Arabella loved getting ready for her shows, makeup, putting in her bun, and her outfit. She was so excited to be dancing her first competition of the new year. After she’s ready, her next stop is to pick up Sebastian, or “Sea Bass.” Sebastian was mostly shy around others, but not to her. They had been friends since preschool, and today was his 15th birthday. She was finishing wrapping her present for him, a tiny glass bird. It was bright blue and shimmered in the sun. She had found it when Sebastian and her had gone on a walk in the town by all the shops. She had stopped to tie her shoe, when she looked up to see the tiny treasure in the window. Sebastian also saw it the same time she had, they gazed at it for a long while. That was a good day before Leanne showed up. Leanne has always liked to make fun of Sebastian, calling him “Sea Bass” and getting all the other kids at school to make fun of him also. Not realizing it she glanced at her clock, and she was already late to the show, so she bounced up grabbing her bag and the neatly wrapped present, clutching it in her arm carefully so it wouldn't shatter. She got to the car with her mom waiting in the drivers seat. “Ready?” she said. With that they drove off.

The sky was bright, and not a single cloud was in sight. It was a shame she would be spending the whole day inside, she didn't mind though, she would be doing what she loved. It was quiet and nice, it gave her some time to think over her routine in her head. Soon they pulled up in Sebastian's driveway. It was very long leading up to a huge house, much bigger than hers, not to complain. She could remember playing hide-and-go-seek throughout the huge house, or in the backyard that sat on the edge of a crystal blue lake. “Bella go run up, and get him “ her mom said. She struggled out with all her dance bags crowding her in the back seat. She walked up and rang the silver doorbell, that played a beautiful tune she always had stuck in her head. She heard their dog Poppy barking in the background and Sebastian yelling “Shut up!” He came to the door with his neatly packed bags, and gave her a hug. “Happy birthday Sea Bass,” she smiled. “Thanks Belly,” he replied as they walked back down to the car. Once they put his bags in the car and found him a spot, she dug down in the pocket of her bag and handed him the little blue bird still wrapped up. He carefully opened the present and when he saw the bird, she could tell he was pleased with her gift. He smiled and nudged her playfully. “Out of all my gifts, this one is my favorite.” The rest of the way to the show was silent, she was watching Sebastian as he slept. He snored a lot, guessing he was probably tired after he told her of staying up all night, excited for his birthday. His lips were chapped, he always claims he doesn’t believe in chapsticks. She thought of these little things for the rest of the two hour ride.
When they arrived, she gently poked him “We’re here.” Out the window she could see her team in a group standing by Marty, the coach. Marty was looked up to by everyone, except Leanne. She didn’t care about anything. She opened the door, hauling her bags to a picnic table, with Sebastian right behind her. “Hey loser,” Leanne smirked at Sebastian. She stuck out her foot right in front of him. All his bags flew, and everyone laughed. “Come on lets go inside,” she grabbed his hand and pulled him inside. The show was starting soon, and if she didn’t do well she wouldn’t make the girls part, for the biggest show of the year, the one she’s been working up to as long as she can remember.
The hardest part was waiting for your turn to go on stage. She had been waiting for about an hour before getting called up, her solo. Her and Leanne were the only ones with solos, so it was a fifty-fifty chance between them for that girls part she wanted. She walked out to the middle of the stage, everyone clapping. When she sat down everything went quiet, and then the music started. She quickly jumped up and ran down the stage. Every move she did was a force, she had recited it so many times, it was locked into her brain. Full turn, pirouette.....she knew it all. The dance went by all so quick, then another applause, and she took her seat by Sebastian again. “Great job,” he whispered to her. She could tell he was nervous for his turn with a girl on her team named Sarah. No one likes being put with him, and she felt bad, if only people saw the things she saw in him. When he stood up to go on stage he had that same beam in his eyes. She knew he wanted to be great, and he wouldn’t let anyone bring him down, it was his dream, the same one she also had. They planned on getting that dream together ever since they were little.
She watched him closely, and when everyone clapped all her class didn’t, that’s how it was. He looked great up there alongside his partner. In her opinion, Sebastian looked much better. She loved the song he danced to. When she was thinking these things through her head she got these sudden feelings in her stomach. She wasn't sure what they meant. All her life she had a different feeling, like he was her brother, and now it’s like she loved him? She hoped they would go away. It felt weird. Thinking through the whole dance, she realized it was over. He came and sat back down. She didn’t know what to do. It was so awkward. “Hey” she croaked. “Um hi?” he teased back.
Now it was time for her team dance, the one her and Leanne would be judged on. She was scared to screw it up. She looked over at her coach, expecting a smile, or thumbs up, but saw him talking to Leanne. Isn’t she suppose to be up here she thought? With no time to think, the music started up, so she quickly got back into position. Leanne came bolting up next to her just in time. Things were racing through her mind for no reason, she knew she shouldn’t get worried, but she was. She was already knew Sebastian was going, from getting told so by the coach. Soon the music was over, and they told us to stay on stage. “Leanne, can you please step down?” And she did. She thought she had won, so excited, she smiled at Sebastian getting that feeling again, and he gave her a thumbs up. Then the microphone blared again from the judges. “Leanne withdraws,” the manly looking judge said. Then they were told to take a seat again. She ran up to Leanne who was almost out the door. “Hey what happened?” “I know you want this more than me, and I realized I don’t want to dance at all, you deserve it,” and with a smile she walked away.
Back at the stage everyone was congratulating Sebastian on his place in the show. Now it was her turn, did she make it? The judge then announced again through the microphone, “And congrats to Arabella!” She was so excited she could hardly breathe, she turned around to find Sebastian who she found standing right behind her, and picked her up gently twirling her around. She loved the feeling. Everything came out perfectly. She gently pulled him in and whispered “ I think I like you. “ He whispered back “ I think I like you too,” then he smiled and kissed her cheek softly.