Firebird

Chapter 16- Secrets Better Kept

I really really really need some feedback. I've been having a bit of trouble with pacing the past few chapters. Does this story happen to fast, too slow, are the characters okay, is this fairly interesting? Please comment! And if you have any cool ideas for the story, please share!

~Angel 

 Chapter 16- Secrets Better Kept

Hyun and I watched as Barnabus, Gen and the others in the next act ran joyfully out into the ring. He reluctantly turned to me, that classic scowl consuming his face.

   “You can’t hesitate to drop. This isn’t practice.”

   I normally didn’t have such a temper but he brought out the worst in me. “I know. You told me.”

   “You’re not paying any attention to me! You don’t care about this do you?”

   “I do! If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be trying so hard.”

   He threw his hands in the air and groaned.

   “Were you this awful to Ryo?” I asked, angrily crossing my arms.

   He stared dumbly at me a moment. The crowd was cheering loudly outside. Even if he were to answer, I wouldn’t have heard him. Not that I cared to.

   He readied to respond but Fargus came between us. He bent down to whisper in my ear. “Don’t let him anger you while you’re performing. Remember how it effects the fire.”

   I nodded. Hyun glared at Fargus. I wasn’t going to tell him that it wasn’t him that we were whispering about (not directly, at least). I’d let him think we were.

   Fargus nodded his greeting to Hyun but I could tell it was only out of politeness. He, unlike Hyun, was a gentleman.

   “Good luck.” He said before leaving us alone again.

   The last applause echoed out. Fa, Hikauru, Ji Yune and Ching Lan came over to go out with us. Nervousness erupted inside me. I wasn’t looking forward to this performance at all.

   We ran out to our appropriate ribbons, flashing smiles (whether real or fake) at the crowd. I cringed, having to hold Hyun’s hand. He wasn’t thrilled either but we continued as if we got along.

   I climbed the silk first. The four in the corners copied my beginning pose. Then I went into my solo routine. I felt myself shaking with anxiety. I tried not to show it. This was my first real solo performance. I was the main part of the act.

   With that thought, the joy slowly seeped in. The spotlight was literally on me. I let my smile become real. My hands and arms grew warm as I wrapped my leg and bent backwards, hands free. As I did so, I let the fire out.

   The crowd gasped excitedly and burst into a series of applauses. I carefully controlled the fire with my mind to dance around my as I continued with my routine.

   I saw Hyun start up on the ribbon next to me. He fell in sync with my routine. I paid close attention to what he was doing to make sure I got my next move perfectly. If even off by a second, I could throw off our entire performance. It was a lot to focus on.

   He suddenly flew through the air as he came from his ribbon to mine. The very moment he grabbed my silk, I dropped. I had to put my trust completely in him to catch me. I closed my eyes as I fell, praying I felt his thick arms instead of the hard ground.

   Sure enough, I landed safely. I let out a sigh and he discreetly rolled his eyes. Now, the hard part would begin.

   I brought the fire back, making it wrap gently around my arms. Hyun held the ribbon with one arm and leg. He put his other hand at my back to hold me up. I twisted one of my own legs in his and let go of everything else. My face was parallel to the floor. We were at a dizzying height to be upside-down.