Tris' POV
"Let's go everybody! Get to the barre and warm up!" Four, our dance instructor orders us. He's the young owner and head dance teacher at the dance company called Dauntless Dance. I've been dancing since I was five and joined his company when I was fourteen.
He started running the place when he was 16 under his father's help and now two years later, he has full ownership of it. I line up behind my best friend Christina at the barre for class. We practice the moves he tells us in silence.
After an hour of pirouettes and arabesques, I'm tired and sit on a bench by the door to wait for my parents to pick me up. They're late again and I am the last one here. Four begins to turn off the lights and close everything up when he sees me.
"Hey! I noticed that you've been waiting here for a long time for your parents. Do you want me to call them?" I shake my head no. They worship my brother but forget about me. My brother Caleb is smart, they don't understand the purpose of dance. They only pay for me to go here to keep me quiet.
He sighs, sitting next to me on the bench. "Well, I'm hungry so how about we get something to eat and I'll drive you home?" The idea excites and terrifies me at the same time. I don't really know him as anyone other than my intimating dance teacher, he's only two years older than me but I feel unease especially when eating around anyone.
Four takes us to a nearby diner where I order a diet Coke and a salad with light dressing on the side. My stomach rumbles as I watch him eat a burger and fries, foods that I forbid myself from eating. "Come on, that's not a real meal. You need to eat something." he urges .
I shake my head and make it a point to eat my salad though his burger practically makes me drool. At the end, I go to the bathroom and purge everything I've eaten. I grugle some water from the sink and scrub my face with soap to hide what I've done.
The car ride home is silent and when we arrive, I close the door behind me and thank him for the ride. "Where have you been, Beatrice? You know it is selfish to make your teacher drive you home!" my father shouts. I tell him softly that Four offered since no one came to pick me up.
I go up to my room and slam the door, knowing no one will notice. I work on my homework and try to relax before going to sleep.
I wake the next morning to sore muscles and fatigue. I slowly get dressed for school and take the bus like I do every morning.
I find a seat next to Christina and stare out the window until we arrive at school. School passes quickly and before I know it, I'm back at the dance studio. It is my second home, the place I feel comfortable and in control.
I change from my street clothes to a black leotard, tights and ballet shoes while wearing my hair in a tight bun.
Today, we're practicing a group dance routine for the competition this weekend. It's a high energy jazz routine with lots of turns in it. Trying to perfect it is tough and we have to rehearse it several times before we get a break.
I'm sweating and my heart is racing as I struggle to catch my breath. Christina brings me some water and we chat for a few minutes during break. "Ready for this weekend?" she asks and I nod. The rival dance team, Candor Crew, are our biggest opponents.
The other groups we come across like The Amity Acrobats and Erudite Eves aren't usually too difficult to beat so this weekend should be interesting. I'll be traveling alone since my family never seems to watch me dance or anything but I still find ways to enjoy it.
After break, we work on solo dances and I have a difficult lyrical ballet piece. It's a pretty song though and I enjoy dancing to it.I pirouette and turn as the music plays. She just wants to be beautiful, She goes unnoticed, she knows no limits.
I jjeté so I am literally bouncing and flying through the air next then releve, pushing my body upward. She craves attention, she praises an image. She prays to be sculpted by the sculptor.
I arabesque, reaching my right arm outward and my left leg at a perfect right angle. Oh, she don't see the light that's shining, Deeper than the eyes can find it. Then I cross into a fifth position and plié.
I pirouette and finish with my arms stretched out gracefully, arabesque en pointe and grand plié.Maybe we have made her blind, So she tries to cover up her pain, And cut her woes away. I Passé so that my left leg is above my right leg.
I rise into an Elevé and relevé. 'Cause covergirls don't cry, After their face is made I developpe so that my left leg is bent and my arms are outstretched. But there's a hope that's waiting for you in the dark, You should know you're beautiful just the way you are.
I fouette with my left leg on the floor as my right makes a turn, grand jjeté as a long jump. I assemble so I land on my feet as the music finishes playing. And you don't have to change a thing, The world could change its heart. No scars to your beautiful, We're stars and we're beautiful.
I finish and Four claps. He hugs around my middle, "Your dance is beautiful but you should always try to improve too. Keep tension here." he finishes, releasing me and our eyes meet in an intense stare until we pull away and I am done with dance for the day.
