Lucky me.
“Did they come to cheer you on?” Eve continued.
I let out a loud exasperated sigh of impatience. Had my parents come? Of course not. They didn’t believe in coddling, and I didn’t need hand holding. I worked better when I was alone, and my family knew that.
“Mine are watching,” Eve said.
“How nice for you,” I said in a monotone voice that expressed clearly just how little I cared about Eve or her family. And why should I? Eve, like every other girl in this school, was competition. End of story.
“Bianca, you’ll go first,” the assistant said as she held open the door to the auditorium. “Eve, you’ll wait here with me.”
“Break a leg,” Eve hissed as I walked into the room.
I kept my eyes on center stage, not giving in to thetemptation to look at the scouts or the parents and friends who weren’t here for me. Most of these people were hoping I’d fail. If I did, then maybe one of their darling daughters would win the coveted spot.
I tilted my chin up high as I climbed the short flight of stairs and headed into the spotlight.
I focused on those haters, on their ill-will. Competitiveness was a better way to focus my energy than being nervous or worrying about what the recruiters saw when they watched me go into my opening stance.
The lights were blinding me as the first strains of music came from the speaker. My inner metronome turned one as I counted out the beats, readying myself for the routine that I could now do in my sleep.
One, and two, and three, and start…
A ballerina in a music box—that was what my first teacher had compared me to back when I’d first started. She’d meant it as a compliment and it was what I envisioned every time I danced. A beautiful, porcelain figurine moving with precise movements in perfect synchronicity with the music.
One, and two, and three…
Perfection. My movements were perfection. I knew it. I could feel it. All the intensive training these last few weeks had been worth it because my movements were effortless and graceful and?—
Pop!My ankle seemed to tear in two. Pain scorched through my leg and I lostmy balance. I swallowed a scream of agony just before it left my lips, but it was too late to recover the moment.
I fumbled with the next step as sweat broke out along my forehead and all the blood seemed to rush from my head to my feet.
No, this could not be happening.
Through the music I heard voices, murmurs of concern as I tried to resume where I’d left off.
My stupid ankle wouldn’t let me. The pain was unbearable whenever I placed weight on it.
No! Not now. This could not be happening.
Air was coming in short gasps as I tried to breathe through the pain. I couldn’t get enough oxygen, but I was so close to the finish. If I could just make it through?—
Someone leapt onto the stage.
What the… Was that…
“Ryan?” His name came out on a rush of air as shock made me still. I couldn’t even pretend to continue dancing when Ryan stalked toward me. His normal smirk was gone. His brow was furrowed in concern as he strode across the stage.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
He leaned down. “Come on, princess, let’s get you out of here.”
“No,” I said through gritted teeth. I was horrified to discover tears were streaking down my cheeks. I swiped at them and then turned them on him, smacking his chest as he wrapped his arms around me and lifted me up.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I demanded.
The pain was temporarily forgotten as he swept one arm under my knees so he was cradling me in his arms. “Stop it,” I screeched.
