Disclaimer: The characters you recognize from Ella Enchanted are not mine, otherwise you wouldn't recognize them from any book because they wouldn't be published, lol. Picture Perfect belongs to Michael W Smith, although I made up the actions that go with it.
A/N: On the songs, when there are italic words in brackets, that's the action that is happening while they are singing. If the words in the brackets are regular text, the action is happening in between the song lines.
Do you think I put in too many songs? Or if not, do you think I should quit putting in all the actions they do? If you do, put it in your review and I'll stop! I just have so much fun doing them, but I don't want to get you awesome readers annoyed, heehee! Thanks.
Chapter Seven: AdjustmentsWe pulled up in front of a large building and there was another grinding of gears as the 'car' (Shean had explained all about it to me on the way) pulled up in front of the rink. Shean got out and opened the door for us (it was rather sticky) and we all piled out.
"I'll be back for you at eight," Sylva called as we walked in.
We walked up to a little window and a woman asked us how many people we had. Shean said four and she told him a number. He handed her some green paper and coins and she gave him four red pieces of paper.
Shean led us up to a counter and we waited for the man to come over to us.
"Ya need th' skates?" He asked. Shean nodded and told him four numbers. The man came back with what looked like boots with four little wheels on the bottom attached by a metal plate.
"Shoes," he said in a bored voice and the others started taking off their shoes. I followed suit and we all placed our shoes on the counter.
"Why do we have to do that?" I asked in a whisper, not directing it at anyone in particular.
"I guess it's so that they know we'll give back the skates because we want our shoes back. Not that the skates are good enough to steal anyways." She stuck her tongue out in disgust.
Shean laughed at her and told me not to lace the top hole. I laced up my boots, leaving the top hole open. I tied the laces as tight as I could, to make them feel snug. I stood up and spun around. I didn't make a full circle, just a little swing with the wheels. Surprised but happy with that, I turned to the others.
"Come on, let's go. I want to learn to skate."
This would be fun. The other three got up and helped me out onto the wooden floor. It was much slicker on the floor than on the hard carpet and I actually found it easier to move on it. After showing me how to do what she called 'V steps', Kaetlin taught me how to do 'glide steps'. They were longer, slower, and more graceful, holding your foot behind you before putting it down to push. I was soon following the others around the floor easily. I think it was easier because of my balance. For some reason, I've always had good balance and this had seemed to help twice today: both on skates and on scooters. I couldn't wait for this skating lesson on Saturday.
Saturday morning finally came (only four days of suffering through school). We got to sleep in just a little before getting into the car at eight fifteen. Kaetlin described what the teacher, John would probably have us doing. We had gone to the skate rink a couple more times during the week and I knew I could skate as well as most of the other kids by now.
We all piled out and Shean paid for the lessons. We had gone to a 'thrift store' called 'Value Village' a couple times that week and finally found enough skates to fit all three of us. We put on our socks and laced up our skates. I had only used them once before and I couldn't wait to see how I did this time. I skated out onto the floor for the first class (the beginners) and started skating. I saw a man I assumed was the coach fiddling with what Kaetlin had told me was the 'DJ stand' where they played the music in. There were already other kids on the floor, some obviously better than I was, some still working on V steps. The coach stepped onto the floor and held up a microphone.
"All right, everyone up front."
I skated back around the floor to the front wall, pulled off a nice stop with the side of my skate, and stood in front of the wall. The coach stood in front of us with his feet firmly planted and his microphone in his hand. He looked at one of the younger boys.
"Adam, are those hands in your pockets?"
The boy looked sheepish and quickly pulled them out, grinning up at the coach. He grinned back, then turned to the rest of us.
"Now any of you who are new today know one of our rules: no hands in pockets. Do you know why?"
I'd learned from experience. I raised my hand. "Yes?"
"Because then if you fall, your hands can't break your fall."
The coach nodded. "That's right. Now, for all you new people, I'm John, but you can call me Joe, too. Everyone who's been here before knows the magic word: 'step'." Kaetlin and Shean had taught me that one. "If you're new, I'll come around and see if you're good enough to stay for Class Two. Those of you who are still learning V steps will work with Sammy." A middle-aged lady waved to us. "Now, skate!" He called.
We all pushed away from the wall and glided away. I fell into the posture Kaetlin had showed me and held my arms out straight and leaned from side to side as I did my lean changes. The coach skated up to me.
"Are you new?" I nodded. He paused to size me up. "Stay for at least Class Two. Maybe Class Three, too." I nodded and he skated away. We skated forwards for one record, then skated forwards the opposite direction. After that, we went to the side wall and skated backwards from it to the opposite wall a couple times. Then he sent us over to the other wall to do what Joe called 'spread eagles'. We had to stand on the wall and place our skates up tight against the wall, heels together, toes, and heels touching the wall. Then we had to wiggle our hips to loosen up our ankles for the next exercise. Joe came around and kicked our skates so that the whole inside edge was touching the wall. When he came to me, he stopped.
"Can you step away from the wall? What's your name again?"
"Val," I replied as I stepped away.
"Okay then, Val, I want you to put your left foot on the wall and put your right foot behind it, toe to heel on both sides." I did so and he kicked my skate in. "Now twist!" He instructed us all as he went down and kicked in the rest of the skates. He finally let us off the wall and had us line up on the outer black line that went around the floor. We placed our left foot sideways, pointing towards the back wall and lined up our right foot so that they made a T. Then we pushed and pulled our feet together so that they made a line... or tried to. Most of the kids fell down, but Kaet, Shean, and I and some of the other advanced kids managed to make it farther than most.
When Class Two was finally over, Joe told me to stay for Class Three. This was the one I had been waiting for. We all lined up on the wall and Joe stood in front of us.
"Okay, kids, we've got a new student. This is Val. Now, since she's new, we're going to start with the glide waltz." Everyone groaned. "Okay, line up behind me."
We all got into a straight line behind him (not a single file line, more like a row). Kaetlin had already showed me a bit of the glide waltz, which is probably just about the easiest dance in quad skating. It's also probably the most boring dance in skating, too. Joe promised we'd do the double cross waltz next week.
It was a bit over a month later when I finally had most of the band's songs memorized and Shean started teaching me the choreographies. The other boys weren't there, but since we were both the lead vocals, we just sang. One of the funnest ones to do was Picture Perfect by Michael W Smith.
Shean stood 'onstage' and I had a slip-on dress on over my clothes. As he started singing, I ran onstage.
Pull all your hair up/ I ran on, pretending to pull my hair into the high ponytail it was already in
Dab on the make-up/ I pantomimed dabbing blush onto my cheeks like I'd seen Kaetlin doing
Trying hard to look so pristine/ I posed
Like a face in a magazine/ I turned my head and smiled at where the audience would be
Those fancy dresses and/ I swept my hands down from my shoulders to show off my dress
Media pressure/ I looked around uncertainly
Have got you feeling so plain and small/ I hugged my shoulder and tried to look small
If you don't look like a paper doll/ I held my hands out by my sides like a triangle to look like a paper doll
In a world where the goal is/ I turned my head as if searching for something
To be like the Joneses/ I jerked forwards and posed prettily
It's guaranteed to drive you wild/ I stomped my foot in frustration
Keeping up with the latest style/ I spun around on my heel and tried to look upset
Gaze in the mirror/ I held my hand in front of my face like a mirror
You want the glamour/ I pretended to drop the mirror and let it smash
And the grace of a movie star/ I held my hand up horizontal to the side of my face like I was holding something on the palm
But I like you the way you are/ I looked at him like I was surprised
You are the only one I'm dreaming of/ I pointed to myself in astonishment
'Cause baby don't you know that I love/
I joined in on all the choruses
Chorus:
You, Girl/ I grinned happily at the audience and then pulled off my dress and ripped out my ponytail holder
You don't have to be picture perfect/ On the words 'picture perfect', I snapped my hand into what Shean called 'angel hands' and tried to look angelic & innocent
To be in my world/ I smiled and shrugged nonchalantly
You don't have to be picture perfect/ On the words 'picture perfect', I snapped my hand into what Shean called 'angel hands' and tried to look angelic & innocent
To fit the frame/ I put my hands into a half rectangle and framed my face with my hands
You're tender, you're tactful/ I smiled sweetly at him
Girl, you're a natural/ I grinned at the audience
You possess a heart that's true/ I put both hands over my heart
That's what I like about you/
One in a million/ I put up one finger and circled it at the audience
Yea, that's a given/ I grinned broadly and laughed silently at the audience
There's a beauty inside of you/ I put my hands by my shoulders in a self-conscious gesture
And it shows on the outside, too/ I swept my hands up in a broad gesture
No competition, you're way in the lead/ I grinned as widely as I could and stepped back a bit to give myself some room for the next move
And baby, don't you know that I need.../
Chorus:
You, Girl/ I grinned and turned a cartwheel & stuck the landing nicely
You don't have to be picture perfect/ On the words 'picture perfect', I snapped my hand into what Shean called 'angel hands' and tried to look angelic & innocent
To be in my world/ I smiled and shrugged
Girl/
You don't have to be picture perfect/ On the words 'picture perfect', I snapped my hand into what Shean called 'angel hands' and tried to look angelic & innocent
To be in my world/ I smiled and shrugged
Girl/
You don't have to be picture perfect/ On the words 'picture perfect', I snapped my hand into what Shean called 'angel hands' and tried to look angelic & innocent
To fit the frame/ I put my hands into a half rectangle and framed my face with my hands
The bridge music came on and I just swung along with the music and Shean joined in, both of us just having fun
You are the only one I'm dreaming of/
'Cause baby, don't you know that I love.../
Chorus:
You, Girl/ I grinned and turned a cartwheel & stuck the landing nicely
You don't have to be picture perfect/ On the words 'picture perfect', I snapped my hand into what Shean called 'angel hands' and tried to look angelic & innocent
To be in my world/ I smiled and shrugged
Girl/
You don't have to be picture perfect/ On the words 'picture perfect', I snapped my hand into what Shean called 'angel hands' and tried to look angelic & innocent
To be in my world/ I smiled and shrugged
Girl/
You don't have to be picture perfect/ On the words 'picture perfect', I snapped my hand into what Shean called 'angel hands' and tried to look angelic & innocent
To be in my world/ I smiled and shrugged
Girl/
You don't have to be picture perfect/ I danced over to Shean
To fit the frame/ Shean and I turned our backs to each other and leaned our shoulders together as I crossed my arms and he strummed his last chord on his guitar
I leaned against the wall, panting from lack of breath and we both grinned at each other.
"Not bad, huh?" Shean asked, putting his guitar on the bed. I shook my head, unable to speak. We heard a little giggle and turned just in time to see Kaetlin dashing away from the door for her room. Shean growled and ran after her.
I got up off the wall I had been leaning on and crept across the hall to listen.
"What were you doing?" I heard Shean ask in an irritated voice.
"Just watching," Kaetlin replied casually. I could tell from her voice that she was grinning. Shean growled.
"Well then, what was so funny?"
"Just Val. She looked so funny dancing!"
"I did, did I?" I asked, stepping through the door. I found Shean holding Kaetlin by the shoulders. They both jumped.
"Oh, I, uh, I was joking, Val!"
I smiled ever so slightly and rolled my eyes. "Of course you were, Kaet. Look, I've only been in your world for a bit over what, a month and a half? I only know maybe half your customs, and I can barely even do ballroom dancing. Maybe that's why I can't dance," I added in a suggestive voice, hoping she'd get the hint.
She dropped her head and looked so stupidly repentant that Shean and I had to stare at each other so we wouldn't see her and burst out laughing.
Kaetlin looked back up and I unexpectedly caught a stray thought.
They so have a crush on each other! Boy, it's so obvious!
I had no idea what she was talking about and I resolved to ask her that night.
"What's up with you two?"
I jerked myself back to the present and looked at her.
"We're just... trying not to laugh at you," Shean replied, stumbling over his words as he choked on his laughter.
Kaetlin rolled her eyes. "Yeah, whatever. Can I go now?"
Shean shoved her away. "Whatever. Just quit spying on band practices! I know you find them hilarious, but you've got to quit or I'll tell!"
"Fine, whatever!" Kaetlin yelled and stalked out of the room. This was the first time I'd seen them fighting in the week I'd been here. They seemed to get along fine most of the time, but people can, after all get on nerves sometimes.
Shean shook his head. "I don't know what her problem is! Ugh, little sisters! Come on, let's go ride our scooters somewhere. I know, we can take Éire to the park."
"Okay!" I agreed happily. I loved his fuzzy golden retriever. I wanted to get a dog of my own sometime. She reminded me of one of the breeds of dogs we had in Kyrria.
We ran down to the garage and got our scooters after checking with Sylva, then went to the backyard to get Éire. We clipped on her leash and scootered to the local park.
We played Frisbee and fetch with her for a while, then let her run with the other dogs. A dog that didn't look like any dog I had never seen before came trotting up to me with a ball in her mouth, begging me to throw it for her. She was black and white and beautiful. She had a perfectly shaped head and her whole body was well proportioned. She looked like she was a rather fast, agile dog. I fell in love with her right away.
The dog's owner came running up.
"Sorry about that!" She exclaimed, gently grabbing the dog's collar. "Bad Jaime!" She scolded.
"Oh, it's fine. What kind of dog is she?"
"Huh? Oh, she's a border collie," the girl said as she walked away with Jaime.
A border collie... I'd have to find out more about them. I wasn't going to be able to forget them easily. Maybe I could bring one or two back with me to Kyrria and start breeding them. They were such a beautiful bree–
"Val. Val? Val!" Shean yelled in my ear when I didn't respond at first. I jumped and we smacked foreheads.
"Ow; thanks," I muttered, rubbing my aching brow.
"Sure thing," Shean replied, doing likewise.
"What'd you want?" I asked, looking up at him. He had Éire on her leash in one hand and our scooters in the other.
"Come on, it's time to go home. Here's your scooter." He handed it to me and I unfolded it. We stepped on and pushed off with Éire running happily alongside us.
Kaetlin was still avoiding us when we got home and I promised myself once again that I would make her answer my questions that night.
A/N: Do you think you know what happens next? Tell me! Since I write this freehand (no outline), I don't know what's going to happen next either. So if you think that so-and-so's going to do this, or this-and-such is going to happen, post it in your review or email me. There's a good enough chance I might put it into the story or rewrite a chapter to include it!