Umpteen Disadvantages of Being Awesome

Disadvantage 13 - Fearful Of Regrets

Disadvantage 13 - You 'awesome' personality doesn't want you to regret anything and that is how you land self in trouble.

We didn't get selected. I feel like crying but those tears won't flood my eyes. They feel dry as ever. Alan squeezes my hand gently, trying to help. He himself is wearing an unreadable expression. Then it hits me, he never before had lost a single competition or championship. Maybe it is my fault. I should've taken more care of the last position. I should've been more focused today than laughing and fretting over makeup. Guilt is starting to bottle up inside me.

Nobody from the contestants step forward. The crowd is cheering obliviously. There is a lot of commotion back stage. The judges call forth the squeaky voiced anchor. Everyone looks a bit puzzled now. Dior, judge number 3 is glaring – when is she not - and saying something angrily to the lady. The other two male judges look more composed.

Alan and I and all the other contestants stay silent all the while with suspense looming in the air.

I dare to hope. Not really a good thing to do. 

The anchor comes back to the stage. "I'm so sorry there has been a mistake. There is no 'Suffrage' high school in Jacksonville. It is Sunflower High School. Congratulations and we're sorry for all the inconvenience." She says formally. I really don't like her voice.

Wait. WAIT A SECOND.

Did she just ?

Did we really ?

"YES." Alan yells with no shame what so ever. He lunges forward and sweeps me off from the ground, twirling in the air.  He puts me down and hugs me with such force that I stagger back a few steps.

His face is lit up like a Christmas tree. I am sure mine's the same. Aw yeah. Boo ya Dior. I still fucking made it to the semi-finals. Katylin can kiss my ass now for all I care.

The eight schools which are eliminated are made to go back stage. There is a burst of party poppers and glitter in the air. Everybody from school starts chanting our school's name. The judges come up on stage with two big certificates. They present one to the Miami couple and one to us.

Dior doesn't smile – my expectations were too high – and the judge number one does that bro-fist with Alan.

He ruffles my hair a bit and the photographer asks us to settle in for a picture at the same time. "Opess." He says and smiles.

I stand with Alan, arms in arms, me holding the certificate. Judge number 1 to my left  and judge number 2 and Dior on Alan's right.

Flash! The camera goes off and I don't miss the chance to yell a 'yeah' out loud.   

The judges go to the Miami couple for the photograph while I and Alan look at each other and smile like retards.  

"Follow me." He says and goes to rim of the elevated stage under which everybody from our school have gathered and are swinging their arms, cheering for us. "You ready guys ?" He yells.

"Yeah!" Comes a loud collective answer. He turns his back towards the crowd, balances on the edge of the stage and then lets go. He falls into the arms of the crowd like a fucking badass superstar and everybody starts floating him here and there.

This shizz is way too awesome and I, am definitely doing it.  As I reach the edge of the stage the crowd suddenly starts chanting 'Beck!' loudly. It is almost like a dream. The dream I always saw of becoming a famous dancer. And this is my first step towards actualizing it.

With that thought, I turn and fall off the stage. I fall into the arms and hands of a dozen people just like a cushion. They start handing me over to the ones beside them, floating me. I feel a bit ticklish and no – this isn't creepy at all. I have seen celebrities do that on concerts and it felt more or less uncomfortable but it is not.  I feel ecstatic, almost touching hysteria. It is definitely one of the best feeling ever.