Page 12 of Fire Dancing For Icey Dragons (Obscure Academy #15)

ZARA

Nerves flutter within me even as I check names off the list on my clipboard and the rest of the Sapphire Sparks climb onto the bus that'll take us all to the finals. I can't believe the day is here, and that we're finally going to find out if our routine is as good as I think it is.

I hope I've done enough to guide the squad to victory. I want to be able to put the photo of me lifting the trophy next to the one of Mum when she was at the academy.

A familiar face appears by the bus, but it's not one of the cheerleaders.

"Hey, Blaze," Yuri says brightly. "Should we be getting you a Sapphire Sparks uniform? I think you'd look good in white and blue."

He laughs. "I think I'll stick to black, thanks."

I roll my eyes at my best friend and hand the clipboard over to her. She can do her part as vice-captain and make sure everyone is accounted for on the bus. "Hey," I say to Blaze.

"Hi. I just wanted to say good luck in case I don't get a chance to see you again before you perform," he says.

"Thanks." I get the urge to kiss him but manage to ignore it while we're around so many people. Except that there are plenty of private spots around here. "I'll be back in a second," I say to Yuri.

"Sure." From the expression on her face, I think she knows exactly what I'm thinking. Which isn't too surprising considering she's my best friend and has known me for so long.

I take Blaze's hand and pull him behind one of the other parked buses. I go up on my toes and press a kiss against his lips. He wraps his arms around me and deepens it, but it doesn't feel charged with anything other than emotions.

We break apart and I smile up at him. "Thank you for coming today," I say. "I really appreciate it." More than he can know. After Mum died, Dad stopped coming to my cheer competitions. I think it reminds him too much of Mum, and while I can understand that, it always hurts that there's no one in the crowd to cheer for me.

"Of course. But I guess there's something I wanted to ask you first," he says.

"Oh?"

"Do I get to cheer on my girlfriend today?"

My breath catches in my throat. "I'd like that."

He grins. "Good." He kisses me again, but only briefly. "Now go get them. I can't wait to see you win."

"I intend to." I head back to the bus, looking back over my shoulder to see him watching me leave. I wave over in his direction, enjoying knowing I've got someone there for me.

"Eurgh, I think I preferred cold and detached Zara to head-over-heels Zara," Yuri jokes as I return.

"No, you don't."

"Maybe not. But I swear you've had a personality transplant."

I roll my eyes. "If you really think that after knowing me for nearly four years, then I might revoke your best friend card."

She laughs and hands the clipboard back to me. "Everyone is on the bus and accounted for."

"Great, then let's get going." I get on and nod to the driver, putting myself in the seat at the front. Yuri comes to sit beside me and there's a hiss from the doors as they close.

My stomach ties itself up in a knot as the bus pulls out of the Obscure Academy car park.

"You know it's going to be fine, right?" Yuri asks me.

"Mmhmm."

"Okay, time to distract you," she says. "Tell me how things are going with Blaze."

"Good, I think. He asked me to be his girlfriend."

She snorts. "And you only think that's good?"

"I don't know, it's been a while since I dated," I remind her. "But he's coming to watch today."

"Wow, he must really like you."

"What gave it away," I deadpan.

"All right, fair. Now I need to know if he's got any hot friends."

"Didn't you meet them at the fire?" I ask. "I didn't really pay much attention."

"Mmhmm, you just went into the woods with your new boyfriend. They were nice. Not sure I want to date any of them, but then, is starting a new relationship really sensible when we're about to graduate."

I grimace. "You might be right there."

"Oh, Zara, I didn't mean anything by it."

I shake my head. "It's fine. Have you had any luck with your job search?"

"Actually, yes. I have an interview next week. I'm sure the job offer is going to come with stipulations about my grades."

"You'll be fine," I assure her. "You studied hard for your exams, and your dissertation was great when I read it. At least, I think so, I didn't understand half of the words."

She laughs. "That's reassuring, you weren't meant to," she responds. "Did you hear back from the school you applied to?"

I nod. "They won't take me unless I do the conversion teaching course, even if I don't want to teach. I think I'm going to see if I can do one. It might be worth it if it opens up more jobs for me." Even if I specifically want to be a coach and not a teacher.

"Good idea. But we shouldn't be worrying about these things today. They're all problems for when we get back and have a trophy in our flat."

I laugh. "You know it's supposed to go to the academy's trophy display case, right?"

"Well, yes. But we don't have to give it to them tonight, do we?"

"No, I guess not."

"Good. Because I imagine everyone will want to go down to the Phoenix to blow off steam. You know it's going to be a tense day."

I take a deep breath. "That's saying something." Yuri and I aren't the only final years. This is the last chance to lift the trophy for a few of the others too. And the first for others. But they're all hungry for it. It's been easy for me to see as much in the past couple of weeks. I just have to hope that it pays off.

Yuri leans back in her seat and I know from years of sitting beside her on bus trips that she's about to fall asleep. I pull out my headphones and stick them in so I can listen to my cheer playlist. It's what I listen to whenever I'm trying to work on a routine or I'm getting psyched up for a competition.

I just have to hope it's going to be enough today.