Tiny Dancer

Of Mopeds and Men

After the night her father almost caught them, Ella decided that there would be no more fooling around at her house. Hyde's house was out of the question as well. So most of the time they snuck out of school and used the cruiser. She'd already let Hyde make it to second base.

She'd heard from Donna, Eric was having trouble with that. It had made Ella laugh, until she remembered it was her brother.

"Eleanor, you are unfocused," the sharp voice of Madame Elise broke her from her thoughts. She could hear Daisy snickering. "You have such potential. If you get too unfocused I'll be forced to demote you." And she moved on.

"What's got you so distracted?" Connor asked as they took a break to stretch.

"Nothing too important," she deflected. She still hadn't told Connor that she was technically seeing someone else. He hadn't pestered her about a date again, but she could tell he wanted to ask.

She had been avoiding him the best she could, she didn't want to hurt him.

"That is enough for today, you are dismissed." Madame Elise said. "Eleanor, you would do well to practice more at home." The instructor swept from the room.

"I don't know why she wastes her time on you," Daisy huffed. "I have more potential than you do."

"Get bent Daisy," Ella grumbled. She felt Madame Elise's disappointment to her core. She knew she wasn't good enough to go anywhere when she finished high school. She hated that in a sense, Daisy was right.

Ella hurriedly grabbed her things after throwing on her tennis shoes. She made her way out of the dance studio. She pulled the strap of her bag higher.

"Ella, wait up!" She slowed her pace so he could catch up. "Don't let Daisy get to you."

"Why not? She's right." She stared ahead, determined to keep the tears at bay. "She has the money to go wherever she wants when high school is over. My parents barely have the money to keep me in this class."

"Money doesn't mean you can't go anywhere with ballet," Connor pulled her to a stop. "You have more talent than she does."

"Thanks," she smiled warmly at him. It didn't last too long. "What if talent isn't enough?"

"Then you'll find something else, and you will be great at whatever you do." Connor smiled at her. She felt her face heat up at his words. She knew it was because he liked her, but she could also tell he really believed in her. "Where are you headed?"

"I'm meeting my friends at The Hub," she said as she turned to continue walking.

"Cool I'm kinda hungry, mind if I tag along?" He asked. She knew she should say no, it could cause a fight with Hyde, but he was a good friend to her.

"Sure," the rest of the walk was spent in small talk. When they got to The Hub, it was just Hyde and Fez. They walked in together and she knew immediately that Hyde would say something.

"Who's your friend?" She had to fight down a sigh.

"You guys remember Connor right? He was my co-lead." Ella put her bag on the floor and sat across from Hyde. She shot him a look, telling him to be civil.

"Ah yes, the dancing boy," Fez smiled at him. He reached across the table and shook Connor's hand. "I am Fez."

"Unique name," Connor smiled politely. He turned to look at Hyde, who couldn't be bothered with looking up from the magazine in his hands.

"This is St–Hyde," Ella stammered. Not too many people were even allowed to call him Steven, much less in public. "These guys are in my brother's grade, and his best friends."