This chapter is sort of a "In Crystal's mind" chapter…the name of the chapter sounds like a bad movie-I know

Chapter 18: Return to San Diego

On the day of the trip, it was chaotic. We all got up in frenzy and loaded my aunt's car full of luggage. Fender drove me in his car. Link, Tracy, Seaweed, and Penny went with Maybelle

I told them all,

"My parents will meet us at the San Diego airport when we get there."
After our bags we checked, we all headed to the "flight holding area."

The announcer for the flights said,

"Call for the 8 am flight to San Diego, California from Baltimore, Maryland."

"Tracy," I told her, "that's us. Four and half hours. Have something to do."

After sitting down on the plane, I told Fender,

"Chew gum because when you go up, your ears will pop. It's painful."

I handed him a piece of gum and said,

"For you. Don't chew it till we get movin'."

The pilot told us all the rules, etc, etc, etc. All the safety and such. Blah. Blah. Blah. I know the safety rules. I've been on a plane before.

But honestly I didn't want the National to be in San Diego. So much there brought back so many bad memories. If it were any other place, I'd be happy, but that was the Dance Association's choice to have it there. I looked out the window and thought about what would happen in San Diego…then I passed out.


I woke up and everyone falls asleep on a plane. It doesn't matter where I'm going. At this time, it was almost noon. We were almost in California.

Fender had taken a nap, too.

He woke up and said,

"Are we there yet?"

"We still have at least half an hour. If we're on schedule, we should be there at 12:30 pm. We left at eight."

After the flight ended, we landed and had to wait for our luggage. After that, Fender said,

"What's next?"

"We're going to the hotel to drop off our stuff."

My parents said,

"Crystal, we've arranged some cars to pick all of you up. They're here and they'll take you anywhere."

I felt that Fender didn't feel comfortable in front of my parents. He knew they were rich and he grabbed my hand for support.

Fender, then, wanted to introduce himself. But he was nervous. I had never seen him that way before.

I said,

"I'm sure you both remember Fender."

"Um…. yes. He was your partner at Corny Collins in the pageant," my father replied.

"He's more than that-he's my boyfriend. We've been together for seven months. He's also my partner for Nationals."
"I'm proud of you winning State."

Then, my coach added,

"I'm her coach for everything. She has been doin' the best."

"All right, let's go."

After going to the hotel, I said,

"It's only three o'clock. What do you want to do?"

My mom said,

"Show your friends the sights-where you lived, your school, where you did stuff."

Tracy added,

"That's a good idea. I would like to."
I said,

"All right. Let's go."

We all managed to fit in my parent's car. It was just Penny, Seaweed, Link, Tracy and I. I was to drive.

I honestly didn't want to go there. First, I drove everyone to my old house. It was quick-we just looked at it. Then, the school. I dreaded that school. Being in a "fairly rich" family gives a stereotype to act a certain way. And I was the opposite of the stereotype. I thought of everything that happened here.

There was a restaurant that I often went to. And it was competition there, too. It was a hangout place. I sat down and everyone ordered and began to eat.

I noticed another person in the restaurant. She was tall and I remembered how she was an another mean girl.

Everywhere I go there's a nasty girl bothering me. Here it was with that girl, Amber in Baltimore, and Amanda at the dance competition.

I thought,

She better not remember me.

I walked to get an ice cream cone, for I was in that mood.

She said,

"Well, if it isn't Crystal, the so-called rich girl."
 "What do you want?"

"What are you doing here? Go back to Baltimore-your accent and everything has changed. Are you still rich?"
"Yes, I am, Ashley. An' I'm here because of the National Dance Competition."

"And do you even have a boyfriend or any friends for that matter?"
Just then, Fender and my entire friends-Tracy, Link, Seaweed, and Penny stood next to me.

Tracy said,

"I'm one of Crystal's friends. We all are."

Fender walked up to me and we kissed passionately.

Then, I said to Ashley,

"This is Fender, my boyfriend. I have friends and a boyfriend. And Then going to Baltimore change me-you're right that much. And now Nationals…"

Then, we all went to the hotel for the long nigh and day one of Nationals."