One
“Miley, you need to be in the car in 5 minutes if you want to get there on time to register and rehearse!” Tish yelled up the stairs. She couldn’t help but wonder why her daughter always did this? Miley knew it was at least a 45 minute drive into Nashville and that there was a long line at the registration table, yet she refused to be ready to go when her mother asked. “I’m all set!” Miley yelled as she ran down the stairs, suitcase in hand. Both Tish and Miley took their bags and headed out to the car. “It kinda sucks that dad can’t be there today.” There was a tone of disappointment in Miley’s voice. In the 16 years
that Miley’s been competing in pageants, her father had never missed a single one. But last night, he got a call and was told he had to fly out to Dallas to close a business deal and he wouldn’t be back until next week. “I know sweetie but you know he’s rooting for you from Dallas.” Tish tried to comfort her daughter but she knew how upset it made Miley that her dad wouldn’t be there for her last pageant in the teen division. Her birthday was in three weeks. And after that, she would be eligible for the “Miss” pageants against the other 18-24 year olds.
There was a brief silence, which was soon interrupted by Miley speaking. “Do you know who else is competing today?” As much as Miley loved to compete, and as good as she was (which is what earned her over 200 crowns and 250 trophies), she could never be too sure of how well she would do unless she knew who was competing. “I’m not sure. But I was talking to Eleanor’s mom and she told me that Eleanor and Danielle are definitely going to be competing.” That was all it took to get Miley worried. Those were her top two competitors and they were also on their way out of the teen division and on their way into Miss pageants. “Well, there goes my chances at winning.” Miley responded, not kidding. She really didn’t think she stood a shot when she had to compete against those two girls. Even though Miley was good, those girls were excellent and individually had DOUBLE the crowns and trophies Miley did. “Oh Miley, knock it off. Your chances at winning are just as good as Danielle and Eleanor’s. But you can’t focus on them and let them affect your performance. You have to do your routines, which are amazing and impress the judges in the question round. If you can just do that, your chances at winning are just as good as anyone else’s. “Yeah, yeah, yeah…” Miley said, just to humor her mother. Deep down she knew she barely stood a chance but she didn’t want to cause an argument between her and her mother just hours before the big pageant. So she slouched down in her seat
and put her headphones in. Maybe some music would help her feel more confident.
that Miley’s been competing in pageants, her father had never missed a single one. But last night, he got a call and was told he had to fly out to Dallas to close a business deal and he wouldn’t be back until next week. “I know sweetie but you know he’s rooting for you from Dallas.” Tish tried to comfort her daughter but she knew how upset it made Miley that her dad wouldn’t be there for her last pageant in the teen division. Her birthday was in three weeks. And after that, she would be eligible for the “Miss” pageants against the other 18-24 year olds.
There was a brief silence, which was soon interrupted by Miley speaking. “Do you know who else is competing today?” As much as Miley loved to compete, and as good as she was (which is what earned her over 200 crowns and 250 trophies), she could never be too sure of how well she would do unless she knew who was competing. “I’m not sure. But I was talking to Eleanor’s mom and she told me that Eleanor and Danielle are definitely going to be competing.” That was all it took to get Miley worried. Those were her top two competitors and they were also on their way out of the teen division and on their way into Miss pageants. “Well, there goes my chances at winning.” Miley responded, not kidding. She really didn’t think she stood a shot when she had to compete against those two girls. Even though Miley was good, those girls were excellent and individually had DOUBLE the crowns and trophies Miley did. “Oh Miley, knock it off. Your chances at winning are just as good as Danielle and Eleanor’s. But you can’t focus on them and let them affect your performance. You have to do your routines, which are amazing and impress the judges in the question round. If you can just do that, your chances at winning are just as good as anyone else’s. “Yeah, yeah, yeah…” Miley said, just to humor her mother. Deep down she knew she barely stood a chance but she didn’t want to cause an argument between her and her mother just hours before the big pageant. So she slouched down in her seat
and put her headphones in. Maybe some music would help her feel more confident.
Two
“Can the next participant please step up?” A middle aged brunette, who could not have possibly looked more bored with her life, asked. Miley and Tish stepped forward. “Aw, look who it is. The Cyrus clan. Well 2/3 of it at least. Where‘s Billy?” Monica, one of the most well known pageant women asked. Miley wasn’t surprised - Monica always had a “thing” for her father. As creepy as that was, Miley tried her best not to pay any attention to it. “He got called away on business at the last minute, so he won’t be joining us this weekend.” Tish answered. She knew how into Billy Monica was and did not like it one bit.
“That’s such a shame. It won’t be the same not having him around this time.” “Nope, not at all.” Tish replied, giving Monica a very dirty look. “Well, the show must go on, even without Billy. Here’s the consent form, if you could please sign on the dotted line, on Miley’s behalf. And here’s a schedule of the different age groups and performance times. Remember to be there 25 minutes before your age group is scheduled to go because we sometimes run ahead of schedule, and…” Miley could feel herself zoning out. It wasn’t that she was bored, it was just, she was tired of hearing the same thing over and over. She had been doing this for long enough and been in enough pageants to know what Monica was filling her mom in on. Miley decided it wouldn’t do her any harm if she walked around the hotel for a little while to get a feel of the place. This particular pageant was being held at the Nashville Western Inn, a newer, MUCH bigger hotel. It seemed like there were a lot of places to go in this one hotel - to the pool (indoor and outdoor), mini golfing, to the play place, and there was even an indoor spa. This could be a much better weekend than Miley was expecting…
Miley decided to take a look through the gift shop, in hopes of finding some new magazines to read during her downtime at the hotel. As fun as mini golf, swimming, tanning, and hitting up the spa might be, Miley had a feeling she would have to do most of that alone, seeing as her mom would probably spend her free time working on her business - selling her own line of organic makeup and shampoo and conditioner. It was times like that when Miley really missed her dad because there was no doubt that if he was here with Miley and Tish, Miley would have a blast while she wasn’t performing, but Miley tried not to think about it. Instead, she stood in front of the magazine rack and debated between Seventeen, Cosmo, and Teen Vogue. After deciding on Seventeen and Cosmo, Miley headed for the exit. Unfortunately, as she was making her way out the door, someone else was making his way inside the door and both Miley and the mystery man collided and ended up on the floor. From the ground, Miley looked up and saw
one of the most beautiful men she had ever had the pleasure of laying her eyes on. “Wow, you’re gorgeous…” She blurted out in a dazed and very dreamy tone.
“That’s such a shame. It won’t be the same not having him around this time.” “Nope, not at all.” Tish replied, giving Monica a very dirty look. “Well, the show must go on, even without Billy. Here’s the consent form, if you could please sign on the dotted line, on Miley’s behalf. And here’s a schedule of the different age groups and performance times. Remember to be there 25 minutes before your age group is scheduled to go because we sometimes run ahead of schedule, and…” Miley could feel herself zoning out. It wasn’t that she was bored, it was just, she was tired of hearing the same thing over and over. She had been doing this for long enough and been in enough pageants to know what Monica was filling her mom in on. Miley decided it wouldn’t do her any harm if she walked around the hotel for a little while to get a feel of the place. This particular pageant was being held at the Nashville Western Inn, a newer, MUCH bigger hotel. It seemed like there were a lot of places to go in this one hotel - to the pool (indoor and outdoor), mini golfing, to the play place, and there was even an indoor spa. This could be a much better weekend than Miley was expecting…
Miley decided to take a look through the gift shop, in hopes of finding some new magazines to read during her downtime at the hotel. As fun as mini golf, swimming, tanning, and hitting up the spa might be, Miley had a feeling she would have to do most of that alone, seeing as her mom would probably spend her free time working on her business - selling her own line of organic makeup and shampoo and conditioner. It was times like that when Miley really missed her dad because there was no doubt that if he was here with Miley and Tish, Miley would have a blast while she wasn’t performing, but Miley tried not to think about it. Instead, she stood in front of the magazine rack and debated between Seventeen, Cosmo, and Teen Vogue. After deciding on Seventeen and Cosmo, Miley headed for the exit. Unfortunately, as she was making her way out the door, someone else was making his way inside the door and both Miley and the mystery man collided and ended up on the floor. From the ground, Miley looked up and saw
one of the most beautiful men she had ever had the pleasure of laying her eyes on. “Wow, you’re gorgeous…” She blurted out in a dazed and very dreamy tone.