Chapter One:

"Boo! Boo, I asked you a question, like, five years ago." Ginny said loudly, snapping in front of Boo's face.

"Sorry, what?" Boo asked, turning around. Please don't say she saw who I was looking at.

"I just wanted to know if you have any spare lamb's wool," Ginny asked, tying the ribbons on her left pointe shoe. "I was going to put some over my lovely bruised toenail." She got out her right shoe and flexed the shank in anger. "Damn bar warm-ups," she muttered under her breath.

"Oh, no, my brother dropped my other pair in the toilet," Boo groaned.

Ginny looked up, startled. "Wait, why was he…"

"I don't know," Boo sighed, shaking her head.

Sasha walked in and threw her bag on the chair, angrily opening up her closet.

"Woah, does that mood come with a caution sign?" Ginny asked.

Sasha threw her head back as she took her pointe shoes and legwarmers out. "I'm boooored. This frickin' town is so boring."

Boo turned back to the dressing room window and looked out at the people practicing. "It's not that bad."

Sasha looked more closely at Boo, coming up behind her so she could see where she was looking. Following her line of vision, she saw that Boo was staring at Carl, who was at the barre – and her eyes weren't just lingering there. Boo was clearly staring at Carl.

"Boo!" Sasha said abruptly, startling her. "Enjoying the view?" she asked, smiling slyly. She had caught Boo in the act, and she knew Boo knew it.

Boo put the box of her shoe on the ground, flexing her foot into a pointe while blushing madly. "Shut up, Sasha. You stare at Roman all the time."

Sasha rolled her eyes. "I actually do things with Roman. Unlike you, who just stares at people with googly eyes."

Boo pointed her foot harder in anger. "I do NOT have googly eyes.

Sasha slid her foot past the elastic of her shoe and began wrapping the ribbons around her ankle. "Whatever you say. Here's an idea, take the spot at the barre next to him."

Melanie bounced through the door, her long brunette hair still swaying down her back. "Take the spot at the barre next to who?" She looked at Boo. "Is Boo going off about the elf again?"

"Melanie!" Boo said indignantly. "He's not an elf! Ginny, tell her!"

Ginny looked at Boo sheepishly. "You DO have a few inches on him, Boo."

Boo took her sweatshirt off. "Okay, I am TALLER than him, but not by that much."

"By like four inches!" Melanie scoffed.

The door to the studio swung closed, and Madame Fanny's voice rang through. "Class is starting in five minutes!" Then quieter, "Michelle, get the other barres in place."

Sasha, now in full ballet attire, stood up. "I'm going to plan something this weekend."

Melanie scooped her hair up to start her ballet bun. "Plan what?"

Sasha shrugged, crossing her arms. "I don't know, something. If I spend one more day in this life without something to look forward to, I'll bash my head in with my pointe shoes."

Ginny stood up, going up in releve to stretch out her ankles. "Even if you do plan something, what will we do?"

Sasha sighed and leaned against the door frame. "Something with more people than the four of us. No offense, but it's ALWAYS just us on Saturday nights. Why not have other people? Maybe I'll have a party at my house."

"What about your parents?" asked Boo.

Sasha smiled. "Please, they never do anything but yell at each other. It would be a miracle if they stopped for two seconds to realize there was a party."

Everybody started filing out of the dressing room and downstairs, but Ginny stopped Boo. "You really should stand next to Carl at the barre."

Boo looked back out at Carl nervously. "I don't know."

Ginny smiled and looked out at the studio. "Seriously, you should! You can make small talk during arabesques or something."

Boo looked at the ground. "I have, like, zero extension though. It's not exactly showing off in front of him."

Ginny knew it was true, but she didn't dare say that. "Well, just try. Accidentally bump into him or something."

Boo laughed sarcastically. "Oh yeah, I'll kick him in the head with my pointe shoe. That'll leave a good impression."

Ginny sighed and yanked on Boo's arm. Ignoring her protests, she tugged her down the stairs and into the studio area. The spot beside Carl at the barre was still open. Ginny gestured at it and left Boo to decide whether she would take it.

Boo looked at it apprehensively, then stepped forward.