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

as we dance. I find myself staring into the mirror, my eyes intense and glittery. Today I feel like fire and lighting is crackling under my skin and the harder I dance, the bigger I dance, the better it feels.

When class finishes I collapse on the floor, glad to have a break for the next hour before our ballet rehearsals begin. “You okay?” Lisa, peers down at me.

I smile up at her. “Yup, just tired,” I say. She still looks concerned.

“Um, I heard you and Hannah in the dressing room. You want to talk about it?”

“Nope,” I say, rolling over and climbing to my feet. “We’ll work it out eventually,” I add. I assume so. I know I owe her an apology, but I don’t think today is the day it’s going to happen.

Chapter 21 Hannah

Every few minutes, another wave of emotions brings a lump to the back of my throat. Each time my cheeks burn with embarrassment remembering what I said to Olivia, tears prick at the corner of my eyes. I can’t meet anyone’s gaze. Even Ms. Parker’s.

“Hannah, your spacing is off again. Come on sweetie, get it together.” I nod, quickly moving to the center of the group, feeling everyone’s eyes boring into my back. I don’t want to be the reason rehearsal runs late.

Lisa tries to catch my eye but I keep my gaze fixed on myself in the mirror, not seeing myself but too afraid that if I meet her or Katy’s eyes I won’t be able to stop the tears from falling. The only thing worse than keeping everyone in rehearsal late because I can’t get the spacing right, would be keeping everyone late because I’m a big cry-baby.

“You sure you’re okay?” Lisa asks at the end of class. Olivia slips past us and into the dressing room, I want to say something, to explain, or apologize. I want things to be back to normal, but that’s not possible.

“Hannah, I have to go. My mom’s waiting, but promise you’ll text me if you want to talk?” I nod my agreement and begin my rounds of the studio, picking up trash, sweeping and wiping down the barre and mirrors. The monotony of the tasks helps, but it also gives me time to think. I don’t know if I want to cry because I’m embarrassed for making such unfounded accusations or sad that it feels like our friendship is truly over. I feel lost, like I just broke a part of my soul.

I fish my phone out of my bag as I climb in my car to drive home, hoping for a message from Trevor. Something to distract me from the weight of my thoughts. My mood starts lifting at the sight of a notification waiting for me.

(hannahbananaballerina): marvelousStanLey sent you a post by russianballerinas

marvelousStanLey: This is gross. Please tell me your teachers don’t do this to you

Well, Trevor never disappoints, I’m definitely distracted from my thoughts now. I cringe at the video he sent. It’s from a Russian rhythmic gymnastics school. The teacher is standing on the legs of a little girl, probably 6 or 7 years old, while pushing her torso down over her splits.

Hannahbananaballerina: That’s disgusting, and no, my teachers would never. There’s an old joke in the ballet world “no matter how good you are there’s always a Russian fetus out there who’s ten times better”

Trevor responds almost instantly, as usual.

marvelousStanLey: That is equal parts funny and sad. How was your day?

Hannahbananaballerina: Terrible, how’s yours?

marvelousStanLey: Terrible? What happened?

Hannahbananaballerina: I don’t want to talk about it. How about you send me something funny instead?

marvelousStanLey: Funny, cute or both?

Hannahbananaballerina: Both?

marvelousStanLey: Your wish is my command Twinkle Toes (I still want to know what happened though)

Hannahbananaballerina: I’ll tell you later, I don’t have the energy for it right now. About to drive home from dance. So. Tired.

(hannahbananaballerina): marvelousStanLey sent you a post by puppiesrcute

(hannahbananaballerina): marvelousStanLey sent you a post by dogfails

(hannahbananaballerina): marvelousStanLey sent you a post by puppywalks

(hannahbananaballerina): marvelousStanLey sent you a post by labradorsssss

(hannahbananaballerina): marvelousStanLey sent you a post by D0gm3m3s

(hannahbananaballerina): marvelousStanLey sent you a post by ball3tpupp1es

My phone buzzes with incoming notifications the whole way home. I wait until I park, then sit in my car in the driveway laughing at the onslaught of silly dog memes. By the time I get to the end, I’m feeling much better.

“I’m home!” I call out as I walk in the door, poking my head in the kitchen to see my mom slicing up an apple. “Hi,” I say, swiping an apple slice from her plate.

“Hey honey, how was dance?” she asks, slapping at my hand as I reach for another slice. “Get your own!” I grab another apple slice from the plate with a grin. “There’s an envelope on the table for you,” my mom adds, faking nonchalance.

I rush to look and there it is, a long white envelope, the letters “CBS” in big red print in the upper left corner. This was it, Classical Ballet School of New York. Any lingering worries about my conversation with Olivia disappear in an instant. This was either going to be the worst day of my entire life, or the beginning of my future dreams. I pick up the envelope, swallowing my bite of apple, nearly choking on it.

Dear Hannah,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to the Classical Ballet School of New York’s summer intensive. Additionally, we are pleased to offer you a 50% talent-based tuition scholarship based on your audition. Below is an outline of the tuition and….

“Ahhhhhhh!” I scream, clutching the paper to my chest. “Mom! Mom! Dad!”

“What? What happened?” my dad yells, running down the stairs as fast as he can.

“Well? What does it say?” my mom calls, stepping quickly out of the kitchen behind me.

“I got in! I got in!” I cry, jumping up and down until my mom wraps her arms around me, hugging me tight. She starts jumping with me, the acceptance paper in my hands