Chapter 4:

My feet slap across the B level hallway. It's quiet, empty, and smells like expensive perfume and sweat. I finish my mini banana as I reach the double doors that open up to the costume shop. I pull the French doors open and step inside. Afternoon sunlight pours on my skin. Sewing machines are on as costume makers pin and re-pin dresses and tunics. I avoid several mannequins sporting lavender tights and black unitards with belted chiffon skirts. Tutus, tulle, silk, and velvet fill the large and spacious room. There are dancers standing on stepstools as drapers and pinners surround them, measuring the soloists. I find Mark Happel, the head costume shop leader, examining a costume for Rubies. "Hey, Mark." I wave to him and then toss the banana into the trashcan.

He grins. "Good afternoon, Massie. Everything going good for you?" He hands the Rubies costume to Helene, a costume helper.

I nod. "Yes, I'm here for the Sophisticated Lady fitting. Is Valentino here?" I ask.

"I am here." Valentino comes out from behind a curtain. "Mah-ssie. How wonderful to see you." He kisses me on both cheeks. He's wearing an expensive Chanel suit jacket, black dress pants, and a white Ralph Lauren vintage button up. "Anna, go get the Sophisticated Lady costume." HE snaps his fingers at the raven haired girl. She runs off and returns with a sheer reddish dress with ruffles. It's absolutely gorgeous.

Valentino and Mark watch as I slip it on over my leotard and tights. "It fits perfectly!" I say, twirling on the stool.

Valentino nods. "It is parfait." I slip it off and pull on a pair of Nike shorts. Before I can leave though, Valentino shakes his head. "Hold on, you need to try on the Bal de Couture costume." He hands me another costume that he has made. This one is a puffy white pancake tutu. It's pretty, fluffy, and light on my skin. It's a little baggy, so Anna pins it up a bit and quickly sews it in place. When the costume fittings are all done, I say good bye to all of them and leave.

"Lucky." Adrianne stares at the red Sophisticated Lady costume that I've just put on. Bea comes up behind me and starts helping me with the snaps and buttons. Zoe is somewhere, and Daisy is eating another weird diet dish. This one has carrots, cumin, and crab. All C's. Daisy points at me with her fork.

"You better hurry up." She shovels a mouthful of orange tinted crab meat into her mouth. "You're going to be late."

I wave her off. "Don't worry." Bea finishes snapping me up. "Thanks, B." I give her a hug. She smiles at me, showing off her perfectly straight teeth.

After that, I start pulling curling rollars out of my hair. I don't have to put my hair in a bun for this dance, but it has to be in loose curls/waves. I touch the curls up with a curling iron and then spray them with hairspray. They fall soon after I run backstage, my nude ballet shoes/heels clicking across the ground. Sam, Jonathan, Luke, and other men soloists are waiting in the right and left wings. Jonathan gives me a high five as i adjust the straps of the costume. "You ready?" He asks me.

"Yep." The orchestra starts and then stage turns a hazy gray blue behind the curtains. I run into position. The guys follow behind me. THe ballet goes smoothly. I'm so excited when the audience calls for an "encore" at the end of the night. Slowly, I am amping my way up to be a soloist, one painful ballet at a time.

Hey guys...

Sorry this is such a short chapter. I need to have some part to bring in the next part of rising action. Hope you like the story so far!

Thanks!