En Pointe

Chapter 12: Past and Future

xxx

Pippa barely slept a blink that night, yet alone a wink.

It's just.. Big…

She knew it was… Knew that the reality of offering Enid a helping hand was hardly going to be like being Miss Honey in Matilda, the world was never that simple: positive actions didn't have immediately positive consequences. Karma took a long time, even if it actually did pay up. Yet… She knew, her decision was made – she couldn't let Enid be so unhappy, so unsettled. She couldn't live with herself.

She would phone Kat straight away in the morning and hope that Enid didn't think her an interfering cow.

Xxx

Saturday. After Exam Week Saturday.

Mildred felt like she could hardly move, yet her over-tired brain stubbornly refused to sleep any longer.

Enid was still fast asleep, and after the emotional night they had had, Mildred didn't want to wake her. The room felt stuffy as Mildred placed on some leggings and a hoodie and tip-toed out of their dorm, desperate for some fresh air.

Under-eighteens were in theory not allowed to leave the campus-site without permission from a member of staff, and although Mildred knew she could successfully sneak out like she had done previously, and like everyone else did, she was also aware of how close she was at paying the price for it and so didn't dare risk wandering any further than the school's grounds. The grounds were rather green and extensive for a city campus however, the evidence of clear compatibility between a long history of success and generous benefactors investing in what they saw was the right kind of art.

She walked the mostly empty courtyards and gardens, smiling at the delivery drivers unloading food from their trucks to the waiting caterers. It was nice to breathe in the cool air after what had so far been an overly warm term. She placed in her ear buds and flicked on Taylor Swift's latest album, an almost content smile reaching her cheeks.

Xxx

"Aghhh," Mildred blanched as she almost bumped into Ms Hardbroom, who had been leaving one of the buildings where Mildred knew the teachers' offices were housed.

"Hmm," Hecate's face became comically pinched, "I don't think I deserve quite that reaction."

"I didn't see you," Mildred paused her music and took out her head-phone.

"I could tell. I did call out to you, but that explains it," Hecate nodded at the offending ear piece. "Why must all teens be an extension of their mobiles?" she groaned, eyebrow raised so that the insufferable girl would know that she meant it as a cutting comment and not a true question.

"Music," Mildred grinned unashamedly, of course taking the comment as a question, "Can't go for a walk without it. Don't worry I'm not going far…" Mildred intoned knowingly.

Hecate snorted, "Good to know you've learnt your lesson. I've actually a few errands to run, if you'd like to accompany me. We can walk down the riverbank after," Hecate heard herself say before she could stop herself. "It's nice this time of year…" She added lamely.

Mildred nodded enthusiastically, "Yes- thanks," she smiled, heart lifting at the thought.

"Do you want to go back to your dorm and grab your coat?" Hecate asked, eyeing the girl's hoodie that seemed ill-equipped for the current cool breeze.

Mildred laughed, "I'm northern Ms Hardbroom this is practically July weather to me."

"Point taken," Hecate rolled her eyes.

Xxx

"Did you not lie-in?" Hecate wondered, thinking Mildred would be the kind to enjoy a lazy weekend, particularly after a long week.

Mildred pushed back her long and increasingly tangled hair, "Not when I've been getting up at ridiculous o-clock. Enid's asleep so I didn't want to wake her. It's not fair.."

Hecate knew from Mildred's emphasis on the word and the glint of anger in her eye she didn't mean about it being unfair to wake her.

"Parents make decisions which affect their children. It has nothing to do with fairness," Hecate inwardly sighed, knowing Mildred had the right the be cross on her friend's behalf.

"But...but… She's just so good," Mildred clenched her fists. "She cares more than she lets on...And she's the only friend I have here…" She added in a small voice.

"You're not here to make friends Mildred," Hecate gave her the standard reply.

"Easy for you to say – you had Ms Pentangle!" Mildred shot back.

For the first time in a while, Hecate had no comeback and the thought almost made her grin. The girl is very almost witty. She will have to learn to hold her tongue like I did. "I won't be a moment," she said instead, as they had reached the mini supermarket.

Mildred waited outside the shop patiently as Hecate went in. Mildred craned her neck to see inside the glass, noticing that Ms Hardbroom's no-nonsense demeanour seemed to ensure that nobody dared get in her way as she went about the aisles. Mildred laughed to herself, thankful that it wasn't just her and her classmates who were intimidated by the woman's scowl.

"Here," Ms Hardbroom passed her an apple from her carrier bag upon leaving. "To give me a moment's peace."

Mildred thanked her and grinned at her comment.

Xxx

"It's beautiful!" Mildred breathed as she took in the view down the river, she could see straight to Westminster, its looming bell tower majestic over the reflective water, its turrets a criss-cross of intricate pattern. "I can't believe I live here…"

"It has its charms," Hecate pursed her lips. "But so does the north with its rugged landscape."

"You're only saying that because you're from here," Mildred rolled her eyes.

"According to my wikipedia page I suppose so."

"Kensington?" Mildred queried, feeling immediately dorky for knowing. Why oh why did I let that slip?

"You've certainly done your research on me," Hecate smirked at Mildred's blush. "What they don't like to mention is that it was my father that lived in Kensington, my mother was from Leeds and soon moved back there with me when they divorced."

"You don't seem very northern to me!" Mildred laughed incredulously.

"I actually trained with Northern Ballet until I secured a place to train here. The Royal doesn't like to mention that bit though, preferring to take full credit for my successes," Hecate smirked. "Ethel Hallow was correct when she told you we have a quota of 'northern kids' to fill, my doing actually – we have found some truly talented dancers by actually looking outside our usual ballet feeder schools."

Mildred tried to let that sink in, "So do you ever visit Leeds?" was the only comment that came to mind.

"Not nearly enough," Hecate admitted slightly sadly.

Xxx

"Enjoy the rest of your Saturday Mildred, plenty of good-food and rest," Hecate instructed as they reached back to campus, back to a comfortable level of formality.

"I'm surprised you're not telling me to practice," Mildred quirked her eyebrow.

"Bodies do need to recover unfortunately. Even I dare not argue with science," Hecate sniffed. "Tomorrow should, in your case, be a different matter," she gave Mildred a once-over. "That will be your call, however," she pursed her lips as if to make her expectations clear.

"Yes Miss Hardbroom," Mildred said overly monotonously, smiling rather too breezily for Hecate's comfort.

Xxx

When Mildred arrived back at the dorm, Enid was finally awake – yet still hadn't emerged from her bed. She seemed to have set up camp, laptop on and her hair brushed yet piled on top of her head in a bun that HB would have been personally offended by.

"Hey," Mildred greeted with a small, sad smile that Enid returned.

"Walk?" Enid guessed by Mildred's attire.

"Ran into Ms Hardbroom – she was going out anyway so let me go with her," Mildred explained, trying her best to sound casual.

Enid looked at Mildred appraisingly.

"Can't hurt me, can it? She's got so much to teach and I certainly have a lot to learn," Mildred bit her lip before admitting, "And I genuinely am growing to like spending time with her – when she's not yelling, or forcing me to dance for hours on end, or making cutting comments.."

"Stockholm Syndrome," Enid smirked.

"Glutton for punishment," Mildred agreed, sitting on the bed with her, relieved Enid had lightened the mood. "Besides, she might be my only friend when I'm left here without you…"

"Now that would be very,very sad," Enid said dryly.

"What you doing?" Mildred looked at Enid's laptop.

"Deciding whether or not to reply to Ms Pentangle's email," Enid shrugged nonchalantly.

"Ms Pentangle's?" Mildred narrowed her eyes.

"She wants to meet with me, to speak with me about re-taking my exam and my future ect…." Enid tried to keep her voice level, but Mildred noticed there was a slight pitch of difference.

"That sounds…" Mildred tried, but felt rather flummoxed as the sentence faltered. Why would Ms Pentangle want Enid to take her exam? Surely it wouldn't matter now in the grand scheme of things.

"I know," Enid said, seemingly having read Mildred's mind. "I was so awful to her last time I saw her too…Proper shouted when she was only being nice."

"I don't think she's the kind to care about that," Mildred replied.

"No – and I don't want to leave for Russia on bad terms," Enid grimaced.

Xxx

Enid knocked on the door of Ms Pentangle's office, privately wondering why their teachers really needed offices in the first place.

"Come in," came a bright voice from inside. Enid pushed on the door and found herself in a very bright room, despite its standard grey walls and laminate floor, every space filled with plants of every hue and frames baring Pippa in floaty dresses or tutus of exquisite detail in an assortment of colours.

"Enid, come sit," Pippa smiled coaxingly. "I got you a latte, I remember we used to drink them together back stage after a performance."

Despite herself, Enid smiled that Ms Pentangle had remembered. In truth she only drank the sweet, frothy mixture because the angelic-looking ballerina had given it to her and she was desperate for any kind of fuss while her mum would be smoozing directors and the elite with faux merriment.

She took a sip, feeling nostalgia warm her all the way to her toes as she looked at the doe-eyed woman in front of her. "Thanks," she felt her voice falter.

"How are you?" Pippa questioned levelly.

"Resigned to my fate," Enid mumbled dramatically. Pippa gave a small smile at Enid's quick wit.

"Enid, you know I care a lot about you? I always have. You are really the only child I've experienced grow up," Pippa began her practised speech. "I want you to do well, in ballet or not in ballet – it really doesn't matter to me. I just think it perhaps matters to you?" she bit her lip.

"I…. I…" Enid was taken-aback. "I don't know…"

"You don't?"

"It's… All I know…" Enid tried to explain. "And I know I'm good at it… Heck I don't deserve to be when there's girls like Mildred willing to spend every hour with HB shouting insults in order to succeed. I like to dance… But I sometimes get tired of it… Because I've been doing it a lifetime, when I'm not old enough to have experienced a lifetime…" Enid tried to explain.

"I understand," Pippa gave an encouraging smile. Kat had always boasted that Enid had been walking on her tiptoes by the time she was two."But also it's a big part of you.. If you throw it all away.. Then there's no going back."

"But I haven't," Enid huffed. "I'll no doubt be in enrolled in the best dance school in St Petersburg, ready to turn me into a ballet-bot."

"If you could stay here, would you?" Pippa asked.

"Yes," Enid cradled her cheek. "I like it here… I like my classes, being with Mil, Miss Cackle, even Ms Hardbroom when she's not screaming too much though she really doesn't like me… Your classes," Enid ended, "But Mum would never pass down the part."

"Would you accept me as your guardian?" Pippa got about before she could stop herself.

"W-what?" Enid frowned.

"I phoned your mum, explained how you were feeling and she agreed to it. Only if you agree to it though of course," Pippa smiled hopefully. Kat had in truth been surprisingly amenable, clearly happy to concentrate on her career rather than her precious child.

"What – what does it mean?"

"That I would keep an extra eye on you on your mum's behalf, but you could stay here at the academy…." Pippa bit her lip.

"You'd do that for me?" Enid said open-mouthed.

"Everyone deserves the chance to create their own path," Pippa told the girl, "But no more fighting-it. You're to accept that you are a dancer at heart…Keep your head down and actually put some real effort in."

"But this time it's my choice," Enid's eyes widened. "I really get to stay?"

"Really," Pippa relaxed as Enid shot her a full-wattage grin.

xx