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

Chapter 4

Ciara
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The plane touches down and I grin at the misty skies and dark green grass.

Ireland.

"Mommy, why can't I dance at worlds again?" Marisa asks from the seat next to me.

"You're too young, sweetie. Only the big girls can dance at worlds."

"Well, that's stupid. I wanna dance at worlds, too." She says, crossing her arms.

Trust me, you really don't want to, I think to myself, too much stress, and  too much pressure.

While Mom and Marisa argue over whether 'stupid' is a bad word, I watch as the rest of the passengers get off the plane. Finally, it's our turn. I grab my dress bag and backpack from the overhead compartment and then join the line out of the plane.

We walk to the baggage claim, and I see someone holding one of those big boxes that holds a worlds globe. Talk about intimidation...

It'd be really cool to go home with a globe, but to jump that high from my fortieth place finish last year seems, well, impossible. I'd be thrilled to be a world medal holder, let along have a spot on the podium...

Once we get our bags, we head outside and get a taxi to our hotel, which isn't too far away. I plug in my headphones once we're in the taxi and I dance through my hornpipe with my hands.

Bang treble down up click down, and bang treble down tip down, heel slide, heel slide, back treble toe bang.

Butterflies start to fill my stomach as I think about dancing these steps on the Worlds stage.

We arrive at the hotel and I turn off my music. Mom checks us in and then we put all of our things onto a luggage cart and get into the elevator to go upstairs. There's a lot of other dancers here, I can tell by all the tan legs...

We arrive at our room, 1304. While Mom and Marisa are unpacking in our room, I'm in the hall when the door to the room next to ours opens. A pair of vaguely familiar blue eyes peak out briefly, but the door slams shut before I can tell who it is.

Weird....

I shake the strange feeling and continue bringing bags into our room.

My phone makes a notification noise and I glance down at it. I'm very surprised at the name I see on the screen.

Carly Madison: hey girl! It's been too long!!!! Meet for dinner 2nite???

Carly texted me? I'm not sure whether I'm excited or apprehensive. I haven't seen her in months, but things might be awkward since she goes to a different school now...

Me: ok! At the hotel restaurant?

Carly Madison: yeah sure! See ya at 6?

Me: k

It's 5:50 now, so I should probably head down.

"Mom? I'm gonna go downstairs and eat dinner with Carly at the restaurant." I say, grabbing my purse.

"Carly? You mean Carly Madison? You two haven't seen each other in so long, it'll be great to catch up!"

"Yep..." I say, taking a room key off the table.

I'm so nervous to see her again, and I don't know why. Maybe it's because the last time we saw each other, the day we danced at nationals, we had a roller coaster of a day...

I arrive at the restaurant and wait by the host's table, rocking back and forth on my heels anxiously.

I stop when I see three girls with identical black and gold Brennen School jackets. Carly is standing in the middle of the three, her dark hair in a high ponytail. She doesn't walk the same way anymore, it's almost as if she's strutting...

"Ciara!" She yells when she spots me. She runs over and gives me a hug. "How are you, it's been so long- oh, this is Jessie and Clara, they're from my school." She says before I can answer her question. I don't remember her saying she'd be bringing anyone...

"So are you excited to dance? I'm going for top ten this year!" Carly says as we start walking towards our table. To be honest, it's kind of crazy she's hoping to be top ten in the world after no recall last year.

"You might recognize me, I got third at nationals last year. I'm hoping to win worlds this year." Jessie says casually.

"What'd you get at nationals last year, Ciara?" Clara asks me.

"Um, well, I actually won...."

"But I heard you didn't do so well at a feis last weekend, did you? It's alright, I'm sure you can sure still manage a recall." Carly says in a weird assuring way.

I'm shocked at how she's acting. She should know better than anyone that I'm hoping for way more than a recall this year!

"So, um, how's your new school, Carly?" I ask nervously.

"Oh my gosh, I love it! It's so much better than Macmillan, I'm challenged so much more and they actually have some world champions there. I know they are going to bring me straight to the top!"

And now she's insulting my school...

I tune out as Carly, Jessie, and Clara keep going on about how they're amazing dancers and how their school is the most amazing one there is. I can't believe Carly's changed so much... She used to be so humble and now she's.... Well, this.

My phone beeps in my hand and I glance down at it.

Jules💕: hey, Grace, Caoimhe, Claire, and I are gonna hang out tonight in the hotel and we're meeting by the entrance to the big stage. Wanna come?

I take a sigh of relief. Saved by the bell.

Carly and her friends seem to have forgotten I'm here, so I text back.

Me: yeah sure, I'm in a tough situation right now, lemme escape and then I'll come find u guys

Jules💕: k whatever that means 😂

"Um... My, uh, Mom just texted me, I have to leave now, sorry..." I say.

"Okay, see you on dance day!" Carly says, and then goes back to talking to the other girls. I feel bad about lying, but I don't think Carly really cares about me anymore, anyway.