Author's Note: After a few kinda bad technical hitches which made me lose the first two thirds of this chapter and stopped me accessing it for at least two days, here is the completed chapter! I'm feeling rather relieved that this is all in one piece and here for you to read so please enjoy! ~ KennyEchelon
A month later, we were sat in the changing rooms of the theater where the competition was being hosted. Britt was in the splits and stretching and I was cross-legged sipping a bottle of water. I tried to hide it, but my hands were shaking slightly, making it difficult to drink. I'm sure Britt would've noticed if her head wasn't facing downwards over her front knee. I was secretly a tiny bit envious of her flexibility and my self-doubt made a re-appearance. I was going to look terrible compared to her.
"I wonder what she'd be like in bed" I found myself wondering.
I shook my head and took a massive swig out of my bottle. "Stop that, I thought you'd managed to keep those kinds of thoughts out of your head. She's your best friend so get a grip." I thought angrily. It was not the time for that to start resurfacing.
Our dance teacher came in to check that we were getting ready and announced that we had half an hour before the group section started. Anxiety flooded through me, making my blood pound noisily in my ears so loud that I couldn't hear her say we were 4th in a list of 6 schools.
Britt withdrew out of the splits and started to apply her make-up in one of the mirrors on the wall. Her face was serious. "We're going to have to work twice as hard to make them notice us. They'll have already seen the majority of the numbers so it's gonna take something special to stand out."
I nodded, barely paying attention. I wasn't used to feeling nervous. I was the head bitch in charge. I stood up numbly, taking my own make-up case out of my bag. I set it down next to Britt's and leant forwards to put my eyeshadow on. Brittany noticed my shallow breathing and rested her hand on top of the one supporting me on the table. The gentle contact made my muscles relax and my breathing returned to normal but my chest squirmed painfully in my chest.
When we'd finished, our faces were both plastered with full stage make-up with bright orange foundation to stop us from looking too pale and dark eyes and red lips to help our features be seen offstage without being washed-out by the harsh lighting. I looked kind of ridiculous but I understood that it wasn't going to look like that when we were performing. "Just think, Lady Gaga wears weirder make-up and it doesn't bother her" I told myself.
Our costumes were lacy black leotards with a high-cut skirt and footless black fishnets. We were dancing to Disturbia by Rihanna and I had to admit, our teacher had choreographed a pretty damn awesome dance.
My hair was practically superglued into my high pony by a ton of hairspray and I itched my scalp, trying to relieve some of the tension. I'd literally just calmed down before our teacher announced that we were on in five minutes and had to go to the wings to prepare.
I was so nervous that I was bouncing around everywhere. It didn't seem to faze Britt but I realized that she'd probably grown so good at internalising it and acting like the anxiety didn't bother her. I felt both of her hands on my shoulders as she forced me to stand still."Shhh" she said calmly "You can do this, you'll be alright."
I looked into her eyes and knew she wasn't lying. She really believed in me.
I nodded my head in determination. I was going to prove her right. She lowered her hand to meet mine and linked our pinkies. It comforted me and I knew I was going to do this.
The announcer called us out and we walked onstage, heads held high.
The harsh red lighting bore down on our faces, warming up my skin so much I thought the blush I'd applied was unnecessary. My eyes watered from a combination of the bright light and the tension from my ponytail.
The auditorium wasn't entirely full but there was enough people watching to justify my nerves. Britt grabbed my hand quickly before moving into her own starting position center-stage.
We froze in out opening position, faces turned upwards to the back of the audience. The low rumble of the spectators' chatter was the only thing stopping the room from falling into complete silence. That moment of pure anticipation seemed to last forever before the music kicked in but as soon as it did, I wished it hadn't.
With a lurch of my stomach, we launched into the first moves of our dance.
Jeté to second, pas de bourré, turning jump, slide, click, snap head to the left.
I listed the moves in my head, determined to get every step right. I had to make Britt proud. I was too busy concentrating to check what she was doing but I occasionally saw her blonde hair rush past me. I didn't have to look at her to know that she was doing everything perfectly though.
The dance culminated in a massive end position, everyone's bodies intertwined in abstract shapes. A wide grin spread across my face.
I'd got it right.
I glanced over at Britt and she was smiling too. The stage lights, which were now a soft white, lit up her face and she looked more beautiful than ever.
She was born to do this.
After the section had finished we stood onstage waiting for the adjudicator to call out the results. Third place was announced and then the voice magnified over the tannoy system cried loudly: "...and second place goes to the Lima Academy of Dance!"
Applause erupted from the audience. We'd been placed out of six other schools and we weren't too far off first. I was more than happy with that, to say the least.
One down, two more dances to go.