Crystal is preparing for Regional-go Crystal go! It's no longer about Amber anymore!

Chapter eight: Regional Preparations

There were "other" dance competitions that were around Baltimore. I asked Mike, "Come with me. We have competitions."

"Fifty cents a couple to enter."

The prize money was a hundred dollars to the winner, second would get seventy-five dollars, and fifty for third.

Crystal and Mike both had permission to compete in "small dance competitions". The instructor decided it would be "good practice" for the real thing ahead.

Amber heard of this and said,

"What made Crystal risk getting kicked off the show?"

She went to a competition on a small stage. Crystal and Mike were in "open" competition. Meaning everyone competed in the same category.

Crystal and Mike had showed off their dancing skills.

They ended up winning and Amber was witness to this. Since Crystal was half the couple, she earned fifty dollars.

She put it away.

Amber gasped.

"Crystal is breakin' the rules. I think Corny won't be happy that Miss Teenage Hairspray isn't Miss Perfect."

Meanwhile, a few days later, Fender said to Tracy,

"I don't know where Crystal's been. Always leavin' practice. Hardly see her anymore. The only time we see her is at the show and then she runs off."
"I don't know," Tracy replied, "but she seems fine."
"Why don't we go see her practice?"

"All right."

Mark and I were practicing for regionals. I thought,

"I just have to tolerate this guy."

Fender walked in and a salsa dance was playing. Crystal and Mike were dancing.

"Crystal, you've been here? I missed you an' you have been here. I know you'd rather be with me. Who is he?"
"He's my…" I began.

"…Dance partner. She's good, Fender." My dance instructor said.

She continued on,

"Take her out tonight-she spends her life here. Take her tonight, to this place. It's for teens-they're having a hop. They're also havin' a dance competition. She needs the practice."

I went home and said,

"Finally, a competition I could win without feeling guilty about it."

I dressed nicely. I knew that it was a "paid" hop and I'd win one hundred fifty dollars if I won. Unlike the Corny Collins hops, these offered prizes.

My aunt said,

"You know, when you go out with Fender tonight, he's gone see more than how you'll dance. It's a kind thing to do for that girl from Montrose. Technically, you ain't winnin' money for yourself. You're doin' this as a favor to her an' her family."
"It's a risk, even if I DO kicked off the show."

Yes, I know."

Fender arrived and we drove. We signed up for the competition. It said:
JULY HOP DANCE COMPETITION

TODAY

150 DOLLARS TO THE WINNER!

"There's some money involved."

"We're at a hop. It's not illegal."

"All right."

But the hop's dance competition was different. It was based mainly on ballroom dancing, what a surprise!

I led Fender in and he learned it quickly. He was amazed how I could do ballroom. I understood why my coach sent me here-she knew I felt guilty without my boyfriend.

I wished I could have Fender at the dance competition-for real. It was our amazing chemistry that won us Miss Teenage Hairspray and this competition. Fender and I divided the money-seventy five dollars. That means I had one hundred twenty-five dollars saved for Mary.

I wanted to tell him I'd love him to be the partner for this. He also was my boyfriend that I loved.