The Super Enrichment Programme

My Lesson Starts in 5

I stayed there on my phone for a few hours, not really paying attention to the shouting boys when I heard Tom yell my name.

‘What?’ I asked, looking up at him confusedly.

‘Are you going to ballet?’ he asked. I turned to look at the clock.

‘SUGAR!’ I yelled, dashing up the stairs to get ready. I normally give myself 20 minutes to get ready, but it seems as though I lost track of time. My lesson starts in 5.

I pulled on my tights and black leotard before tying my skirt around my waist. I pulled my hair back into a ponytail, grabbed my ballet shoes and jacket before sprinting down the stairs.

‘MUM!’ I yelled as I entered the kitchen, ‘CAN YOU TAKE ME TO DANCE, I’M GONNA BE LATE!’

‘Yes,’ my mum said as she emerged from the study, car keys in hand.

I got to dance just in time, already out of breath. We did all of our barre work and jumps. It was all so energetic, I felt like I was going to collapse.

When I arrived back home, mum was already serving up tea. I was interested to notice that Ethan was staying.

I took my usual seat, not bothering to change, but pulling on a ‘Pull and Bear’ jumper because it was slightly chilly.

My mum had cooked spaghetti a la carbonara, which is my favourite, and apple pie for dessert.

‘Thanks for letting me stay to tea,’ Ethan said as he sat down next to Tom.

‘No problem Ethan,’ mum called as she went to call dad for tea.

‘I love spending time here,’ Ethan muttered and Tom grinned cheekily, winking at him. Ethan scowled and hit tom on the arm. I chuckled and shook my head at the pair of them.

‘How’s rugby?’ I asked to break the awkward silence.

‘Good,’ Tom muttered, elbowing Ethan.

‘Uh… we’ve got a game on sun day. Are you gonna come and watch?’ he asked, grinning, although he seemed slightly unsure of himself.

‘Sure, and I’ll bring Emma too, you can never have too many fans!’ I smiled slightly, noticing that Ethan’s smile widen considerably.

‘Great!’ he grinned and went back to eating as my parents entered the kitchen.

                                     *

The next day I decided to wear my Aliso Creek Hollister top and Bluffs Beach skirt. I pulled on a pale turquoise cardigan and my Fred Perry’s as I ran out of the door to meet Emma.

Today she was wearing a Beatles top, black jeans and blazer and blue Toms. Her hair had been scraped back into a high ponytail.

‘What lessons have we got today?’ Emma asked as we entered the SEP building.

‘Erm… Comeback Training, Combat Training and Potions + Poisons last,’ I read off of my timetable.

‘Okay…’ Emma muttered as we made our way down the stairs before heading off to Comeback Training.

We were the last there and the only seats left  were next to Nick and Kat. Hale waved and gave us an apologetic look before returning to his conversation with Candy.

‘This could be interesting,’ Emma muttered as we took our seats.