Page 27 of Fire Dancing For Icey Dragons

"Congratulations," he says, holding it out to me.

"Thank you." I take the trophy, marvelling at how heavy it is. Several of my squad seem to realise and lean in to help me raise it above my head.

A tear rolls down my cheek but it's impossible to wipe away. I can't believe we actually did it. We worked hard, there's no doubt about that, and now it's all paying off. I get to say that I won the cheer competition as captain, just like Mum did when she was at Obscure Academy.

Chapter 16

BLAZE

My phone lights up, getting my attention from where it's sitting on my bed. I brush out the covers a couple of times and flick on the kettle so I can make some tea for Zara. I know she likes it as hot as I do, and her message should be her entering the building, giving me just enough time to finish getting ready for her.

As if proving how perfectly we've judged it, the doorbell goes off as I pour the water onto the tea.

The creak of a door suggests that one of my flatmates has gotten up to go and answer it. I should have thought about that and asked for a little extra time so I didn't inconvenience them. They were nice people, if a little loud when they decide to party, and I don't want to put them out just because I have a date.

I hurry out of my room to see Krissi opening the front door.

"Zara, what are you doing here?" she says, surprise in her voice.

"I'm here to see Blaze, we've got a date," Zara says, looking a little uncomfortable.

"I'm here," I say, hurrying down the corridor and getting a confused look from Krissi.

"Did you just come out of room eight?" she asks.

"Well, yeah. That's my room." I gesture unnecessarily to it.

She blinks a couple of times. "That's Craig's room."

"Yes, my room," I respond.

Understanding dawns on Krissi's face. "You'reCraig?"

"Last I checked. Did you not know that?"

"No, I thought your name was Blaze, that's what you introduced yourself as."

"Ah, yeah. Well I'm technically Craig Junior, but everyone in my family hated calling me that. Some of my friends started calling me Blaze when they found out I was a dragon and it stuck. Suits me much better than Craig."

"You're Craig," Krissi mutters. "All right, erm, have a good date." She disappears back into Jeremy's room.

Zara raises an eyebrow. "What was that?"

"Apparently she didn't know I lived here," I joke. "It's only been a year."

"Maybe I should rethink her bid for cheer captain with those observational skills."

I chuckle. "In fairness, I really haven't introduced myself to anyone as Craig since I got to the academy."

"I didn't know it was your name. Blaze suits you better, but I did assume that was your actual name. It wouldn't be the first time I've met a dragon named after something fiery."

"Mmm. True."

"And it's hardly worse than Krystal."

"Is that Krissi's full name?" I ask as I push open my bedroom door and gesture for Zara to step inside.

"It is." She smiles. "This is nice. And exactly like my room."

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