"Crystal, are you ready?"
"I'm
a little nervous."
Just then, my instructor said,
"Do you
need a ride?"
"No, ma'am. Fender has the instructions and
we'll be there."
"You have to be there at 8 am, dressed and ready. They have some 'preparation' stuff to do."
"I understand."
The next day, it was the day of the competition-state. Fender picked up downtown and we arrived there early enough to see them cleaning the floor before the long competition.
The judges said,
"Crystal and Fender, glad you're here. Sign here."
After all the couples arrived, the stewards said,
"There are twelve couples here. We will randomly draw names for the first performance in our order. Then, the times will be posted at 8:45 am, right after this."
"Our
first name is…"
"They'll be number four."
"Second is…"
"Number six."
Then came Amanda, the state champion and all her arrogance.
Amanda pulled out number one! She was first to perform!
I could believe it.
When it came for our turn, our luck couldn't be any better. We were fifth to perform. I didn't want to be right after Amanda.
Amanda smirked and left the room.
She said,
"I heard you fired Mike. He's an excellent dancer and you fired him for your boyfriend, who is also a dancer. But he isn't much of a ballroom dancer, is he?"
"Shut up, Amanda."
"You may be here, but everyone knows you lost to me. You're a loser."
"I'm not a loser an' you ain't nothin' but a bitch!"
I hadn't gotten this angry since Amber called me fat and tried to embarrass me in front of the school.
"Easy, Crystal," she said, like talking to a dog, "do you want to beat me up and not only be disqualified. You'll get sent away."
"Amanda,
I'm not a fighter for somethin' stupid, like you. There's no
point of it."
I walked off. I told Fender and my coach what
had happened.
"Don't
worry about it, Crystal. She's threatened by you."
I
knew my dance coach and my boyfriend were right. However, the
cattiness, the drama, and the jealously. It was the pageant all over
again! I guess the pageant was inspired by not only the competition,
but also the competition between the girls on the outside.
May the best dancer win! I thought.