37-Tara

Remember that feeling of confidence I had? That amazing moment before my performance when for the first time I wasn't afraid of anything? So… Forget that.

I was squeezing Christian's hand so hard while we were waiting for the top dancers to be called on stage, he had to ask me to stop, his fingers were hurting, and so were Ben's. Poor guys, I wish I could just stay calm, but suddenly everything I had avoided to think was coming back to my mind. I really wanted that, but among with all those other dancers, what was the chance I had?

When the top 10 girls started to be called on stage not in any particular order as said by the judges, my breath started to get heavy, but as I heard my name a relieved smile took over my face, Grace's and Abigail's names were also called later. Then top 10 girls, were all now already on the stage, two of us would make it, and for all the other it would be over. Then, it was time for the boys.

They started calling the names, and every single time I would just wish Christian's was called. I still believed in him, even after his fall, other guys had fallen too, and had terrible scores in the Classical Round, I still believed he had a chance of being there, at least in the top 10.

Ben's name was called, and then Sammy's. At last but not at least Christian's name was called too and I was so happy for him. To see him smiling like that, after seeing him so broken moments ago gave me just the strength I needed to control my freaked out mind.

There was a little speech about how we were all winners, and how hard that decision had been for the judges, what amazing dancers we were and how proud we should be of ourselves, but honestly… No one really cared about that. You could see it in their faces, all they wanted was to know the results, and fast.

After two or three terrible jokes about ballerinas and their point shoes, the old smiling man finally started to announce the results.

- The girl, who won the silver medal and will represent Australia in the International Round of The Prix De Fonteyn is… - That awkward and tense silence lasted for some long seconds – Grace Whitney!

Grace was in second place? Crap. She was perfect. If she had won the silver medal, my chances were certainly over. Imagine me in the first place, winning the golden medal, representing the entire country in this world wide competition… Yeah, right.

Grace smiled weakly, it was obvious how hard she seemed not to care, but she wanted to be the best, always. She needed attention, and for some bizarre reason, she needed it all the time, but she would also always deny. When they handled her the medal and the flowers the host picked the microphone back up and smiled.

- And now, the girl who won the golden medal and will also represent Australia in the International Round of The Prix De Fonteyn is…

I had never been in a room that silent. The two seconds he took to announce the name were enough to realize how anxious everybody was, even the judges had an anxious look on their faces and they were the ones who decided which name was about to be called. How could they be surprised at all? I looked back at the smiling host and took a deep breath, ready to hear the truth, ready to hear my journey on that competition was over.

- Tara Webster!

I turned my head to the backstage, I was sure someone had called my name there, I realized everybody smiling at me, and Abigail pushed me slightly to the front. It took me a few seconds more to realize someone really had called my name, and this person was the same smiling man who was now holding a golden medal and extending it to me. I walked towards him, with my legs shaking, my brain couldn't process the idea it was really me. I was so surprised that I think I checked with myself once or twice if that was really my name. A woman gave me the flowers and I almost let them fall, I was just looking around expecting someone to yell "gotcha" at any moment.

I think one minute later I realized it was really happening and from that point on I couldn't stop smiling. Grace smiled at me with some support while everyone in the audience was standing and cheering for us, I smiled back at her, even knowing she was probably just doing it for the cameras, but if she was being truthful or not, in that moment didn't matter. I looked back at Christian, my eyes were locked in his for a few moments; he had his smile real big, probably just as big as mine, as if somehow, this conquer was not only mine, it was ours.

- And now it is time to meet the winners of the masculine category. – The host said in an excited tone, breaking my gaze with Christian – The boy who won the silver medal, and will join these two young ladies, representing our country in the International Round is… Michael Slade.

That guy was for sure the crowd favorite. He had his own little fans yelling at him from the audience. He was also one of the cockiest dancers I had seen in the backstage, I didn't even had the chance to meet him, and talk, but just to hear him speaking to other people, make me dislike him just a tinny little bit.

He had the same uncomfortable smile Grace had as she received her medal, he obviously wanted to win the golden medal, who wouldn't, but isn't it an honor to represent your country, even if you got second place?

- And the winner of the golden medal of the masculine competition, who completes the Australian team, the one who will represent the entire country in the International Round of The Prix De Fonteyn is…

I knew how Christian's chances had dropped after his fall, but why did I still had all this trust, and all this hope, I looked constantly at him, expecting it could be him. Of course I would be happy if any of the other boys had won, I would be extremely happy for Ben, he had worked so hard to put up with the second year students, all his new classes, the leukemia thing that thankfully turned out to be false alarm and working on his solos and preparation for this competition. Or Sammy, how incredibly happy I would be for him, to see he finally prove to his Dad and everyone else out there how amazingly talented and completely capable of following his passion for dance he was. The thing is the putting all this together, all the love I had for these two other boys, how much I wanted them to be happy, I still had these huge feeling inside of me, that right now was making me care about only one person.

I looked back and forth in between Christian and the host until the old man smiled and open the last envelope, ready to announce the name.

- Samuel Liberman. – The man said cheerfully.

I really wish Christian could have won; I truly wanted that for him. But being honest, Sammy deserved it. He recovered from a terrible score in his Classical Round, and today he was the epitome of a dancer. His technique had never been so perfect, and he had never been so honest in any of his performances in these last two years.

I didn't hide the proud smile in my face, he was like my brother, and now I could see my little brother taking his golden medal and walking towards the center of the stage until he reached my side. He looked at me smiling and I gave him a hug.

- You did amazing. You deserved it! – I whispered in his ear.

- We did! – He answered smiling.

The host walked closer to the end of the stage, a spotlight followed him, as he brought the microphone to his mouth one last time, until he said in a proud tone.

- Australia, these are your chosen dancers. They will be representing our country, so let's show them some love. Put your hands together for Grace Whitney, Tara Webster, Michael Slade and Samuel Liberman!

The man left the stage and the spotlight headed back at us. Everybody was cheering, even the judges were on their feet clapping and smiling at us. So that was the feeling of receiving a standing ovation… Wow! Miss. Raine was in the audience with Patrick, right in the front row. I had never seen her so happy before, I had never seen her smiling that big.

The other dancers on stage and some of the ones backstage joined us to give us congratulations. Sammy hugged me again.

- Could you in a billion years imagine this happening? – He said smiling.

- Not in a zillions years I would have pictured this.

He smiled at me one last time until a proud Abigail jumped in him, wrapping her legs on his back and her arms around his neck.

- I can't believe you won! I am so proud of you! – She yelled with tears in her eyes, holding even tightly to him. I wasn't expecting her to talk to me, at least not until she and Sammy had that moment, it was completely understandable.

- Me neither. – Was the only think Sammy could say until Abigail's lips locked his and I decided to turn around to give them some privacy.

I looked back to the audience, they were still clapping and yelling excited. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder, as I turned around I could only see Ben's face for a microsecond until he picked me up by my waist, spinning me around.

- I am so proud of you! You were awesome!

- Thanks Ben! I can't believe this is happening!

- It is! I told you to believe in yourself, I told you so. I knew you could do this! – He finally put me on the ground, and a knowing smile took over his face.

Before I could say anything I felt someone holding my hand from behind me, as I turned around I saw Christian, smiling proudly at me. I tried to look back at Ben, but he had already left so I turned my stare back to Christian. We looked at each other during a few seconds just standing there, as if we were talking without any words. I held his hand tightly, until he pushed me closer to him, and we were inches apart. There was still a crow of dancers and a lot of people hadn't left the audience yet and we were right at the center of the stage with a spotlight right over us, but somehow, it all seemed in the background and none of them mattered for us in that moment.

- I won. – I whispered as he got closer to my face, lost in his intense stare.

- My girl. - He whispered back right before his lips slowly touched mine.