"A week. You haven't come out your room in a week." Marissa says to me through my door. "If you don't come today, you'll be replaced! Do you really want to give up your dream? Because of a boy." She says
I break down in tears hearing that. She has no idea what I'm going through. I actually liked Cameron. But I could never let her know that. Whatever. I get up and get ready for ballet. My mascara keeps running so I decide not to wear any.
I just use concealer to cover up the dark circles under my eyes. We get to the studio and my heart drops. Suddenly, I hate ballet. I walk in the room and Eli immediately comes up to me.
"Hey! Do you remember me?" He asks. I nod. "I made it! My audition went well!" He says, excitedly. "Lilly. Did you know Eli?" My instructor asks. "We met before his audition." I say.
"Well great. I've been trying to find someone to pair him up with so he can get to know the area. After class, why don't you guys go out for coffee or something." He suggests. Eli nods happily and I shrug.
Class ends and I decide to take Eli to a coffee shop near the studio. We sit at a booth. There was a bit of awkward silence. "So, where are you from?" I ask.
"I'm actually from Queens but I wanted to move as close to this studio as possible. I love ballet." He says.
"Really? I hate it." I blurt out. "What? Then why do you still do it?" Eli asks. "I've gotten this far and I have no other career choice to fall back on." I say. "Oh... uh well what do you think you'll be for halloween?" He asks, in a weird attempt to make small talk.
"I don't know. Probably someone with blonde hair. That's the only way I make my costume decisions." I say. "Cool. I think I'll be a superhero. Maybe." He says. There's even more awkward silence.
Our drinks come and he grabs a spoon for sugar but immediately drops it. He's really clumsy. "Oops. Sorry." He says to the waitress. "I guess I've really made a fool of myself today." He says.
"No. You're sweet." I say. He perks up and smiles at me. "Thank you." He says. "How old are you?" I ask. "I'm a sophomore in college." He says. He's so young but so ambitious. Reminds me of myself at that age.
YOU ARE READING
The Forgotten Ballerina
Romancefor·get /fərˈɡet/ verb put out of one's mind; cease to think of or consider. Lilly is a quiet and shy ballerina in the competitive state of New York. She is struggling to speak up for herself, and embrace her dancing. Even though she dances wit...
