My first reaction after I watched my mother tear off the stage like she'd been handed her poor, shattered heart on a platter was the obvious. And before I could stop myself-who am I kidding? I had no desire to stop myself-I had stormed from my place on my stool at the fringe of the set and planted myself firmly in front of the three judges with, I'm positive, my rage showing on my face. Not aimed at Vivian, though she was a target later, nor at Olivia who fish lipped at me like I'd broken about a dozen rules just showing up here. No, all of my animosity was aimed directly at the smirk on Ron Williams's face.
"How dare you." Not a question, not even a little bit of a care what he actually thought, honestly. "You arrogant, over-blown, out of date-"
Dale appeared like magic at my elbow, hand on my arm, wincing. "This way, please."