True Colours: Standing Together | TNS

Secret

"Don't worry, 'cause I'm keepin' my mouth closed"

General POV

Stephanie woke up early, 5:00AM. Her mum entered the room and went to wake her up. She was already sat up in her bed.

"Get up now!" Her mum said, pointing to her door.

"I'm fucking up? Can't you see that?" Stephanie said, getting out of bed. She put her slippers on and went to the bathroom.

"Hey, don't give me attitude you little disobedient shit!" Her mum shouted.

"What's the problem?" Her dad said stepping in the room.

"Stephanie is disrespecting me." Her mum said.

"Is that true?" He said grinding his teeth. Stephanie folded her arms.

"Yeah, so what if it is?" She shouted. He stepped forward to her and pinned her against the wall.

"Listen to me you little bitch, you're gonna be nice to your mum whether you like it or not, or else you're gonna get punished." He said and put his hand on her waist. His hand travelled down her waist. Each finger that went, she felt more and more uncomfortable. A tear rolled down her face.

"Now say you will." He shouted. She shook her head, crying and sniffling and she stayed silent. He punched her stomach hard and she winced in pain but remained silent.

"SAY IT! SAY IT RIGHT NOW!" He shouted louder than last time. She still shook her head. He got so mad he grabbed her by her hair and punched her so hard she was on the ground. She cried so hard like never had before. She was used to it but it never got like this.

"Okay! OKAY! I WILL- RES-RESPECT HER!" She cried and couldn't breathe. He let go of her and kicked her stomach one more time and went to the door.

"Good girl, now get the fuck up and go!" He said slamming the door and leaving with her mum.

Stephanie lied there on the floor, basically broken. She wrapped her hands around her stomach and tears streamed down her face. She really had nothing to do so she got up with pain. Her phone was right next to her, 7 texts and 2 missed calls, from Emily.

She texted with shaking hands. "Dont think i can come 2day sos"

"Why? Steph this is a REALLY IMPORTANT rehearsal!!" Emily texted.

"Fine. I'll come but i need 15 minutes." She texted. She put her phone down and crawled to the mirror, still in pain. She took of her shirt to check for any more bruises for the week. She covered her mouth in horror as she realised how many scars, cuts and bruises she had. She didn't know she had that much.

She got changed and got up. She limped to the car and got in. Her mum was driving her. They didn't talk. Stephanie had her mind elsewhere. She looked outside of the window.

She got to the studio with her jacket on. She walked in. They all looked at her. Emily looked mad.

"Well, well, well. Look who finally decided to show up?" Emily said walking to her with her hands on her hips. "Do you know what it takes to be in A troupe? You can't just be late because it means a lot to be here. There are a lot of people in B troupe that want to be in here like Giselle. No, but you come late, no wonder you get along with Chloe!" Emily looked at Chloe. Chloe frowned .

"I'm sorry, I uh slept in." Stephanie lied. Emily shook her head.

Emily Beaton:
A Troupe Member

I am so disappointed in Stephanie. I actually counted on her to be early and to be good enough for A Troupe. She's my best friend and she's never like this.

"Okay, well take your jacket off." I said to her. She shook her head. I sighed.

"Fine." I said. I told her where to stand and we started dancing. She was all over the place. She was falling, doing it wrong. She was just doing everything wrong!

"I'm sorry, I need to sit down." She said. I walked to her.

"Stephanie! What's wrong with you today?" I said to her. She started crying. Girl why you crying I asked you a question?

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Emily. I'm not feeling well," She said crying. I folded my arms.

"That's no excuse to-" I said but she started crying and cut me off.

"I mean it Emily! I... don't feel..." She said and her eyes started to close. I looked confused. She collapsed on the floor. I bent down tearing up and held her.

"OH my god! Stephanie! SOMEONE CALL MISS KATE! SOMEONE PLEASE!" I shouted.

"IM ON IT!" Daniel shouted and ran. Miss Kate came running.

"Stephanie?! Stephanie honey! Wake up!" She said. She carried her to her office and put her on the sofa. She put a blanket on her.

First she comes late, messes the routine and passes out? There's definitely something up with Steph. She has never ever been like this. Not until this one time last month, when her dad came back. But that can't be it. Her dad loves her so much!
Something is wrong with her.