Page 41 of Shifting Forms For Clumsy Felines
"How long do we have to wait?" I ask.
"They're about to start the announcement," Jazz says from next to us, pointing at the scoreboard in front of us.
"Do we find out whether we've won before the audience do?" There aren't a huge amount of people here, but I still don't want to be too surprised.
She shakes her head. "They'll announce ten through four here, then tell the three teams who are at the top to go out onto the stage."
So we'll know within a few minutes if we're going to get a trophy. A small part of me knows that any of the top three positions are good because it means we get to move onto the next round of the competition, but I want to win. First place means more to me personally, and from the way she's acting, I suspect it does for Zara too.
Academy and university names start flashing up on the screen, starting with the bottom one. The whole room falls silent despite the dozens of people within it, and I can feel my heart pounding with nerves.
I can't tear my eyes away as the next few team names pop up, and the closer it gets to the top, the more I worry that we haven't managed to place at all. It's not how it works, and that I'm being irrational, but I can't help it.
My whole body is jittering with nerves.
"We could power the lights with your nervous energy," Grace mutters to me.
"How are you staying so calm?" I respond.
"Denial."
I let out a soft snort.
The screen updates, revealing the team that's come in fourth. I stare at it for a few minutes, barely registering that it's not ours next to it.
It updates again, revealing the top three teams, withObscure Academyright up there.
Jazz lets out a little squeal, but Zara's cool and collected stare shuts it down.
"It's too early to celebrate yet," Zara says to us all. "We don't know which position we've come in."
"But we're through to the next round, right?" one of the others asks.
Our captain nods, but we're ushered into the staging area before she can say anything else.
The other two teams come with us, but I don't pay any attention to them as I stand between Grace and Jazz as part of our team line. The lights are too bright for me to find my flatmates, but knowing they're watching reassures me, even if I didn't think it would.
I force a smile onto my face, knowing that it's important that we present ourselves well, especially if we don't end up winning the first place trophy.
"I'm sure you're all excited to find out which of our teams the judges have awarded full place to," the presenter says. "But a big congratulations to all of the cheer squads on the stage at the moment for making it through to the next round."
Applause and shouts come from the assembled audience as they celebrate for us. I find my smile getting bigger and becoming easier to maintain as the energy in the room starts to affect me.
"I don't want to keep you waiting any longer," the presenter says. "In third place, we have the lovely ladies from Queen Elizabeth's Academy."
A shrill scream goes up from the only all-female team on the stage and they start jumping up and down.
The captain steps forward to receive the bronze trophy, and I know there'll be medals waiting off stage for the individual team members.
My stomach starts tying itself up in knots at the realisation that we might have won after all. I know our routine was good, but I didn't see the other team perform, so it's hard to know which way it's going to go.
"And now, your winners for today's competition," the presenter says.
"Come on, come on, come on," Grace whispers from beside me, her eyes squeezed shut. I don't think I've ever seen her so desperate for anything.
"The winner is Hexington Academy," he calls.
The other team explodes into excited screams.