Homesickness
Seems like we have a little diva in first year. Antonia Barrington, who is better known as Tony is a little heartbreaker. Just a first year but tops every class with excellence. Natural Talent? Well maybe but the girl also seems to be so focused on her training that she does not think about anyone's feelings. That is what she did when she rejected first year Aaron Lehrer's confession, in front of many students in the common room. Sources quote "Sorry I don't have time for boys I´m concentrating on my career". Better Luck next time Aaron.
Another important info guys. The company should be back this week if they stay in schedule like they do. They will be performing a mixture of scenes of Romeo and Juliette and a Modern Variation of Pocahontas . Tickets are still available xo Messi
"Uh that Messi starts to annoy me" Tony muttered and put the phone back into her jeans pocket.
"At least we stay updated little heartbreaker don't we" Andrew grinned and stretched himself on the sofa.
"Shut up!" Tony said angry and threw a pillow at him. He caught it with ease
"Toe I meant the tickets…"Andrew grinned and Cecily next to him joined the who-can-grin-wider –at-Tony contest.
"Of course you do" Tony sighted and looked at her phone again and remembered why she looked at it in first place. Three missed Calls, two from Daniel and one from Riley. She should call him back. Riley of course…not Daniel. If it would be that important he would have called Gabriel.
"I´m gonna make a call" Tony said and left Andrew and Cecily alone on the sofa. It was too awkward to be near the two of them anyway. Not that she didn´t enjoy their company but…for some time the two of them got very close and Tony felt like she was the third wheel.
Tony got outside and sat on the stairs which led to the boarding house avoiding the gazes of some upper class men. Stupid Messi and his stupid messages who messed up lives. Though it was right the truth that she rejected Aaron "Um…Antonia…I sort of like you…would you maybe…go out with me on lunch?" but it was not as harsh or selfish as Messi or the anonymous quote told.
"Sorry Aaron. You´re nice and all but I don't I am not interested in boys. I mean in any kind of relationship. …if you excuse me I am concentrating on the piece for class."
And after that she had just hurried into the studio because she booked it for a short time. It was this Messi that made up the story of her being a heartbreaker. She just stated as things were.
"Hey Tony!" she heard Riley's deep voice when after she ringed him on his mobile
"Yo Ry…you called"
"I most certainly did and you called me back I am honored"
Tony smiled at the irony in his voice "and WHY did you call me?"
"Some mates are having a little hip hop session and I wanted to ask if you´d like to join and show them how it´s really done"
Tony smiled. She had afternoon Ballet classes but she had time. Her last morning class was cancelled and she had lunch….she could make it.
"Sure I´m in"
"Awesome… where are you? I´ll pick you up" Riley said.
"Oh you don't have to"
"But I want to talk with you before meeting up with the others."
"Let´s say we meet eachother in the park...in about 15 minutes"
"Deal…see ya"
With that he hung up and Tony went inside to get ready. Out of the tight jeans into grey chachi momma pants and a loose no sleeved grey hoodie, which sides were cut. Underneath a turquoise sports bra. It was partly visible from the sides. Tony put on turquoise vans and opened her hair from the ponytail to braid a few strains of it. She put her feather helix piercing in her left ear and put on her favorite grey beanie. Last but not least she put on a tiny bit of kohl making light Smokey eyes.
She heard a knock at her door.
"Toe? I wanted to ask…woa!" Andrew was standing in the door and looked at her.
"Andrew…what do you want? "Tony said taking a last check on her outfit.
"Um" Andrew looked up and down at her before he started to talk again "Well…I wanted to ask you if you like to go with me and Cece-"
"Sorry" Tony interrupted him before he could go on "But I have other plans…I´m in a hurry…soo"
Tony pulled out a skateboard from under her bed and went past Andrew "Maybe some other time"
Leaving the boardinghouse Tony rolled on the pavement with her skateboard and got more and more excited as she got nearer to see Riley again. She had missed him.
"Tony won't come" Andrew said to Cecily when he came into the common room again.
"Oh…" Cecily seemed disappointed "Well what did she say?"
"She…"Andrew paused "Well she was getting ready and was in a hurry…and already had plans…we didn't talk much"
"Ready? Like dressing up?"
"Well it looked like she would go skateboarding…"Andrew said and shook his head "Well that does not matter now…Let´s go…the therapy is starting soon"
Cecily sighted and got up.
Aaron was upset that Messi had written about his failed confession. It made him look like a complete looser. The girls…in every year felt sorry for him. They looked at him like he was some stupid fawn and the boys also from every year laughed at him.
While Dustin was doing something with Lily outside Aaron sat inside their room in front of his laptop. Checking the Facebook site of his sister. Naomi Lehrer had changed her profile. It showed her in a red coat and light pink gloves and bonnet which. She stood in front of a huge tree holding a cup of tea.
Waiting for the Cherryblossom season. Said the caption beneath it in Japanese.
Speaking of the devil a window popped up Nao -chan calling.
"Hey Naomi!" Aaron said and smiled at the display which revealed his sister grinning at him
"Nii!" She said and Aaron just realized how much he missed being called big brother.
"How come you are wearing t-shirt and shorts?" Fashion Police Naomi had spoken
"We have summer here" Aaron answered smiling and laughed when he saw Naomi pouting.
"OH you´re lucky I can´t wait for some warmer temperatures!"
"I know. I saw your picture on Facebook"
"Yeah? How do you like it? I love it…Kisuke-kun took it" Naomi paused "Um…wait I´ll get Tou and Kaa-san!"
She quickly disappeared but Aaron already noticed the blush on Naomi´s cheeks. Aaron sighted. Kisuke Hanamura was a boy in Naomi's class….and he was a total jerk. Not really, he was a good student, didn´t look bad, came from a decent family and had manners BUT the problem with this guy was…Naomi had a huge crush on him…and to make it worse…he flirted with her.
"Aaron!" the voice of his Dad interrupted his thought
"Tou-san! Kaa-san!" He greeted his parents as they appeared on the screen.
"How are you?" his mother asked.
"Good" Aaron said "Busy…as always…I miss you guys"
"I missed you guys" Tony said exhausted and took a sip from the water bottle Riley had offered her. Riley stretched and laid his arm casually on the bench they we sitting on his hands caught a few strains of Tony's hair and started playing with them lightly.
"Then don´t take so long to meet us next time" Riley grinned and snatched the water bottle out of her hands, dropping water on Tony´s lap.
"Hey I wasn´t done yet!" Tony argued and tried to grab the bottle Riley held over his head.
"You wanna have the water?" Riley grinned stood up and held the bottle in front of her "Well if you can reach it"
"Riley…"Tony said annoyed and grabbed for the bottle.
"All right all right" The sandy blonde offered her the bottle again, just to shake the bottle so that the rest of the content shot out of the bottle.
"RILEY YOU STUPID!" Tony screamed out and hit Riley on the shoulder who embraced her, laughing.
He ruffled her hair so that the beanie on her head slid down a little. That was just when Lucas, Cooper and Noah, the rest of their friends, came back with fries, burgers and soft drinks.
"Oi you two I hope ya didn´t got bored all alone" Cooper said with a wink and sat down on the grass.
Noah grinned and offered Riley one drink "Sure, Riley was not bored…I mean he finally saw our Tony again. You know Toe; he was annoying us with how much he missed you and how long he didn't saw you"
"I did not" Riley muttered but avoided anyone's gazes instead he grabbed a cheeseburger and offered Tony one before he took one himself.
"Soo Tony….where have you been actually?" Lucas took some fries and covered them with ketchup.
"…My dad had kept me busy…"Tony said. She hated to lie, or partly lie at them. But it was better that she did not tell the guys that she came from a rich ballet family and was at the academy. She knew how much the guys laughed at Betty bun heads. To say that she was homeschooled and that her dad was strict and kept her busy was almost the half-truth. She was homeschooled for most of her live and her dad had kept her busy, because he enrolled his kids at the academy.
"Those dads…" Riley sighted. The group knew that Riley's always drunk and abusive dad was one of the reasons Riley was hardly at home.
"Well why don't you sneak out more and visit us more often" Cooper said sipping on his coke
"Hey I try to…but…well…let's say I´ll try to meet you guys up every Sunday or so" Tony said and got up.
"Sorry guys…but I have to go clas-….I have to go" she hugged the boys goodbye "Coop…you can have the rest of my food"
"You´re an angel!" Cooper grinned "Bye Tony"
"Bye Toe" Lucas waved and Riley got up to give her a proper hug. She smelled his aftershave, fresh like the ocean.
"Don't let your dad get you down kiddo" he whispered hardly hearable.
"I won´t…."Tony smiled as she got out of his embrace turned around to grab her skateboard and left. She might make it in time for class.
Liana just felt awkward around Gabriel. That was the best way to describe it. Not because he was rude or anything….on the contrary Gabriel was the most polite and sweet boy she met. Of course Dustin was also very sweet and caring, and Aaron was fun to hang out with but as Lily said it already Gabriel had this mysterious side and his quietness was something she couldn't cope with. She could not read him. After this embarrassing incident with her having menstrual cramps and Gabriel taking care of her was a little bit of awkwardness around them every time she was with him.
They hardly spoke; he talked only if it was necessary and so she was the one who came up with random things to talk about….but he was too focused on dancing anyways. This is why it was even more awkward when Gabriel pulled Liana aside after she walked in for afternoon class.
"Have you eaten?" he asked
"Yes?"
"So you are sure to have enough power?"
"Yes?"
"Good. Please…warm up. Stretch and if you need help…get it…"
"Gabriel…is something wrong…you seem a little bit tensed"
"I´m okay….I just need you to be in perfect shape for this class….no distraction. Please"
Then he turned and left for the bar to continue his warm up.
"What was that about?" Lily asked when Liana returned to her, Aaron and Dustin standing further away from Gabriel.
"I have no idea…"
"Gabe seemed pretty serious…." Lily said and took a bite from the gummy snake Dustin had offered her.
"Hey look" Aaron hit Dustin with an elbow "Its Andrew and Cecily…they are coming to rehearsal…together again. I think the rumor that the two are an item is true."
"Yeah…too bad for Tony though…I mean... she must feel like the third wheel" Dustin said "Oh sorry bro"
Aaron shook his head "I´m okay…really…I mean if she is not into me…she is not…I will find someone better!"
"That's the spirit" Lily grinned and poked her dance partner in his side "By the way….where is Tony? She never been late for class…usually she is the one of the first to be in here."
"Maybe Cece will know" Dustin said "I am off to my dance partner"
Dustin went across the classroom to join with Cecily.
"Hey Cece, Andrew" he nodded at the brunette "Mind if we try that lifting section before class?"
"Sure!" Cecily said and got into Position "Andrew…have fun with Tony….I´ll catch you later!"
"Would be nice if she´d be here!" Andrew said but smiled at Cecily. Then he turned around to search for his dance partner.
"Oi…Gabe" he said as he passed him joining Liana "Have you seen Tony?"
"I´m not Antonia's babysitter"
"Geez…I just wanted to know if you saw her…you're her brother after all…"
"Sorry Andrew…Gabe is a bit tense-"Liana wanted to say but Gabe interrupted her.
"Hush now….focus...look they are coming"
Then the class turned around to see Miss Raine approaching with Zach and another man. He was tall, well built, and wore a light blue shirt and dark blue jeans. All neatly put together. He looked like an older Gabriel just with blue eyes.
"It´s Louis Barrington!" Andrew heard someone whisper.
"What? You mean the former dancer and choreographer of the company? "
Oh just another fancy, stuck up Ballet teacher…. Andrew though
"Oh no…" he heard a familiar voice next to him whisper. He looked down and saw Tony suddenly next to him. Fixing her bun. His hair was a bit curly…just like it was when she came out of the water when they went surfing. She just got here, he knew because she was still catching her breath.
"Good afternoon class" Miss Raine said and looked at the class. "I am happy to say…that our company is back from tour and that they´re artistic director and choreographer has taken time to pay visit. Welcome Louis Barrington!"
The class applauded politely.
"Thanks for the warm welcome" Louis spoke and his voice reminded Liana a lot of how Gabriel spoke when he was being polite.
"I am happy to see that the world of classical ballet still finds interest in such a young audience. I just wanted to make sure they learn this art correctly…Now If you return to your warm up…I´m gonna meet up with some of you".
The class did not really return to warm up. They looked how Louis came towards Gabriel and Tony with a smiled. Both of the twins did not seem that happy to see him. While Gabe was tensed Tony looked as she would barf any second. Pale face and the light freckles clearly showing.
"Gabriel!" Louis hugged him and patted on his back "You have grown a few inches. Improved…took you time in the gym? Good boy"
"Thanks…dad" Gabriel said quietly and stepped aside so that his father could meet his sister.
"Antonia!" Tony winced at the sound of her name
"Dad" she gave a half smile and hugged her father just as awkwardly back as he hugged her.
"You´re pale. You should work on your cardio. Blood circulation and all…..and try to make a neat bun once in a while…and don´t be that late next time. Do not think I did not saw that"
"But dad it was the first time" Tony tried to defend herself, but her father interrupted her
"That was already one tome too much…so…join your partners…I´ll meet them later…I can´t stay long…I have to pay visit to the other years as well…I assume I meet you at the gala…or dinner on Sunday at the latest"
"Kill me now" Tony whispered as she rejoined Andrew-
"You did not tell me your dad was the artistic director of the company" Andrew said
"There are not many dancing Barrington, and those who are, are related…you can look it up. Anyway…I don't know what you dad does….so what"
"Bad mood?"
"Terrible bad…I bet dad thinks I am always late for class, don't pay attention…blablabla….please…try to look decent in today's lesson…okay?"
"That's why Gabriel was freaking the Liana girl up before" Andrew said.
"That …" Tony mouthed an insult Andrew didn't here "He knew…."
Then again Tony mentally slapped herself. The missed phone calls from Daniel…of course.
Half of the lesson was tensed. Everybody tried to look good. After all Louis Barrington could have a huge influence on them getting a contract in a few years but Louis left after half an hour and the mood got lighter.
After Louis Barrington went to second year, he paid a visit to the third year, leaving a pretty messed up class behind.
"I can´t believe of how much of a jerk that guy was" Jen said and bit off her rock candy cane as she, Luke and Aria went away from class later.
"He was correcting us" Luke said somehow intimidated by such a raged Jen.
"He was bulling us. Miss Raine usually does correction…he was bulling us…and Zach did nothing against it. I mean had you seen Diana? She was crying for god's sake! In contemporary…the class she kills….because he told her that with those feet she hardly had a chance to get into his company!"
"There are other companies than the one in Australia…there was this guy…named Ben pickle or so…he is now soloist in the Austin Ballet!"
"Ben Tickle was the name…but that's not the point!" Jen said taking another bite "He almost insulted every one of us…saying what was wrong about our bodies…disgusting"
He did. Luke remembered. When Louis Barrington arrived they were in the middle of a contemporary session and he already said that he would critique them hard. After all you're in you second year…if they have any imperfections left they should work on them now before it is too late.
"Aria" Luke suddenly said "You didn't take the critique that hard did you? You are very quiet"
Aria pressed her lips together and tightened her jumper. "It´s okay…"
"See even Ari was bullied…if one could ever do that….to ask about her scar…really I can't believe that this guy should be in relation with Tony and Gabriel"
"Gabriel? You know him? Are you in his year?" A tall boy, a few years older than them came from the group of other boys at his age to join the little trio. He must been around twenty…had light brown hair and a bit of beard.
"Well…we know him…but are not in his year" Jen said rather arrogantly. Who did he think he was? This was a private slag off.
"And you are?" Aria said suddenly with a grin and sparkly eyes. She was turned into flirt mode.
"Oh right" he ran a hand through his hair "My name is Daniel. Daniel Barrington…I´m Gabe's older brother!"
He held out his hand. Aria took it "Oh that's interesting. I didn´t know that Gabriel had a brother. WHAT?
Luke hid almost a laugh.
"Hey I am Luke Kelly," he said then and took the hand Daniel offered him "The shell-shocked redhead is Aria Fletcher and the brunette who is scowling at you is Jen. They are not usually like this"
"Uh…yeah" Daniel seemed confused and avoided Jens scowl and Arias stare.
"Well" He said "We just came back from tour…and had some" free time before the gala tonight... I wanted to check on my siblings…but they seem to be too busy…I guess I´ll see them tonight….hey you guys should come. If you want you can go and have a look back stage. Just say that you´re friends of mine…they´ll let you in"
"Oh cool….but why" Jen suddenly said.
"Well" Daniel said and blushed "I overheard you talking about my dad and how he had treated you in class. I wanted to make it up to you…and I am not very creative by doing so…but it's a great opportunity…you can meet some of the principles they are very cool."
"We´ll think about it" Jen said and pulled Luke on his arm. Aria followed them still quite. They went to the boardinghouse when she suddenly spoke.
"Damn those genes….and I thought Gabriel was cute!"
"I must admit" Jen grinned "He was cute"
"Hello? I´m here too"
"Of course" Aria grinned again "You Lucky are the cutest out there"
"Come here honeycomb" Jen said and both her and Aria hugged Luke who was squeezed in the middle and got brown and red hair shove in his face.
"You knew it all along!" Tony yelled at Gabriel in the first year's common room. Liana, Lily, Aaron, Dustin Cecily and Andrew were also sitting there reading magazines, eating or painting their Toenails when the twins came in. Gabe had Tony in tow who was yelling at him
"Yeah I did? So what?" Gabriel seemed very annoyed
"YOU could have warned me!"
"It´s not my fault that you spend your lunch break off the campus and got late"
"But you KNEW dad was coming today and STILL did not warm me you are so selfish"
"Hey!" Gabriel yelled back "You could pick up, or called back Daniel…he could have told you"
"But YOU had classes with me this morning….even BEFORE Dan had called! And you know how much I hate calling!"
"I don't have time for your stupid disliked of using mobile phones "
"Yeah right!" Tony bristled "YOU don't have time for that YOU have to keep up the sunny boy status…you are the GOLDEN boy after all"
"Antonia don't hyperbolism"
"Don't call me that!"
"It´s you NAME god damn…..This has no use….better be ready and dressed up for tonight….and don't be late"
"It was just today"
"And don't forget the family lunch on Sunday" Gabriel said ignoring Tony's defend "I´m going to lay down….I have a head ache!"
"Hope it…last!" Tony yelled for a last time "What are YOU looking at huh?"
She yelled at the audience and got out of the common room.
"I never saw Tony this furious" Dustin said.
"See…not very sensitive" Andrew whispered to Cecily and caught a light smack on the shoulder.
"Family tension" Aaron said "We don't know why they are acting like that!"
"Isn't it obvious" Andrew said "Gabriel is the, I quote, Golden Boy, of the family…best grades and everything and Tony is not siblings fight for attention"
"More than that" Liana said " Didn't you heard how different their dad was treating them….while Gabe was getting complements…Tony only got critique…"
"I miss my twin" Lily suddenly said "I always knew that the twin relation between my brother and me is different than Tony and Gabe´s is but I've seen them interact with eachother the first time. I mean with real emotion….That made me realize how much I miss home"
"Geez" Cecily got up "Bo whoo don't start to cry….Andy? You coming?"
Both of them got up and left the room.
"You´re not alone" Aaron said "I talked to my sister the other day…and apparently…she is also living a life…even without me being in it. Apparently she got her first boyfriend and I don't even have the chance to beat up the guy. I miss my sister….and I don't want to return for vacation and see that she had grown…"
"Yeah" Liana said "I am the oldest of a bunch…and Bennet will be the only one who I won't see growing up!"
"I am not eager to see my brothers "Dustin said "I am just happy that I am here….well are you guys going to the gala? My Nana and her friends wanted to go but they couldn't make it so she is inviting us….because the tickets are already bought."
Later that evening Luke, Jen and Aria had agreed to go to the Gala. It was worth a try. Jen had put on a navy blue dress and made her hair, Luke was forced into a button up shirt and even Aria put on a blazer over her Hard rock café t-shirt. The trio went to the backstage entry and was let in.
They saw the dancers getting ready, running around. Then they saw Daniel. He was standing in the doorway talking to a dark skinned man. Daniel eyed the trio and waved at time.
"Cool you guys came"
He turned to the man
"Well these are some second years…I invited them to see behind the scenes. Guys meet our principal Oliver Lloyd"
"Cool that you´re here" The man said and shook everyone's hands "Call me Olli!"
Hey guys! What do you think about the new chap? What do you think about the new title pic? I made it myself. When I have time I will make a deviant art account and upload it there so you can have a better look. :3