ℒ𝒾𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒪𝓃 𝒯𝒽ℯ 𝒟𝒶𝓃𝒸ℯ ℱ𝓁ℴℴ𝓇 [𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟏]

𝟐.𝟏𝟑- 𝐀𝐛𝐛𝐲𝐠𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐨𝐧

Authors Note!

If you have read my content warning chapter (the very first chapter of the book) you know I state that the chapters are long. Well this chapter happens to be 21618 words long.
Hope you enjoy!
Happy Halloween 🎃 👻

- Emms

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˚✧.⋅₊˚ ‧ 🩰⋅୨୧ ⋅🦢  ‧₊˚ ⋅.✧˚

["Dance To Express, Not Impress"]

Monday morning, the dancers were all gathered in Studio B for ballet class. The air felt stuffy, and the faint scent of sweat from the weekend's competition still lingered in the room. Emily stood near the barre, shifting uncomfortably in her black leotard and hot pink hoodie.

Her hoodie was zipped up all the way, even though everyone else had already peeled off their warm-up clothes in favor of the cooler dancewear. She tugged at her sleeves, her fingers fidgeting with the ends of the hoodie as she kept her eyes focused on the mirror, trying not to think about the number still haunting her from a few night before.

52 pounds.

Across the room, Chloé had asked Miss Tara, the ballet instructor, if she could be excused to the bathroom. Emily had overheard her telling the other girls earlier that she was feeling emotional about her dog that had passed away. Emily knew fully well why Chloé was talking about her dead dog. She wanted to get out of class, who didn't? Chloé's dog died five years ago.

"It's so hot," Emily muttered, wiping the back of her hand across her forehead. The room was starting to feel like a sauna, and the heat was pressing down on her.

Paige, standing next to Emily, glanced at her and tilted her head, "Uh, maybe it's because you have a hoodie on?" she pointed out with a small smile, adjusting her own leotard as she stood in first position. "You could just take it off."

Emily's stomach twisted at the suggestion. The hoodie had become like a shield between her and the rest of the world, hiding her small frame and giving her a sense of control, even if it was just an illusion. She wasn't ready to peel that layer off. She couldn't. Not after spending all night thinking about her weight.

"I'd rather not," Emily replied quickly, her voice a little sharper than she intended. She avoided eye contact with Paige, keeping her gaze fixed on her own reflection, hating the way her body looked in the mirror.

Paige didn't push further, sensing Emily's discomfort. Instead, she resumed her stretches at the barre, leaving Emily to her own thoughts.

Maddie, always perceptive, leaned in closer, "Em, are you alright?" she asked softly. There was concern in her voice, and Emily knew Maddie meant well, but the question made her throat tighten.

"I'm fine," Emily said quickly, her words coming out in a rush. "I'm just...tired." She didn't want to go into it. She couldn't explain what was going on in her head, not even to herself.

Maddie nodded, though her eyes lingered on Emily for a moment longer before she turned her attention back to class. Emily knew Maddie was worried, but she didn't want to talk about it. Not with Maddie, not with anyone.

The rest of the ballet class dragged on. The usual pliés and tendus felt heavier today, and every time Emily lifted her arms, she could feel the weight of the hoodie pulling her down, but she refused to take it off. She'd rather suffer the heat than face the anxiety of being exposed in just her leotard. When the class finally ended, Emily felt a small sense of relief wash over her, but the tension in her shoulders remained.