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been scared of anything.
    â€œI was, and I still am sometimes,” he admitted.
    â€œBut I’ve tried everything. Lucky charms, deep breaths, even picturing the audience in their underwear.” Gracie sighed. “It doesn’t work.”
    â€œHave you tried pretending you’re all alone at home, dancing in your living room?” Hayden asked. “That’s what works for me when I get the jitters.”
    â€œI don’t know . . .” Gracie hesitated.
    â€œHow ’bout this?” Rochelle said, handing her a pan. “Pretend you’re just whipping up a Chef Gracie special.”
    â€œAnd don’t forget this!” Scarlett said, handingher little sister a squeeze bottle of ketchup they had brought as a prop. “Your secret ingredient.”
    â€œThe more you do it, the easier it gets, Gracie,” Hayden said. “I promise.”
    â€œAre you nervous now?” Gracie asked him.
    Hayden winked at Rochelle. “You bet. Competing against you Divas is pretty scary. I’m afraid you’re gonna kick my butt.”
    â€œYou’re forgetting one thing,” Rochelle said, crouching down next to him. For once, she wasn’t afraid to speak or look him in the eyes. Taking over and leading the team these past few days had given her newfound confidence. “You’re a Dance Diva, too.”
    â€œI’m honored,” Hayden replied. “But could I maybe be a Dance Divo . . . or Dude . . . something that sounds a little tougher?”
    Rochelle tapped the lightsaber sitting in a holster on her hip. “Are you saying Divas aren’t tough?”
    Gracie stood up. “Hey, don’t pick on my boyfriend, Rock!” She put on her chef’s hat andstood up. Then she planted a kiss on Hayden’s forehead.
    â€œOMG! Your little sis just stole Rock’s guy,” Bria whispered to Scarlett.
    This time, it was Hayden’s turn to blush. “You go out there, Gracie, and show ’em how it’s done. I’ll
ketchup
with you later. Get it?”
    Gracie cracked up and grabbed her ketchup bottle.
    â€œKaydokey,” Gracie replied.
    Scarlett smiled. That was Gracie’s way of saying okay and okeydokey rolled into one. Hayden had really gotten through to her! Rochelle had put her third in the lineup, but now she wanted to go on first.
    â€œYour BF is amazing,” Scarlett whispered to Rochelle.
    â€œHe’s not my BF.” Rochelle sighed. “He’s my dance partner.”
    â€œ ‘You say potato, I say
potahto
. . .,’ ” Bria sang, just like Fred Astaire. “If he’s not your boyfriend, I’ll eat my top hat.”
    Rochelle glanced back at Hayden. He did look a little nervous as he stretched and warmed up for his solo. Maybe he was telling the truth. Maybe he wasn’t as confident as he pretended to be. Maybe he felt the same butterflies in his stomach that she felt as they darted around the dance floor. Could it be that all along Hayden liked her, too?
    â€œYou have a packed theater—don’t you think it’s time to start the show?” A stern yet familiar voice snapped Rochelle back to her senses.
    â€œI can’t wait to see what you girls have done while I was gone,” Miss Toni said. She glared at Rochelle. “Especially you.”

Chapter 9

Showdown!

    Rochelle walked onstage with a microphone in hand, ready to announce the start of the dance-off. She felt her knees shaking. The last thing she expected was for Miss Toni to return today!
    â€œLadies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming,” she said nervously. “We hope you like our show and vote for your favorite solo at the end. You’ll find ballots on your chairs. Please fill them out and put them in the boxes at the back of the auditorium after the show.”
    She scanned the audience for Miss Toni’s face. Where was that tight black bun and bright redlipstick? And was Toni going to