The Regional Competition clashes. Another girl, who is a defending champ, is a bigger bitch than Amber. Also, Tracy and Fender wonder where Crystal is once again that day. The longest chapter so far-Enjoy!

Chapter nine: Regional Clash

I headed to the studio and my coach was to take Mike and I to Annapolis, Maryland. I had never been to any other city in Maryland outside of Baltimore.

Annapolis was slightly slower than Baltimore and it was a nice city. While in Baltimore, I learned a lot. But would I be able to win the Regionals? The medals-top three. Three couple are goin' on to state."

My dance coach told me,
"If you qualify for state and go one to Nationals there, you'll be visiting San Diego."

"I still have to get through state and this competition. I don't feel right bein' here anymore."
"It's because of Fender and Tracy, your friends, right?"

"It's goin' to be hard, but it's time for me to come clean 'bout it. I don't want Fender to think I am with another guy.'

"I know Fender thinks that, but I think you didn't win city 'cause it was forced. You won two separate dance competitions with those two guys. I know at city you didn't want to stand out. But I lied to you-I wanted you to compete and the only was to get you to was to use blackmail. Amber also told me you wanted to compete, so I pushed you into it. Amber had a point. You wanted to compete."

"Amber…"

"You should thank her."

I was mad, I must admit, a little. I had to confront Amber.

"Amber, why did you do that?"

"I'm not goin' to lie to you, Crystal. I wanted you off the show-so I convinced your dance instructor to find a way to get you to compete. I didn't think you'd risk it, and you could have stopped after city. Why did you?"

"I had to-yet you haven't told on me, why?"

"No, you wanted to compete. He did, too. You haven't told them."

"I don't want them to know. Also, I realized I loved performin' and dancin' more than I do on that show."

"And the money you win? You're pushing it."
"None of it's goin' to me."
"I hope you are at your best 'cause if you're not, you'll never compete further ahead."
"Amber, even though you want me out, I'm goin' to thank you. I guess my dancing is more than just bein' famous. And someone needs my help. That's why I'm competing further."

There was an announcement,

"All adult level dancers please prepare. Adult division starts in 30 minutes. Young adults first."

At regionals, there were more divisions. "Adult" division was more on age and skill. There were "young adults"-dancers that were skilled enough to compete with adults, but don't have enough experience yet. They were generally seventeen to twenty years of age. 21 and up were the adult competition.

I was glad these divisions were formed. In young adults, there were 20 couples. Three going to state from the regional.

Mike and I would do two routines individually and in a group. I was used to groups and the ability to stand out. Dance competitions are one of the best forms of competition, like Miss Teenage Hairspray. I realized the larger dance competitions were the influence of the pageant.

After I changed my clothes, Mike and I warmed up for practice. It was time for the competition.

The announcer said,

"From Baltimore, Maryland-Crystal and Mark and the salsa."

The only rule was that the judges picked the group dance.

As I showed skill, I moved fast to the beat. Mark did fine and he never once went too far.

Then, it was Amber's turn. She had moved well. And, I think she was tryin' to meet the challenge. We both knew…it wasn't just a competition between her and me.

Amber and I had to wait to view the standings after the first dance.

Our coach said,

"Crystal, you're third. Amber, you're fifth. You guys are doing well. Crystal, you can move up, and Amber, step it up a notch. All you got to do is make in the top three and we'll qualify for state."

"Group dance is next. The judges will call this one," the coach said firmly, "and you both can win."

All fifteen couples were on the stage.

The announcer said,

"Okay, the judges have decided your dance is the swing tonight. Note-they randomly draw a dance from a hat. Now we'll start."

The music began.

Amber and her partner were far across the stage and I was glad. I didn't want her to try to trip or to hurt me. One of the girls was about two years older than I tried to bump into me. At first, it looked accidental, but I realized she was trying to hurt me.

I knew how to deal with it. I jumped over her leg and began to dance swing aggressively. I was clashing with another dancer. When the song finished I said to my coach,

"You saw what that girl did?"

"Yes, and don't worry about it. You know how to save a routine and that's hard. You know, as wrong as that jump was, you made it right."
"Why'd the girl do that?"

"She wants to win. And that girl-she's last year's state champion. She also has a nefarious reputation of pushin' the rules, Crystal. I know you think Amber is terrible, but she is nothing compared to her."
"Well, we'll see how it we did."

The judges brought out the scores so far.

"Second," I said, "that champion's ahead. Amber, you're fourth."

"Crystal," Amber asked, "why'd you win the pageant?"

"I worked hard, Amber. Everything I had was there. You should've seen me. Fender's my boyfriend now. My original partner was a guy named Mark, who made the council. But Fender asked to switch partners and he asked me out. At first, I said no because…"
"You said no to him? Because he liked you?"

"I didn't want to seem 'clingy'. But I liked him. So, when I was to lead the 'Ladies' Choice', I picked him. We ended up goin' to the February hop together. We won the dance contest-actually a draw-Tracy and Link had the same exact applause as Fender and I."
"And?"

"I think Fender and I have amazing chemistry. That's one reason why I am not comfortable with Mike."

"Well, it's almost time to finish the competition. The order is-I'm fourth to last and you're second to last."

When it was Amber's turn, she managed to handle a tough competition. We didn't know who'd win. I performed the waltz-a much slower dance to show that I was versatile in competition.

Every bit of the competition was important.

Okay, I thought, Regionals for us is finished.

I finished well, but then that champion girl was last.

They said,

"Introducing our defending Regional State champion, Amanda!"

She came and delivered a strong, powerful performance. Not only was she arrogant; she could back it. Her bark was a strong as her bite.

Meanwhile, back at Baltimore, Fender looked for Crystal. She wasn't at home or at Tracy's place. She said,

"She isn't here."

"Can you help me find her?"

"Okay," the announcer said, "the top three."

"Third place, winner of the bronze trophy and medal is…"

"Second place, winner of a silver medal and trophy and three hundred fifty dollars is Crystal!"

"First place is our regional champion, gold trophy, gold medal, and five hundred dollars to our defending champion, Amanda!"

"Congratulations to our Regional qualifiers and thank you for coming."

The judges put out the results from first to last place. Amber was fourth at just half a point!

"Crystal, you're goin' to state! The state competition's in Baltimore. There's goin' to be twelve couples representing the top 3 in every region. They invented that division because they noticed they needed it. And whomever makes the top two will go on to Nationals, which where they will all go. Fifty states, two people each, one hundred entries. I think this has been the closest since I've been to that."

"I'll compete at my best."