Days were passing very smoothly and with each passing day our friendship was increasing. I was following the rules that my sister had made and everything was going smoothly.
One fine day,

"So there's a dance competition going to occur exactly after a week that's on the next Wednesday. It will be a duo dance competition. People who are interested can give their names," announced our class teacher.

With this announcement hooting was started in our class.

"Wait,wait,wait.My announcement is not just over yet. There will be only one round in this competition which will be judged by the dance teacher.The parameters will be:
1. Coordination with your partner.
2. Choreography and the dance style.       chosen.
3. Costume and song choice.
4. Stage presence and confidence .
And the most important thing is that the partners will not be chosen by you. But this time, there will be a completely different thing. While registering your name for the competition , you will be given a bowl
and you have to pick a chit. There will be two different bowls:one for girls and one for boys. "

"Ma'am, but what will be there on the chits?" asked one of the student.

"There will be numbers written on the chits. The guy and the girl who will have the same number on their chits will be made the pairs. This way, the competition will become more interesting and it will help the judges to judge how the dancers are able to coordinate with people with whom they have never danced before. A good dancer is the one who can manage and coordinate to give a wonderful performance with a known or unknown. So gear up yourself and submit your names by the break. At the end of the day, the partners will be disclosed," and with this, our teacher left the class.

The whole class was filled with gossips.Everyone was busy deciding whether to participate or not.

In my group, Siri, Kara and Navy were against dancing. Me and Eliza were left now. Eliza decided to take part as she will be able to bunk some lessons while practicing for the competition. I being a dance lover also agreeed to participate.
Two things were going on my mind. First, who will be my partner and second, is Alex also participating. But I didn't dare to ask him this thing. I don't know why but my heart said "No. "

Me and Eliza went to our teacher to get our names registered. After registering our names, the bowl was given. First Eliza took a chit. Number 5 was written on it. And now it was my turn. I closed my eyes and took out a chit. When I opened it, the number written was 3. We both moved back to our class with a hope that we will have a nice partner. Atleast a partner who knows dancing!

And now, it was the last period before the school was going to end for today. The teacher who always came on time was today late when everyone wanted her to come even before the actual time. The whole class was silently waiting for the teaher. And finally she entered.

"So here's the list with me. This time it's very sad to know that a total of only ten students are participating. There are five boys and five girls. So here I begin..
The students who got number one are, Rohan and Anna.
Students with number 2 are Ray and Kylie.
Students with number 3 are............ Alex and......."

"And who ma'am? "questioned Alex inpatiently.

"You and Sophie! "

"What! Can you repeat ma'am? ",said I.

"It's you and Alex. Any problem? "

"No ma'am. Not at all. "

How can someone tell her that this was the best thing that could ever happen. I was overjoyed but I tried to control my happiness.

"The children who got number 4 are Sam and Ria.
And,the children who got number 5 are Richard and Eliza.
And with this, we have our ten participants and in total, five pairs. Gear up yourself.May the best pair wins."

--------------

"So,even you gave your name," I asked Alex.

"Yes. Even you. You didn't tell me?"

" I thought to keep it a surprise.You like dancing or like my friend Eliza, you also wanted to bunk classes and thus, participated in the competition?"

"No, there's nothing like that. I like dancing, rather I love it. Also, it's the last year of the high school, so I have to make it a memorable one. "

"That's great. Even I love dancing. I dance when I am happy, I dance when I am sad and I dance when I am excited. "

"And you seem very excited right now. "

"Don't take tention I'm not going to dance right now. "
           
             (silent laughs !)

"Hey Alex, So you are also taking part,"said Eliza who was coming with Richard.

"Yes, But like you, I am not taking part just to bunk the classes. "

"So Sophie told you. "

"Yes. "

"And Richard, you also like dancing?" asked I.

"No, My case is same like Eliza,"said Richard.

"You seem to have many things in common," said Alex with a smirk.

"No, no " said Eliza and Richard together.

"See, your timings also match," added I.

The embarrassment was quite evident on Richard's face but Eliza, like always was enjoying the situation. It was Eliza's dream to have a boy friend before the high school ends. And this was the best opportunity that she could use. So she also played along.

Our conversation ended after ten minutes and it was decided that from tomorrow on, we will start practicing for atleast three periods but for Eliza and Richard, we extended it for five periods. As our school had only six periods, thus we decided to practice for first five periods and pretend to study in the last.

With this we bid a bye to each other.

*Home*

Amaranta are you home, and my sister shouted,"Yes Sophie. Come up. "
And I rushed to her room.

"Hold your breathe because what I am going to tell you is unbelievable. You know the coming Wednesday is a duo dance competition and I am paired up with...."

"Alex right?"

"How come you know about it? "

"It's quite evident from you face dear."

" I am super excited. But one thing,what dance form should I choose? I want to be close to him in such a way that he won't even mind nor he would get any idea that I like him. And except dance,there couldn't be a better way. "

"You can choose tango or salsa? "

" Tango would be way too much for a school level competition. Salsa is a good option but how will I ask him to do salsa? Wouldn't it look strange and odd? "

"That I don't know Sophie. For love you have to find ways... the ways which are your own. "

"Hmmm.... "

And after a long hug, we slept.