Toe to Toe (On Pointe Book 1) by Penelope Freed (comprehension books txt) 📗

from the bright stage lights so he can make out the people sitting out there. The house lights come up as the awards finish and the audience starts moving from their seats.

I point her out to him, she’s in the aisle making her way toward the stage, “Ah, there.” A grin breaks out on his gorgeous face and he rests a hand on my shoulder. “Thank you Hannah. I look forward to working with you this summer.” And with that he turns away to speak to another dancer who has walked over to meet him.

I’m nearly bowled over from behind as Lisa throws her arms around me. “Oh my god Hannah!” she practically screams in my ear. I can’t help myself and I join her in jumping and squealing. I can’t believe I did it. This is better than I could have ever dreamed, a full scholarship to PSB and winning the Grand Prix. I might just explode from joy, it’s leaking out of every pore. My cheeks hurt from smiling so hard and my heart feels like it might beat right out of my chest.

My parents are standing hesitantly at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the stage, grinning at me. Katy rushes past them to tackle Lisa and me in a hug, her excited squeals joining ours. I manage to pull my head out from the tangle of arms and see Olivia standing nearby, a sad smile on her face.

I extricate myself from Katy and Lisa, the pair of them standing side by side at my back. “Hey,” I say. “Congratulations, third for Contemporary, that’s amazing Olivia.” I add. “I’m so happy for you.”

Olivia snorts. “Whatever. Grand Prix and a scholarship? That’s amazing Hannah.” Olivia swallows. “I’m really happy for you,” she adds after a moment.

“Hey,” I say as she starts to turn away. I take a breath, I need to say this. “You weren’t wrong. What you said last night.” Olivia’s eyebrows shoot up almost to her hairline. I cough, feeling uncomfortable, but glad I have Lisa and Katy behind me. They literally have my back and I’ve never appreciated them for it more. “Anyway. Thanks for caring enough to tell me.”

“I said it was because I was pissed at you. But you’re welcome,” Olivia responds with a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “And back at you.” she shrugs and disappears into the crowd of adults and other dancers surging towards me. I’m surrounded by people congratulating me, shaking my hand and hugging me. It’s a blur of faces, until suddenly my mom is hugging me tight, my dad’s arms wrapped around the pair of us.

“Ah! Sweetie I’m so proud of you!” my mom is saying over and over in my ear. I can hear my dad rumbling congratulations above my head as I’m crushed between them. “You did it, you did it,” she chants, squeezing me so hard I can barely breathe.

Just as my parents release me, Ms. Parker pulls me into an all-encompassing hug. “I’m so, so, so proud of you Hannah!” she whispers in my ear. Pulling back, she holds my shoulders and looks into my eyes. “You were breathtaking. And you made me cry,” she finishes with a laugh, her eyes glassy with tears. My own eyes tear up in response and we laugh at each other, tears running down our cheeks as I hug her tight.

“Thank you” I manage to get past the giant lump in my throat. “Thank you for believing in me and for being the most amazing teacher in the world. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Teaching you is a joy, Hannah. You’ve earned this, be proud of yourself. You deserve it.” With that, she steps back to make room for the crowd of dancers from our studio who rush in to hug and congratulate me. Looking out into the auditorium, I see Olivia and her dad walking out the door. Mr. Beck waves from the door and I wave back, but Oliva just stalks past him without stopping.

Until last night, I would have said she was one of my best friends, but now? I don’t know what we are. Are we friends who are in a fight? Are we even friends at all?

Chapter 19 Hannah

A week later I still don’t know where Olivia and I stand. I’m exhausted from the roller coaster of emotions I’ve been riding. Every time I see Olivia or Tyler at school I’m overwhelmed with anger and sadness. But when my phone buzzes and I see it’s another funny message or picture from Trevor, I get a bubbly rush of happiness. In my ballet classes I feel lighter than air, the high of winning the grand prix rushing back to me, while school leaves me feeling heavy and numb.

By Sunday, a week after winning at YIGP, I feel wrung out and limp, but I have to pull it together for one last audition. The Classical Ballet School auditions are the last event on my list, one last hurdle to clear before deciding where my future begins.

Lisa and I aren’t quite the first people to arrive at the audition, but we are close enough. I’m number eleven and Lisa is number twelve. We pin our numbers to the front of our leotards and walk into the studio. A few other girls are already in here, already claiming spots on the barre along one wall.

“Are we going to save a spot for Olivia?” Lisa asks.

“No.” I know I sound snarky, but I can’t bring myself to care.

“Woah…You okay?” Lisa asks.

“Yeah,” I sigh. “I’m just exhausted and right now I need to focus. I’ll tell you about it later, promise.”

Out of habit, I watch everyone who comes in the door, sizing them up—good feet, bad feet, messy hair, holes in the tights, interesting leotard. The sliver of confidence I’m holding onto after last weekend starts to slip as the room fills up.

At precisely noon, four people walk into the room and