Where Dance Fits In

Chapter 17: Every Result

Reagan

Conner, Maeve, Brooklyn, Joe, and I are all waiting backstage for Kyle. We just told the stagehands what Kyle did. They were mad, and one practically cried. A good friend of Miss Laurie's comes up to us. She recognizes us by our sweatshirts.

"Hey, O'Brien team! What's happening!" Jade Doolittle says with her Irish accent. "Hi, Miss Jade." I say. "We were just telling-" and then Kyle comes up to us.

Everything is awkward for a whole minute, no one knows how to start.

Oh, and Conner's foot is fine, besides the disease. But it's just a slight sprain.

I decide to make the first move.

"Kyle," I say. "There's something we have to tell you." I look to the stagehand to finish up the sentence.

"Kyle Gray, you have been disqualified." The look on his face is priceless. It's a mixture of sadness, shock, and fury. "I'm sorry but you have asked to leave." I look at Kyle, but he will not look back at me. After everything he did, he thinks that I should feel sorry for him.

Kyle runs out of the room. And I don't even care. I still can't believe what he did. But it's over now. We all walk away, with our heads held high.

The thought of Kyle Gray is behind us.

We all take our seats and they start with the traditional set awards. We have a lot of little dancers that get first. Then they move on to the championships. They start with the boys, and when its Mark's competition we all hold hands. There are only seven kids in his competition, but no one cares because he gets first!

We all cheer but quiet down because soon its Conner's results. He walks up side stage. We are so nervous. I don't want to be the reason my brother loses.

There are six awards and because it is so small, the first three qualify for nationals, and the top three qualify fir worlds. I make quick eye contact with Conner, and we nod at eachother.

Conner has qualified for worlds, and we are all excited. They call third place, and Conner stands there with the other boy on the stage. This is it. We all squeeze eachothers hands.

They have called second place. Conner has won! We all stand up and cheer. I can't help thinking this is a little bit my doing. I am so happy for him. He comes back and we all hug him. He says to me "Thank you." I reply "For what?" He looks at me and I realize what it is. "For driving me to become a better dancer." He says. And we smile and hug.

They call all the other girls' championships and soon it's Maeve, Brooklyn, and my results. They call us back to side stage. I feel like I'm going to be sick. Then they call the top ten.

"In the top ten," the voice says "in random order we have 51, 39, 2, 17," Maeve looks at me. That's her number! Maeve is in the top ten and has qualified for worlds! I scream and she looks so happy.

They call three more numbers. There are only three more spots. "64, 110, and 150!"

I'm in the top ten! I am so happy. I run up on the stage and hug Maeve. She's had the best Oireachtas out of all of us. I feel kind of bad for Brooklyn. She's amazing, she's just not in the top ten. I search for her in the group of girls side stage. She's just standing there, still smiling and cheering. I am so lucky to have a friend like her.

First they call the non-qualified, then the national qualifiers. At least Brooklyn has qualified for worlds. Brooklyn gets 11th. One place away from top ten but she looks lime she has one the whole competition.

It's time for the top ten awards. They have already called the first five girls. They are all so amazing and I can't believe I beat them! And Maeve is still standing there next to me.

And then Maeve is called.

I scream and hug her and pick her up. Then they call the next two girls. It's me against Maggie Talpash.

"And in first place, competitor 150, Raegan Donahue from the O'Brien school of Irish dance!"

I'm extactic! I start crying. And I hold up my trophy.