When they were 10, there was a local dance competition. Artie overheard his parents talking about it and had to tell Aimee. He wheeled over to the phone and put in her number. She lived just a couple blocks away and if he just asked her to come over he could tell her in person. "Hey Ames! I have some exciting news!" Artie had taken 5 years longer than Aimee had to come up with a nick name for the other. One day earlier that year he had called her Ames, and it stuck.
"Ooo! What is it?" She asked excitedly.
"Come over and I'll tell you!" He bribed.
Aimee took the phone away from her ear. "Mom, can I go over to Artie's?"
"Of course, just be home in time for dinner." Her mom replied.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll be right there. I just have to be home in time for dinner." Aimee spoke into the receiver.
"That's fine. I'll see you soon!" He hung up the phone hoping that he would be the first to tell her about the competition.
Aimee grabbed her purple hoodie. "Thanks mom!" She called as she left.
"Soooooo, what's the big news?" Aimee flopped onto Artie's bed, ready to hear what she came over for.
"There's a local dance competition and I'm giving you no choice but to be in it. You'll kick the rest of their butts!"
"How did I not hear about this before? This is great news! When is it?I must start preparing!"
"It's at the end of next month. I looked it up. You have to choose a song that is under 5 minutes long and come up with a dance to it. I'll help you choose what song!"
"Okay, let's choose one now, before I go back home for dinner." They went over to Artie's desktop computer and pulled up his music.
A month later Aimee was waiting patiently with the other contenders in comfortable, flexible clothing. She was nervous, she knew she was great, that she had prepared and practiced this routine since the day Artie told her about it, but what if others were better?
She caught Artie's eye and he smiled at her reasuringly. This calmed her down a bit. At least he was here for her. Besides her father, Artie was the biggest supporter of her dancing. There were 4 people ahead of her, 3 had already gone, and 12 more were after her. She was surprised only 20 people were in this. The age range for the competition was 7-12 years old. She was right in the middle of the age group. If she didn't win this year, she could do it next year!
Aimee turned to the guy going before her. "Hello, I'm Aimee Ryans." She introduced herself quietly.
"I'm Mike Chang. Are your parents here?"
"Yeah, they are over there." She pointed to them. They were sitting with Artie's family. "What about yours?"
"My mom is here." He pointed to his mother. "My dad doesn't know about this. He wouldn't approve. He would say that I should be studying instead."
"Well that's silly."
A few turns later it Aimee was up. She had ended up picking a song that was very energetic and allowed for hip-hop style dancing. Her song was Hot by Avril Lavigne. It was about 3 1/2 minutes, easily under 5!
"Third place winner is Harmony! Come on and get your trophy!" This made Aimee more anxious. This girl was the younger than her and she got 3rd place. Maybe she just didn't place at all. Mike was really good, he was probably going to win.
"Second place goes to Aimme Ryans! Come on up dear!" Aimee couldn't believe they had just said her name! She didn't mind that she didn't get 1st place. That was probably going to someone older than her. She could hear Artie's cheers loudest of all. She smiled right at him and her parents.
"Drum roll, please?" The audience gave a drum roll for the announcer. "Mike Chang is in first place!" Mike winked at Aimee and went up to get his trophy. Aimee had been right on both accounts, older and Mike.
Before she left, she went over to Mike to congratulate him. "You deserved first place! Maybe you should tell your dad?"
"Thank you! I still can't though. He is very strict. You were great too! I'm surprised you didn't get first place!"
"Ames, your parents sent me over to tell you it's time to go. You were great by the way." He directed the last part at Mike, he had already congratulated Aimee.
"Thanks! Bye, It was nice meeting you Aimee!" They waved at each other and went their separate ways.
