Evie shakily finished her solo, her heart pounding. She struck her ending pose and the audience applauded politely, but it was obvious no one was impressed. Evie chanced a glance at the judges and wished she hadn't. They looked bored as they scribbled notes on her scoring sheet

Evie walked off the stage, numb, and down the steps where Mrs. Holland was waiting. Unlike her parents, she seemed to understand mistakes happened. She opened up her arms to the teenager and had a look of sympathy on her face. Evie walked into her arms and felt herself break down. She started sobbing, the shock and disappointment in herself sinking in. Evie took a great pride in her dancing and to have fallen at such an important competition was devastating.

Mrs. Holland didn't say anything at first. Just held her as she let Evie cry.

"These things happen," she tried to explain. "They happen to so many people. But you've got more dances coming up. Don't let this throw you off."

The seasoned teacher had pulled back, hands on Evie's shoulders as she looked her student in the face. She was supportive of all her dancers but she tried to make an extra effort with Evie. Not only was she incredibly hard on herself but her parents had ridiculous expectations. She could tell Evie was worried about what they'd say.

As if on cue, the Soos walked backstage. Stella ran to her big sister and just hugged her, knowing exactly what she was feeling.

"Stella," her father's voice said sternly. Stella stiffened and she reluctantly pulled back from the hug. She knew her father thought Evie didn't deserve a hug right now. Stella knew better. Her sister needed support now more than any time. Stella glances up at her sister and saw dread and disappointment on her face.

Her father stepped up to them, arms crossed. "What happened?" he demanded.

Evie looked away, tears forming in her eyes. "I don't know Dad. It just happened. I'm sorry!"

His daughter's tears annoyed him. He stepped forward and gripped her upper arm. "You're sorry? I pay thousands of dollars for your lessons. To fly us all here and you fall? You FALL?!"

"Mr. Soo, please-" Mrs. Holland tried to intervene.

"Stay out of this!" he snapped at her teacher. Mrs. Holland pursed her lips and kept quiet. Mrs. Soo stood back, her arms crossed. "Let's go back to the hotel. Now."

Evie cowered, knowing she'd be in for more shaming in the privacy of their own hotel room. She darted for the door, wanting to be away from the embarrassing situation. All her friends and tons of strangers had just witnessed her dad berate her. It was awful. She quickly found her bag in the practice area and ran for the bathroom. Evie locked herself in the farthest stall and just cried.

A few minutes later she heard some hesitant footsteps enter and knew it was her younger sister.

"Evie?" she gently called.

The teenager sniffled. "Yeah. I'm in here."

Stella went into the adjoining stall and sat down. "I'm sorry you fell," she said quietly. "And I'm sorry Dad yelled at you."

"Thanks," she pulled off some toilet paper and wiped at her face. "I don't know what happened. My foot just slipped."

"Are you hurt?" Stella asked.

"No," she said. "Just a bad bruise."

The bathroom door pushed open forcefully and angry heels sounded on the floor.

"Evie? Stella?" Their mother's tone was impatient. "Are you in here?"

Stella sighed quietly, annoyed with their parents.

"Yeah," She called, stepping out. Their mom grabbed Stella's arm violently.

"Don't you dare try to comfort Evie right now. You can go wait with your father." Stella reluctantly left the bathroom, heading towards her where her father was standing. She knew she would be in major trouble.

"Evie," Her mom tapped on the stall. "Get out here now. We need to go back to the hotel." Evie opened the stall and stepped out, looking her mother in her face. She followed her mother to where her father and sister where standing. The four started towards the door.

"You know why you fell, Evie?" Her mom started.

"No," Evie said honestly.

"It's because you're fat. You've gained weight lately. You've been eating to much. All that extra fat caused you to fall. You couldn't get high, so you couldn't get your rotation and you fell. Besides being fat, you're lazy. You didn't work hard enough for this. I'm so disappointed." Her mom wasn't saying this quietly either. Evie felt the tears of humiliation welling up in her eyes again, but she refused to let them fall.

"Evie, when we get back to the hotel, we will finish with you and then you will practice so you don't bring anymore shame upon this family." Evie nodded meekly, and continued walking.

Mrs. Holland had been behind the Soo family the entire time, hearing them publicly shame their daughter. As a teacher, she had to make sure her students were physically and emotionally safe. Right now, she doubted that Evie and Stella were safe at all.

Mrs. Holland turned on her heel, and walked back to the dressing room. She had a phone call to make.

Back at the hotel, Evie's dad turned on his daughters.

"Stella, over there," He pointed. "Evie, stay here." Evie obediently stayed, knowing what was coming. Her father raised her hand and slapped her across the face.

"Evie, how dare you embarrass us on stage like that! You're such a disappointment. And your mom is right, you fell because you're so fat!"

"And Stella. Your sister doesn't deserve to be comforted. She messed up today, and shamed the Soo family. I can't believe you would go and comfort her. You're staying in here, until you figure out how to be a proper Soo."

"So proper Soos are horrible people?" Stella fired back. "Because if they are, I don't want any part of it. Evie's not fat, and you know it's true. She made a mistake. She's a human. We all make mistakes. And your mistakes are a whole lot worse than Evie's, so just stop yelling at her." Her dad glared at her, and Stella instantly cowered. He smacked her hard across the face. Her face was instantly red, and there would most likely be a bruise there.

"Dad, don't hit Stella! She's only ten. That's not fair! She shouldn't have to be the only kind person in this situation, besides Mrs. Holland." Their dad turned on her, and slapped her hard across the face again, before heading towards the door.

"Evie, practice," He told her, before slamming the door shut, glaring at his daughters. Stella quickly turned on Evie's duet music, to make it seem like Evie was practicing before going over to Evie. Her sister had collapsed on the bed, sobbing.

"Oh, Evie. You did your best today. That's all that matters."

"But I could have been better. And they're right, I am fat. I don't need to eat. I have enough fat in me to survive for days."

"Evie, you aren't fat," Stella told her sister.

"Yes, I am." Evie then stood up, restarted her duet music and started practicing. Stella watched helplessly as her sister danced around the room.

"Someone help us, please," Stella quietly whispered, not sure who she was talking to.

_____

Hundreds of miles away Pippa sat on her couch with a photo album spread out on the coffee table. She smiled as she looked through pictures of herself and her two younger sisters. They had always been close and she'd felt a sense of guilt about leaving them alone with their parents. Their mom and dad were intense to say the least. Pippa knew they'd always expected perfection in no matter what they did. She felt worried about Evie's competition. If it didn't go right she knew what would go down.

Pippa stopped on a picture of herself at about age fifteen. She had a two year old Evie in her lap. Stella wasn't around yet. Pippa had always been protective of Evie particularly. She was much more quiet and meek and wouldn't dare stand up to their parents. Stella was a bit more gutsier but she was still only ten.

Her phone ringing snapped her out of her trance. She looked and the number was from Orlando. Pippa knew that's where the family was so she answered.

"Hello?" she asked as Lin emerged from the bedroom freshly dressed.

"Is this Phillipa Soo?" a man asked.

"Yes. Who is this?" She stood up, her eyebrows furrowing.

"I'm James Moss with the Department of Child Services."

"Oh God," Pippa's heart dropped and she put her hand to her mouth. Lin noticed his girlfriend panicked and stopped what he was doing to walk over to her. "Did something happen?"

"Your sisters are fine," he told her. "But your parents are being investigated for child abuse. We received a call from their dance instructor."

Pippa wasn't at all surprised. Her parents never seemed to care who was around if they were disappointed in their daughters. The only surprising thing was that they hadn't been called sooner.

In fact, CPS has been called on the Soos multiple times throughout the years but not much had ever come of it. Maybe this time would be different.

The CPS worker went on about how the two sisters needed to either go with family or go into the foster care system back in Illinois. Pippa quickly insisted that they come to her, knowing Lin would be fully supportive.

As soon as they hung up Pippa pulled up Evie's number.

"What happened?" Lin asked his girlfriend, his hand gently rubbing at her back to calm her.

"Their dance teacher overheard my dad berating Evie. She fell at the competition," Pippa explained as the phone rang.

"So they're being taken away?"

Pippa was about to answer when Evie finally picked up.

"Pippa?" she asked, sounding emotional.

"Evie!" Pippa was relieved to hear her sister's voice. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Evie let out a big sigh and tried to hold herself together for Stella's sake. They were both somewhat stunned. "I fell," her voice cracked. "I don't know what happened. I just fell. Dad went off on me and I guess my teacher overheard and she called."

"Did he hit you?" Pippa asked.

"Yes," she sobbed, sounding like a child.

"Oh, Evie," she sighed. Pippa felt an immediate guilt for leaving her sisters with her parents. "I'm so sorry you fell. I know how important this competition was for you."

"I still have my duet," Evie said.

Pippa knew how important dance was to her, but she wanted her sister with her. "Evie, I think it's best you come to New York now."

"No!" She said decisively. "My partner is counting on me. I can't just bail."

Pippa looked at Lin, who could make out some of the conversation. He gave her a look like she should concede.

"Okay," she said gently. "How about I fly down there to be with you. Then you can come to New York."

"C-come to New York?" Evie asked in confusion.

"You're gonna live with me for a while," Pippa explained. "Mom and Dad are in trouble."

"But...I live in Libertyville."

Pippa paused for a moment. They'd lived in Libertyville their whole lives. This would obviously be a big change and no one was sure how long this would last. Pippa had no idea how this worked. Their parents could definitely be abusive but would they be taken away permanently?

"I know, bug," she used her nickname for her little sister. "But we both know living with Mom and Dad isn't good. Have they been hitting you a lot?"

"When will you get here?" She changed the subject.

"I'll book the next flight out," she said. "Five hours or so hopefully."

"Okay," Evie whimpered, wiping her eyes. "Okay."

"Okay, bug. I love you," Pippa told her younger sister. "I love you a lot."

"Love you, too," Evie whispered, before hitting end call.

"So?" Lin prompted. He'd been able to make out some of the conversation, but not all of it. He wasn't sure what was happening.

"CPS was called on my parents. It's happened multiple times before, but nothing has really come of it. Maybe this time will be different. My sisters dance instructor called CPS. They're being removed from my parents while it's being investigated. I have to get down there. And it's okay if they stay with us, right?"

"Of course," Lin quickly agreed. Pippa pulled out her laptop, and began to find flights to Orlando. The next one left in three hours. She quickly booked it, threw some clothes into a bag, along with toiletries, said good-bye to Lin and was on her way to the airport.

Once on the plane, Pippa tried to read a book, but she couldn't focus. She had to see her sisters. She had to make sure they were okay. As soon as she got off the plane, Pippa called Evie. She tapped her foot nervously as she waited.

"Pippa?" A voice said. Stella.

"Stella!" Pippa cried. "How are you? Are you alright?"

"We're fine. Evie and I have been with Mrs. Holland since CPS came."

"Good," Pippa said. "Where are you?"

"The competition venue," Stella told her, rattling off the name of the auditorium.

"I'm on my way. Can you have Mrs. Holland, Evie and yourself meet me out front?" Stella responded affirmatively, so they hung up.

Pippa scooped her little sisters up in a hug as soon as she saw them.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," She whispered. Their bruises we covered in makeup, so she couldn't see them, but she knew she would later.

She turned to Mrs. Holland.

"Hi, I'm Phillipa, Evie and Stella's older sister. You can call me Pippa. Thank you for calling and taking care of them," Pippa told her.

"Oh, of course," Mrs. Holland responded. "May I talk to you?"

"Of course. Excuse me, Evie and Stella."

Mrs. Holland told her that Stella had told her quite a bit. Their parents had been berating Evie a lot lately, and when Stella stood up for her, she got slapped. And Evie had gotten slapped a lot recently as well. Pippa felt awful for her two sisters. They'd been through so much. She should have never left them. As if she could tell what Pippa was thinking, Mrs. Holland put her hand on Pippa's shoulder.

"Don't beat yourself up over it. They're safe now."

Evie's duet was soon, so Mrs. Holland and Pippa headed inside. The other two had already gone back inside to get ready.

"Finished!" Stella announced, spraying a last spray onto her sisters hair.

"Beautiful," Pippa smiled at her sister. "You'll be great!" Evie and her duet partner were called to head backstage. Mrs. Holland followed them, and Pippa and Stella headed out to watch. Evie's duet went beautifully. Her and her partner were perfectly in synch, and told the story fantastically.

"Amazing job, Evie. I'm so proud of you!" Pippa told her sister, hugging her. "Let's get some ice cream to celebrate." Evie and Stella quickly agreed, and soon the three sisters were talking and lauging over ice cream.

Would their parents and their past come back to haunt the three sisters? Or would they at last be free?