8

I'm absolutely sure some people will dance to worldly music, which is why I have to stand out. I've been practicing my dance moves and cello recital daily, not to talk of my personal dance time on the hill. I already chose the songs I'll be dancing to and the song I'll play on my cello, so I've been rehearsing to those. Practice has been fine, but I can't deny that I almost gave up on everything when I couldn't get my fondue right. It was kind of an argument that it ended in.

"You aren't doing it right, keep your head up Ire,"

"I'm trying to, but with this toe, it's quite hard to keep my head up."

"Ignore the pain and keep your poise,"

"And how am I supposed to do that?"

"Just do it…"

"I'm sorry mademoiselle, but I can't…I give up…"

"After almost two weeks of training, you seriously want to give up? This is your last move before you'll play the cello Ire, you have to perfect this the same way you perfected the others. You can't give up when you're almost close to perfection. Keep your head up, but when you are almost flat, you bring it down as your body goes down…now, for the last time…the final move."

I felt like I was going to die, but I did it anyway, and I actually got it, like…I got it right.

"Silly girl," she reprimanded, "now, from the top!" she yelled and the music started from the beginning and I danced to it, ending it perfectly this time around.

I'll be performing "Oceans" by Hillsong on my cello, and that would only be if I make it to the final stage, we've been training on all three stages of the competition for the past two weeks and that's only because Miss Fiona insisted we practice for all three at once, we never can tell if I may drop off or advance, so I have to keep practicing either way. I just hope all goes smoothly during the competition.

I'll be wearing a beautiful snow-white dress with leggings to match for the final stage (if I make it there), in the second stage, I'll be on a gold dress with leggings to match, and the first stage I'll be wearing a sky blue dress, it's my personal favorite though. Mom (who has no idea I'm in a competition) has really put a lot into my passion, she made sure I never missed out on these stuffs and still taught me sound moral virtues, and I really want to make her proud.

I smiled as I walked into the dance room to see Miss Fiona smiling broadly at me as I approached her, she had a mop in hand cleaning the floor boards.

"Can I help?"

"No, stretch your limbs girl, you need all the energy to hit that competition hard."

"Ookkayyy..." I laughed and began my stretches and splits while she continued to clean, I saw her watching as I did my pirouette.

"You dance so beautifully Ire," she exclaimed as I straightened back

"It's all thanks to your wonderful training ma'am,"

"And your dedication. Now…the competition is tomorrow, and, why are you dancing?"

"To prove every scumbag that looked down on me wrong."

"Mmm, that's a strong vocal tone, why else?"

"To show the world my talent and to make mommy proud."

"great, when it's time to dance, get rid of every trace of anger, and only let your mind be filled with calm okay?"

"What if I have an anxiety attack?" I have those a lot, even though I've not been in a competition before, I've been asked to make presentations in class, and that's when I have those.

"I'll be there to help you, don't worry." She reassured, and I smiled in appreciation, starting again on my first performance of the competition.

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The boys had no idea about the competition for almost a week, until they noticed I always ran out of class, then they ambushed me; those boys literally ambushed my innocent self, I almost died, from shock on the spot. They only wanted to know what was going on, and I told them, long story short, I almost got killed.

I almost got killed!! But they spared my precious life and decided to follow me to the competition, "for moral support, cheering, sight-seeing and for the babes who would be present" I'm pretty sure it's only because of the babes they might see that they are following me, those two yam-heads will never go for support alone.

Miss Fiona would be on the keys tomorrow. I wonder what I'll see tomorrow, it's a competition, there will be solo and duet performances, I just hope I'll be up to the standard. Well, I was trained by the most legit dance trainer in Nigeria, so I should be alright.

There will be cultural dances, break dances, contemporary and any other dance you can think of, I just wonder who will be dancing ballet like me, and what type of ballet. The rule is if you pick any dance in the first stage, you have to stick with it all the way to the end, meaning, I can only dance ballet, and that's not a problem.

I'll dance to "Amazing Grace" by Hillsong in stage one, "Jesus We Love You" by Bethel music in stage two and "Transformed" by Mirrored life in the last stage.

If someone, anyone had told me I might dance in a competition, I'd have laughed at the joke then punched the person hard in the guts, all because we all know there is absolutely no way I'd have been in a dance competition, or any competition for that matter. It would have been a really good joke and only Muyiwa could have pulled it off.

"Excellent, you're ready!" she screamed as I made a reverence "have you been practicing the cello?"

"Yeah, my dresses are pressed and I'm prepared for it."

"Okay, I'll come to pick you up this evening. You'll stay with me for the three days of the competition so we can always get there in time, I'll drive you there with your friends, and you know how Lagos mainland traffic can be right? Do you understand?"

"Yes, what time?"

"Maybe 10pm, just be ready."

"Okay, thank you." She waved off my appreciation with a smile and I grabbed my bag and headed home to practice on the cello one last time, I won't be home for three days and Brit is cool with it as long as I come back victorious. This is my first and probably my only chance to be a star, and I must not blow it.

I just hope stardom is ready for me.

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I was seated outside looking at the sky and at the millions of stars scattered above as the moonlight shone brilliantly casting its glow on me. Then I danced to a beautiful melody as it played from my phone, not what I will be dancing to tomorrow, tonight I just want to feel the flow of the music and nothing more…not in preparation of a competition, but as the regular average Ireolamide that I am.

I looked up at the sky and saw a shooting star, I don't believe in making wishes on stars but…I wish I go pass stage one tomorrow.

"God, I ask for your grace, please empower me…I need your grace to be with me, I need your presence around me lord, my practice would be nothing without your grace. I ask that you favor me tomorrow and all through this competition, I don't want all my rehearsals to go to waste o lord, I don't want Miss Fiona's training to be in vain. I want to have this chance to prove my worth to the world, please Lord, you are all I have and all my hope is in you. Amen."

I went back into my room to grab my bags and bid Brit good bye, I'll see her in the next three days…by God's grace. I hope tomorrow will be my own silver lining.

God, all this trouble I'm passing through better be worth it.

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My mouth dropped as Miss Fiona drove into her compound "are you sure you're not married?" I asked her looking at the beauty I was in.

"very funny, my ex is a musician remember? He got me this place…well, we split the bills for this place."

"I want to be like you when I grow up."

"Well, tomorrow is your chance to; take it and hold it firm."

"I will."

We walked into the large bungalow and I was almost blinded by the white florescent bulbs as I walked on the black tiled floors. I could see my reflection in it, does she have a house help?

She showed me to my room and I was awestruck, there was a place I could practice my moves, there was literally a barre there.

"The boys are in the next room," she informed me.

"Wait, they are here already? Do you know them?" I asked astonished.

"Well, they are dancers, right? So yeah, it wasn't hard for them to meet up with me."

I dropped my cello case at a corner and bounded to the next room to cause mayhem as always.

"And welcommee…ewwwww, dude!! Put on some clothes, would you?" I screamed at the sight of Muyiwa's shirtless body (I should be drooling but…Samuel's is hotter and Muyiwa is a goat and a butt-face.)

"Like you don't like what you see?" he asked teasingly.

"Perv." I snorted and bounced on the bed next to Samuel.

"You know…" Muyiwa started, "it's not really a good idea to be here with us, one of us might be horny."

"Be horny to death, I'll slap the konji out of you." I retorted and we all burst into laughter, I swear I love these guys, "so…" I continued, "How did you dweebs even know my trainer anyway?" I asked and listened to the narration of how they met Miss Fiona, fascinating, it's good to be connected though. I ran my fingers on Samuel's abs making Muyiwa jealous. "You do know I'm a boy, right?"

"Of course," I agreed, "…but, he is more human than you are and you have a girlfriend, he doesn't"

"Because he has a crush on you."

"Yeah right," I snorted.

"it's true babe," Samuel confirmed and I hit his chest hard making him grunt in pain, then I gave him a "don't joke with me" look before running my fingers on his abs again, these things should be given as gifts to girls, I'm literally melting with my fingers on it alone. We chatted for a while before I was sent to my room because I'm the competitor, I need to be well rested. But I'm stubborn you know, I didn't go to bed immediately, I went to practice on my cello even though it's for the final presentation, then I arranged my outfit in my bag and hair accessories, I don't want to be in a rush tomorrow morning, we'll be leaving very early.

# # # #

"Morning dearies, did you sleep well?" Miss Fiona asked as we climbed into the car.

"I didn't," I screamed. I honestly couldn't sleep properly, I kept on tossing and turning, I was worried about sleeping past the time I ought to get up, and I dreamt I lost it, like, why the hell will I have such a dream? I thought you have positive fantasies when you have a big event coming up, it's probably not the same case with me.

"try to catch some z's before we get there," she advised and I did as I was told, laying on the chair and resting my head on Samuel's laps, I drifted off to sleep, dreaming of black and stillness and I was so glad about that, I don't need another nightmare on the actual day of the competition please.

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"Is she getting up?" I heard a voice ask.

"No, can't we just carry her backstage?"

"No, only contestants and trainers are allowed backstage."

"Let's just wake her up one more time, we don't know if she's dead"

"Bro!"

I felt a light shaking of my body and my eyes opened and shut.

"Get up Ire"

"I'm up," I responded,

"No, you are not, stand up!"

I opened my eyes and saw three faces looking down at me, I blinked twice then realization struck me.

"Oh my God! Is the competition over? Did I sleep past the time? I lost, didn't I?" I panicked.

"Calm down cheetah," Muyiwa coaxed and I looked at him with an unreadable expression, "you're right in time, you just need to freshen up." Oh, that feels much better.

"c'mon, I need to apply some makeup for you, you don't look well rested."

"Nah… just some oils will work,"

"Anyhow, let's go." I grabbed my bag and followed her backstage waving bye at the boys as we entered the building.

Once in, I felt much warmer and awestruck, I smiled with a spring in my step, all around me were dancers in various attires and I saw a ballet duet and smiled, I'll say hi to them later.

Who knew a competition could be so sophisticated.

"awww, the useless girl is here,"

That all too familiar baritone voice that I would never mistake for any other, I turned around and greeted through clenched teeth,

"Merion."