On Top Of The World (book 3 in the Irish Dance Camp series)

Chapter 3

Grace
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"Five.... Four... Three.... Two... One....... Okay, you can drop."

My stomach hits the ground and I take a deep breath. We just did a plank for two and a half minutes...

"Maybe that will inspire you all to dance your bests! Some of you dance at worlds in 6 days, you can't be slacking! Rounds of five steps now, everyone up!" My dance teacher, Aaron, says in his thick Irish accent.

"I feel like I'm gonna throw up," My friend Caroline murmurs next to me as we get in line to dance. This is our last class before worlds, and Aaron's determined to fit in as much stamina work as possible. I shake out my legs as the first group goes.

When it's my turn, I step forward and start with Caroline.

And heel and heel, down one two step hit up and axel round, down batter stamp batter down up click down.

"I love the sharpness Grace!" Aaron yells over the loud hornpipe playing. Good.

I reach the second step. And stamp batter down tip down, and stamp batter down top down, batter and a toe and a heel point, stamp.

"Close your knees! Both of you!" Aaron screams as we move on to the left foot.

C'mon Grace... Push yourself!

I start the third step with two front clicks in a row.

"This next step should be just as strong as your first, ladies!" I feel surprisingly okay at this point, as in my legs don't hurt as much as they usually would in my fourth step.

I push every movement to be the best that I can make it, and try to pound out every single beat.

Before I know it, we've finished the dance. "You can take your shoes off, girls," Aaron says to us as the next group starts. Thank goodness.

I sit down and start stretching with Caroline. After everyone joins us, the three hour class is finally over.

I grab my bag and head outside, where my mom is waiting. "Hey G!" She says when she sees me. I've never liked that nickname, but Mom always calls me G. "How was class?"

"Pretty good," I say as we walk to the car.

"How are you feeling about competing next week?"

I shrug my shoulders, "I dunno.... Fine I guess..."

"We're heading home first to pick up your dad, and you can shower while we're there. We're going straight to the airport after that." Mom says.

"Okay," I suddenly get a text.

Ciaran: hey loser ready for next week 😏 jk jk I'm excited

I smile and text back.

Me: oh I'm ready! I can't wait to hear your accent lol

Ciaran is pretty much my best friend. We used to be neighbors, and he used to dance at my school, but he moved to England last summer and dances there now. He got third at the worlds last year, so obviously he's hoping to take the title now.

Ciaran: are u going for top 15 again this year or like top ten or what

Me: top ten. When are you leaving?

Ciaran: tomorrow, you're leaving today right?

Me: yep. I'll see ya there, we just got home so I gotta go

Ciaran: k. Text me when you get to the venue and tell me what it's like.

Ciaran isn't my boyfriend or anything, but I've had a crush on him for forever. I feel like it could make things awkward if we dated, though, and I don't want to ruin our friendship...

I walk into the house and head upstairs to shower. I change into a loose grey sweater and jeans and put my hair into a bun. We finish packing up the car, and then we head to the airport.

Worlds is going to start in six days, and I have a good feeling about it this year.