AllFreeNovel
Share Us
15
By the end of the afternoon, I’m exhausted. Physically and emotionally.
After the shock of coming face to face with the Breakers on Monday morning, I’d blocked them out by putting all my energy into my taster lessons. Like a sponge, I absorbed all the new steps and different techniques, all the while thinking how I can incorporate them into my own routines. I barely gave anyone my attention and didn’t cross paths with the Breakers again as I got settled in, though I hear about them often enough. Already they’re fast becoming the talk of the academy. Girls huddle together in the hallways chatting about the ‘tattooed hip-hop guy’ who dances with such aggression that it makes them weak-kneed or the ‘broody Bachata teacher’ who makes their knickers wet with his sultry moves. I even heard one girl say that York could tap with such lightning speed that the vibrations coming up through the floorboards made her come. Every time I hear their names on these thirsty bitches’ lips I want to throat punch someone, or run. Neither of which are helpful. Instead, I tune everything out. Most of the time anyway.
“That’s it, class. You’re dismissed,” Sebastian, my ballet teacher, says. My feet are sore from dancing barefoot. I don’t have any ballet slippers, and the blisters on the balls of my feet remind me that I’m ill-equipped for such a prestigious academy. Gathering up my stuff, I pull on my socks and trainers, and hobble towards the exit trying not to wince with every step. I need to lance them, have a bath, and wrap them up if I’ve got any hope of getting through my shift tonight, let alone my date with Clancy at the Pink Albatross.
“Wait,” Sebastian says, motioning for me to come over. Drawing on my last reserves of energy, I do as he asks and try not to make a fool of myself and faint. It’s been a long week of little food, none of which has contained enough sustenance to keep my energy levels up. Noodles, cereal, and copious cups of coffee don’t exactly provide a healthy balanced diet. I know I need to figure something out so that I can afford to buy better food, but the thought of working any more nights at Rocks, especially since the Breakers are back on the scene, is putting me off asking for more shifts.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“You haven’t trained in ballet before, have you?” He cocks his head to the side, narrowing his eyes at me.
“Not unless you count YouTube.”
“And yet, you’re better than half the dancers in this class…” There’s a faint smile around his lips at my very obvious shock.
“I am?”
“Yes, you are. Ever thought of a career in ballet, Pen?”
“No!” I blurt out. He winces. “Sorry, that was rude. I mean, it’s not really my kind of dance. I prefer contemporary…”
“The foundation of which is based in ballet.”
“Yes, but…”
“But?” he cocks his head to the side.
“I’m not really that type.”
“I didn’t realise that ballet had atype.” He laughs to show me that he isn’t offended, when honestly, he probably should be. I wasn’t being complimentary.
“I guess I feel more comfortable dancing what I know.”
“With whom you know, don’t you mean?” he cocks a brow, and his hip.
I look around the room, at the perfect dancers with their perfect hair and perfect clothes. All of them, both male and female are poised and graceful. Beside them I feel inadequate, no matter how well I can dance. The divide between the rich and the poor isn’t so obvious to me in the other disciplines at the academy like it is with ballet. It makes me feel uncomfortable.
“Yes, I suppose so,” I admit.
“You’re quite judgmental, aren’t you?”
“I don’t mean to be. Comes with the territory.”
“The territory?”
He seems genuinely interested in my response, but I wait until the last student leaves before explaining. “I grew up on a council estate…”
“And?”
“And we were judged all the time. I guess it’s hard not to do that back.”
“Can I let you in on a little secret?”
“Sure,” I shrug, ignoring the rumble of my stomach and the pain on the balls of my feet.
“I’m gay, mixed race, and grew up in a poor working-class family in the Midlands. My dad was a Jamaican immigrant, my mother a hardworking cleaner. We had nothing when I grew up and believe me, I was called all the names under the sun. I didn’t fit in with any group, until I found dance. Ballet, specifically. I won a scholarship to the Royal Ballet School in Richmond Park when I was thirteen.”
