A/N: Sorry for the short chapter. I'll try to make the next one longer. Thanks and happy reading!

Comickazi13

Chapter 10

I walked up to the doors of the Fanlair and tapped "Shave and a Haircut," which was my signature knock. Rocking back and forth on my feet, I hummed lightly until Fanboy answered the door. He gave me a nervous smile.

"Oh...ha ha! It's you, Tessa!" he laughed anxiously. "I...didn't know you were coming over today!"

"Well, tonight's my recital," I shrugged. "I need to pick up my shoes. Are you coming to see me tonight?"

"Of course," he said, biting his lip. "I wouldn't miss it! Nope!"

"Thanks, hon," I smiled. "So can I have my shoes? I'm so glad that you took care of them for me. You're the best boyfriend a girl could ever ask for." I kissed his cheek and he scratched the back of his neck.

"Best...boyfriend...ever, huh?" he whimpered. My face fell.

"Fanboy, what's wrong?"

"N-N-Nothing!" he stammered. His voice was beginning to squeak.

"Where's Chum Chum?" I asked.

"NOWHERE!"

I looked at him strangely.

"Uh...okay," I said slowly. "So...can I have my shoes, please?"

Fanboy's bottom lip trembled and his eyes welled up with tears before he collapsed on the floor and began crying uncontrollably. Immediately, I got on my knees too and wrapped my arms around him trying to comfort him as much as I could, but he would not be consoled.

"Hon, what's wrong?"

"I...I...I...I...I RUINED YOUR SHOES! CHUM CHUM IS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO FIX THEM! ALL I WAS TRYING TO DO WAS PUT THEM ON A SHELF FOR SAFE-KEEPING AND...AND...AND..." He couldn't finish his sentence because he was crying so hard. I had moved away, a shocked look on my face.

"What did you do?"

At that moment, Chum Chum burst into the Fanlair. He was holding my pointe shoes. They were soggy, brownish-gray, and misshapen. The ribbons were unraveling and they were literally dripping on the floor. A gooey glob was on the toe of my left shoe which would've made my turns on that foot completely impossible and probably would've ended up with me twisting my ankle.

"Fanboy..." I gulped, trying to keep my temper. But I was rapidly losing it to the panic that was consuming my entire being. "What...happened...to...my...shoes?"

"I'm so sorry, Tessa!" he sobbed. "I was just..."

"Save it," I growled. "Just tell me what happened to my shoes."

"I tried to put them up on a shelf, but they slipped and fell and landed in some gum on the floor and I tried to get it off, but it wouldn't come off, so I figured I would stick it under some water to get it off, but that just made the shoe turn that color and the ribbons got all frayed and I tried to dry them off, but I guess I dried them too hard because then they got all mushed and the one looked so bad that I thought maybe you wouldn't notice if I made them match, but now they both look horrible and I've ruined your shoes! I'm so sorry, Tessa!"

I just stood there, staring at the remains of my most prized possessions. Tears filled my eyes. I turned around and glared at Fanboy.

"Do you realize that I have to do a show tonight?" I screamed. "What were you thinking? You should've just called me and told me and I might've been able to save them! But no! You had to try to fix them yourself! You'd better thank your lucky stars that I have those practice shoes or I would totally kill you! Sometimes, Fanboy, you are such an IDIOT!"

With that, I burst into tears and pushed past Chum Chum. I ran all the way home and collapsed on my bed, yelling and crying into my pillow. There was a tap at my door.

"GO AWAY!" I yelled.

"Open the door, please," said a familiar voice. I got up and opened the door to see...

"Kaylee!" I shrieked with happiness. "Oh God! I'm so glad to see you!"

"Well, yeah," she shrugged. "It looks like you've been crying. Looks like I've come at a good time. C'mere." She reached out and pulled me into a hug. "Now tell me what happened."