BAILE (Where We Come Home)

Chapter 30 Competitive

"I think I'm going to throw up." I swallowed the bile that had risen up my throat.

"Don't be ridiculous, there are ten year olds dancing against you." April pointed out.

"That doesn't ease my nerves." I smoothed back my slicked hair that was pulled taught into a bun at the back of my head. I studied my reflection in the mirror, minimal makeup, just light enough so my innumerable freckles were visible across every inch of my face.

"You'll be fine, with all the practicing you've been doing." Charlotte appeared in the mirror behind me.

"Yes but I had a long break, a very long break." I glanced at some of the elder girls warming up.

"You are only up there for about five minutes, then you can start yodeling in preparation for our song." April just had to remind me.

I sighed, feeling my temple ache from my tightly bound hair and the fact I had two competitions to worry about. Not to mention the eyes that would be on me. The Games here were the most visited out of the whole of Britain; there were people from all corners of the globe here today.

"Don't make me go up there." I tasted bile again.

I heard my number called and I rose to my feet, my legs shaking.

"You'll be fine." Charlotte and April squeezed a hand each before I made my way up the stage. My limbs felt heavy as I formed a line with the other competitors in order with the numbers pinned to our dresses. I looked out over the crowd, trying to spot any familiar faces. The faces blurred and I felt dizzy as I barely registered my cue to curtsey before the crowd. As the music started I tried to rid my fears, taking deep breaths before beginning to dance. I followed through with the moves I had practicing for the past couple of weeks, moves most of these girls had been practicing for years to get here. I turned, facing the back of a girl in a red plaid dress. For a moment the light blurred around her frame and her pinned hair broke free of its bonds, flowing down her back to brush the floor around her pointed feet. Her pastel blue hair swished from side to side as her dress elongated in rippling gold. Her head turned and I stared at my own face, my right eye gold and my left blue.

Clapping brought me back to the real world.

I blinked rapidly to see I was back facing the crowd. They applauded as we left the stage as the judges called forth the next group. I found my water bottle, downing the whole thing before feeling even worse by drinking so fast.

"You did so well." Charlotte gave me a hug.

"You did better in practice." April said it as it was.

"April!" Charlotte sent her a look.

April shrugged in response. "You looked like you were attending your own funeral up there."

"Well I was a little distracted at seeing my own face." I played with the bottle in my hands.

April and Charlotte gave me confused looks.

"I had another day dream, vision or whatever. I saw myself, but I looked different." I explained.

"Are you sure you weren't drinking vodka?" April glanced at the bottle in my hands.

"I'm serious."

It wasn't long before the results were announced. I didn't make the top three, who would be advancing to the next round. I came dead last.

"You danced well." Riley approached.

I looked around, kind of getting nervous about the amount of times he had talked to me in public. "I lost to a five year old." I glanced at the young girl that placed third, smiling with missing teeth as she held her trophy.