(Tom's Texts with Miss Katie)
Is it possible for me to get know Matilda better? ~ Tom
Sure! She is competing tomorrow with her dance team, you should come and watch! ~ Katie
That sound fantastic, I'll be there ~ Tom
(Matilda's POV)
"Where is it?!" I cry, I have to be backstage in 15 minutes and I can't find my bandana,
"Mal come on!" Nick says, it's clear that he's frustrated with me,
"Have you seen my bandana?!" I shout, several moms have turned and shushed me, god I hate dance parents! Constantly fussing over their children and the hovering,
"Mal, take a breath" Nick instructs, "have you checked your costume bag?"
The boy is a bloody genius! I dash over to the rack with the costumes and unzip my garment bag, and tied around the clothes hanger is the red bandana, I rip it off and dash past Nick trying not to slip,
"Hey Mal STOP!" I stop in my tracks, spinning on my heel I turn and face Nick,
"What?" I ask with a shrug,
"You're welcome" he says with just a hint of snark, I sigh I walk up to Nick and grab his shirt collar, and plant a kiss on his forehead. Now before you get any ideas let me say that Nick is gay and we are just friends.
"Thanks jerk"
"Your welcome punk, now go do your thing!" I dart down the hall tying my bandana around my head, I was trying to go for a biker-50's style chick, I had a black t-shirt tucked into a pair of jean capris, I put a crimson red plaid shirt over my black tee, my bandana was tied around my head and to tie it all together I put on bright red lipstick, I rounded the corner to the holding room and finally allowed myself to take a breath, I ran my pointer finger under my bottom lip, and sighed.
"Well there she is" a smug voice piped up from the other side of the room,
well crap...
"Hello Dawson."
"I'm loving the costume, it's very DIY" she snarks with a snort,
"Thanks, I love the way they made you look plastic" I respond with sarcasm, I smirk at her and I wait for her snappy reply, her mouth just hangs open for a moment then she snaps her jaw shut,
"Well your-"
I cut her off "shhhh! Don't speak you'll lower the IQ of the whole street!"
"Well you look ugly!" She states crossing her arms, and throwing her blond curls over her shoulder. Dawson isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but her looks make up for it. Her face is round and perfectly pale, her blond curls frame her face make her brown eyes stand out. She's tall and sleek, with just the right amount of curve,
"All tappers competing in the next category follow me back stage please." The stage hand calls waving us behind the velvet curtain. 6 girls and 1 boy follow. I'm not one to get nervous but today my stomach is doing flips, and I feel like I'm gonna puke,
"Quid facitis quod diligat te." I whisper to myself, that's Latin for do what you love, love what you do.
"Are you Matilda?" The stage hand asks, I nod in response, "Your on after Dawson, do you have any props?"
"Nope, just me myself and I"
"Cool, just wait here and I'll be back to get you one number before you go on." He says, and walks over to the next contest,
"Is the your first competition?" The boy contest asks nervously, he appears to be about 16 years old he has sandy blond hair and dark green eyes,
"Nope, I've been competing my whole life! What about you? Is this your first competition?"
"Ya, I'm just really scared I'm going to fall on my face"
"Don't worry about it, just go out there and try your hardest and if you do fall get back up and keep going" I tell him with confidence, "my names Matilda by the way!" I say sticking out my hand, he grabs it and gives it a halfhearted shake,
"Leo"
"Miss follow me please" the stage hand says tapping me on the shoulder,
"Good luck!" Leo calls as the stage hand drags me over to the curtain. Now normally I cheer on my competition, by it's Dawson and she will NOT be receiving any applause from me,
"And next we have Dawson Smith dancing HandClap!" The announcer says, and the peppy little princess struts on stage, Dawson is a classically trained dancer, so tap comes naturally to her. Like everything else, her looks, and money. Dawson ends the number in a cheeky pose she winks at the judges and walks off the stage,
"Good luck Matilda, try not to make the audience fall asleep!" She cackles
"And next we have Matilda Kane dancing Jonny got a boom boom!" The music starts, and my adrenaline starts pumping!
(Toms POV)
When Matilda's name is called I sit forward in my seat, she comes stumbling onto stage giving the audience a confused look, then she starts vigorously tapping, it amazes me that people can move their feet so quickly and still be graceful, when the song finishes Katie and the kids jump up and start cheering loudly, I follow their actions and do the same, my phone busses in my back pocket,
Tom
Hey Scar what's up?
How's it going with the adoption?
Good! I'm currently watching her compete.
What!
"Please welcome the dancers back on stage for adjudication!" The dancer file back on stage to receive their awards,
"How does this work?" I ask Katie,
"Each dancer gets a rank, Bronze, silver, gold or high gold, and then the adjudicator chooses her favourite number, the best choreography and the most promising number."
"I see" I scratch my neck, and Matilda walks onto stage, holding an older boys hand, " Katie who is that?"
"No clue" she says, with a puzzled look on her face, I vaguely remember the other dancers scores, but when Matilda steps forward I'm all ears,
"What a fun number!" The adjudicator squeaks "your facial expressions where amazing and you tap sounds were clear! So today I have awarded you a high gold and adjudicators choice!" She curtsies and is handed and small medal and a plaque, the crowd claps politely as the dancers exit the stage,
"Tom you should come and say hi!" Katie suggests, "I'm sure Mal would love that." I smile and follow Katie and the kids out of the isle.
(Matilda's POV)
"Leo you did awesome!"
"I got a silver." He sulks, running his hand through his sandy blond hair
"And most promising, that amazing for you first time competing!" I say enthusiastically, trying to cheer him up,
"I better get going, I'll see you around." Leo says looking over his shoulder,
"Is that your family?" I ask curiously,
"Ya my mum, dad, and little sister where's your family?"
"Oh I uh... I live at Katie's home for kids, I never knew my parents."
"Oh my god I'm such an ass, I'm so sorry!"
"Don't worry about it, give me your phone" I instruct, he hesitantly hand me his phone from his back pocket,
"What are you doing?"
"I'm putting my number in your phone, so we can stay in touch!" I hand him back his phone,
"I better get going, Katie is probably looking for me." I stand on my toes and wrap my arms around him,
"Hey umm I don't know how you feel about-"
"Your gay?" I ask cutting him off,
"Ya I don't know how you feel about that, you just seemed so nice and I wa-"
"Leo. My best friend is gay too, I'm totally cool with it, you know what you and Nick would be cute together, I'll send you his number." Leo blushes and smiles,
"See you around Matilda!" He says, I give him a small wave as he walks over to his family, I spin on my heel and scan the room for Katie and the kids.
Holy cow...
I am absolutely flabbergasted to see Katie, and the kids walking towards me with Tom Hiddleston, this dude is everywhere!
"Mal you did amazing!" Katie cheers wrapping me in a bear hug, I love Katie's hugs, they are warm and inviting! But I'm broken from this state of love and warmth when, Katie punches me in the arm!
"Owww! What the heck!"
"Why were you holding that boys hand?" She asks folding her arms across her chest,
"Oh that's Leo, it was his first time competing and he was scared he was going to fall when he came back onto stage, and before you accuse me of liking him, he's gay."
"Till he's like what - 16"
"And I'm 14, that's two years difference."
Katie looks me over, she sticks her bottom lip out and pouts, she sakes this feeling off when she glances over at Tom,
"Tom came to watch you dance!"
"I see that..." I reply, feeling very lost
"You did amazing!" Tom says, pulling me into a side hug.
Holy crap! Tom Hiddleston just hugged me! I scream in my head,
"Matilda would you like to join me for lunch?"
"YES!" I say enthusiastically, "Katie would that be all right with you?" She nods,
"Have her back by 8 or I'll set the littles on you!" Katie says teasingly,
"Let me you grab my bag!" I say, turning to head down the hall,
"Don't worry Mal I'll go get it" Katie says waving me towards the door, "have fun!"