Perfection takes the form of Massie Block.

"...those are the rules to be my roomie, got it?" I murmured, as I twisted my glossy hair into a ballerina bun. I turned to look at the blonde girl behind me. "If you follow those rules, we'll be perfect roommates."

The blonde, Kristen Gregory, nodded. "I'll try my best."

"You won't try your best," I clarified. "You will do your best, or I'll kick you out. It has happened before, and it won't stop happening. My dad donates millions to this academy, and the only way they can repay him for that is to give me the best services. So don't think they'll doubt it when I order them to change you."

Other girls would look uneasy at this point. Others would look mad. But to my surprise, Kristen smiled. She did a military salute. "Aye, aye, captain!"

I turned around so she wouldn't see my small smile. "It surprises me that you aren't going to that party... most new girls do so to fit in. Which is pathetic, by the way. People won't fit in unless I accept them."

Kristen shrugged, hugging her pillow close to her. "I heard that the welcoming party is against the rules. Plus, I want to sleep well for my practice tomorrow."

I nodded with approval. "Good thinking. I tolerate girls who are dedicated. But then again, you have to be. You could only enroll here because of a scholarship, right?"

"Yes," Kristen answered.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Go! Unlike your lazy and careless butts, I don't want to waste my time in useless parties!" I exclaimed, sternly.

"It's Leesh."

I sighed. "I won't go, Alicia."

"What about the new girl?" my best friend asked. She tried to open the door. "Let me in!"

"No!" I sternly answered, frowning. "Kristen doesn't want to go, anyways."

"Ugh, don't tell me she is just as boring as you," Alicia begged.

"I'm not boring," I told her. "I'm smart and dedicated. Now, please go. It's time for my cardio session."

"Fine," Alicia's voice rang out, before I heard the click clocks of her high heels as she walked away.

Kristen looked out the window, where we could see the herd of eleventh graders walking out in their party outfits, ready to meet up with the other grades and dance the night away. "I'm surprised you are not going."

I raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"I thought popular girls never missed a party," she answered.

"Here at Dance Academy," I explained. "Only EWs go to parties."

"EWs?" Kristen asked.

"Eternal Wannabes," I told her. "They think they'll impress me by going to those against-the-rules party, when all they manage to do is make me laugh at them when they have to do an extra set of push-ups tomorrow as punishment."

Kristen cracked a smile. "Uh... that's a nice way of thinking."

"It's the truth," I said, retrieving my jumping rope. "I'm the best ballerina, therefore the queen of the school. Now, since I don't dislike you like those airhead party animals, I'll give you a tip. As you know, there are two tests in this academy. The midterm, and the final. They probably told you that you shouldn't worry much about the midterm, that its results are just to help you out in the areas you've got to perform better in for the finals."

"Yes," Kristen said.

"Well, it's in part true, but for the scholarship kids, it isn't," I continued. "They always say that to see if you guys will still do your best. If you do a mediocre job at the midterms, but a good job at the finals, they'll reduce your full scholarship to a half scholarship. Many scholarship kids are surprised when that happens. However, if you do a very good job at both midterms and finals, you'll find yourself keeping a full scholarship."

Kristen nodded. "I see..."

I set my timer to one minute, and began jumping. "Now, they also take into consideration your attitude and your effort. Not just for scholarship kids, but for everybody as well. Many idiots still don't get that, but us, the observant ones, already figured out a lot of the grading techniques. Most of the airheads only set their best behavior in the midterm week, since that's apparently the only week in which they grade your discipline, technique and that sort of things. But discipline is actually being graded since the very first minute you arrive here. All those kids who went to the party, after being busted, will have a point less. Us? We have a perfect one hundred right now."

Kristen smiled. "That's nice to know."

"I know," I said, trying to not sound out of breath. It was quite surprising how welcoming I was being with Kristen. Usually, I'm only this outgoing with Alicia, and occasionally with the girl next door, Dylan Marvil. I guess I enjoy talking to hard-working girls like Kristen appears to be. Of course, I'll still have to observe her in practice lessons. I can't be seen hanging around with a girl who sucks at ballet. But if she keeps this behavior up, she might as well be invited to join Alicia and I at lunch. I'm also considering the Marvil girl, but she didn't get more than 95% on last year's finals, so we'll have to see this year.

My timer beeped. I exhaled, and opened the door. I like Kristen, and I would hate it for her to get corrupted by idiots like Olivia Ryan and such. So I'll give her an in and out list. "Come on, I'll explain some things to you."

Kristen happily jumped off the bed, and followed me outside.

I pointed to the door next to ours. "Here's where Alicia Rivera and Dylan Marvil stay. Those girls, I approve of them. You should be taking notes of this..."

Kristen laughed, but after seeing my serious expression, her smile faltered. "Don't worry, I'll remember this."

"Fine, but have in mind that I don't repeat what I say," I told her. "Alicia is my best friend in the entire academy. She tries to hide it, but I know she doesn't really like ballet. She's only in it because of her mother-"

"Nadia Rivera?" Kristen asked, her eyes sparkling.

"Yes-"

"Oh my God, I knew it!" she exclaimed, nearly squealing. "I'm a huge fan of hers! If it weren't for her, I would've never-"

I raised an eyebrow, which silenced her.

"Thank you," I said. "Now, back to what I was saying. She's only a ballerina because of her mother, but she's good, the opposite of a hypocrite, and enjoys complimenting me, so she's my friend. Dylan... well, she's in talks of joining Alicia and I. She's funny, the principal's daughter, and she didn't attend the party. However, she got a 91% on the finals. So I'll have to see about that."

"You really do take into consideration their ballet level, don't you?" Kristen asked.

I nodded. "What would you think if the best ballerina hanged out with the worst?"

"Hmm... I don't kno-"

"Exactly," I cut in. "So I'm very meticulous with that factor. Now, let's continue my tour. In front of us, there's Claire Lyars or something like that. She's an eternal EW: attends parties, gets distracted in practice, and cares too much about romantic stuff. It was no surprise when her scholarship was reduced to half last year."

"She also has a scholarship?" Kristen asked, her eyes brightening.

"Yeah, but don't raise your hopes up. She's not worthy of hanging out with dedicated girls," I replied. "Also in her room, we've got Layne Abeley. I don't really have much to say about her, just that she's a freak and great friends with Claire. She helps her out with Cam and stuff like that."

"Cam?" Kristen asked.

"Some dancer in eleventh, too," I told her. "I'll get into details about boys after I finish off my tour."

I continued explaining the girls of the school, giving her my 'in' and 'out' list. I also briefly mentioned the seniors who were worthy, such as Skye Hamilton and such.

"However, never, ever hang out with Kori Geddman," I warned her.

Kristen tilted her head in curiosity.

"She's one of the populars... for all the wrong reasons," I continued. "She's a senior, and tries to kick me out of my throne. But her lack of ballet skills prevent her from doing so. There's also the fact that she's got some bad habits."

Kristen nodded, understanding what I meant.

"Just, don't waste your time with her," I said, not wanting to get into detail. "Now, on to the boys. You probably saw the building next to ours, even though you arrived at night. Well, that's the eleventh grader's boys' dorms. Look, I suggest you don't focus on them. The only eleventh grade boys who are worth it are... hmm, Chris Plovert, definitely. That Cam kid I mentioned earlier? He's good, but besides the fact that every girl is in love with him, he's a singer. And thanks to that, doesn't really focus on ballet much. He's also too darn romantic. He'd be a distraction for your dance practices. Chris, on the other hand, he respects it. And that's because he also aspires to be the best. If you want someone who'll encourage you to practice and support you, Chris would be perfect. In fact... I think you'd make a nice couple..."

"Yeah, I'm not looking for a boyfriend right now," Kristen told me, slightly smiling.

"Have you ever had a boyfriend before?" I questioned.

Kristen bit her lower lip, looking down. "Not really..."

"That's good! It means that you're not a stupid girl who wastes her time on boys," I replied, approvingly. "I like that."

Kristen seemed surprised.

"But is it true that you joined ballet when you were in ninth grade grade?" I asked.

"Yeah," Kristen answered, quieter.

I looked at her up and down. For Kristen to have gotten a scholarship after just two years of ballet must mean she's good. A possible rival. If I want to keep the spot, I can't let her be as good as me. Excellent is okay, but I'm the only one who can be called outstanding. And what better way to keep her at an 'excellent' level than to train her? Besides, she doesn't really look like a contender if she ever realizes that I don't want her to excel. She looks like the type of girl who's just looking to be the best she can, not the top of the chain. "I'll help you out, then."

"Really?" Kristen asked.

I nodded.

"That'd be awesome," she answered. "I'm still working on my pointe technique, if you want to know..."

"I'm an expert on that," I revealed.

Kristen grinned.

We were in the building's living room, close to the door. So that's why we jumped once we heard it burst open.

I was even more surprised when Derrick Harrington walked in, glaring at Cam Fisher. If looks could kill, both would already be incinerated.

"No boys allowed here after seven p.m.!" I exclaimed, pointing at the clock.

And that's when I noticed Cam's bloodied nose and Derrick's bruised eye. A crowd had gathered around us, and I noticed that some hip hop students were among the crowd.

"What's going on?" I questioned, crossing my arms.