Dance the night away

🩰.1

It is yet another rainy day in this shitty town near London called Brighton. The summer break is coming to an end and that also concludes the end of my childhood. Last school year I graduated high school. I worked my ass to get into the London Artistic Academy. Unfortunately, they had no place left for me. So, after the summer I am taking a gap year and work in my aunt's restaurant. Like I am doing now. I have been working since 10 AM. Tonight I am spending time together with my friends. We're celebration my 18th birthday. My Aunt Susie and I are closing up the restaurant for today. I have been living with my aunt since forever. Aunt Susie is my dad's sister and she's been taking care of me ever since my dad passed away. My mother died after giving birth to me. She was from Australia and met my dad while he was exploring the world. She was a dancer, and my dad traveled the world with her. My mother fell in love with London ever since she saw it for the first time. She and my dad settled down there, until my mother was pregnant with me. They moved to a quit town where my aunt already lived. So have been living here for the past 18 years. I am doing the last dishes of the day with my aunt. "You know you can still apply to a community college right" my aunt says. Since been trying to convince me to enter college ever since we found out I did not get accepted. "I know Auntie" I respond. I am grabbing my things from my locker and put my work clothes in the washing machine. "I'm going over to Fiona's after" I say, "Sure thing sweetie". I grab my bike keys and make my way over to Fiona's. We are having a BBQ with friends before they all leave for college. Fiona has been my best friends since forever. I do not even have to knock on the door, I can just walk in. "Hi Monique" I say to Fiona's mum. "Hello Jules" she says with a smile. "Fiona is in her room". I walk up the stairs and barge into her room. "Well if it isn't my loser friend Juliette" Fiona says. "Shut your mouth" I say. "For that reason, I can steal your clothes" I smile.

All my friends are gathered in Fiona's backyard. We eat, dance, joke, sing and we're having the best time. We are having a blast when my phone rings. "Hello, is this Juliette Chapman?" a woman says on the phone. "This is her" I reply. "My name is Morgan Hugh of the Sydney Artistic Academy administrative office; I'm calling you about your admission to our London Artistic Academy" the woman says. "Oh, yeah" I reply. "I'm calling because we have an open spot for you-" I'm utterly shocked. I actually don't know what to say. "That's amazing, thank you" I practically yell. "In Australia" the woman finishes. That is why Aunt Susan always says to let people finish their sentence. "We would really love a talented young woman like you in our school and we can provide a full scholar ship for you" the woman finishes. "Thanks, can I think about it?" I ask carefully. "I'd like to know it before 10 AM tomorrow, if you accept the offer. You will be on the 11 AM flight to Sydney" she hangs up the phone right after her last word. "WHAT THE ACTUAL-" I scream at my friends. "Dude what'?" my friend Jackson asks. "I might be going to college after all" I tell them all the full story. I go home a little earlier than planned because I have to talk to Aunt Susan about the school offer. When I get home, I walk to her bedroom and knock on her door. "Auntie" I whisper, "Come in" I hear. "I got into the Artistic Academy" I say, "Congratulations sweetie, was there an open spot?" she asks. "Yes, there was, in Australia" I say soft. "Australia? That is a bit far" she says "But also a great opportunity, it's time I'll let you spread your wings Juliette" she says. This was easier than I thought, "I don't even know if I want to go yet" I say. "Did you know your mum went to an artistic college in Australia too?" she asks. "No, I didn't why?" I ask. "I think you already know that" she says. "No, really?" I speak. Something clicked in my brain. The old pictures from mom, my passion for dance "Mom went to SAA as well" I ask full of surprise. "She did, for a year" my aunt says, 'And my sister- in-law loved every minute of it, that's why I think you should go" she says. "You know what, let's just do it. I can always just quit and come back. My plane leaves at 11 AM tomorrow" I say. "You better go pack now" my aunt says.

I have been dancing ever since I can remember. It was my mother's biggest passion and she passed it on to me. I have been dancing and training all over the place, there is not a dance style I have not been trained in. But modern and hip hop are my absolute favorites. Just like my mother. When I graduated high school, it was my great passion to go to the London Artistic Academy. I wanted to do everything to live up to my mother's name, so it was my big dream. That is why I had my mind set on getting into LAA. But honestly, going to the place my mother evidently had the best years of her life is even better.

It is the next morning and the first thing I did this morning was call Morgan from SAA to tell her I would accept the SAA offer, she was delighted. She gave me some information about living and housing. I would sleep in the dorm with a roommate. I said goodbye to my friends and aunt Susan brought me to the airport. It was my first time flying alone. I overpacked so much I had to pay extra money. It was going to be a 23-hour flight, so I would be there at 10 AM tomorrow but with the time difference that would make it 7 PM. As I walk through my terminal ready to board, I bump into someone. "Watch where you're going" he barks. "Maybe if your eyes weren't fixed on your phone your eyes would work" I respond. He rolls his eyes at me "Crazy Brits". Okay offensive. I walk into the plane and find my seat, when I look up, I see those to whom I am sitting next. I have to say, the universe has its weird ways. I sit down next to the same guy who just bumped into me. "Yeah nah" he says. "Let's just not talk alright" I say, "Great idea" he replies.

In the outback🇦🇺

After an awfully long and awkward flight I get off the plane and collect my suitcase. The school secured a cab for me to take me to the school. I get into the cab, and we drive from the airport to SAA which is remarkably close to the coastline. It is beautiful. I am staring out the window like a newborn baby who has not seen anything of the world yet. I think I am going to like it here. We arrive at the school, and I get out of the cab. I collect my suitcases from the trunk and look around. The school is huge. I follow the trail and I make my way into the school. It is already 8 PM so I hope I can still find someone to give me the keys to the apartment. "Are you Sandra Chapman's daughter?" a woman asks, "Yes I am, did you know her?'' I ask the woman. "Yes, of course I did. We were roommates and best friends while she was here. I saw your last name on the waitlist of the LAA and I just knew I had to get you here. "I'm Morgan Hugh, we spoke on the phone" the woman rants, "It's very nice to meet you, thank you for bringing me here" I respond. "I was waiting for you; I have your dorm keys here" Morgan gives me the keys. I nod, "If there is ever any problem, you can always come find me, I owe it to your mother" she says in the sweetest voice. I thank her and make my way to my dorm room. Itis on the fifth floor at the end of the hallway, it is a corner room. I put the keys in the lock and open the door. It is a huge room, wow. It has massive windows looking over the skyline and the beach. It has a kitchen and a sofa area. On my left I see a door "Michael" it says on the name tag. Or at least, it used to. Someone went over it with a marker and wrote "Mike" under it. Sounds like a boy's name, maybe they mix genders here. On the right I see another room "Jules" it says. That must be mine. I open the door and I see a lovely room. An elevated bed, a desk, enough storage. It is actually pretty decent for a dorm room. I put my suitcases on the bed and start unpacking right away, just to get it over with. The school year is already starting in 2 days. It is September now, which means spring is starting. I hear the front door open, followed by voices. That must be my roommate. I make my way to the door, I'm very excited to see who I'll be stuck with. "I called here a crazy Brit and walked away. Guess what happened next. So, there I was on the plane, and guess who was sitting next to me?" "Was it crazy airport girl" "Hell yes". No, I am being sleep deprived right now. I must be. I open my bedroom door and yes, there he is. Airplane boy. Amazing. He looks at me, I look at him. "How incredibly lovely" I say very sarcastic. He reaches out his hand and says "Yeah nah" in the most sarcastic way. I give him a forced smile. Off to a great start already. His, I guess, friends are looking very confused. "O, I'm sorry, you might know me as the crazy Brit." I say with a fake smile, "Fuck dude" his friend says. "They must have thought Jules was a guy. Why do you have a guy name" he says to me in a very cocky tone. "Because Jules is short for Juliette ass" "This has to be a mistake" I say, "Yeah go check it out Brit. I grab my keys and leave the dorm.