I am sorry for the wait. The longest chapter so far!!!!!

Chapter fifteen: The State Championship

The times were posted for the competition.

DANCE NUMBER ONE ORDER

11 am

11:15 am

11:30 am

11:45 am

12 pm

12: 15 pm

12:30 pm

12:45 pm

1 pm

1:15 pm

1:30 pm

1:45 pm

"We're not to far off. It's nine-fifty now."
"Fender, Crystal," my coach said, "don't let Amanda or any other competitor get to you. In all the other competitions, the best competitors love to psyche their 'weaker competition' out. Remember, Amanda's a trickster. An' the rules-pushin' all of that. I think she is jealous an' threatened 'cause she would've done all that trouble. Take a ten-minutes break 'cause everyone goin' to do a warm up exhibition dance. It will tell the audience and the judges the competition to come."

We did that.

Everyone in the council, including Maybelle and Corny had arrived. My aunt was there. Mary and her mother were there. Amber was there, too.

Tracy said to me,

"Crystal, I've never seen you in a dance competition."

"We're about to do a warm-exhibition in a few minutes. We're number five an' mean ol' Amanda is number one."

"All right."

"Crystal," my dance instructor said, "you must focus. Go light in warm-ups. If Amanda does anything out of light, don't follow her. Don't try to upstage her. Just stick to your warm-up. That's what this is for. Showin' off in a subtle way."

"I understand. It won't be easy, but Amanda's a freakin' show off."

"The judges enjoy while she performs an' warm-ups don't count. But she still has a bid here 'cause she won last year."

"Well, that was last year. I think it's our year."
"Will all dance competitors take the stage for the warm-up?"

"Can you tell me more about the warm-up exhibition?" Fender asked.

"Sure," I began, "Fender it's to do any ballroom dance that their music is on to. They'll put a variety, especially in large competitions. Most state and National competitions have a 'warm-up' phase. This will last fifteen minutes. Most dances on the floor will last 2-3 minutes."

"After this, we just have to wait."

Fender and I headed to the dance floor and took a spot. The first song for warm-ups was the "waltz."

As we moved to the beat, I made sure Fender knew all the steps. HE looked good just 'cause of his dancing background.

Next, we did the swing and the salsa. Probably because the salsa was the most fast-paced, Amanda began doin' more than "light." She said,

"Come on, Crystal. Show me what you're made of."
"I'm going to, Amanda. But not now!"

"Perfect partner-that's just some stupid joke. You two ain't perfect partners. If you were, you'd be the best. You two are just some couple in a relationship."
After the warm-up finished, my coach said,

"Good-job, Crystal. Now we're all set to compete."

It was a long wait till our turn. The first individual dance and then a results score.

"How does the scoring work?" Fender asked.

"The scoring was of a perfect 100. There are four things a judges look for-technicality, artistic style, performance, and overall effect. Meaning 25 points for each. The judges will each give a score and the average is your score. You'll get top three results after everyone competes and then the results will take it."

"Thank you, babe. You're givin' me a crash course in ballroom dance competitions."

"You two have learn all the rules as you go."
Just then, the announcer yelled out,

"Welcome to the Maryland State Ballroom Dance Competition. Twelve of the best in Maryland are here today from the four regions. First, there's be an individual dance, then a group dance and the rest of the competition starting at 5 pm. Our first competitor is Amanda and her partner, Benjamin in their tango. Amanda is the defending state champion, winner of Regionals in the Baltimore country region, and a top winner in Annapolis."

Amanda smirked at me from where I was standing. Her pressure was there.

The song began.

She brought out the point of the tango and romantics would enjoy it.

"Crystal, you are a kind heart," my coach said, "You could bring out a strong performance."
Amanda delivered and a loud applause was for that girl.

Tracy said,

"Crystal wasn't kiddin'. There is one girl out there who may just be as mean and arrogant as Amber. Even more."

"Hey!" Amber said, "I'm here, too, you know. And I know she thinks she's bad and she knows it."

"You do, too." Tracy replied.

"At least," Amber responded, "there's a rival out there that has just as much passion as Crystal does. I didn't want it. I only wanted to beat her in a competition, but I couldn't."

"Well, Crystal was serious," Maybelle, added, "talent can only get you so far an' it's passion that wins."

After all the performance before us, the announcer said,

"Our next performer is Crystal and Fender in their swing dance. Crystal won second at the Regionals in Annapolis. She is a competitor here in Baltimore."
There was applause for us.

"Crystal's next."

"Number five is our lucky number."
Our song began.

We delivered a strong performance and it showed throughout. The judges noticed how we could perform. Would it be enough? The total score was based on the two dances and the group dance. The highest possible score was a 300.

After we finished, there was that applause.

The remainder of the competition went on. There were several performances that were good. It was going to be difficult.

The announcer announced the Top 3.

"Number one, number six and number five."
"We're in the Top 3 after round one."

"Let's see the scores."

Amanda said,

"97. Crystal, you're behind."

I had a score of 94. Third. The day schedule.

SCHEDULE

2:30 TO 5:00 PM LUNCH AND BREAK

5 PM GROUP DANCE

5: 30 PM CONTENDER IN 12TH PLACE

5:45 PM CONTENDER IN 11TH PLACE

6 PM 10TH PLACE

6: 15 PM 9TH PLACE

6:30 PM 8TH PLACE

6:45 PM 7TH PLACE

7 PM 6TH PLACE

7: 15 PM 5TH PLACE

7:30 PM 4TH PLACE

7:45 PM 3RD PLACE

8 PM 2ND PLACE

8: 15 PM LEADER

Fender and I changed into some "comfortable" clothes.

All of us joined for lunch-even Amber. Maybelle said,

"I've never seen a ballroom dance competition, but these performances are great."

Corny added,

"Now I see where you got the dance skill and potential from."
"All right," I began, "we still have to finish eating and change before the group dance. The competition goes from late morning to evening."

"Yes, and what else is going on?"
"Trying to get to Nationals."

At four p.m., I changed in the dressing room and at 4:45 p.m., we were ready.

The group dance was in fifteen minutes.

I told Fender,

"In group dancing section, the judges have only two things they're looking for. The first is-can you stand out? Do you keep the judges' eyes on you? Second, is of course, technicality and artistically. Those two things are worth another 100 points."
"All right."

The announcer said,

"Dance competitors, please come on stage for the group dance."

I took my spot in the middle. Amanda tried to get one of those spots in the middle, too. Now it was just time for it.

The announcer said,

"Judges have chosen the jive as the group dance."

When the song began, I did my best to stand out. My coach could've killed me because we were improvising some of the steps. Most coaches don't like it when you deviate. Because she couldn't get made if we move up in the standings.

"Okay," the announcer said, "that was the group dance."

Just a minutes for the results, I thought.

I knew we did our best. I knew we stood out. And that is what counted.

"Our scores for the top three is order. Number one-195. Number five-194.

Number eight-191."

"Crystal, you're in the top two scores. You could win. One point is the difference between winning and losing now."

"Now," the announcer said, "the competition will begin again shortly."

We looked at our score-separate.

2. Crystal/Fender Dance #1-94 Group Dance-100 Total 194

"We got a perfect score in group."
In the last dance, usually, it was the theatrical aspect of performing. The dance was based on everything. And performance and effect were worth more this time around. We touched up our performance for our salsa. It was now the last performance. Still, we were second to last. And they were giving scores immediately after the competition ended.

Then, it was our turn.

"Now our second place contenders in the Maryland Ballroom State Dance Competition after group dance is Crystal and Fender."

We went into our "salsa" pose.

I could say so much about this. We danced our hardest. You could imagine it-I was the greatest performer there. My theatre performance has helped because the skill is to bring the emotion of the crowd.

At the end of the song we did several "advanced" salsa moves that made Fender look like he wasn't a "new" ballroom dancer.

Then, the song ended and we stood in our final pose.

Tracy yelled,

"Yes, Crystal! That's it!"

Amber said,

"Oh my God."

Maybelle added,

"You got that right, hon."

Our coach said,

"That was your best dance performance you've done all year. Let's see how you do with the judges."

"Lets wait…"
The announcer said,

"The Ballroom State Dance Competition has ended. There will be a fifteen minute intermission and then the results will be announced."

Tracy told me,

"You know that what you did out there was even better than what you did at Miss Teenage Hairspray. And that means you're truly passion about the dance competition. Now I see why without risking it, you wouldn't be here. And you risked it, that's what mattered.

"Yes, and now it's goin' to be over. If I gold or silver, I'll go to the Nationals."

"I know," Tracy replied, "and you're heart's here in dancing."

Just then, the announcer said,

"Will all dance competitors take the dance floor?"

"We have to go. Results time. Come on, Fender! Quick!"

We took a spot on the floor.

"And now," the announcer said, "our results. Starting with fifth place."

"Fifth is…"

"Fourth is…"
"Third is…"

"Second is…"

"First is our state champion Amanda and Benjamin…"

I didn't place. Was that a sign?

"Also, with a score of 292, Crystal and Fender-tied for first."
I said,

"A tie? That's rare…"
"As a result, the top two will change. The judges will read the rules on a tie."

The elderly woman head judge read,

"On the event of a tie, the competitors not involved with this tie shall leave the standings as it is. Therefore, there will be three qualifiers in Nationals. However, to determine a winner, there must be a tie-breaker for the competitors involved by the tie."

The announcer said,

"That means even though they're staying the same second and lower, there will be two silver medals. Even if the original second place person should be third. And we're going to have a dance-off!"

"Oh my God," Amber said.

"Amber, is that all you can say?" Corny added.

"I'm afraid so."
Tracy replied,

"You remembered when Crystal beat you in a dance off. Another mean girl needs to be taught a lesson."