Carry On | ✔

Prologue

"NEXT UP IS number seven-two, dancers Aliyah McIntosh and Daniel Jones from Spruce's Dance," I hear the male host call out onstage, followed by excited calls and clapping.

I don't feel any emotion except for my usual cocky confidence.

I accept my dance partner's hand and head up the backstage stairs, stepping into the spotlight.

Cheers abrupt once​ again when the crowd sees us, and the host nods at Daniel and I before leaving the stage.

I gracefully spin to face Daniel, my right hand landing on his shoulder, my left arm up by my ear. I cock a leg and hold my starting pose as I wait for the music to play.

The room hushed, I know everyone's adored gaze is fixated on us.

Who wouldn't want to watch USA's favourite Teen Ballroom Partners, along with I, best Teen Female Ballroom Dancer? I've held that title three years in a row, in which nobody has accomplished that since 19something.

It's not easy to get a title.

The Dance Awards are all about nominations and voting. I guess I can say America really likes me. As for my title with Daniel, last year was our first year with it. I'm pretty confident we'll receive it again this year. The awards are announced and given in a month. We're counted as #1 right now, and I doubt someone can blow us away in four weeks.

Our music begins, and I start my routine with Daniel. We've both practiced so much that we could do this dance in our sleep. I'm glad we've done it so many times- I can focus on emotion and having fun instead of stressing over steps.

Half-way done our dance, and I near Daniel.

Hip, step-step right, step-step left.

I take a step back and know Daniel is behind me. I don't hesitate as I move. I just need to perform a front kick, high enough for Daniel to reach over me and grab my ankle, pulling me up and over him so I land in the splits on the ground. The first few times we did this move in class, Daniel had dropped me. But that was all part of learning, and we were well over that.

On my silent count of seven-eight, I kick my leg up. I feel Daniel secure his hands around my ankle and lift me up in the air. The lift is always smooth but feels a little strange because I'm flipping upside down in mid-air. I expect the same with the lift about to be performed.

Suddenly, I feel like I'm flying, except this is a different flying than the type in practices.

I'm not sure what exactly happened within the two seconds I was in the air- or supposed to be- but I come down hard in a heap on the stage.

A shot of pain surges through me, and I'm out of breath. I hear sounds rise around me, but I'm too dizzy to make out what they are.

Then, my world black outs, and I slip out of consciousness.

(note: I apologize for any grammar & spelling errors found throughout the book. I wrote this as a twelve year old)