CHAPTER 2

"No! Stop that now!" The teacher yelled as Victoria tried to gain control of the children who had just begun to fight one another over a space at the barre. "It's not nice to punch!"

Her dainty hands were no match for the hyperactive children but she somehow managed to get in between them and stop them smacking each other. Victoria rolled her eyes at Demeter, the class' teacher who rolled hers back. They both had the utmost privilege of teaching the worst behaved class at Grizabella's School of Dance. A fight would be started at least once a lesson over something so small it seemed silly but was probably the most outrageous injustice ever experienced to the group of 7-9 year olds. It was like teaching a class for juvenile delinquents.

Demeter took the two children fighting aside to talk about the importance of being polite just as the bell rung signalling the end of class. Victoria gave a sigh of audible relief as the kids started to stream out of the studio and she wiped the sweat from her forehead that had appeared not from dancing but from restraining Erin Matthews earlier in the class after Jamie Hughes had stepped on her foot.

"I swear they get worse and worse each time." Demeter groaned as she sat on the floor and began to stretch.

Victoria grunted. "God, I know. One of them actually called me a bitch because I told her that her arm wasn't fully extended. I sometimes forget that these kids are all under 10."

"Which one was it? Because I can just call their parents and they"ll be grounded for a week." She chuckled, sliding into the splits and stretching her back by leaning forwards onto the floor. "I swear I was gunna be this superstar ballerina. Now look where I am, it's pathetic. You're so lucky that you're still young and have your whole life ahead of you."

"You're not exactly an OAP, Dem." Victoria slid down next to her, leaning against the adjacent wall. "You never know what's just around the corner." Victoria hadn't meant for it to sound so sarcastic but it somehow slipped out like that. She felt just as old an bitter at 23.

"Yeah right. You turn 30 and you're no longer needed for the big parts anymore. Teaching is the best gig I'm gunna get." Demeter let her upper body fall to the floor. She was a petite woman, but had a lot of muscle and strength from the years of dancing. Her honey toned hair was tied up into a bun, with a few strands that had fallen out at the back, sticking to her neck. "Which reminds me, don't you have a lesson in like 5 minutes?"

"It's been moved to this studio so I'm just waiting here while I calm down." She rolled her neck in semi circles to de-stress. "Besides, I need to be psychologically ready before I do Bomba's class anyway. She is insane."

Demeter snickered. Bombalurina was Demeter's older sister who taught classes for adults, one being the ballet class that Victoria took with Jemima 3 times a week. She luckily didn't have to deal with the squabbles of the children Victoria taught but there were a couple of people in the class with her who were immature enough to have a mental age of 8. Her teaching method was intense tough love and in her eyes you aren't working hard enough unless your feet were bleeding which meant that no one would dare kick up a fuss like the kids did. Unless they wanted to be killed. It was exhausting but Victoria almost fed off of the motivation that came with the constant drive to work harder that Bombalurina pushed for.

"Good luck." Demeter winked as people began to walk into the studio. She stood and smiled at her sister as the redhead sauntered in, decked in a leotard that matched her hair and lips, holding a bottle of water and her pointe shoes. She was utterly beautiful in a terrifying way.

"Hey cheeky." Jemima chirped as she came to sit next to her. She always had a cringy nickname call her. Just the presence of Jemima was enough to calm Victoria down. Robed in a dark green leotard and black dancing shorts, she scraped her thick bronze coloured hair back into a bun and gave one of her famous grins that always reached her mahogany eyes. Victoria always thought that Jem had a grin that could light up a whole room - even one as drab as the studio. She had just the right amount of maturity and childishness that meant she was able to pick the perfect moment to crack a joke. "Cettie has picked a date for our party."

Cettie, Victoria's other room mate had been banging on and on about this stupid party for weeks now. She would always moan about having no social life and how the apartment was perfect for parties, despite it being incredibly cramped and full of random crap.

"Oh God, when?"

"Saturday." Jemima began to stretch out her feet. "She gave me the instructions to invite as many people as I possibly could so that applies to you also. Speaking of which..."

Jemima stood and started to walk towards a pair of boys. One was short and had charcoal coloured hair that kept falling down into his eyes. He was decked in navy tights and a large cream jumper that fell down to his thighs. The other was unbelievably tall and was dressed similarly to the other but wore a red tshirt instead. His auburn hair was cropped and he would regularly run his hands through it. Victoria giggled at how tiny Jemima looked stood next to him. She barely reached up to his shoulder.

"Hi Quaxo, hi Plato." She smiled sweetly, and Victoria groaned as she realised what she was doing. She quickly shot up and joined her friend before she had the opportunity to embarrass her. "We were wondering if you were free on Saturday night? Cettie convinced us to throw a party and we need attendee's."

"The day has finally come!" Quaxo laughed. The two boys also lived in their apartment building, a floor below with two of their friends, Pouncival and Tumblebrutus. They had been friends with the guys ever since they helped Cettie move her stuff in with her and Jemima. "Sounds thrilling, we'll be there, wont we Plato?"

"Oh, yeah definitely. Wouldn't miss it." His eyes met with Victoria's and the two blushed simultaneously. Jemima giggled and winked at Quaxo. It was no secret that Victoria had a crush on Plato. Okay, more than a crush. She had been infatuated with him ever since their first class together 3 years ago. Of course Victoria could never muster up the courage to tell him and their relationship had remained very platonic, much to her dismay.

"Alright guys, time for warm up! Everyone gather round." Bomba boomed from the other side of the room. Jemima rolled her eyes and linked arms with Victoria as the two joined the rest of the class.

Victoria's one true passion was dancing. It gave her a thrill that no other activity could compare to. All the pain, the breathlessness and the burning of her muscles felt rewarding. It was as if the more it hurt, the better she performed. She constantly strived to jump higher or extend her leg up further - she wanted to be the best that she possibly could be. That meant spending all of her time improving and whilst the others took a break between exercises, she continued to practise. She could see Jemima out of the corner of her eye laughing with Quaxo, but she couldn't join in until she had perfected her Grand Battement. She could relax when she left the studio, but until then she wanted to make the most of her time here.

"Very nice, Vic." Bomba took a sip of water and joined her at the barre. "I love your dedication. Sometimes you remind me of a blonder, skinnier me." She winked. "You should think about auditioning for the principle dancer in the upcoming show." The redhead then moved over to the group of people huddled in the centre of the room.

"Nice extension." A voice snickered behind her. Victoria spun around to face a tall and lean woman. Cassandra joined her at the barre and shot her a sarcastic smile. "Are you really going out for principle this year? Don't you think that's a little advanced for you?" She lifted her leg into an arabesque and smirked.

"I've literally only just been told about it." This wasn't entirely true. Victoria had been eyeing up the audition sign up sheet in the lobby for a few days now but hadn't gathered enough courage to put her name down.

"Good thing too, because that's my part." She said curtly.

"Yours?" Victoria questioned, wondering how on earth a part could belong to a person who hadn't even auditioned for it.

"Mine. I've been the principle dancer in the show for 4 years straight. I'm experienced. You're not. No offence of course, it's just I wouldn't want you to audition and be embarrassed. I'm only thinking of you here, honey." She moved closer to Victoria. "I would save myself the pain if I were you. You'll be disappointed."

"Alright guys, that's it for today." Bomba called out as the bell rung.

"I think I'd have a shot." Victoria spat out, shocked by the woman's harsh words. Her condescending tone was insulting and her green-brown eyes pierced her. She had never even spoken to Cassandra before. She never usually spoke to anyone other than her band of loyal followers that surrounded her every lesson. She let down her sleek chocolate coloured hair over shoulders and gave a short laugh.

"I admire your enthusiasm. But enthusiasm wont get you that part."

"What's going on here then?" Jemima swooped in next to Victoria and sent Cassandra a vacant stare. Despite Jemima being about 5 inches shorter than Cassandra, she still managed to look menacing. Victoria mentally thanked her. "I didn't realise we were back in high school. All the bitchy comments in the world wont make you a better dancer, Cass."

Cassandra rolled her eyes and stalked away. Jemima turned to Victoria. "What was that about?"

Victoria shook her head and gathered up her belongings. "It was nothing. Some squabble over a stupid part in a show."

"Hey, hey now. Look at me." Jemima took hold of Victoria's shoulders. "It's not just a stupid part in a show. It's an opportunity for you to get noticed. Do you know how many scouts come to those shows? Vic, you need to audition."

Victoria smiled at her friends enthusiasm. What was the worst that could happen? "Well, I would like to wipe that smug smile off of Cassandra's face."

Jemima laughed. "That's the spirit! Now lets go plan our little shindig!"