The dancer life

Chapter 17: Shannon's POV

There I was standing on that big stage. The judges hit the bell, and the three girls in front of us bowed and walked off. I took a step forward, as I put a smile on my face. I made sure my shoulders were back and my chin was up. The hornpipe the musician was playing was such a great tune. I was beaming, I couldn't wait to dance. I pointed on 7 and before I knew it I began my first step.
Step and click down and heel toe bang and treble toe up and treble toe bang and slide hop toe I made sure everything was turned out and perfectly crossed. I pushed and used as much energy that could possibly come out of me. Ok so far so good, onto the second step. And double click down and treble treble treble bang and  up and toe toe toe diddly dum I knew I was doing so good. Ok, push through Shannon, half step I thought as I began the half step. Cut diddly dum and diddly dum  and diddly dum and treble treble bang  and up click down and up click down  good, my clicks are still really high. I ended right in front of the judges with a bang treble toe and with a huge smile on my face. The audience clapped and I bowed, and went back to my spot on the back of the stage, along with the other two girls I danced with. The judge rang the bell and I bowed to the judge and musician, and walked offstage. I felt so happy with my first round, it was the best I'd ever done it. There were only a few groups after me until the number check, so I just stayed sidestage and chatted with some other dancers. After the number check, I walked back to where my friends, family, and teacher was sitting. I was swarmed with hugs from everyone.
"That was amazing Shan!" Cheered Grace.
"Girl you slayed that stag." Said Kaitlyn.
"Thanks guys." I said as I took off my white tape on my hardshoes.
"Good job sweetie. They're starting with 225 for the softshoes round, so you're gonna be up in about an hour  or so. " My mom said.
I nodded as I took off my hardshoes, allowing my feet to breathe. I took some sips of water and ate a banana as I looked through the program book. Kaitlyn was first in the rotation, so I get to see her dance. Grace came up and sat next to me.
"Shannon your first round was amazing, you're definitely gonna be top 5 this year, without a doubt." She said as she gave me a hug.
"Thanks girl. I just want to get through my next two rounds and get it all over with." I said as I played with my wig.
"Same." She said as she looked through the program book.
After sitting around and talking, they finally began the second round for my championship.
"We're ready to begin the second round for the girls U14 championship. Onstage we have 225,226, and 227." Said the stage monitor.
Kaitlyn was 227.
She looked stunning up on onstage! Her red hair and her green and white dress looked so beautiful!!! Her dancing looked really good, I was so happy for her. When she got offstage we ran up to her and hugged her.
"That was so good!" We said in sync as we hugged her.
"Hey I think Cara might be up soon." Kaitlyn said to us.
"I can't believe she still has the nerve to dance, after everything she did." I said.
" I wonder how she'll dance," Grace said. "I know I couldn't dance with that burden on my chest."
After waiting for a while, Cara was up to dance. I have to admit, she is really pretty. She looked like she belonged in the stage. But at the same time, I could tell she looked nervous. She started to dance. It didn't look as good as it did in class. She was missing clicks, she slipped on the heel slide and overall looked like a mess. She finished the hornpipe with no energy. The dancing she performed on the stage did not look like the dancing she does in class. I felt a little bad for her. When Cara exited the stage and walked to the seats, there were tears in her eyes. I saw my teacher approach her.
We inched closer to listen in, being the nosy people we are.
"Cara, that dancing was not the Cara I know in class. What happened out there?" Asked my teacher.
"I...I..." She started, she couldn't even speak.
"Well whatever it was, you cannot let first round that affect your other rounds ok? Brush it off and pretend like it never happened. Your a great dancer Cara, and I believe in you."
He gave Cara a hug and they walked back to where Cara and her mom were. Cara looked at Grace, Kaitlyn and I and walked towards us.
We all went up and hugged her. Sure, it would take a while for us to forgive her about what she did. But this would help mend the friendship. She needed support too.
"I'm really sorry about what I did. I was a bad friend," she looked at Kaitlyn. "And I was wrong to do what I did to you Shannon. I'm not expecting you guys to forgive me, but hear me out, I'm so sorry, I messed up and I'd like to maybe start over with you guys?"
"Of course, Cara. We forgive you." I said.
"We've all messed up in our lives, and I forgive you." Kaitlyn said as she gave Cara a hug.
After we all made up, I watched Kaitlyn and Grace dance their second- they were brilliant and I was so proud of them. Soon enough after stretching and warming up a second time around, it was time for me to go sidestage. My mom zipped me up and wished me good luck. I hugged my friends, Michael, and my teacher. After doing some hops and kicks to keep my legs warm, it was time for me to do my second round. The musician played the energetic fun reel as I began my first step. I was doing so well! I felt alive while I did my reel, I was so happy. Ok Shannon now big birdie in front of the judges...good! I thought as I ended my second step. Ok now, third step, your almost done push through. And double butterfly and one two switch step double spin and lift and down scissor kick and twist twist twist cross key cross key I made sure I ended my reel as strong as I started and pointed and bowed to the judges. After walking offstage. I knew I did my best, I'm so happy with myself. I hugged everyone when I came back. I ripped off my softshoes that were cutting off the circulation of my feet and put them in my dance bag.
I sat next to Michael and Grace.
"How's your foot feelin?" I asked Grace.

"Still awful. I'm surprised I made it through the softshoes round without loosing my foot." She said as she out the ice on her foot.
"One more round and you'll be all done!" I told her.
After sitting around for a while, I watched Michael's second round and it was amazing, I was so proud of him.
"I'm just glad I didn't die, my stamina is awful." Michael told me as we walked back to his chair.
"I could hardly tell, it was so good. You could definitely get top three." I told him.
"I just can't wait to eat food after this honestly." He said as I laughed.
After a while of waiting for recalls, they finally came out.
"I have the recalls for the girls u14 championship. Please wait for the cheering once all numbers are called out. After I'm done reading all numbers, please come up sidestage to tell us your set piece. The following numbers:"
Kaitlyn is 124, Cara is 227, Grace is 139 and I'm 174.
The four of us sat in a circle on the floor as we held hands. I knew I would get the recall, but I still felt nervous for this moment.
"101...103...105....106....107....."
This is Kaitlyn's third Oireachtas, we all knew she would recall since she's recalled before but she was a nervous wreck too. There's something about the recalls being announced that freaks everyone out.
".....122....124....."
We all cheered, Kaitlyn smiled.
"......133......134...136...137...139....."
Grace jumped up and down with joy, we were so proud of her!!! Especially since she had to dance on a broken foot!
"...169...171...174..."
Yay! I hugged all my friends with delight. Ok now we wait for Cara's number to be called.
"225...226...228...."
Expected Cara to be upset, but she looked fine.
"I didn't expect it. Next year," She said with a smile. "And now I can take this dreadful wig off." She laughed.
"And now you get to watch all of our sets." Kaitlyn said with a smirk.
We all laughed as we went up to the table sidestage to check in for our set.
"I'm number 174, Planxty Davis speed 76." I told the lady.
After we checked in, we all separated to practice on our own.
I put in my earphones and blared the set music from my phone.
Bang and treble heel drop and twist twist up and crab walk crab walk up and click down . My set felt really strong in the practice room, all I had to do now was just perform it the same way on stage. I went back to the ballroom to sit with my mom. I ate a turkey sandwich and some goldfish as I waited for my number to get close. I did some touch ups to makeup and wig and white taped my hardshoes. Soon enough, it was time to go sidestage. I hugged my mom and put on my dress.