"And 1 2 3 turn, run run run. Stop around Corny and wave at the camera"

It was now 7:00 at night. It had taken Annabelle 30 minutes to learn the whole Corny Collins routine, which shocked Velma, and then the rest of the time was spent learning the dances that were to be shown tomorrow, and perfecting the opening.

Wow this girl is really picking the dances up quick, but I can't make it seem that I'm easy on the girls maybe I'll make her do it one more time, and her smile seems a little forced, we'll have to fix that.

Annabelle felt as though she would pass out from the pain in her ribs, she silently thanked whoever came up with these dance moves, because even though they were lifeless and stationary, they didn't hurt as much as a ballet routine would at the moment. She was also very hungry, because of her mothers little tantrum, Annabelle had been unable to grab anything to eat before she left.

Please let this be the last one, please please please!

"Annabelle I want you to run through the last half of the opening just once more, from roll call."

"Wait what? I just did that perfectly though, right? I need to get home to finish some school work and eat!"

"You haven't eaten? Well why the hell not you were nearly 15 minutes late, what were you doing in all that time?"

Annabelle grimaced she wished she could just learn to hold her tongue now she would have to lie, again. She didn't understand why she didn't like lying to this person, I mean she had no problem lying to the doctors or child services. But something about the way Velma looked at her made her want to tell the truth.

"I..uh.. got detention for skipping school, and then I had to go and collect the notes that I had missed, so by the time I got home I rushed around and had no time to eat." She finished her sentence and looked down to the ground.

Velma walked over to Annabelle, and noticed a string near the bust of her dress, she went to pull it off and just grazed Annabelle's ribs. This made Annabelle jump back in pain, and surprise.

"Annabelle what's wrong?" Annabelle looked up into her eyes, all full of pain and fear.

"Nothing, you just startled me." She lied, her eyes flickering back down to look at the ground.

"You're lying." Velma stated taking a step closer to Annabelle reaching to lift her shin up to look into her eyes again. but Annabelle moved away.

"I'm fine Miss Von Tussle now if you wouldn't mind I would like to get home now."

With that Annabelle pushed past Velma and headed for the doors, trying to fight off the tears that were threatening to fall.

Velma just stared after her, then walked into her office.

"I need to find a way to get her to talk."

"Wait what am I saying, I just met this girl. Why should I care what she does and doesn't want me to know."

"Because you wish someone had been there for you."

"No I don't I'm glad I had to do it on my own, it made me stronger"

"No what it made you was numb and distant."

"Shut up.. wait why am I talking to myself. Lord I need therapy!"

Velma cradled her head in her hands, then got up and drove home.

Annabelle hadn't realize how late it had been when she left the station, she should have been more careful walking home, but thankfully nothing happened. When she arrived home, she fished for the key that was under the door mat, and quietly inserted it into the lock. She tip-toed across the hall and into her bedroom, she had been quiet as a mouse. Annabelle realised that she would have to wake up extra early tomorrow morning if she was going to get a shower in. She hated feeling dirty, she always felt the need to always have a shower everyday. Which is also part of the reason she never spent a lot of time doing up her hair, but I guess she was going to have to start.

Oh mother's just going to love that, ugly old witch. I hate her! I HATE HER I HATE HER I HATE HER!

With that Annabelle collapsed on her bed sobbing, 1 because her body ached all over, and 2 because she wished she had just told Miss Von Tussle what was the matter, she wished she could be held by someone who seemed to understand her like no one else. But that would never happen.