The New Girl

Chapter 2

As time went on, Emma and I became very close. We started to hang out outside of dance and go to  the mall and have sleepovers. We were connected at the hip during dance class. If she went to go get water, I would go get water. If I were to tie my laces, she would tie them for me. I loved having a super close friend like this.
"Slip jigs, we're going to do stamina." John announced.
Emma and I groaned in annoyance together.
"Tell my family that I love them when I'm gone." Emma joked.
"Only if you do the same for me." I told her.
As I tightened my messy brown ponytail, my teacher started the slip jig music.
"You better go with me Chlo." Emma demanded.
"Who else would I want to suffer with?" I laughed.
We danced our slip jig two times in a row twice, with 16 bars in between. Needless to say, I felt like puking when it was all over.
"Great job Emma, your stamina was great!" Mary complimented.
"Chloe, you gotta just push through when your dancing full out, like Emma did." Mary
said.
And that's what the problem was. Ever since Emma has come to our studio,I'm always compared to her no matter what. We're both great dancers,  but my teachers seem to think she's better than me? I sighed and took off my softshoes.
"What's wrong?" Emma asked me. Emma seemed to know me very well; she can tell when I'm upset.
"Nothing, just feeling a little sick after all that stamina," I forced a smile. "Are you excited for your first feis back this weekend?" I asked.
Emma's six month ban was recently lifted from transferring schools, so that meant she can go to the feis this weekend!
"I'm so excited dude!" She cheered. "It's gonna be so fun."
I hope so...

The day of the feis

Once my bun wig and makeup was done, my mom and I headed to the venue for the feis. Once we got there, I found Emma. I ran up and hugged her. She was wearing a pretty full blonde wig and her makeup looked stunning.
"You look gorgeous!" I told her.
"Same to you girl." She chirped as she ate a bite of a banana.
"You excited? You gonna kill the competition today?!" I said to pump her up.
"No, and no!" She said. " I'm freaking out. It's my first feis back and I feel like people are expecting me to do well."
Emma had no reason to be nervous! She's an amazing dancer...I don't see why she gets so worked up. If anything, I'm the one supposed to be freaking out. Emma's basically my rival, so I have to do well today.
"Shut up, your gonna do amazing. Let's go stretch together." I told her as I took her by the arm and found an empty space for the both of us to warm up and stretch.
After stretching and warming up, it was time for the opens u15 to line up sidestage. I put on my Celtic star, and went sidestage. I lined up next to a red head with a pretty purple dress. We were one of the last groups to go on, and Emma was in the middle. As I watched Emma dance her first round. Her stage presence is stunning and her dancing is phenomenal. My heart started to beat faster and faster, and my palms were sweaty. I had to do well today. Everything had to go perfectly today. I decided to try as hard as I could not to let Emma's dancing affect my dancing, no matter how hard that was. But no matter how hard I tried, my mind kept thinking of her, and how she's better than I am. I quickly distracted myself by making small chat with the girls I was lined up with. After a few more groups, it was time to go onstage. I put on a smile and made sure my chin was up. Once I was on the stage, my adrenaline was pumping. I loved the thrill of being onstage. This got me so pumped up for this round. My first round was a total blur, I couldn't remember how my dancing was like but I'm pretty sure I nailed it. I made sure to attack the stage and not hold anything back. Once I got back to the audience chairs to change into my softshoes, Emma came up to me.
"That was amazing Chlo!" Emma raved.
"I just hope the judges think so." I said as I pushed my foot into the tight softshoe.
"If they didn't think you were amazing, they would be insane." Emma told me.
"I gotta go line up for softshoe, I'll see ya after." Emma hugged me.
"Good luck Em, just kill the competition." I told her.
Once my softshoes were on, I did some jumps and leaps to warm up my legs again. I put on my dress and went back sidestage. Emma was onstage. I watched her first step. It looked flawless. I turned away. I know, she's my best friend but watching her, or anyone else will get me all worked up. It's better if I focus on me. That's why I'm here, right? For myself. Now I'm just overthinking everything. I played with the Swarovski crystals on my dress. Soon enough it was time to go onstage again. I did the ritual: smile, chin up, shoulders back. The musician started the slip jigs. I began to dance.
And one two turn and switch step spin step spin and one two and birdie down and rock rock rock double jump
I simply just enjoyed my time out on the stage, I loved slip jigs so this round was a breeze for me. Once I ended, I knew I did well. I felt very content.
After getting offstage, I changed into my hardshoes and ran through my set once. Running through my dances all the way through make me feel more calm before one of my rounds. My set overall felt good. I ate a half of a sub sandwich as I scrolled through Instagram. I had twenty minutes until I had to be sidestage, so I had some time to kill. Emma was up onstage, and the musician blared Kilkenny Races at speed 76. I had mixed feelings about Emma doing the same set as me. Part if me loved it, because she's my best friend and we can give each other corrections and stuff, but part of me despised it, since my teachers came up with that set especially for me, and they carelessly just gave it to Emma to learn. Whatever. She danced that set really well...does she dance that set better than me? And that set was made especially for me. I shook my head to stop thinking about it and focused on taping my hardshoes perfectly. After my shoes were taped, I slipped on my dress and hugged my mom and went sidestage. I bit my nails as I watched a girl before me dance Downfall of Paris. After she finished, I went onstage and performed my set. I pushed my clicks over my head, nailed every bet, and managed to stay perfectly on time. I was very proud of how I danced today. After hanging out at the ballrooms with Emma and some other people from my school, it was soon time for awards.
"In 20th place competitor 162 Gabrielle Nielson from the King Academy." Said the announcer.
This was a huge competition today, and they were only halfway through the results for my competition, but that didn't bother me. I knew I was going to win today...at least I think I was going to. With Emma now competing against me, it was unpredictable. They finally got to the top three, and Emma was in it with me. "In 3rd place, competitor 102 Abigal Moore from the Ridge Academy."
Emma and I both laughed and hugged eachother! We were in the top two! I was kind of afraid to know who won and who didn't. I know this is just a local feis, but I still get nervous even over the little things, no matter how good I might be. Emma Tierney
"In second place competitor 234 Chloe Neale from the Regan Smith School." I was put on my sash and was handed the plastic trophy that read "Second place." My least two favorite words. I stood on the podium with a fake smile. "And in first place, competitor 210 Emma Tierney!" She beamed with happiness as she stood on the top of the podium. I had mixed feelings about Emma beating me. She is my best friend and it was her first feis back, good for her! But at the same time, I hate loosing. I need to win, I've always won. After awards we took some pictures together and we eventually left the venue. As I listened to my music in my headphones, I became more and more frustrated. Why didn't I win? I hated this feeling of loss.

What will happen next?? Hey guys, so sorry I haven't been on in a few weeks I've been on vacation, but don't worry, I'm back now to post weekly!! Love you guys!