Read Online No One's Watching by Sandy Green - Free Book Online Page B

Championship and Open Championship. At a special competition called a feis . Rhymed with mesh.
    I gathered my dance bag and slung a towel around my neck. “You compete in dances wearing hard shoes and soft shoes?”
    Lindy’s eyes shone like they were lit from behind. “Yes. You can wear a special solo dress if your school lets you.”
    We wandered out to the hall where they traded descriptions of their competition dresses. Stiff silk decorated with fantastic sparkles and glitter.
    Candace tugged at my dance bag from behind. “How did it go with super hottie?”
    I slowed. “He asked me to work with him some more after dinner.”
    She squeezed my arm. “Sweet.”
    Megan and Lindy squealed by the elevators, as they explained to each other the wigs they wore in competition. Wigs. On twelve-year-olds.
    I nodded toward the shrimps. “Those two are coming along as chaperones.”
    Candace frowned. “Chaperones? What do you mean?”
    I punched another elevator button. “It’ll take too long to explain. I’m meeting him — and them — here at seven-thirty.”
    â€œCould be fun.” She leaned against the wall.
    â€œCould be.” This extra rehearsal I wanted so desperately with Blake pointed out to me I wasn’t serious enough about moving to a different performance class. I had to be strong and stick to my goals. I wasn’t about to disappoint Mom, and myself, by not getting all I could out of this dance camp. And by dance camp, I meant ballet camp, even though dancers came especially for the varieties of dance.
    We stepped inside the elevator with other dancers, and I pressed the button for the fifteenth floor. I had to be willing to do anything to get the part I wanted.
    Blake called, “Hold the elevator.” He scooted inside with Shelly trailing behind him.
    She laughed. “You’re so funny. Some of us are going to hang out at the hot tub tonight after dinner. It’ll feel great. You’ve got to come.”
    â€œI’m not sure I can make it.” He nodded at a couple of other guy dancers and moved close to Candace and me.
    Not sure? I folded my arms in front of me. What happened to the extra rehearsal? It was his idea after all. I patted my moist upper lip with the towel around my neck. Actually, what did I care if Blake made the rehearsal tonight? I dug my fingernails into my palms. I got so easily distracted. Some guy who smelled good and recognized me made plans for an extra rehearsal and I abandoned my life’s goals. I would never make them if I didn’t first concentrate on improving my ballet technique. It didn’t matter who showed up for this extra Irish dance rehearsal.
    Candace leaned around me. “I didn’t know the college had a hot tub.”
    Shelly scowled. “It’s by the pool where they do physical therapy.”
    â€œGood to know. Isn’t it?” Candace’s face was full of questions, as she shifted her eyes from Shelly to Blake, like was he seriously going to join Shelly in the hot tub?
    â€œThe tub only holds a few people because it’s basically used for athletes to run in. I know the physical therapist, and she’s letting me go tonight. It’s not an open invitation. In fact, no one’s supposed to be there after hours. The only people I’ve invited are in the advanced ballet class.” Shelly smirked.
    I didn’t want to embarrass Blake by pointing out to Shelly he had to move to Intermediate II ballet when he was placed in the Irish dance class with me. Sweat trickled down my back. The elevator ride was agony. It must’ve been hamster powered. I pictured giant rodents running in their wheels, drawing up the elevator with huge cables. We squealed to a stop.
    Blake and Shelly burst from the doors on the fourteenth floor. “Did you pack a bathing suit? Not that it matters.” Shelly giggled and faced me from the hall. “I