Causing The Unknown To Be Known

Chapter 5

Yet another day of dance passed in the week. I had just arrived home from a harsh day at the Abby Lee Dance Company when I snook down to the basement, still in my ALDC apparel. I have been warned so many times this week not to do and turns, tricks and stuff like that, but I just couldn't risk coming in nineteenth place at nationals again. I think back to when I was eight. I had placed in nineteenth place because of one sickled foot. That was NOT going to replay itself. I hobble down the wooden stairs, taking a step with each creak that sent chills up my spine like a frozen pipe running down it. Shrugging off my team jacket, I place my mobile phone down on the large white freezer in the corner of our basement. I hit play on my music and begin rehearsing my solo, even though my ankle hurt me more than my feeling were hurt when Abby said I didn't try hard enough. Everything I was told not to do, I did. Not to go against my doctors' advice, I just so badly wanted to win. For myself and Abby. I turn, leap, roll and pose in sync with my beautiful music, each beat bringing on another elegant move. I was telling a story. A story that I had to express through emotion. A story that was forever untold. All the pressure was on me.
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The next day, I jolt awake abruptly to the loud buzzing of my alarm clock. I bring my hand up from my sheets and slam down on the stop button and haul myself up slowly, my body feeling like the weight of the world was on it. Today was the day. Today was nationals. It was six o'clock. Time to rehearse. By the time I have selected a hot pink two piece set from my wardrobe, done my hair and used the bathroom, it is ten minutes past. Nobody else in the house is awake. Not even my little pest of a brother; Henry. Nah, I love him deep down. Deep, deep down. I make my way down the stairs to grab some breakfast before going over my dance in the basement. I even practiced the group dance as a solo to make sure there was perfection. Even though you should never strive to be perfect, you could always improve on something. At half past seven, I finish off my private practice, ending with my solo. I scramble back upstairs before my mother can find out what I have been doing for almost the last hour. If she knew, I wouldn't be allowed to compete in the competition. My ankle hurt. It hurt a lot, but that won't stop me from reaching for the stars. I make my way up to the kitchen, only to my mother sitting at the counter with a cup of coffee, looking as relaxed as ever. I give a little cough, letting her know of my presence. "Oh, hi Nia!" she grins. "Ready to go?" I nod. "Let me just get my bags." I retrieve my pink sparkly suitcases from the cupboard in the hall. I assume she had had her breakfast because when I was seen putting on my coat, my mother leapt up and did the same. We drive off to the ALDC and in minutes are inside the dancers' den. Everybody greets me with hellos and hugs. "How's your foot, Nia?" Mackenzie wondered. "Not too bad. I just have to dance through the pain." I pull little Kenzie in for one bear hug before she skips across the room to join Brooke and Paige who are playing Snap with playing cards. I continue to sit alone while the mothers, as usual, bicker with Abby. The camera men call me in for an interview and I trail behind them out of the den. "Nia, what do you think of your solo?" "I love it! It's fabulous." "Ok, and do you want to beat Maddie and Kendall's duet?" "Definetly." "Where do you want to place?" "First place overall, of course!" "Ok, thank you, Nia!" I stand up and instantly wobble due to my weak ankle. I eventually catch my balance and leave the small interviewing room. Everyone back in the den is putting on jackets and zipping up suitcases, getting ready to leave for national. I do the same and soon enough, we are seated on the rented bus, watching films on Mackenzie's iPad. The journey will be almost four hours, since it's in another state. Fabulous. Paige and I end up paying zero attention to the movie being shown and skive off to make a fort of sheets and blankets on the seats of the bus. Inside, we play games like Would You Rather and Rock Paper Scissors. After a forty-five minute nap on top of the movie and games, our bus reaches the hotel that the competition is being held in with joy. This was it. Time to get my game face on.