Being a student at a performance arts school Pilar found had its perks. For a physical education credit, the school offered a wide variety of dance classes for students to choose from. Selecting ballet as part of her gym elective, the dark haired teen put on a black t-shirt, ratty shorts, and black fishnets to along with her pink ballet slippers. Pulling her spiky hair back in a simple ponytail, she adjusted he eyeglasses and headed into class.
Dee was the first one to greet her as he giggled and raced to hug her. He could not be any more ecstatic to see her. Unfortunately, her classmates did not share the same sentiment. Desiree Raymond and her cronies, Pia and Sherry, stood by the mirror in their dance gear gossiping about her.
"Oh great!" Desiree snorted. "They now allow freaks into this class."
"Check out that nose ring! Gross!" Pia cackled.
"And who comes to ballet class wearing fishnets and shorts?" Sherry guffawed. "What a dork!"
"Ignore them!" Dee whispered to her. "They're just threatened by creative, unique individuals!"
A loud clap grabbed everyone's attention as the ballet instructor, Madame Giselle Dvorak, came into the classroom. Once a famous dancer, who ironically went by nickname Dance, Madame Dvorak retired from the world of ballet and opted to teach her skills to aspiring performers.
"Okay, everyone!" Madam Dvorak announced. Pilar soaked in her beautiful Russian appearance from the tight blonde bun to the tall stature and small physical frame. She could see why she was in such demand in the ballet world. "Today, we're practicing our pirouettes." The dance instructor then focused on Pilar. "Miss Pacheco, since you are newest student I won't expect you to get your turns perfect or to be on pointe."
"Don't worry Madame Dvorak," smiled Pilar. "I've taken ballet courses back in New York. I'm already on pointe."
Giggles drifted through the Desiree and her friends.
"Oh the freak thinks she's now a prima ballerina!" Desiree teased. "Does she also spin around on her nose ring?"
"Miss Desiree Raymond!" Madame Dvorak snapped.
"It's Desire!" The popular blonde corrected her. "Get it right!"
"I don't care if it's Isadora Duncan!" The ballet teacher shouted. "There will be no rudeness or bullying in my class! For that, I want you to demonstrate to Miss Pacheco a pirouette and a plié!"
"With pleasure," the mean blonde girl stuck her tongue. Madame Dvorak put on the classical CD as the arrogant girl did a simple spin and ended with a smooth bend with the knee. Getting up, she passed Pilar but before making a snide comment. "See if you can do better, freak!"
Anger exhibited on the dark haired girl's face. She did not care if Desiree was related to a Misfit, she was not going to let a mean girl prove her talents unworthy. Raising her hand, Pilar got the ballet teacher's attention.
"Yes, Miss Pacheco?" Madame Dvorak addressed her.
"If it's okay with you, Madame Dvorak, I would like to demonstrate the skills I've learned in New York," she suggested.
"Excellent!" The ballet teacher clapped. "Of course." She turned on the classical CD once more as Pilar took to the center of the room in front of her classmates.
"This is going to be a disaster waiting to happen," Pia's voice dripped with sarcasm.
The classical song began and Pilar pushed her foot on pointe. Positioning her arms in an oval shaped stance, she glided across the room matching every beat and tempo to the music. She twirled and whirled in perfect harmony as she demonstrated a grand jete, glissade, bravura, and finally ended her performance in an arabesque position. Every mouth dropped in the room as Dee excitedly jumped up and starting clapping.
"Bravo! Bravo! Girl, you are the Black Swan's Natalie Portman!" He exclaimed.
Pilar's eyes quickly scanned the room as she noticed Desiree burning with fury as the rest of her followers attempted to calm her down. Obviously, the spoiled blonde teen did not like being upstaged. The nose ring wearing teen secretly enjoyed making her angry.
"Beautiful!" Madame Dvorak congratulated her. "Keep this up and you'll have the makings of being a prima ballerina!"
Pilar smiled at the comment as the ballet teacher dismissed her students and got ready for their next class.
Music class seemed to be much more welcoming. Made up a wide variety of various grade levels, the young teen was excited to share her musical talents with rest of her peers. Pilar entered to see the recognizable faces of Cynthia, Flo, Sam, and Dee saving a seat for her. It also meant that Desiree and her cronies would be there too. The only saving grace was the Jagger's friendly appearance as he waved hello to her from the bottom of the musical auditorium.
"My brother is sure sweet on you!" Dee teased her. "Every girl wants to be with him but not once had any female caught his eye except for you!"
"Oh come on!" Pilar clucked. "He's with Desiree. I mean look how she fawns all over him."
"That's the thing," Dee replied. "He's getting fed up with her. Her bitchy antics are ruining their relationship. The only reason why he's staying with her is because he wants to make The Rioters work as a group."
"The Rioters," the teen girl commented. "Is that a play on words on your father's band?"
"Absolutely," the gay teen agreed. "Take my father's stage name Riot and the ER in The Stingers and you've got yourself a nifty band name."
Pilar shifted her focus to Desiree attempted to get all touchy feely with her boyfriend only to have him push her away. Annoyed, Jagger took a seat near the door leaving a frustrated Desiree simmering with her friends.
"It's ironic, isn't it?" Dee asked.
"About what?"
"From the stories my mother told about my father, Desiree's mother Pizazz was hugely lovesick over Riot. The poor woman would do anything to please him. Instead, he ends up having kids with other women. One of which was my mother who his band mate and the other was a member of the Misfits who he married. Now looking at Desiree's relationship with my brother, it's like the same cycle all over again."
"Well, you can't blame the girl for trying," she remarked.
Suddenly, the music teacher Mr. James entered the room. Placing his briefcase on the desk, the gray haired gentleman addressed his class.
"Okay students," announced Mr. James. "We have a new student joining us, Miss Pilar Benton-Pacheco. Can I have her please stand up?"
Nervously, Pilar got up from her chair to see all eyes focused on her. Pushing her glasses back, she turned her head to see Jagger fixating a smile just on her. She blushed.
"Pilar, normally I wouldn't have put students on the spot but since this a performing arts school I would like you to step down in front of the class," he told her.
Pilar did as she was instructed. Stepping down, she made her way to the front as she noticed everyone staring at her. Mr. James handed her a sheet of music before heading to the piano.
"Now Pilar, I want to test your vocal skills," he explained. "From your records, we know you're musically inclined to play instruments but the greatest instrument you may want to utilize is your voice. The sheet in front of you is a classical piece. Ave Maria. Please begin when you're ready."
"Everyone! Hold your ears!" Desiree shouted. "She's going to make you deaf or shatter a window!"
Laughter erupted in the class as Mr. James stood up not amused by the comment. Neither was Jagger who rolled his eyes at his blonde girlfriend. Smiling at Pilar, the teen girl found the confidence to continue.
"Whenever you're ready, Pilar," said Mr. James. He played a few bars on the piano as she began to open her mouth.
"Ave Maria
Gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Ave, ave dominus
Dominus tecum…"
Faces widened and mouths dropped. The young woman had a voice like an angel in the body of gothic demon. Without missing a beat, Dee, Cynthia, Flo, and Sam stood up and applauded leading everyone in the classroom to do the same. Pilar glanced quickly by the door to see Jagger beaming at her as he too cheered for victory. The only ones not joining in the celebration were Desiree, Pia, Patrick, and Sherry who stewed in the back.
"Goodness!" Mr. James remarked. "Wherever did you learn to sing like that?"
"I don't know," Pilar admitted. "I've just had a knack for it and been taking voice lessons ever since I can remember."
"Well keep it up," Mr. James noted. "You have a very powerful set of pipes there! I haven't heard of anyone with such a remarkable range."
"Can we get to the other students song also?" Desiree clucked in the middle of the teacher's private conversation. "Like namely mine?"
"Of course," the music teacher clucked. "Desiree, you may sing your song now."
Pilar walked back to her seat as the blonde teen came walking down. Shoving the dark haired girl to the side with her shoulder, Desiree refused to apologize.
"Hey! Watch where you going, freak!" She hissed.
The teen girl ignored her as she returned to seat with her friends. Desiree stepped right in front of everyone as held her music sheet and cued Mr. James to begin.
"Hi everyone!" The popular blonde teen addressed everyone. "I'm Desiree but I'm changing it to my stage name Desire. You get the pleasure of listening to me sing Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights."
"Out on the wiley, windy moors
We'd roll and fall in green
You had my temper, like my jealousy
Too hot, too greedy
How could you leave me
When I needed to possess you?
I hated you, I love you too…"
Like clockwork, Desiree's friends applauded her like crazy while the rest of her classmates managed to feign a clap or two at the young woman's performance. Truth be told, Desiree's voice was limited to the various keys of the song. She would either come off as pitchy, miss the note entirely, or just plain not hit the note at all. Mr. James racked his brain trying to think up something constructive to say.
"That was…well…um…interesting," the music teacher commented.
Desiree shook with glee. "Didn't you just love it?"
"It was as much fun as getting a root canal," whispered Cynthia to Pilar.
The dark haired teen stifled a laugh as she covered her mouth to prevent herself from doing something rude.
Mr. James directed his attention toward Pilar. "You wanted to add something Miss. Benton-Pacheco?"
She shook her head. "Only that the song moved me places I never thought existed."
"Well it definitely moved my blockage!" Dee spouted. "I was constipated but after hearing Desiree sing that song, I'm ready to release my bowels now!"
The blonde hair girl growled curled her nails and attempted to lunge at the gay teen. Jagger stepped in and held her back as the bell rang.
"You sniveling little fairy boy!" She tried to tried to claw at him. "Come over here so I can really scratch your eyes out!"
Yanking Pilar by the hand, Dee raced toward the door. "Thanks Big Bro, love ya!"
The pair ran to their next class before Desiree could escape.
