Chapter 2 #2
Or when there isn’t a studio free where I can let my guard down and dance.
I shoved the thought aside. Being in Mom’s cramped office was better than doing what I loved. I just wished the hollow feeling in my chest agreed.
Eventually, I lost myself in my writing.
I could always depend on the wizarding world to whisk me away.
By the time my hand cramped, I glanced up to see practice was winding down.
I straightened and set my notebook down on Mom’s desk.
Then I pressed my hand into my lower back, not realizing until now how cramped I felt.
Writing hunched over was wreaking havoc on my back.
Despite my best efforts, my gaze went directly to Ethan who was red faced and sweaty. I could tell from the way he was limping that Mom had not been gentle with this practice. She’d shown them what it was like to be a ballerina and they felt it.
Everywhere.
I allowed my smile to twitch on my lips.
Serves them right. I could only imagine the jokes they told each other when they learned they were going to a ballet school.
I’m sure words like 'sissy’ and ‘girlie’ were thrown around a few times.
The overly confident boys that first walked into the studio were now hunched over and shuffling out of the studio.
I was pretty sure they were eating their words.
I slung my backpack on my shoulder and moved to walk out of Mom’s office. But, just as I reached out to grab the door handle, it swung open to reveal Mom’s irritated expression.
“I know, Bianca, but there’s nothing I can do.
I made a commitment to their coach. They need to learn discipline and my dancers need to learn teamwork.
” Mom sidestepped me like I was a piece of furniture in her way.
She set her clipboard down on her desk and pinched the bridge of her nose.
She reserved that move only for Bianca when she was being a pain in the butt. Which was pretty much all the time.
“Ms. Boucher, I understand you made a commitment, but this is my career we’re talking about. If I don’t dance in the winter final, scouts won’t see me. If scouts don’t see me, I don’t get into Juilliard.” Bianca had her hands firmly planted on her hips.
Mom sighed and glanced over at her. “Rethink your statement, Ms. Jones. Every noun in there was I. Do you see why this school might have a teamwork problem?”
I stood in the corner, my gaze moving from Mom back to Bianca who looked like she’d just swallowed a lemon. I wished I had a bucket of popcorn and a soda, the drama was getting good.
Bianca sputtered a few times and then threw her hands into the air. “So that’s it? There’s nothing I can do?”
Mom turned to face Bianca, folding her arms across her chest. “There’s nothing you can do about it. Not if you want to dance in the winter final.”
I wanted to cheer and proclaim that the score was now Mom—one, Bianca—zero, but decided to keep my mouth clamped shut. I could sense the tone in the room and figured neither parties would be happy with my sudden outburst.
After an iceberg-melting stare from Bianca, she stormed out of Mom’s office, nearly running poor Eve over in the process. I shot Eve a sympathetic smile as she steadied herself and then disappeared around the corner.
Mom’s shoulders were tight when I turned my attention to her. She had her hands pressed down on her desk and I could tell she was stressed. It was the kind of stress that went beyond everyday Bianca drama.
Something else was going on.
“Everything okay, Mom?” I asked. There were very few times I tried to reach Mom on an emotional level, but this felt like a heart to heart was needed.
Mom started and glanced over at me as if she’d forgotten I was even there. She cleared her throat and her moment of emotional weakness had passed. The return of Ice Mom was back. “I’m fine.” She sniffed. “Make sure the locker rooms are tidy. I’ve got work to do.”
I nodded, feeling like a fool to try and give Mom my sympathy.
Everything was work first, mother/daughter relationship later with her.
I dropped my backpack in the corner. There was no way I was going to need it anytime soon.
When Mom said she had work to do, that meant, buckle up, we’re staying the night.
There was no way I was lugging my calculus book throughout the school.
“I’m on it,” I said as I moved to slip from her office.
“Collette?” she asked.
I couldn’t help but pause and turn my focus to her. “Yeah?”
Mom had sunk down into her chair and was rubbing her temples. “Order takeout please. We’re going to be here for a while.”
I saluted her and then stepped out into the hall. Cleaning the locker rooms would only take an hour. After that, I just might be able to sneak into one of the studios for a little R&R time to myself. I could turn on the music and lose myself in the movements.
With the way my shoulders were tight and stress had literally lodged itself into my joints, I needed the release dancing gave me. And for the first time all day, I felt excited.
Once everything was cleaned, I would dance my heart out.
Once everything was cleaned, I was finally going to be me.