Chapter 11

I was desperately waiting for Saturday to come. But I had to go through a lot before Saturday. The excitement of the competition had gripped the whole school. Students of around all ages had registered for the competition. Wherever I went in the school I could here people talking excitedly about the competition. My own friends were very excited. From my friends only Vanessa, Ashley and Nicole had registered.

As so many people had registered, my nervousness increased. This is going to be so tough, I thought. So many people have registered. In this crowd how will I succeed? I desperately wanted to win this competition. My wish to win the competition made me nervous. My nervousness grew day by day.

It came out during my dance practices. Day by day I was getting worse at dance. I constantly forgot steps and the one which I was able to remember, I did them very badly. I just didn't know what to do. Dance was becoming impossible day by day.

"Anna! Where is your mind? You are forgetting so many steps even though you yourself have choreographed it. What is troubling you?" Noah asked me after one disastrous practice.

"I don't know what's happening. I am so nervous. I really want to win this competition but with so many people how in the world will I win this? I see Harry everyday working day and night preparing for this competition and I don't even have a hint of what's coming. Then there is this dance. We have to do everything right because it marks the opening of the competition. How am I supposed to handle everything?" I said, well almost yelled.

This always happened with me when I am with Noah. I just don't how but in the one week that we became friends; we became such good friends that I know almost everything about him and he also knows almost everything about me, almost. I don't know why but he is just so frank with me that I feel so safe in his company that I speak out everything that comes to my mind when I am with him.

"Chill down Anna! Don't worry at all. I know that you are going to win this competition. Why are you so nervous about this, in fact you should be confident because I think that you are really the best fan and I know that you are going to win this competition." Noah told me reassuringly.

"How do you know that I am going to win this?" I asked him

"I just know." he replied back, that innocent smile coming back to his face.

I smiled and felt relaxed. I don't know why but seeing him smile that way makes me feel relaxed and my tension leaves me. After that I tried to dance with full concentration but I don't know why my mind just wasn't working. My hands were going somewhere and my legs somewhere else. I was making a complete fool of myself.

Why is this happening with me? I thought, back at home. I know am nervous but why is this hindering in my dance only? Everything else I am doing is going just fine but the moment I start dancing, I don't know what I am doing. What could this mean? What is coming that is so related to my dancing?

School practice was at least bearable because everyone there was my friends and knew me and my problem. But this was not the case with my dance class.

Saturday came and though I felt miserable going to the class I still had no choice but to go there. I was literally trembling with fear when I entered the class.

Today my anxiety level was more as today so much was to happen. From Monday competition was to start and the on Monday we had the opening ceremony also and if that was not enough then Harry was going to take me to Hogwarts today. So much things were there that I felt like having a nervous breakdown.

Just as I had feared, dance class was a nightmare. No matter how hard I tried to concentrate my mind went back to Harry and then I just didn't know what to do. I was the worst dancer that day. I tried my best but there was no outcome. Again and again I forgot steps and the ones which I remembered, I performed horribly. Everyone was watching me only. It was so humiliating but I could do nothing. At last sir called time out. I went and sat down on a bench, my head hung low. Then Noah came and sat beside me. Behind him Justin, Victor, Archie and Aaron also came.

Noah took my hands into his and looking into my eyes said "Anna! Don't be upset. I know you are nervous but please don't let it get into your way. Find the dancer inside you, you know that you are an awesome dancer and don't let the situations around you ruin your dance. I know that you can do this. Try to concentrate and I know you will get the dancer inside you again."

I turned to look at Noah. I was shocked like anything. Noah had said almost everything that Ned would have said if he would have been here. Noah is just like a brother to me. He cares for me so much just like Ned does. There is only one difference between them- Noah is not aggressive and Ned is totally aggressive. I tell him anything about a boy irritating me or anything and Ned would ball up his fits immediately while Noah would just tell me to think calmly and go and talk to him politely. So all in all Noah would be a very good brother,

I thought.

"You know Anna he didn't say that in Arabic that you are looking at him like that." Archie said.

I turned my gaze away from Noah. Maybe I was staring at him too long. "No it's not like that Archie; I was just shocked that Noah could say something that heavy." I replied back.

"Oh let it go Anna. We all know that you fancy Noah and there us something going on between you." Justin said.

I looked at Justin. How dare him! Noah was like a brother to me and he thinks I fancy him? What stupidity! Before I could voice my thoughts, Noah spoke "Oh please guys, there's nothing like that. Anna is just like a sister to me. There's nothing going on between us. So please stop this."

Thank god Noah also thinks like that for me. That is why he cares for me so much because he doesn't have a sister and maybe I posed as a good sister for him.

Just then Aaron started laughing. Then Justin, Victor and Archie also started laughing. I looked at Noah and he looked at me just and was just as confused as I was.

"Chill Anna it was just a joke. We know that there's nothing between you and Noah." Justin said, and when I glared at him he added "it was Victor's idea not mine."

Just then sir called time out. I returned back to my position and dance started again. This time I did my very best to concentrate and thankfully I did a little better then before but I still knew that my performance wasn't up to the mark. Anyhow the class ended and everyone started leaving. I looked at Dylan sir and found him looking at me only. He turned his head away. I made my way towards him because after today's performance I owed him an explanation.

"Sir, I am really sorry for today." I said as I approached him. He looked at me. I didn't know what he was thinking but one thing was sure it wasn't anything good.

"I don't know what's bothering you Anna but I have never seen you perform so badly. If this is the way you are going to perform then I am sorry to say but I'll have to keep you for extra hours. "Sir said.

"I am really sorry sir. There's so much going on lately that I am not able to concentrate on dance. But I promise you sir that next Saturday I won't give you any chance to complain. Please sir forgive me this time, I am very confused and nervous because of the situations. Till next Saturday everything will be solved and then I will live up to your expectations, sir. I promise you that." I said. That was all I could say to him.

"I believe you Anna. I know that sometimes there are problems in life and its fine. Today I am letting you go but next time it won't be so. Next time I want the dancer back. Ok?" he said.

"Definitely sir. Next time there will be no mistake." I assured him. Alright then. I'll see you next Saturday." sir replied back.

I waved him goodbye and then made my way towards home.