"Hey church rat, call that name with respect would ya?" she bossed.
"You don't deserve respect Merion. And last time I checked; church rats are not looking so bad anymore."
"Easy for you to say, since you're one; I even wonder how you managed to make it to this competition, I believed you can't afford it, or…did you…steal the money for this?"
Oh, my undying dislike for this girl.
I won't get angry.
"Good luck today," I wished as I walked out on her, following my trainer to my dressing table.
"I don't need luck, I'm the pro."
"I wouldn't be so sure Merion," I mumbled my reply.
I sat and watched as a hair stylist dressed my hair and as makeup was being applied on me, my hair was put into a donut and shaped evenly at the front, and I tapped my fingers on my leg as I hummed to the pop music playing softly in the background. I smiled as I looked at my hair in the mirror, and at my now transformed face…I feel so pretty.
I stood and changed into my dress; the time is here, okay, maybe it's not the time yet, but still, it's getting here.
"You ready kiddo?" Miss Fiona asked and I looked into her honey-brown eyes through the mirror, her cupid-bow lips shone with glittery lipstick and she looked absolutely beautiful, her ex-boyfriend is such a jerk to have allowed Kathrine to give him a b.j in his own room, well…Kathrine is a little bit seductive, and she's also dark, but Miss Fiona is brown, maybe he just has a thing for melanin girls…we can't tell.
"Yup." I answered unsure of my voice, I'm so scared to my bones right now.
"Aww, don't be scared. Look I know this is your first competition, but you have to be strong and bold…you really have to do this," I nodded as she paused, "now, go make me proud."
I nodded and stretched out a little, and worked some major moves and dance styles, my dance will have a little bit of pop dance routine mixed with the ballet, like…a mix of ballet. Miss Fiona said the judges won't be looking for anything normal or regular or traditional, they love to see mixes and they love it when there is a flare or touch of modern dance styles in any old-fashioned dance, and to me, that is quite cool. I did some spins and my starting positions; I'm not showing off, God forbid, I'm only warming up. I know a lot of eyes are on me, but…I'm really only warming up and trying to get my head in the game before I get on stage.
"Hello," a slightly thick voice greeted as I sat on my chair wiping off the sweat on the sides of my face and neck. I looked into the mirror to see a brown-skinned boy standing behind me shinning his not-so-white teeth, I turned to face him and smiled as sweetly as I could…(yes I don't do this often) he's not actually looking bad, I'm yet to see an ugly dancer.
"I saw you working those techniques just now," he started "good luck out there," he wished.
"Wow…I thought everyone here will be so stuck up and wouldn't care to give good wishes to anyone."
"Haha" he laughed, "It depends on who you meet though."
"Well I'm quite glad I met you"
"Likewise, you're literally up against Kathrine Merion, though I wonder what she is doing here"
"Probably wanting to ridicule everyone here with her dance skills and about she being a "pro," yeah…she definitely wants to make fun of everyone here like she always does."
"Like she always does?"
"Yeah, she bullies me all the time…we're course-mates."
"Oh…you're also in the school, but I've never seen you in a dance video"
"It's complicated"
"Okay, good luck, you need it more than I do. I'm only here for the chicks," this guy should be related to Samuel and Muyiwa…always after the chicks, "it's for the experience." He added with a wink.
"Thanks bruv"
"I'm Felix."
"Ireolamide"
"Beautiful name."
I smiled in appreciation as he left leaving me to bath in the air con as I placed my badge on my chest, smiling at the electric blue gold-edged '7.'
I think I can smell victory in the air…oh wait…it's just fart…who did that?
"Ladies and gentlemen," a voice boomed through the speakers, "welcome on stage, contestant number 1, Kathrine Merion."
Of course, she's the first…she's always the first pick. I looked at the screen and watched her as she presented her dance, she danced to Justin Beiber's "Beauty and a Beat," with a mixture of ballet and break dance and she's really good. She did the fondue halfway and picked herself up with a robot-like ascension. I might have a chance of winning over her because mine is a combination of ballet and pop dance. I wonder why she even decided to dance ballet, I would have been more sure of a little victory, I kept on watching her a she danced and I swear she almost missed her step, but she picked herself back up pretty nicely, oh Kathrine, how did I know? I'm a dancer too.
"Ire," I turned back to see Fiona's slim figure striding towards me, "you will have about 5-10 minute to present your dance…you! Have to beat the time or make the best use of it while it lasts. If you make it to the final stage, you have an upper hand because of your cello. All contestants are ten in number; five will advance to the next stage, and only three will battle for the final victory.
You just keep your head in the game and don't ever lose focus. It is a competition, many contestants will try nasty things, especially your number one rival, Kathrine, and you just keep them out of your line of focus. Flow in perfect harmony to the music and keep your eyes on the prize. Don't let your dedication go to waste."
"I won't, and that's a promise."
"I know you won't…now, take a deep breath…"
"…smile and leave it in God's hand"
"Right."
I smiled and looked at my reflection in the mirror; I had highlights on my cheek bones and my eyes popped out beautifully, my lips were a shade of red and it made my teeth appear even whiter than usual. I smiled as I watched the contestant on the screen dance.
"Number 7?" a voice asked and I looked back to see a dark curly-haired crew member standing there, his eyes were dull but compelling.
"Yes?" I answered respectfully,
"You're up." He informed and I sprung up and followed him to the stage entrance. As I stood there, I could hear the cheering crowd, it really sounds like a mad house out there.
I walked on stage and stood behind the red curtains in first position, waiting for them to be drawn apart, and when they were, my breath hanged in my throat.