The Curtain Closes
Annabeth's POV
The music stopped too abruptly. I didn't even have the chance to get up and finish before my routine was stopped. I shuffled off the stage, trying hard not to cry. Elise was smirking beside me. "Did you like my little surprise, Annabeth?" she chirped. I turned to her with swollen eyes, "What?" was all I could squeak. "I decided to invite your little boyfriend to see you perform. I hope you don't mind." My throat closed and I looked at her with helplessness. "How?" I breathed as a single tear slid down my face. "I saw his name in your diary and with a little help from a phone book, he's here today." I started to cry, "How could you?" I yelled, "You knew what would happen don't even try to play dumb!" Before she could respond, I ran out so no one else could see me cry.
"It's alright, Annabeth." Brooke tried to reassure me, "You still have your other routine." We were back in the dressing room and Brooke was attempting to comfort me. Her white blond hair fell in wisps around her face from the lack of hairspray and she sat in yoga pants and a dance tee, her costume perched on her bed. "I still have some time before my next performance." she offered, "We can sabotage her routine." I shook my head. "It's not worth it." I sighed, "It'll take up too much time." Brooke stood up and I watched as her pale blue eyes sparkled with ideas. "It really doesn't have to take much time at all." I watched with no words as Brooke set to work. She took a can of pepper spray and hairspray and switched the labels. Then, she took itching powder and puffed some into Elise's costume and shoes. Finally, she grabbed some olive oil from the kitchen and rubbed some on the bottom of Elise's shoes. "You're a genius!" I laughed, "Oh, and why do you have itching power in your dance bag?" She shrugged, "For reasons like this. Now all you have to do is rock your next routine beyond rock-ability. Got it?" I smiled and hugged her, "Got it. You're the best." I told her before skipping off to get ready for my next routine.
An hour later, I was in the same spot I was in before my first routine. Hello again, stained mirror. I saw Elise's reflection as she crept up behind me. "Humph," she grunted, "I thought you would've been halfway home before now, Annie Beth." I stood up and looked her in the eyes. "Do you want to be judo flipped again, because I will happily do it?" Elise backed away slightly before regaining her posture and tugging at her tights. "Up again we have Ms. Chase performing Twisted as number 82." I stepped away from Elise and smiled at the sight of her itching her outfit. I heard the intrigued whispers of the crowd buzz at my name. They only wanted to see if I would fall again. When I walked onto the dark stage, I felt all eyes on me, hopeful for another fall. I wouldn't let that happen. I easily and perfectly went through my routine, not a pointed toe out of line. At the end, I got a huge round of applause as I curtseyed. "Break a leg." I whispered to Elise as her name was called. At this point she was itching furiously. It was a comedy watching her itch between arm movements and her feet twitch and rub against the floor. And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, Elise slipped from the oil and landed not on her butt, but on her face from which she stood up and landed on her butt. I was laughing so hard I couldn't breathe. Laughter erupted from the crowd as Elise slid off of the stage and into the crowd. I had to rush back to the dressing room because I wouldn't have been able to look at her without saying something stupid.
In the award ceremony, I placed third for my first performance and first for my second. Elise on the other hand, placed second for her first and didn't even place for her second. After the awards were handed out and we were back in the hotel, I gently packed my glass trophies with bubble wrap and newspaper. Brooke was napping on the couch after placing first and second and Elise was sobbing into her pillow. Then, there was a knock on the door. In sweats and a tee shirt, I opened the door to see Percy. "Annabeth!" he exclaimed as he hugged me. I hugged back, "I'm glad to see you but this is kind of awkward." Percy nodded, "Yeah, I didn't know you danced. You were great." I blushed, "Thanks. It's just weird because I'm not the kind of girl who dances." Percy laughed, "I would've never known. You danced like you have been doing this your whole life! Hey, wanna come back to my place and celebrate?" I sighed and shook my head, "I'm gonna have to pass you up on that offer. I've got to stay with my team." Just then Ms. Princeton stalked in from the kitchen, "Who is this?" she barked. I was the first to answer, "This is my friend Percy from camp." Ms. Princeton glared at the both of us, "I said no dilly dallying. You were also not allowed to invite guests over."
"No, I didn't invite him-" I argued. "I will have none of this!" Ms. Princeton gawked, "I said my rules and you disobeyed them! Annabeth Chase, you are off this team! You are no dancer!" I stood in shock before stomping into my room. I put my boots on and jammed my knife into my boots. I slung my bags over my shoulders and put my diary back in my tote. I slapped Elise in the face and yelled at her, "You deserve worse you failed abortion!" I then hugged Brooke and wished her good luck in dance. "You know what Ms. Princeton," I announced while taking out my knife, "I am no dancer, your rules suck ass, and I'm better off stabbing things to death. See you never bitch!" I whipped out my middle finger and I stalked out of the room with it held high in her direction. "You sure you don't wanna dance anymore?" Percy inquired as we stepped onto the next bus to his apartment. "Nah," I blew it off, "Dancing, specifically ballet, really isn't for me. I'll find a new hobby like softball or rock climbing or something." Percy laughed, "Just try not to step on the face of your rock climbing buddies, your sneakers taste pretty awful." And with that, we laughed all the way back to his apartment and I realized for real that I needed a hobby that defined me all along.