Page 79 of Healing Eleanor

She rolls her eyes. “I walked in, didn’t even say a word, and some twenty-year-old nobody goes, ‘Nice try, Ariel, but the oceans are that way,’ pointing out the window.”

I suppress a laugh. “Well… you would make a very beautiful Ariel, Lily.”

“Ugh, what an awful thing to say to me, Eleanor.” She groans, flopping onto the ground next to me.

“What’s wrong with Ariel?” I ask, tilting my head slightly.

“Well, for one she has daddy issues,” Lily states, matter-of-factly.

My brain short-circuits, completely thrown. “I—what?”

She bobs her head like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “Oh yeah. I mean, who’s sixteen and ready to change their entire DNA for a man?” She raises a brow, waiting for me to respond.

“Well… I…” My voice dwindles mid-thought. I guess I’ve never really thought about it that way before.

“Exactly,” she remarks. “I’d like to think of myself as better than that seaweed-for-brains girl.”

I huff a laugh under my breath. “I take it you aren’t into Disney movies?”

She looks at me, amused but baffled I even asked. “Of course not. I’m a realist, Eleanor.”

My mouth parts. Honestly, with Lily’s bubbly, dramatic personality, I would’ve sworn she’d be a Disney fanatic.

As the room continues to fill, reality hits me like a wave. Anxiety swells in my chest, and my palms grow slick with sweat. I always struggle with the unknown because it means I have no control. And here I am, at the mercy of a single piece of paper.

“Where’s Nik?” Lily asks.

I twist my fingers together in my lap. “He’s putting the casting list up.”

Lily sits up straighter. “Oh, shoot! I totally forgot it was today.”

It feels like high school all over again. Where the class has completely forgotten about the test. “So did I,” I mutter.

“Well, he better hurry his butt up before I go find him and tackle him football-style for that list.”

I have no doubt she’d actually do it.

“I’m not sure I even want to know,” I hedge instead.

Before Lily can respond, Nik enters the room with Kasper and Russell.

The chatter dies down instantly, the entire room falling eerily silent. Everyone else probably didn’t forget the cast list was going up today.

“Good morning, everyone,” Kasper begins, “I hope you’re all well rested, because the next few months are going to be tiresome.”

A round of hushed laughter ripples through the room.

“I know everyone is eager to find out which variation you’ll be dancing,” Kasper continues, his eyes scanning the class. “It isn’t as niche as we would have liked, but I think you’ll still enjoy it.”

His eyes shift toward Nik and Russell, then revert to the class. “It is with great excitement that I announce we will be showcasing the variation of Swan Lake.”

Murmurs spread across the room—some excited, others disappointed. My stomach plunges, settling somewhere near my toes. I love watching Swan Lake, but performing it? The movements are fluid, flowing, while my strength lies in precision. I was hoping for something more suited to me, and now that hope has vanished along with the fantasy of a perfect part.

Russell eases closer. “I look forward to working with you all.”

Then Nik chimes in. “The casting list is in the hallway. You are all free to go and look. However, before you go, let me just say this.” His eyes sweep the room, finally settling on mine. He holds my gaze for a moment before continuing. “Everyone here worked exceptionally hard. Making these casting decisions was not easy. If you didn’t get a part you wanted—or any part at all—remember to keep working. Your time will come. Now, please don’t kill each other on the way out.”

The class erupts and rushes toward the door. Lily jumps up and glances behind her shoulder, realizing I’m not moving. “Come on, Eleanor!” she calls, waving for me to hurry.