Little Blue Tutu

Chapter 1

I thought it would be easier than this. I really did!

I had no idea that being in a ballet school, meant that I had to dance for 8 hours every day!

I mean, don't get me wrong, I love ballet, but it is so hard and tiring!

I don't really make much friends at my studio, because our Russian teacher, Mrs. Klavda, yells at us very time we talk.

We just finished learning our pointe dance, and it is so hard!

But, Mrs. Klavda always puts me in the back since I'm not the best dancer in my school.

It is ages 11-17, and I'm only 12.

One of the girls, Eliza, is the most limber, fit, and beautiful dancer I have ever seen.

Mrs. Klavda gave her two solos!

My solo is really short, but my favorite thing about it is the costume.

It is a baby blue color with a darker blue on the tutu and in the designs.

Everyone in the school says that my little blue tutu is the best.

I just wish I could love his school as much as I love my costume.

But I don't.

There is supposed to be a new girl coming tomorrow named Jessa or Jesse or something like that.

She isn't going to be in the pointe dance, but she will get a pointe solo.

"Ellison! Would you like to demonstrate the move?" I hear Mrs. Klavda say, snapping me back into reality.

"Hmm?"

Eliza rolls her eyes and steps to the front.

She does a perfect glissade into the left splits.

Everyone claps, every one except for me.

Mrs. Klavda hugs her and continues with our ballet technic class.

Ugh, I hate this school.

But, my mom says I should be really lucky I even got into this school, and that I'm getting a full ride scholarship.

After school is over, I change out of my leotard, and hop on my bike.

It's super hard to ride, on account of I'm super sore in every single muscle in my body.

Life of being a ballerina.

"Hey Elle," my mother says as I approach my house.

She's out gardening, like usual.

I go up to give her a kiss, and then walk inside.

My dad is watching basketball on the TV, so I just go up to my room.

I pick up my phone and quickly realize I have no one to text. My only contacts are my parents, my grandma, and my friend, Clarise from my old school.

I delete her number. She stole my phone one time and put her number in.

I lie back on my bed, staring up at my poster of the Fort Worth ballet.

I went there last summer to see the nutcracker. But I don't think we will go back since Fort Worth is so far away from New York City.

My cousin, Abby, was in the Fort Worth Ballet, but she broke her leg bad, so now she can't dance at all.

Abby didn't even go to college, but I've really got my mind set on Berkley.

I sit up, and reach under my bed to grab my foot stretcher.

I put my right foot through the slot and straighten my leg all the way.

After a minute or two, my foot starts pounding with pain. I quickly pull my aching foot out.

I test my arches out.

Yep, my right foot is definitely pointing more than my left.

Before I get the chance to put in my other foot to make it even, my mom barges into my room.

"Hello sweetie!" She says.

"Hey mom," I answer. "Do I have a doctors appointment tomorrow?"

She answers back," Of course not Ellison! You ask that every day!"

I think of an answer quick.

"Um, well his time I really thought I did."

Truth is, I just really don't want to go to dance tomorrow.

New kids always are so weird and shy.

I just hope she isn't like the rest of them. I hope she isn't as serious and up-tight.

Maybe, just maybe, she would want to be friends.