I was surrounded by the smell of salty ocean water. The hungry screams of the seagulls, which were orbiting in the sky above. The early rays of sunlight, from the horizon. Everything was so perfect in this moment, that you wished you could capture it and store it in a jar for bad times. There weren't many people at Bondi Beach at this time only the few campers and early morning surfers like us. I felt the drops running down my body as I came out of the water. I threw the surfboard into the sand and disconnected the leash from my ankle.

„Hey Tony" I heard Riley call me „You already going?"

A boy about 5,7 feet came out of the waves. He ran through his wet light brown hair and went straight to his bag, which was next to me, to pull out a large towel that he threw at me. I caught it easily and dried myself up with it before I stripped out of the wetsuit to let my bikini dry. Then I reached for the body milk, in my bag, before I answered Riley who sat down next to me drying himself up with another towel

"Yeah…sorry" I pulled a t-shirt over my head before I went on "but I got stuff to do"

"Sure you okay? You seem tensed" Riley said he took a sip from a water bottle just before he offered it to me

"Yeah" I said refusing the water I grabbed my bag pack and stood up handing him the towel "Do me a favor will ya? Bring back the board. I´ll give you the pay later"

"Sure" he said looking at me but not standing up, his brown eyes seemed so deep "I guess we´ll meet at the pipe later?"

"Na" I said smiling " I don't think that's gonna happen the next days. I´ll be a bit busy…I´ll call ya"

I raised my arm to our traditional brofist. Riley grinned and threw his head back "You know that is not going to Happen Tony you hate telephoning" and his fist connected with mine. His skin was amazingly warm on contrary to mine. How could he be human, he just got out of the 16 degrees water.

As much I hated it to leave Riley behind I had to. It was time to visit the hell. No really what place can be more equal to the never ending dungeon of immortal flames than the place I was going to. The National Academy of Dance was my goal…or better sort of an obstacle on my way to nowhere. Not that I wasn´t prepared for the audition week. I mean when you have spent most of your early years in Ballet Studios, perfecting pliés and pirouettes, before you knew how to divide by 8, that is called preparing and my teachers made sure, I was. More than my teachers, my family made me, it was never an option to become something else than a dancer. I was never asked, so me going to Audition Week is more a duty than a chance in a life time like it is for most people.

Speaking of which I can't understand how stupid people can act when they try so hard, not that I dislike ambition but most of the girl, so called Betty Bun heads, who audition suck up to the teachers it makes me wanna puke. The best examples of those girls I got when I arrived at the Academy. I was early too early but I was someone who was always over punctual. Well I got myself something to eat at the snack shop, since I hadn't had breakfast and then made my way to the dressing room. I was first so I chose a place in the corner where I had an overview across the room did my hair and had my breakfast while Betty No 1 wearing a shocking pink, and I am sure radioactive, tutu entered and talked with Betty No 2 in the same tutu but with a radioactive purple. Both were squealing holding hands and jumping up and down, we had luck that the plaster did not crumble off the wall. Betty 3 till 4000 or less soon followed so I took out my Mp3 and listened to the song I was hearing when I waited to Riley earlier this morning, again I´ve been over punctual and he was late so . I smiled as I heard the lyrics, sometimes the often so messed up universe itself tends to use sarcasm. "As my life flashes before my eyes. I'm wondering will I ever see another sunrise."

Cheered up by this irony of life, don't ask me how but I did, I dressed myself in a simple dark gray ballet suit and black tights and gladly I brought my black pointe shoes and slippers so I did not had to wear the usual pink ones. You may thing I am a fan of black? Not really but anything is better than pink.

Glad fully I had my hair done before everyone else came in. There was a war at the mirrors. Then I first realized how many girls there were actually preparing for audition.

"Sorry" I felt someone tap me on my shoulders and I was glad that I did not kick that somebody's ass ride away. I hate it when somebody taps me on the shoulder…especially when it is from behind and even worse from above. It was a girl a bit taller than me, (Of course being about 5´1 ft. tall mad everything bigger than me) me 5´3 feet black straight hair, blue eyes. Thank goodness she didn´t wore pink. A sympathy point to her but that was directly taken when I saw that she exanimated me.

I raised a brow in silence as I waited for her to go on which she did smiling.

"Hey, sorry to bother you… I am Lilly am do you mind doing my bun… the mirrors are so full that"

"Girl…I ´m not your servant" my inner self wanted to scream but instead I sighted, nodded a made a gesture that showed her to turn around. Why am I doing this again? Oh yeah right, girls do such stuff. I grew up with two brothers so I didn't really got many opportunity's to style somebody else's hair and I hoped that it didn't look that terrible.

"Thanks..…?" she raised her voice and waited for me to answer, obviously.

"….Tony…" I said, nodded and made my way to the classroom to get in line to get my number. A few minutes later a very ugly sheet with 10 on it was pinned on my back and I was ready for warming up. The other girls followed and then the reason why I find those Betty bun heads so annoying. Boys, I did not have to look up to know that boys came into the room just by hearing the incredibly ridiculous giggles of Betty 1 and Betty 2, excuse me Miranda and Bubbles, seriously Bubbles, who on earth named her daughter after the result of water and soap?

Any who my mind got distracted as Miss. Raine and Zach entered the room and everyone got silent after they stringed up in rows like little soldiers ready for battle. There were about 60 or more students 30 boys and 30 girls here, quite much, so I assumed that they split up the audition. Girls and boys of all shades and sizes, most of them will be sorted out because they won't fit into the picture. Then there will be the weaklings, the one who will not make it. Like on a hit list they will sort out the bad one. The good ones go into the pot; the bad ones go into your crop so to say. I didn't cared much about what Miss. Raine was talking much more I was searching for a familiar face…or in this situation familiar back of the head in this row. One I am sure of will never be one of those bad ones. I caught the sight of Gabriel in the next second, obviously he was in first row and now since Miss. Raine had stopped and we applauded. He searched the room as he was looking for someone. Of course Stasi has to make sure everything is in order. I made my way to him and caught sight that a certain black haired Asian boy at the bar was looking angrily at Gabe.

"Searching for me sunny boy?" I said knowing that his nickname would mock him instantly he turned around.

"So you´ve made it" he said.

What does he think? That I would be a coward and chicken out. I fixed a strain of my hair that fell out of the bun, I knew I did not use enough hairspray, but that did not count in this second I have the opportunity to get on his nerves in a for him tense situation

"Yeah" Is said looking him into his green eyes "actually I was even there before you. Don´t worry I know when it is important to be punctual"

"I wasn´t worried" Liar. He was his eyes were telling me that but a point to him for saying this so calmly

"I just wanted to be sure that you" He stopped because his voice broke, puberty voice change again? " well good luck"

This was it? Seriously? If anybody of us is a chicken that is you Mr. Gabriel Barrington.

"Yeah. Wish I could say the same but you won't need it…"" I said and turned around to the bar, to finish my warm up and not to mess this audition up with my personal problems. I did I caught sight of the angry looking Asian boy again, who was still starring, but this time at me in a strange way. He continued the starring but changed it in-between Gabriel and me. Sort of…creepy?

Gabriel, I know he was still standing there starring at my back and I know he was the type of guy who would not say a thing. So it was again for me to play the role of the icebreaker.

"All right boys…follow me "Zach said and left.

I sighted "Break a leg Gabe" I said loud enough that he would hear me and continued my stretching.

"Hurry up up at the bar first position "Miss Raine said and looked into her files "I want to see how you do your basics! Demi, demi, développé and port de bras to both back and forth. Then start over again"

Piano music started playing and I concentrated on my technique to get a good line. From the corner of my eye I saw Miss. Raine correcting some girl's positions and scribbling down some notes. There was it again, the point that annoyed me when it comes to dancing. We are just machines, balletbots that have to work without complication. All of those girls' personalities are minimized to a number. Then pigeon-holed. Yes or no, in or out. Good enough or not. I was really surprised that at the end of this session one girl had to leave the audition process. Which meant…I was not surprised.

Gabriel

The typical picture you have of ballet boys being nice and gentle is completely wrong. Really, I have never seen a bigger cockfight than this training session. Here is advices never accidentally touch anyone or come near to anybody or you get killed. Let me tell you what happened.

After we came into the boys´ studio, Zach explained today's schedule. First he would test our basics starting with pirouettes and jumps. Somebody tripped fell and the next one fell over him. Tension rose since Zach sends both of those boys home, not because they fell…after that they started a fight. He did not tell us but you felt it, that if you would make the tiniest of a mistake, audition was over for you. Naturally everyone was tensed by physical contact. And it did not stop even when Zach called for a break.

"Shocking isn't it" I heard the guy next to me said and ran his hands through his auburn hair as he continued "They are killing us like flies"

"I think that too many students came to audition week…that's why "I answered him as I looked around to make a pictuere of the boys still in the room. Still 25.

"You think so? By the way… I am Dustin, Dustin Summers" he offered me his hand.

"Gabriel Barri-"I answered but was interrupted by Zach returning.

"Boys…I have talked to Miss Raine…." He started "As you can obviously see we have this year very many people who are auditioning…too many. We can't go on with the exercised…as you could see you are disturbing each other while performing. As a result how hard it may sound, we have to sort out. Dr. Wigs and her team have to examine you and your body's potential. Have a break and find your rooms, get to know each other or get a lunch. At 1Pm I want the numbers 1-12 in front of the doctors´ office. 12-25 will be awaited at 2pm. I am sorry boys"

He quickly left the room again. It took a while before anybody reacted to what Zach said.

I for one found it amusing. Not what Zach said but more the shocked expressions of the boys?

"They are kidding right?" Dustin next to me said laughing "Seriously where is the hidden camera?"

"There is no Camera dude" the Asian boy from earlier rolled his eyes.

"Tsk I know that" Dustin said "It was a joke."

"If you think that this is a joke maybe you should go and audition for a circus all right? I´m sure they would be pleased if you would join them" he said.

"What's your problem?" I asked him and he turned to me looking very angry.

"Oh well let that be my problem" he said end left yawning and looking very tired.

"He does not seem to like you" Dustin said "Well what do you think of finding out rooms?"

We changed and made our way to the boarding house. There I found out that Dustin and I shared something in common. We both found it stupid that through audition week even the ones who live in Sydney had to sleep in the boarding house. I also found out, yes Dustin was very talkative, that Dustin grew up in Sydney with his mother, grandma, father and two brothers who enjoyed football.

Before he could ask me about my family situation we were interrupted by the mess in front of boarding house. A mass of people with their bags. All surrounding a woman who had to be the matron. Of course how could I forget? There were still about 50 newbies who had to find a room.

Dustin and I did not try to enter. Instead we sat down on the stairs next to the building and had a look on the academy.

"Hey there Gabriel" I hear somebody call me and recognized the girl from this morning… Aeliana. She was followed by a tall black haired girl.

"Hey…. Aeliana isn't it" I said and helped her with her bag. Man it was heavy.

"Liana is enough" she laughed "This I Lilly" She introduced the other girl.

"Well I am Dustin" Dustin said "Aelina that's quite an uncommon name…what does it mean?"

"I don't really know. I was named after my great-great grandmother" she laughed "So is there any chance you can get to your room"

"No "I answered "Not even near the entrance."

"Great what shall we do now…" Lily said "I am starving … and tired and totally stressed out…and I am starving"

"Well it's not much but I think I got some gummy snakes in my bag" Dustin offered

"My savior!" Lilly smiled happily "I could eat anything really"

Lilly reached out for the gummy snake when Dustin was jostled but none other than that Asian boy.

Not him again. Well the gummy snake landed in the bush behind Lilly who looked like she would burst out in tears. Because of hunger of course.

"Watch were you're going" he yelled and rolled his eyes yawned

"Hey YOU bumped into ME so you should apologize... what's your name anyways" Dustin looked annoyed.

"Aaron… "He sighted "Sorry but this whole audition thing is making me crazy. I have jetleg. I haven't slept for hours."

"Jetlag? Me too" Liana said "Although I slept to the flight to Singapore"

"To Singapore? Where you from? Well I can't sleep in airplanes the flight from Tokyo was a bit restless" Aaron sat down next to Dustin. Not looking at me. How nice.

"I am from Idaho" Liana said

"Bless you"

"It's an American state?" Liana said laughing "Where are you from?"

She now looked at me, Dustin and Lilly.

"I am from Sydney" Dustin said. Lily and I nodded. Okay I wasn't really from Sydney, I moved here one year ago but I did not want to share my whole life story with them.

"So maybe you can give us a Tour of the city sometime?" Liana said. "I am so looking forward to climb up the harbor bridge!"

"Lets us first eat something "Lilly suggested and stood up "Then we have audition and after that maybe I will go with you"

"Oh right" Aaron opened his backpack "I guess I was responsible for that gummy snake incident…well if you like I have some onigiri rice balls with tuna and mayo on it?"

"I don't know what that is but tuna and mayo…sounds good to me" Lilly grabbed the lunch box Aaron was holding and started eating. Thank whoever she did not forgot that we were still there and offered us the rest of the rice balls. They tasted really good. After our little lunch we decided to finally get up and find our rooms. It was 11.30, we had time and the crowd had become less.

"Brakeheart Aeliana, second floor, right and second door…Anderson Lillian on the opposite…. Then Aaron Lehrer, Dustin Summers you will share a room on the first floor right there…and Gabriel Barrington…you get the room next to them. Good luck" the matron looked quite happy when we grabbed our bags and went to our rooms.

"Meet you later. We´ll pick you up" Dustin waved goodbye as he entered his room with Aaron and I was happy to finally enter mine. It was smaller than my room at home especially since I had to share it with somebody else. I looked around…the bed at the window was taken. There was a green mobile phone on it and a small frog cushion was on it. Wait…I knew that frog cushion and the phone.

"Funny isn't it "a well know voice behind me spoke up. "Whose idea was it to let us two shares a room? I thought it was forbidden for a girl and a boy to share one"

"Well Tony, they maybe thought that we wouldn't care " I said and threw my bag on my bed. Tony walked pass me and smiled slightly. Then reached out for her bun and pulled out the pins so that her hair fell down on her shoulders and back. It was curly, still a bit wet so I assumed she had been out surfing in the morning. Silently we looked each other in the eye. Green met Green and no one said a word. I don't know why but I liked those starring contest with her. Maybe because, I loved the color of her eyes. Mine were green too, but her shade reminded me of Ireland the place I grew up. They were as green as the shamrocks and the meadows.

"Would you mind turning around?" she said after a while and grabbed into the closet "I like to get changed….and don´t you dare to say it would not matter."

"Yeah yeah" I said turned around and started to unpack my bag "So when do you have the docters appointment?" I asked her.

"At 1…you"

"At 2…how many girls have left?"

"4. Miss Raine asked two to leave , one got hurt doing développé and the other one chickened out when she heard that we have a doctor's appointment. Talking about chicken…you thought I whould didn't you?"

"Tony I never thought you´d be a chicken"

"Haha…very funny...you can turn around"

I did and was able to put my clothes into the cupboard. I saw that Tony had changed into a casual outfit that consisted of a light blue shorts in used look and dark green neck holder top. She saw running her hand though her and dried it partly with a towel.

"What you're looking at?" she said annoyed and turned her back on me and I saw that the top exposed a part of her back.

"What is that" I said instantly when I saw a bruise on her shoulder blade.

"Well that is my back, but I assume you mean the black line…that is a bra" Tony laughed ironically

"You know what I mean"

"No idea really…Outs!" furious she turned around "Are you crazy?"

Okay maybe pressing my thumb into the bruise wasn't the best idea but now I could see her in her face.

"Where did you have that bruise from?" I grabbed both of her upper arms and pulled her a bit to me.

"I fell down while I was skateboarding…no big deal" she muttered and tried to untangle herself.

"HEY GABERIEL DID YOU KNOW OH…" Dustin and Aaron, it was Dustin who yelled, came into the room followed by Liana and Lilly. What were they doing here?

" Sorry…I …Go on sorry that I interrupted you"

Dustin went pink, like Lily, Aaron had that strange look in his eyes like he would kill me and Liana also looked…sort of disappointed?

Wait… did he say interrupted? What the heck he was thinking? I looked at Tony which eyes blinked out of amusement. Now I realized what Dustin meant.

Did he really thing that I and Tony were making out?

"Oh Gabe Honey" Tony's hand ran through my hair and played with one curl "Go...meet your friends…I´ll see you later".

Then she winked at me again holding back her laugh. Did she really have to do this?

So end of chapter two and there are still characters who need to be introduced. Don't worry First year´s Cecily and Andrew and the second years Aria, Jen and Luke will appear in the next chapters.

So what do you think of the whole situation?

For the ones who made the Characters ( I´ll call you Co-assisent from now on :D):

And the end of audition week the second years has a party. You are invited.

What do you do on a party?