A/N: I am so, so very sorry for the long wait! Between the wedding, adjusting to living with someone, and work, I kinda forgot about this! Thank you to everyone who was kind enough to review. I hope you enjoy this chapter; it's a lot longer than I expected.
Chapter Seven: Jessi
As we all settled down after hearing Mallory's big news, I went in to a series of stretches. Even though I wasn't able to dance today, I still make time to keep myself limber. As I stretched my leg towards the ceiling, Kristy said, "So, Jessi, how's the life of our prima ballerina?"
"Oh, it's not quite as exciting as my best friend's. I mean, I don't get to jet set with a gorgeous rich guy to my book signings," I joked. "By the way, Mal, I sent your latest accomplishment to my cousin Keisha. Her little boy was starting school and Gabby the Grasshopper Goes to Kindergarten really helped him be positive about it."
Mallory blushed to the roots of her hair, looking rather tomato-like. We're used to her vegetable tendencies however, since she blushes easily. "Enough about me, Jessica Davis. Tell us about life with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater!" she demanded. I paused in my stretching, wondering where to begin. As I found myself being transported back through time, I was looking at memories of the most painful, but most fulfilling, decision I had ever had to make.
"As you all know, I really don't belong at Stoneybrook High's reunion weekend. I came home because it was a great chance to see you all together, instead of trying to squeeze in a weekend home. I was really lucky that we're just about to begin a new show; otherwise I'd have been swamped with rehearsals," I said.
"Are you still involved with the Schenley High program?" Mary Anne asked interestedly. "Oh, yes, very much so, but I will get more in depth on that," I answered. "I owe the Schenley High School Ballet Program my career. I fell in love with the concept ever since Daddy went to that conference in Pittsburgh when I was 15 and we all got to go with him. Mama, Becca and I had a great time shopping, riding the inclines, and having "girl time" while Aunt Cecilia took Squirt to the children's museum, the Carnegie Science Center and things he'd be interested in. One morning, as we contemplated going to the Andy Warhol museum, I found an advertisement in our tour package. The Pittsburgh Ballet Theater was having a matinee production of Jewels. Mama and I didn't even have to discuss it. We called the box office and then made our way to the cultural district and the Bendedum Center."
"While we were waiting for the theater doors to open, we milled around the lobby. On the wall was a poster for the season's planned programs. I noticed that Coppelia was going to be the signature performance for the Schenley High School Ballet Program. I was ecstatic. A high school with its own ballet department? Stoneybrook didn't have that!"
"Well, we do have great softball, volleyball and swim teams!" Kristy cut in, almost peevishly. "Yes, I know, you guys won the state title several times," I said soothingly, "but sports aren't my thing. Tu-tus and toe shoes are. But back to my story. I asked the usher where I could get information on the Schenley program. He didn't know, nor did he know who I could ask. I was disappointed until I sat down in my seat and opened the program. There, in the back, was a full-page ad! It had everything I needed, even a website."
"When we got back to the hotel, I begged Daddy to let me use his laptop. I typed in the address, and there it was. Everything I wanted to know about the program. The students attended school during the morning and ballet class in the afternoon. They got to work with actual dancers from the PBT and had opportunities to perform with them. After graduation, the school even helped the students find places with other companies and tours."
"I showed Mama and Daddy and wondered why there was nothing like that around Stoneybrook. Then I noticed the "Apply Now" link. 'Too bad we don't live in Pittsburgh,' I thought sadly. I began browsing the rest of the site and came upon student housing. Apparently, you didn't have to live there to go there. You could stay in the dorms, just like college! They even had a financial aid department. A plan was forming in my head."
"I don't know if it was my lucky day or not, but by the grace of God, the SHSBP was having an open house on our last night in town. I wanted to go so badly, knowing that this was where I wanted to be for my dance training. Mama knew something was up, since I had been devouring Pittsburgh knowledge ever since I found out about the program. When we went to the school, we took a tour and saw a performance by the students."
At the end of the evening, we were given information packets that included an application. Mama looked at it sadly and said, 'Jessica, you want to apply, don't you?' 'More than anything, Mama,' I answered earnestly. 'Well, baby, we support your dancing from here to the moon,' Daddy told me. 'So if you want to apply, it's your decision.' 'Really?!' I squealed. 'But how will we afford it? Even with financial aid, it's more than twice my current lessons,' I kept my voice steady, not trying to lose hope. 'We were going to tell all you kids together,' Daddy began, 'but I think now is the right time to tell you. I'm not just out here for a conference. It's a special training week for a new position at work. I'm going to be making a lot more money, so all you have to do is sign on the dotted line, and pirouette into Pittsburgh.'"
"I can't believe your parents agreed so easily!" Stacey exclaimed jealously. "Mine would have taken forever to debate." Dawn agreed, "Yeah, let me apply to a school seven hours away from home? As if." I laughed as I replied, "I was shocked, too, but after I had gone to bed that first night, my parents looked at the website and knew I'd want to apply. They gave it a lot of thought and decided with Daddy's raise, they wanted to give my talent every opportunity to shine."
"So, I applied to the school and was accepted. Leaving my parents, my family, our home, and all of you was the hardest thing I had to do. I wanted to be a professional dancer, and I had a much better chance if I moved. So, I packed my things and said good-bye to life in Connecticut. The first few weeks were fun, but lonely. I didn't know a soul, and I was too tired after classes to do anything. It was much more rigorous than Madame Noelle's classes."
"After awhile, I got used to it. I made new friends, even though I missed everyone from the BSC terribly. I graduated from Schenley and was accepted into the corps de ballet of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. There I was, dancing in an actual ballet company. I didn't think life could get any better."
"Four years ago, after dress rehearsal for our Halloween production of Dracula: The Ballet, I bumped into one of the percussionists. 'Oh, I'm terribly sorry,' I began and then I looked up at him. He was the most perfect-looking man I had ever seen. His skin looked like melted chocolate, and I swear he stole his smile from a toothpaste commercial. 'I've never seen you in the orchestra, you must be a ballerina,' he said. 'Yes, I am,' I confirmed. 'I'm Jessi, I'm the newest principal dancer.' 'Wow, no wonder they've been working you so much. I'm Braxton Page. It's nice to meet one of the talented folks I've been playing for these last few days,' he said. 'Oh, are you new to the orchestra?' I asked. 'Yes, I play for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and they lent me to the PBT for awhile,' he answered. Feeling bold, I asked him if he'd like to stop and get a burger at Fuel & Fuddle's. 'I didn't think ballerinas ate burgers,' he joked. 'Actually, we do, as a very rare treat for ourselves. Especially if we've been working extra hard for opening night. Trust me, I'll work off every French fry by noon tomorrow,' I said. 'Well then, shall we head out?' he asked."
"Ooh…Jessi has a boyfriend!" Claudia sang. "Did you guys ever make out in the orchestra pit?" Stacey wanted to know. "'The Pecussionist and the Prima Ballerina!' Maybe I'll switch to romance novels!" Mallory hooted. I could feel my face growing warm. "Ladies, let Jessi finish!" Mary Anne rescued me. You could still count on her sensitivity.
"Actually, no, I don't have a boyfriend. I have a husband," I paused, letting the news sink in. Shock registered on everyone's face except Mallory's. I felt extremely guilty as I saw her hurt expression. Before anyone could react though, I told them the reason they had been kept in the dark. "I know you guys must be hurt to not have gotten an invitation. We didn't actually have a wedding. We'd been engaged for a year, trying to save up money, but we weren't very successful. Finally, we just decided to elope. I called Mama and Daddy and he called his parents and even though they were disappointed, they understood our decision. So, last week, we went and got our license and made an appointment with a judge. We were married last Friday at the Allegheny County Courthouse, so now I am Mrs. Jessica Page."
I glanced at Mallory, who looked a whole lot happier than she had. "I feel bad that I didn't tell anyone beforehand, but we made our decision so quickly and since I was coming home a week later, I wanted to tell you in person," I continued. "Oh Jessi," Mal said. "This is so exciting! I know how much Braxton means to you and even though I couldn't be there, I am so happy for you!" She jumped up and threw her arms around me. Kristy dived into the pizza boxes and pulled out a cold, half-congealed slice. She thrust it into the air and said, "I'm not the only bride! Pizza toast to Jessi, too!" The girls all scrambled for their own slices and raised them in the air.