Free Let's Rock! by Sheryl Berk Page A

audience cheered as the saddles rocked back and forth, faster and faster. Bria held her breath and hoped that she wouldn’t barf right there on the stage. When the horses finally stopped moving, they climbed off. Liberty took her bow, but Bria raced offstage, straight for the bathroom.
    â€œOutta my way!” she cried, pushing past City Feet and her own teammates.
    â€œWhat’s the matter, Bria?” Phoebe called after her. “Did you get a little sick from your dance? I did, too.”
    â€œLay off, Phoebe,” Liberty warned her. She had her cowboy hat back on her head and looked like she meant business. “I’m sure your routine with Addison is going to make us all lose our lunches.”
    â€œI don’t know about your lunches,” Addison retaliated. “But you’ll definitely lose the first prize trophy. Watch and weep.” She and Phoebe peeledoff their hoodies to reveal rhinestone-studded leotards and blond wigs.
    â€œI told Toni I wanted to wear rhinestones,” Liberty bristled. “Those costumes are so much better than ours!”
    â€œSeriously? Are they Marilyn?” Rochelle gasped. “Scarlett, they stole your character.”
    Scarlett shrugged. First there were too many Charlies and now there were multiple Marilyns. No matter what the Divas did, they couldn’t catch a break.
    â€œLet’s give a warm welcome to Phoebe and Addison from City Feet Dance Studio dancing a jazz routine to ‘Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend’!” the announcer said into the microphone. A crystal chandelier descended from the ceiling and twinkled in the spotlight. The girls did multiple kicks, flicks, and leaps. The music switched from Marilyn singing to an electrifying version of Madonna’s “Material Girl.” They were on fire!
    â€œOh no,” Anya cried. “It gets worse by the minute. They are killing us!”
    Bria made her way back to the wings, leaning on her mom, and sat down on the floor. “You okay, Bri?” Scarlett asked her. “Can we get you some water? A cold washcloth?”
    â€œA barf bag?” Liberty said, smirking.
    Bria shook her head. “No, I’m okay. I felt much better when I splashed some water on my face.”
    â€œToo much Tilt-A-Horse?” Scarlett tried to cheer her up.
    â€œI guess,” Bria said, smiling weakly. “At least I didn’t throw up onstage. That would have lost us the Junior Duet title for sure.”
    â€œTake a look out there.” Liberty motioned to the stage. “We’ve already lost it.” Phoebe and Addison were doing
arabesques
in perfect sync.
    â€œTheir technique is sick,” Anya said, sighing.
    â€œPlease,” Bria begged. “Don’t say sick.”
    The audience and the judges gave them a standing ovation.
    â€œI guess horses aren’t a girl’s best friend,” Addison said as she shoved past Liberty in thehallway. She sniffed in the air. “Do you smell something, Pheebs?”
    Phoebe wrinkled her nose. “Yeah, it smells like a stable. Oh, wait!” She got in Liberty’s face. “That must be you!”
    â€œLiberty,” Scarlett warned, holding her teammate back. “It’s not worth it. Remember what Miss Toni said about sinking to their level.”
    â€œAll I was going to say is ‘Good luck!’” Liberty replied with a forced smile. “You’ll need it.”

    It took the judges two hours to deliberate and compile their list of winners.
    â€œDo you think we stand a chance?” Bria asked Scarlett.
    Scarlett peeked out at the judges’ table. “Who knows? We all did the best we could.”
    The Divas sat onstage, trying not to look nervous. “Don’t let them see you sweat,” Rochelle whispered to Gracie. “Calm, cool, and collected. That’s us.”
    Gracie nodded. “I’m cool as a pickle,” she said.
    â€œI think