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coach’s job was never done—and never appreciated.

    Wednesday afternoon rolled around, and friends, family, and fellow dancers packed into the small auditorium at the studio. Rochelle peeked through the stage curtain. “Wow! Full house!” she exclaimed. She was wearing a white, long-sleeved turtleneck leotard, and her hair was twisted into two braided buns over her ears.
    â€œWhat are you supposed to be?” Liberty smirked. “A monkey wrapped in toilet paper?”
    Rochelle reached for a long wand leaning against the wall. With the flick of a switch, it glowed neon blue. “I’m dancing to the theme from Star Wars.” She smiled, waving the lightsaber under Liberty’s nose. “And I wouldn’t mess with this Jedi warrior if I were you.”
    â€œYeah, good luck with that,” Liberty said icily. “You’re going to need all the help you can get.”
    Rochelle noticed that she was dressed head to toe in pink—which, frankly, was not all that unusual for Liberty. But when she turned around, she saw that there was a long tail suspended from her velvet jumpsuit. Liberty secured a headband with pink velvet ears on top of her head.
    â€œDon’t tell me . . .” Rochelle groaned. “You’re the Pink Panther.”
    â€œThe one and only.” Liberty smiled. “I’m doing a jazz and acro routine that’s going to bring this audience to their feet cheering.”
    â€œOr running for the exits,” Rochelle tossed back.
    Scarlett stepped between them. She was dressed in a delicate pale pink tutu with a sparkling tiara on her head. “I’m sure Liberty’s routine is
purr
fect,” she joked. “And Rochelle, yours is stellar.”
    â€œThat’s so sweet of you to say, Sugar Plum Fairy,” Rochelle replied. “You look great, Scarlett.”
    â€œYou think?” Scarlett spun around in her toe shoes. “I have always dreamed of dancing this role.”
    â€œAnd I’ve always dreamed of dancing across a Broadway stage and seeing my name in lights on a marquee,” Bria said. She had on a black tuxedo, top hat, and shiny patent leather tap shoes. She demonstrated a few quick shuffles on the hardwood floor backstage. “I’m doing a salute to Fred Astaire, one of my dance idols.”
    Gracie was the only one looking less than thrilled with the chance to show off onstage. “You didn’t tell me there were going to be
this
manypeople watching!” she whispered to Scarlett. “I don’t think I can do this.”
    â€œDo what? Flip some pancakes onstage?” a voice said behind her. “And here I was, thinking you were an Iron Chef.”
    Rochelle felt her cheeks flush. It was Hayden, and he looked heavenly. He was dressed in a dark gray suit and sporty fedora. “I’m Gene Kelly in
Singin’ in the Rain
. Flooding the studio the other day gave me the idea.”
    â€œYou can dance in the rain, but I’m not going out there,” Gracie said, unbuttoning her white chef’s coat and sitting on the floor. She crossed her legs and covered her ears so no one could talk her out of it.
    â€œShe has a little stage fright,” Scarlett explained to Hayden. None of the Divas could forget the last time Gracie panicked midperformance and Scarlett had to join her onstage for an impromptu duet. To their surprise, they’d won, but Gracie still lacked the courage to compete without someone standing by her side.
    â€œA
little
stage fright?” Liberty piped up. “She’s petrified of the spotlight. I just don’t get it at all.”
    â€œI do,” Hayden said, sitting down on the floor next to Gracie. “I used to be terrified to go onstage in front of people when I was your age.”
    â€œYou were?” Gracie asked.
    â€œYou were?” Rochelle chimed in. It seemed impossible that Hayden, with all his talent and confidence, had ever