Chapter 1
My shoes traced the marley floor in a rond de jambe and circled back around into first position, brushing into a tendu in front of me. In laymen's terms, I made a circle with my leg and brushed into an arched point on the floor. My practice ballet shoes were battered and worn-out, the gray beginning to show from the soft pink. This was my last time at the dance studio.
I looked at myself in the mirror and wondered if they would even have this kind of paradise in my new town. Sighing, I adjusted the straps of my black leotard and shimmied my skinny hips to fit better in the sheer-fabric, black dance skirt I was wearing. I switched to my right side and began working my left leg. Front, around, back. Front, around, back. Back, around, front. Back, around, front. Front, lift, around, back. Front, lift, around, back. Relevé. Repeat. Etcetera. I was very used to my routines for working my leg strength. My right leg needed more work than my left, being left-handed and all, but I knew I had to keep both my legs strong so I could go on pointe.
The strong rhythm of Fossils by Saint Sans echoed through the mirrored room as I continued with a series of plies, some going only halfway down and some going all the way to the floor. I felt my thighs work and when the music dwindled, I stretched them by kicking my leg up on the bar and leaning towards my foot.
"Darling, we have to get a move on. Time to say goodbye," my mother called from the other side of the room. "Then, get changed and come on out. The movers are here with the truck and we have to go…now."
Slowly, I lowered my leg, the magic of the moment gone, possibly forever. I walked over to Madame Christine, my shoes dragging on the floor and making muffled scuffs on the marley. The woman opened her arms and gave me a hug. Her crazy blonde hair was patted down and depressed-looking.
"We'll all miss you, Tessa, dear," she said softly before kissing my forehead and pointing me towards my class. My eyes filled with tears as I saw my best friend Kaylee. I ran towards her and threw my arms around her neck.
"Oh God, Kaylee!" I sobbed. "What if I never see you again? We're supposed to be inseparable!"
"I know," she cried with me. Her fair face was stained with red blotches and her usually bright, chipper green eyes blinked rapidly. Strands of her black hair were glued to her face from when we had cried outside of the dance studio earlier. We'd be best friends ever since our first day in ballet class back in the old preschool days. "But I'll write. I promise."
"I promise too," I gulped. "Keep an eye on Ace for me, will you? Make sure he doesn't go out with anyone while I'm gone." Ace was the guy I had a continuous crush on ever since the first grade. He was gorgeous and in the tap class in the slot right before my ballet class.
"You got it, girl," Kaylee said through a forced smile. She sniffled before leading me into the dressing rooms to get changed. I dragged my feet as much as I possibly could, but eventually, I had changed into my purple-and-green T-shirt and jeans, stuffing my ballet shoes into my duffel bag.
"Tessa! Come on," Mother complained from the door. I turned and gave Kaylee one more bone-crushing hug before turning and rushing out the door without looking back. It would've been too painful. I climbed in the truck and closed the door, burying my face in my hands and bursting into a fresh set of tears.
(A few days later…)
I sat in my room, staring blankly at the gray wall. For a town as colorful as it was, the inside of my house was a dull and boring as it could possibly be. I couldn't wait to get some new paint in my room. My dad, in an attempt to patch things up between us as it was his fault that we had moved in the first place, was installing a bar and mirror in the living room so I could do my routines and keep my legs strong. He said he wanted to find a dance studio where I could go after school since both my parents were planning to work to pay off the house. I just sat on my bed and stared at the wall. School started tomorrow and all I could think about was Kaylee.
Around dinnertime, I picked myself out of my slump and grabbed my running shoes. Tugging them on, I called to my parents that I was taking a jog around the park (which I had located the day before) and would serve myself leftovers if I didn't make it back in time for dinner. With that, I burst out the door and took off down the street.