I spun 5 floats then went into releve spinning a couple of times then went back into floats doing three more before lifting my leg straight up holding it with my hand and spinning like that 4 times before doing a forward illusion turn and ended the sequence.
"Wow you're dancing has improved so much Maddie! That was awesome!" Sophia complimented me.
I blushed. When Sophia, the queen of dance, says you're awesome at dance, you have to blush.
"We worked on a similar spin sequence at my studio so many times to perfect it." I explained. "It took weeks."
"Oh don't worry all of my cool moves took weeks, if not more, to perfect." Sophia agreed.
"So what type of solo do you have?" I ask sitting down on my bed. It's the night we arrived. I don't know where Chloe is. Sophia came to my room to chat with me. She is sitting on Chloes bed all comfortable. We have been showing each other our solos and helping each other out for about an hour now! We still haven't been called for lunch.
"I have a jazz/modern routine. You have a contemporary dance right?" She asks me, barely glancing away from her phone.
"Ya." Thank God. At first she was going to go with ballet. Like I've worked on my ballet a lot recently, and I was making awesome progress, but to go up against these brilliant dancers with one of my weakest styles of dance? I would be killed.
Suddenly we heard a voice come out of some hidden speaker telling all dancers to report to dinner immediately. 'I guess we should go? I'm starved" I admit. "Same loll I feel fat. Let's go" Sophia giggled as we left my room.
Walking down the stairs we walked down the hall to the caf. I saw peter standing by the caf door holding a box. For some reason my stomach gets all tight as we get closer to him.
"Hey peter. What are you doing?" I ask ignoring the heated tight feeling pouring over me.
"Oh hey Maddie. I was trying to find someone named john. I think he is a janitor or something. Help me find him?"
Although I was starving some reason why I really wanted to stay with Peter. Maybe I don't want to destroy our new found friendship. I want it to get stronger, I told myself. However a small suspicion formed at the back of my mind but I shoved it away. "Sure! Sophia I'll meet you in the caf soon. Save me a seat?"
"Sure" Sophia replied looking at Peter and then me giving me an evil knowing smile before going into the caf.
"Thanks" peter said with a smile. We spend the next 10 minutes roaming different halls and meeting back together admitting we couldn't fins the janitor's office.
Eventually we found the office. John gave the box to John, and we left.
"Are you going to go eat lunch now?" I asked Peter.
"Ya I think so." He replied.
"Come sit with us! Your like Sophia, she awesome." I begged.
"Fine. But don't expect me to be all gentle menish thingy. I just want to go to bed." He said rolling his eyes comically.
I giggled, "How old are you Peter?" I asked curiously,
"I'll be going to grade nine after this horrible summer with be over. You?"
"How old is that?" I asked confused.
"I'm fourteen! Do you not go to school or something?" He asks
"No. I've been homeschool four the past, like 4 years." I explained.
"Ahh. That explains why you're so stupid." He said.
I turned to him in surprise "peter!"
"I'm joking, I'm joking. Calm down. You don't have much humor do you?" He said with a scoff as we walked into the caf. He held the door open for me politely.
"Were the same age!" I exclaimed excitedly.
"Cool. But what's the difference?"
"Um I actually don't know?! Lol but I'm happy were the same age. It makes us easier to relate to each other." I explained. I brought him over to where Sophia sat with a couple other dancers.
"Sophia this is peter. Peter, Sophia." I introduced the two.
"Oh so I finally get to meet your boyfriend!" Sophia says with a grin. "Why are you here Peter? How old are you? What's your favorite colour? What calms you? You like sunsets? What's your mom's middle name? You like star bucks? You a leaf fan?"
"Sophia! Leave him alone. And he's not my boyfriend for god sake I met him earlier!" I explained. My face heated up randomly. Peter smiled at me so I avoided his eyes. I sat down beside Sophia and he sat down across from us.
We ate dinner, chatting about random things. Sophia and Peter argued, and fought about every topic that came up. By the end of the dinner they were friendly and comfortable with each other. Pleased that Peter now had two friends here, and only 8 more to go, we returned to our rooms. Sophia invited me to hers.
She introduced me to her roommate, who was one of the girls we ate dinner with today, Chloe East, the gorgeous model, actor dancer. Apparently were all 14. Me and Chloe East started chatting about dance, and I had Chloe perform her solo for me.
She was very flexible and had gorgeous feet and Balance. Her acro was weak but her technique was beautiful. When she finished Sophia and I clapped for her. Blushing she bowed for us with a smile. "Now I want to see yours Maddie!" She insisted.
Feeling silly I got up and went to do my dance. It improved from last time I did it and I nailed the tough spin sequence at the end. I got applause and some whoops from my audience and I mockingly bowed and walked off "stage" or the floor.
After watching Sophia's we decided to go practice in the extra studio we were told we could use if we want earlier.
After finding the studio we practiced our solos over and over. Soon we got tired and headed up. Half way up the stairs I realized I left my slips in the studio so I went back to get them.
I went inside, grabbed them from the side and turned and smashed right into someone holding something. I fell backwards with a groan.
I looked up and saw Peter sitting on the floor in front of me covered in polish. "Oh my peter I'm so sorry-" was all I got out before bursting into giggles. I couldn't help myself he looked so funny. At first he looked pissed but soon he was laughing along with me. He got up and helped me up. "What are you doing here?" He asked.
"Oh I was practising my solo" I replied.
"Wow cool. Can you show me?" He asked.
Suddenly I grew very shy. Snap out of it! I yelled at myself, I performed in front of large crowds since I was four! Why am I so nervous all the sudden. "Fine, but we just learned it today. And I'm tired. I'm gonna mess up a lot" I warned him.
He sat down beside the wall to watch me. I stood in the middle of the room and imagined a crowd in front of me. Then I performed my dance without music and everything for Peter. I tried hard to perfect my steps trying to show him what I can do. He clapped for me and surprisingly threw his arms around me congratulating me insisting it was amazing.
I blushed again and muttered a quick thank you.
"You should go to bed now Maddie. Its late, thanks for showing me though. You're very talented." He said with a wave goodbye. "Bye" I said. I ran up the stairs hugging myself.
He hugged me and complimented me! I giggled. Wait... What? What's the big deal Maddie? Am I interested in Peter?! Oh no.
I returned to my room where chloe sat on her bed with her laptop watching something with ear phones. She glanced at me and then back to her laptop. I changed into my pjs and washed all my makeup off. But then put a little on, you know just in case I randomly see peter tonight. I want to look good. I brushed my hair straight and put it in a high ponytail hanging down my back. I pinched my cheeks for colour and smoothed my pjs down. There, I look casually pretty, and if peter sees me I won't look retarded.
I never really liked a guy before. I haven't gone to school in a long time and when your ten crushes come and go within a day. But this is different. Peter is kind, helpful and sweet and hot and he is a bad boy too. I play with a bit of hair that was too short for the ponytail pressing it down.
I go back into my room. I know I should be focusing on dancing and get some sleep for the early class tomorrow morning, but peter is stuck in my head! I saw chloe glance at me and then back to her screen.
"Okay we can't do this for a month Chloe! I'm sorry for making you leave the ALDC and stuff but seriously I should be the one mad at you!" I said fed up with the silence.
Chloe shut her screen looking confused. "I only wasn't talking to you because I didn't know how to start the conversation. Like I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye and how I was so hurt none of you tried to contact me. But why do you think that you make me leave the ALDC? Abby did not you. And why are you mad at me?"
"What? We didn't contact you cause you told Abby you never wanted to hear from us again and I have every right to be mad at you for all the horrible things you said about me!" I replied my voice going up a notch.
"I didn't say anything about you! Except that I missed you! What are you talking about? And I NEVER said I never wanted to hear from you guys! I waited for days and days and I got nothing." Chloe said tears coming into her eyes.
"What? But Abby said-"
"You believed HER?" Chloe said in disbelief.
"So you didn't hate me? And you actually missed me? And you never shit talked me and stuff?"
"No." Chloe said, "I was jealous of your treatment but I never said anything against you."
"So Abby played us both." I said sadly. "I'm sorry chloe. I should've known Abby was lying."
"And I should've tried to contact you guys. And I should've said goodbye. I just couldn't take it anymore, you know!" Chloe said with a sigh.
We sat in silence for a while. "Let's go to bed. We can clear Abby's mess up tomorrow." I said laying down. Chloe turned off the light and put her laptop away and laid down. We both checked our phones.
"Goodnight... Maddie." Chloe said softly.
"Night" I replied closing my eyes. I felt like a huge weight was off my chest and I fell into an easy sleep for the first time in months.