Life in A Dance Routine

Competition

It's my first competition as a Level 8. It's so different. You get costumes and do your hair and make up all nice. I love it. Love it more then the ones in Level 7.
Nikki finds the most gorgeous costumes ever. I have no idea where she gets them, but they are fantastic. Next weekend Nikki is competing in Junior Elite. Well, I think she's still in Junior Elite.
Mona comes in and whispers in Nikki's ear. I look over.
"A new group?"
"Yeah. They just want it to be Elite. It's a new level above Junior Elite."
"Your point here is?"
"That you have to compete in Elite."
"Fine by me."
Nikki is so outgoing. She just goes with the flow.
Bethany and I are backstage.
"Hey, I just want you to know your a great dancer. And I don't know if Nikki told you but as long as we finish in the top 5, she doesn't care. Unless it's Nationals. She loves it when we get top. And we're a team, so we're happy for each other. So, if you win, I'll be happy for you. And we should hang out sometime."
"Okay. Good luck."
"Thanks. Good luck to you too. You can do it, I know you can."
"Thanks."
Bethany is actually so nice. I would love to be friends with her. Her dancing is beautiful, so perfect. Her posture great. Confidence is shown. But it fades away when she gets behind stage. I've realized that. I know Nikki tells us to have confidence no matter what but it's hard to have it. Especially in dance.
"Great job."
"Thanks. Now go kick some butt."
I head out. I see my mom and Anthony. And I see Nikki and the rest of the team. Bring it! And I do.

I walk out.
"Callie, that was awesome."
"Not like yours."
"Yours was better."
"No it wasn't."
"Let's just saw they were equal."
"Okay." She smiles.
"You know. You are really nice. Friends?"
"Friends."
"So, where do you go to school?"
"I'm being homeschooled for high school."
"Oh my God! I've been homeschooled since Middle school. It is so nice. I'm taught by my mom."
"Me too."
"What's your dream? I mean, with dance?"
"I want to teach."
"I want to go travel for it. Go on the Nation Travel team."
"That sounds fun."
"I've heard it is really fun. But it's hard being on the road all the time. So I'm thinking when it's winter up here I'll travel. And the rest of the time I'll stay up here."
"Do you really have a choice?"
"I don't know. Hope so."
"That would be cool."
"Yeah. So, how's your parents?"
"My moms good."
"Dad?"
I shake my head.
"Wait, was he the guy Nikki and Daniel beat up?"
"Yeah."
"Wow. Why don't you talk to him?"
"He left after my brother left for the Marines. He screamed at my mom and I. And he just doesn't care anymore."
"Really? That's like my mom. She left when I was younger and I haven't seen her since."
"My dad just keeps coming to me and making me upset."
"Well don't let him bring you down. You are so brave. I was there when you hurt your back. I almost screamed."
"You were there?"
"Yeah. I always go if I have time."
"Oh."
"I saw you looking at the doors."
"My dad was there. He left after I fell."
"Oh." She hugs me. "Well you don't need him."
"How about your mom?"
"She doesn't even know who I am. We saw her at the store when I was with a friend, she looked at me and didn't even care. She just walked away."
"Wow."
"But, I don't need a mom. I have my dad and sister."
"I have my mom and my brother."
We laugh.
"But my sister, she just got engaged and I'm so happy for her. He is so nice to all of us."
"That's good."
"Yeah. How about your brother?"
"Well, he just got back from Afghanistan. So he hasn't got much time to talk to anyone."
"Did he play your dad for that concert?"
"Yeah. How'd you know?"
"It's on the website. Nikki or Daniel past all the dances on the website."
"I did not know that."
"Yeah."
"I'm guessing it was Daniel. Nikki she told me she left early in it."
"I bet she did. Because of her parents."
"I didn't know that until this week and I've looked up to her for like ever."
"I know! She's so happy and positive all the time."
"But, I guess we are too."
"Heck yeah we are!"
We walk to the dressing room.
"Hey, ready?"
Bethany cartwheels down the hall. I laugh.
"Hold on."
I front handspring down the rest of it with her.
We laugh. She opens the door to the dressing room. I handstand and walk on my hands. She follows me after she's in the doorway. Nikki just stares at us. I wave and fall. Bethany just laughs and falls.
"What are you two doing?"
"We are being crazy." Bethany says.
"And friends don't let them do it alone." We laugh.
"Okay." Nikki even laughs.
Bethany and I grab hands and one hand cartwheel over to our stuff for the group. We laugh.
"Best friends for life!" We say laughing.