelle stuck her head out from behind the curtain to watch. Phoebe’s costume was an intricate dress made of individual handkerchiefs in shades of