G'day guys! Sorry for the wait, but I'm on holidays and I've been camping and going out and working and partying and…. No I don't party, I made that up sorry. And holidays are finished now. But I made some time to write this chapter so here we are! ;)

Oh and someone mentioned in a review about chapter 13 and how I'd said the show was in two weeks then I said in 1 week, so thankyou! I didn't realize, it was in two weeks, so I stuffed that up. I shall go and fix that up soon, when I can be bothered, but thanks so much for telling me!

Chapter 15 – Some Serious Attitude

It was show day.

Early Saturday morning, Dove and I stood in front of the green and gold Helix cruiser, trying to stay out of everyone's way. The weak October sunlight wasn't enough to keep us warm. It would be a few hours until the weather warmed up.

I ran my fingers over the pair of sky-fu boots I held in my arms. The leather gleamed and my fingers ached from more than three hours of scrubbing them into perfection. Mr Moss had let me stay at the Lab until past nine last night and I'd squinted in the faint light to make sure my favourite show boots were perfect. That was part of my pre-show routine. Yesterday, I had washed all of my equipment. I had gone through two bottles of leather-cleaner and a tub of polish before I was satisfied. Ever since my first show, I stayed late at the Lab to make all of my things look brand-new on the day.

Ayrgyn had begun to tell everybody where to load their things. While we waited for directions, Dove and I paced through the wet grass and tried to keep warm. With the streetlamps shining behind us, we cast long shadows over the grass.

"Your dad is meeting you there, right?" Dove asked.

"Yeah – this is the longest he's gone without seeing me perform."

Dove didn't respond, as she had spotted Ayrgyn approaching.

"Morning, girls," he said. "Piper, load your things with Cyclonis. Dove, there's some room next to Ravess's things."

I walked over to where Cyclonis stood in full-out diva mode. Her shimmery nails gleamed. Her jeans were wrinkle free and her dark red hoodie was without a speck of dirt. Lark rubbed her eyes as she passed by, a half-finished hot chocolate in her hand. Ravess dumped Cyclonis's bag and equipment on the grass next to them.

"Don't put that on the ground!" Cyclonis said. "I don't want my things getting dirty." Cyclonis rolled her eyes and whispered to Lark.

Ravess picked up the gear and hauled it over to a table close by.

I shoved my cold hands into my jacket pockets, wishing I was inside somewhere warm. It was still dark out, but the floodlights from the Lab gave us just enough light.

I picked up my bag and boots and walked up the ramp into the cruisers' storage area. There was a clutter-free spot in the corner, and I went to put my things against the left wall.

"Um, Piper? That's my spot. Move your rubbish." Cyclonis snipped. She strode over to me and dumped her things where I was about to put my bag.

I rolled my eyes. "Does it really matter?"

"It does actually. My things always go here, and if you don't like that then go talk to someone who cares."

"Fine, If it really bothers you, my things can go on the right side. So please, don't strain yourself or anything." I moved my bag and boots to the right side.

"Whatever." She headed off to re-join Ravess and Lark. I noticed that Cyclonis had put some of her things on one of the shelves, like there wasn't enough room on the floor.

I stepped back on the rubber mats Ayrgyn had placed on the floor to prevent slipping. I thought about the show, and how well I would do. I couldn't help feeling nervous. At least I only had one class. Ayrgyn had decided that since I was new, I'd show in my class and then assist him for the rest of the event.

On my way to the front of the cruiser, my phone buzzed in my pocket.

Good luck today! Call me after U win! xoxo Starling

I texted back:

If not back by 8 = kidnapped by MC. U get all my stuff ;)

When we arrived, the cruiser pulled into the gravel unloading area for the annual Atmosia State Crystal Tournament.

"What time is it?" I asked Dove as we stepped out of the cruiser.

"Seven fifteen," she said. "Ma class starts in forty-five minutes!"

We grabbed our bags with our show clothes and dashed inside the blue and white check-in tent. We got our numbers – I drew 188 and Dove got 201 – and followed signs to the changing areas to get ready.

The annual Atmosia State Crystal Tournament was a big deal. Mages who won their classes here could qualify for national tournaments, with the best mages in the entire Atmos. At my old school, I'd only done small shows – never a tournament this big. If Helix mages made it to regionals, we could travel anywhere in Atmos for a tournament. Most mages at the intermediate level showed at least once a month – some every other weekend to get enough wins and points to qualify for bigger tournaments.

The fancy gold script painted on the Helix cruiser was hard to miss. I buttoned up my shirt, grabbed my bag and knocked on Dove's door.

"Don't wait fa me. I'll be dere in five minutes," Dove said. "Ma hair got messed up when I put on ma shirt. I'll fix dit and I'll be right dere."

"Want any help?" I shifted my bag and checked my watch. Twenty-nine minutes until Dove's class, and mine was right after hers.

"Just go. Ayrgyn will notice if we're both late."

I walked back to the cruiser. The sun had burned away the early morning fog. People dotted the grounds. Up ahead, I could see a warm-up ring behind the indoor arena. A metal sign pointed mages toward the Crystals-and-Harmony course.

I neared the cruiser, and I could see Junko up ahead unloading. My bags were at his feet, and he was looking down at them with a frown on his face.

"What's wrong?" I asked, my voice shaking. If Cyclonis had stolen any of my things…

I rushed forward and yanked up the zipper to peer inside my bag.

"Whoa Piper!" Junko said, pulling my arm. " Everything's fine. Nothing's stolen or broken. It's all okay."

"Then why were you looking at my things like they were a ghost? I thought something had happened!"

Junko smiled sheepishly, trying to look innocent. I caught his eyes flick over to the left for a brief second. I followed his gaze to see my show boots laying there. My jaw dropped with shock. The once beautiful supple leather was slick with black oil. It oozed everywhere, leaking onto the grass. After thinking something had been stolen, this was almost a relief. But it was still a major shock to see my prized show boots, which I had spent hours cleaning, disgusting and filthy. There was no way I could compete with boots that were covered in oil.

"It looks like the tub of oil that Cyclonis had put on the shelf was missing its lid." Junko said. "It must have tipped over on the way here, and your boots were in the way."

"Cyclonis knew better!" I said to Junko. "She only wanted the left side of the corner because the shelf was there. She planned the whole thing!"

Junko started to say something when another student called him. "I'm sorry," he said, before jogging off.

Dove dashed to my side, noticing my ruined boots by my feet. "Oh, Piper. I'm so sorree. What can I do?"

"We've got to clean this up before my class." I checked my watch. "Yours is in nineteen minutes! Could you grab me a sponge?"

I took the boots to a nearby tap and Dove found my sponge in my bag. I scrubbed like crazy while Dove sprayed the water. The oil washed off, but there were black stains that I couldn't get off. It would have to do.

A few meters away, Dad spotted me and waved.

He hugged me. Then he snapped at least ten pictures of me before noticing Dove standing next to me.

"Dad, this is my friend Dove," I said.

"Hi, Dove," Dad said. "Are you competing with Piper?"

"Nu, I have e different class in e few minutes," she said.

"Piper!" Dad gasped, seeing my boots for the first time. He stepped around me and touched the leather. "What happened?" he asked, looking at me.

"On the flight over, some oil on the shelf next to my things tipped over onto my boots. I've washed off the worst of it."

"Oh, honey," he said. "Can you show with them?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I guess. It's just disappointing to lose all the hard work I put into them."

"I'm sorry that happened," Dad said. "But I know you'll do great anyway."

"Thanks, Dad. We should go, but I'll see you later." I put the boots on and turned to walk away.

"You going to tell him the truth?" Dove asked, once we were out of earshot.

"I don't want him to worry," I said.

Lark appeared out of the crowd and leaned in close to me. "Thanks for the stretching advice," she whispered, sneaking a glance at Cyclonis, who was talking to Ayrgyn nearby. "I think it worked."

"That's good," I said. Dove gave me the wide-eyed, Lark's-talking-to-you look. Lark moved away from us, drifting back to Cyclonis. We followed so we could hear Ayrgyn.

""You're all going to do great," Ayrgyn said, giving us all an encouraging smile. "I'm proud of each and every one of you. Now go make magic!"

I cheered as Dove gracefully exited the Crystals-and-Harmony course and smiled broadly at me.

"I can't believe I won first place!" Dove said, kissing her blue ribbon.

"You deserve it," I said, wondering if I'd ever have that silky blue prize in my hands.

Lark took her second place red ribbon and rammed it into her jacket pocket.

"The dirt was soft, a lot softer than at Helix," Dove said. She followed me through the crowd. "It's softer than it should be. I almost stumbled a few times, luckily I didn't. But that's what took Lark down."

Dove looked so professional in her expensive outfit – knee-high black boots, top quality fitted jacket and her wrinkle-free breeches looked brand new.

My class started in half an hour – time to get my focus on.

"Mages of the Sky Fu Intermediate Class round two, please proceed to arena four. Number 187, Ravess of Helix Academy, is up first." I waited outside the arena while my class started. Dad waved at me from the stands.

I adjusted my itchy black gloves. I shouldn't have goofed off so much with Starling last week. Instead of watching movie marathons on the Disney Channel, I should have been in the Lab practicing my routine!

The loudspeaker crackled to life. "Score for number 187, is 21 points. Number 188, Piper of Helix Academy, please enter the arena."

Ravess had a perfect score that would be hard to beat. To win the Sky Fu classes you have to get the lowest amount of points. If you have the most points, you've made the most mistakes.

I walked through the gate and waited for the starting bell.

I walked out of the arena hoping I had done enough. I performed my routine perfectly, but what I felt may have looked sloppy to the judges. It felt wrong to wish that everyone else got bad scores, but I wanted what they all wanted; to win!

I made my way to Dove, who was grinning from ear-to-ear with pride. We huddled together to wait for my score.

"Score for number 188, is 21 points." I let out a whoop of excitement and traded high fives with Dove. I'd done well, and I was proud of my performance.

Then it hit me: Ravess and I were going to have to compete again, together.

There we go my lovelies! Reviews would be ADORED and everyone who has reviewed already, and especially those who reviews constantly, THANK YOU, YOU ARE ALL SO DARN AMAZING I WANNA CRY. Really.

Sorry again for the long wait. I'm going to mention that after this show, there will be more Piper – Aerrow. Only one more chapter on the show. So until next time, stay amazing guys. And review? Please? Xxx

~LouiLuvr