Chapter 8 An Opportunity – Briar
AN OPPORTUNITY
brIAR
Now
“No dancing,” Remi pouts after I wrestled her into her pink leotard and tutu while hurriedly pulling her little ballet slippers out of her dance bag. The rest of her class is already warming up at the barre. She put up such a fight at Doctor Haven’s office that we’re running late.
Remi hasn’t quite taken to dance the way I wish she would. I was hoping the more she did it, the more she’d love it, but if anything, she’s only grown to hate it even more.
“Yes, dance,” I tell her with a frown. The last thing I want to do is force her into an activity she doesn’t like, so I need to figure something else out, but right now I need Remi in her class, so I can go to mine.
But when I reach down for her foot to put her slipper on, she rips it out of my hands, throwing it back on the ground with a wicked pout. I pause… I have to tread carefully because we so do not have time for a Remi-tantrum right now.
“No dance,” she says again, crossing her little arms and lifting her chin up to glare at me.
I let out a slow breath, pinching the bridge of my nose. She’s had a long day—I’ve had a long day. I just need to get us both to the end of it in one piece.
“Okay Rem, I’ll make you a deal,” I offer, not above bribery at this point.
Her little eyes flick up to meet mine with interest.
“You go to dance, and if Miss Emily says you did a nice job, I’ll put chocolate chips in your pancakes tonight.”
She visibly brightens, her arms falling to her sides. “Chocolate chips?”
“Mhm.” I nod, seizing the opportunity to snatch her right foot, successfully getting the slipper on while she’s debating whether or not my deal’s worth it. “In all their chocolate-y goodness.” I’m over-selling but… desperate times…
“Okay, chocolate chips,” she agrees, and I let out a sigh of relief when she offers me her left foot all on her own.
“That’s my girl!”
I deposit a light kiss on her forehead, leaving her in Studio C before turning and sprinting down the hallway. I dodge dancers and trailing glares of annoyance before attempting to slip into Studio A as quietly and unassumingly as possible.
I catch the warning look in Lily’s eyes while I put my pointe shoes on as fast as I can. I already feel Mr. Carr watching me, clearly displeased at my tardiness. At least he hasn’t kicked me out. Small victories.
I’m quick to the barre and fall into the warm-up routine with the rest of the class.
An hour in, I’m a mess of sweat as we go across the floor. But I’m distracted, unable to stop my mind from trying to work out how the hell I’m going to pay for that new injection. Apparently, it shows because Mr. Carr is quick to call out my mistakes, his tone growing sharper as the class goes on.
When he finally calls for a water break, it takes nearly everything in me not to collapse in relief.
“What’s up with you?” Lily hisses, scurrying over as I down nearly my entire water bottle in one go, breathing hard. “You’re so tense.” And then lower, in a near whisper, “Did something happen at the appointment?”
Tense? Yeah, I’d say so. My body is so wound up, I feel like I might explode. An anxious feeling has settled deep into my chest, and it seems no amount of intense cardio is going to shake it.
I glance around, drawing Lily slightly away from the rest of the dancers in our group before quickly filling her in on what happened at Remi’s appointment.
Her eyebrows nearly touch the sky when she hears the price.
“TEN THOUSAND dollars!” she exclaims, loudly, drawing attention from the other students.
“Shhh!” I nod, chewing on the inside of my cheek as I come up with ways I could get my hands on that money. But aside from pulling a bank heist, I’m falling short on ideas.
I’m in my final year of the pre-professional program at the Conservatory, and if it weren’t for my scholarship, dance and I would’ve been finished a long time ago.
The money Lily and I make teaching dance classes for the lower levels just about covers rent, groceries, and the bare necessities.
This is exactly the situation that led to my having to borrow the money from Gio in the first place.
“You’re not thinking—” Lily starts.
I shake my head. “I don’t know that I have a choice…” Referencing borrowing more money from Gio. Hell, I’m already in the hole, can I really make it worse?
But she’s adamantly shaking her head. “No. That’s a bad idea. You’re already in too deep with him.”
“Maybe I can pick up some more shifts at the club?” Lily was correct earlier. I am at my limit, but I could still try to do more. Who needs sleep, right? “I could pick up dancing shifts?” I whisper under my breath.
The club Gio was nice enough to hook me up with is a strip club.
While I have thought about picking up a couple of dancing shifts, I really hate when the men at the club try and touch me.
So, I’ve only been working bartending or serving shifts.
They don’t pay as much but they sure as hell pay a lot more than they would at a regular restaurant.
Lily doesn’t have time to respond because Mr. Carr calls the class back to attention.
He has us do the routine a few more times. My performance isn’t great; I’m tired, but surprisingly Mr. Carr doesn’t comment on it again.
“That’s it for today. Remember to practice overnight. I hope to see better results in class tomorrow.” His eyes stop on me, and I shift uncomfortably under his heavy stare. “Miss Ralston, a word?”
I feel the eyes of my classmates on me, so I nod stoically, straightening my shoulders back while scrambling to follow Mr. Carr into his office. He motions to a chair by the door, and I sit, uneasy, as he leans back in his.
“I hope you don’t have plans to go home for winter break?”
Having not been home in four years, no, I don’t have plans to break that streak anytime soon.
“I’ll be staying in Boston,” I confirm.
“Good.” He nods sharply. “Because Catarina broke her ankle.”
My mouth drops. “Oh my god, is she okay?” Catarina is the lead in the pre-professional piece for the upcoming winter showcase. If Catarina broke her ankle, that means…
“She’s as you’d expect her to be.” His eyes flick to mine. “Or well, you should know exactly how being forced to give up a major role in a show feels.”
Ouch. That was pointed. He’s never going to forgive me for getting pregnant my second year and having to drop out of all major performances.
“Anyway, Catarina can’t dance the excerpt from Sleeping Beauty in the showcase. And you are our pick to replace her.”
Those are words I never thought would come out of his mouth. “But I thought Julia was her understudy?”
Mr. Carr’s mouth sours. “Julia can’t handle the role.” His gaze falls heavily on me. “Do you think you can handle it, Miss Ralston?”
No.
Yes.
Fuck.
“I think so,” I respond, carefully, still processing the implications.
Mr. Carr frowns and I swallow the lump in my throat, the one reminding me how Lily’s going home for winter break this year—and not to mention everything else I have going on with Remi at the moment.
“Yes, I can do it. I want it.” I don’t know how I’ll do it, but I will. I have to. This role could change everything.
He smiles, a rare sight, sitting back in his chair.
“This showcase is a huge opportunity for you, Miss Ralston. I didn’t hesitate when I recommended you for it.
But let me make myself clear: the showcase is a lot of work, both on and off the stage.
And it is also our biggest fundraising event of the year.
And as principal, you’re expected to attend all rehearsals, meet with sponsors, and of course, attend the winter gala. ”
The annual fundraising gala. There is nothing I hate more than the idea of stuffing myself into a formal dress and rubbing elbows with Boston’s high society. Nevertheless, I nod my agreement. Anything for this opportunity.
“If I see anything like I saw out there today, I will not hesitate to pull you from the showcase myself. Am I being clear?”
My cheeks are on fire when I nod. “Yes, sir.”
“Showcase practice starts next week; it will be on top of your existing schedule. You’ll make it work?” He eyes me questioningly, well aware of my situation with Remi and childcare.
“I’ll make it work,” I assure him, though I don’t know how.
But the showcase could land me a full-time job with the Conservatory or an audition with another dance company that could change everything.
I could pay Gio back what I owe him, fund Remi’s medical care, and not to mention get us out of Roxbury.
He nods approvingly. “I’ll e-mail you the rehearsal schedule.” I recognize the dismissal in his tone and rise from my seat, heading for the door.
“Oh, and Briar?”
I turn back. “The director of the Boston Ballet has just about confirmed attendance.”
My heart skips a beat. Possibly even stops beating altogether.
My dream company. Unlike my peers, I can’t just audition for any role, or rather, any company.
I have a child, so I won’t be able to travel for work, go on tour, or even travel for auditions for stationary roles in other cities.
The Boston Ballet is one, if not the only option.
And their auditions are invitation-only. They only take the best of the best.
Mr. Carr reads the look on my face. “Good. Now that you know the stakes, go home and practice. Your pas de chat looked like a pas de splat.”