Where Dance Fits In

Chapter 11:Recalls

Reagan

I'm looking for Kyle. To be honest I kind of forgot that he was here.

I see him with Conner and I say "How did you do?" "I thought I danced pretty well." Kyle says. "Same with me." Conner adds. I have completely forgotten that he actually hurt his foot. "Conner can I talk to you privately?" I lead him behind the wall.

"How are you?" I ask him seriously. "I'm fine." He replies. I know he hates it when I treat him like he's younger than me. "I mean your foot. Did it feel okay?" "Yes." "Do you think you recalled." I say. I really hope he does well. I mean this is probably the last time he will ever dance. "I hope." He replies.

A woman's voice comes on the intercom. "All competitors who danced before the lunch break, will you please meet in your ballroom."

Conner an I say good luck to each other and we head to our ballrooms. Mr. Daniel is in our ballroom and Ms. Laurie decides to go to Conner and Joe's ballroom. Mark's competition was in the same ballroom as Brooklyn, Maeve, and me.

I sit down down next to Mark and squeeze his hand. "This is it kid." I say to Mark. I know he is really nervous too. His mom puts a lot of pressure on him to do well. Maeve sits down at my feet and leans her head up against my legs. Brooklyn's sits down next to Mark. I feel bad for her. She is an amazing dancer. The nerves always get the best of you.

Finally a woman comes up to the microphone and announces that under eight boys recalls will be announced first. I send a quick squeeze of the hand to Mark as a sign of reassurance.

The lady starts to say numbers. I'm just praying that she won't skip over Marks. '127, 132, 134...' Mark's is called and we all squeal. We all give him a big hug and he has the largest grin on his face.

They finish all the boys recalls and finally it's the girls'. I now squeeze Maeve and Brooklyn's hands to the best of my ability.

Under eight, under nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, and finally fourteen.

I hold my breath Brooklyn has recalled, and soon Maeve's number is also called. I'm happy for them but also I little worried. That's one less spot that could be mine. 145, 149... Please, please, please say 150.

And they do.

Everyone squeals. I feel like I could cry. We all recalled. All my best friends. And me. I receive hugs from everyone but all I'm thinking about is Conner. He would be most mad at me if be didn't recall. I egged him on to dance. I brought his clothes....

I run into the other ballroom where, Conner, Joe, Kyle, Miss Laurie, and my mom are all waiting.

They all seem like they are in a pretty good mood so I walk up to them. Conner stands up. He has melancholy look on his face and I get the feeling that there is bound to be some pretty bad news on the way.

"The judges-they, they thought," oh no, where is this headed. "They thought I was... GOOD ENOUGH TO RECALL!"

I hug him so hard, I could've broken his ribs. Kyle has also recalls. Joe doesn't. I can't but help to think of the word 'karma'.

I try to block it out of my mind.

I walk up to Joe and pat him on the back. "I guess I got what I deserved, huh." I really want to say 'BOO YAH!' But I bite my tongue and say "Joe you are a really good, dancer. You need to know that." "I'm he only one who didn't recall." He says sadly. "There are other years." I say.

I walk up to Kyle. "Hey." I say. "We recalled." He takes me behind a corridor. And. Out of know where.

Kyle Gray is kissing me.

Oh no. I don't know what to do. I've never kissed anyone before. How long is it supposed to last. He pulls away finally.

"Kyle I," I start to say but he interrupts me. "All these years, I barely knew you existed. But now, you seem so clear to me." I am not sure what to do, so instead I just lace my fingers with his and say "Let's win this."