Prima Ballerina(#Wattys2015)

Auditions

Edited>>>

"Alright, listen up everyone!" Miss Lara yells over the chatter to call the class to attention. "Swan Lake Auditions are on the first - don't miss them or you can kiss the company goodbye forever."

I'm glad we finally had a date for Auditions, although it is a little scary that I have only one week to make sure I'm the one chosen for Odette/Odile. I have dreamed of performing this part since I was a little girl, and I can almost see it now... "Pennyworth Compton Piqués across the stage as Odette and Odile in The Chicago Ballet's rendition of Swan Lake".

I am startled out of my daydreaming by the worst voice in the history of mankind... Also known as Marie Claire, named after a beauty supply company... Pitiful. "You gonna keep daydreaming, Penny, or are you gonna join us? We're discussing our plans for the second, the day after the audition. I'm having a party at my house in honor of me getting Odette/Odile - wanna come?"

I'm pretty much over it with Marie, so I snap. "You know what, Marie? You are manipulative BITCH!" I scream, "The only reason you are the 'STAR' soloist is because you slept with the director... Oh wait! Did you not want that getting out? Well guess what? Deal with it! You are a no good piece of pond scum, and I will have no part in this." I turn around and stalk off, knowing that I have just ruined any chance of me ever having friends here.

As I walk into class later on (Thankfully Marie is not in my contemporary), I'm pulled aside by Miss Lara, and I know I'm doomed. Miss Lara would know what I had said to Marie.

Crap.

"Miss Penn, will you please speak with me in my office," she says, and I begin to walk over to the door, knowing she is not merely asking. "Mr. Willy, I am stealing Miss Penn for a few moments - I do hope you don't mind." she tells my contemporary teacher, and he nods before we both leave the studio, the other company members staring after us curiously, although I'm sure they know what it's about.

As we walk to her office, she says nothing that gives away whether I'm in trouble or not. She merrily comments on the weather and remarks at how fast they're managing to build the skyscraper across town.

By the time we make it to her office, I'm a nervous wreck. I was gonna get kicked out, I just knew it. "Sit down, Penn," she says with a soft smile. The calm before the storm, surely... "Congratulations on getting the part of Odette/Odile!"

I gasp. Wait, what? I did not see that one coming. "Miss Lara, what do you mean? The auditions haven't taken place yet." I ask. I know it's simply too good to be true.

"The whole world is one big audition, Penn, I would think you would have figured that out by know. I am really proud of you for standing up to Marie like that, and we need someone with that fiery attitude to play Odile." she says, smiling, then she pulls out a packet and hands it to me. "You should find all the information you need in here until the date specified in the packet. Don't come back for a while - I'm going to deal with the backlash of Marie, and I would rather you not get caught in the middle. You are dismissed, thank you." she says as she picks up the phone, which had started to ring.

I hightail it out of there, barely believing my own luck - Odette/Odile? I'm golden.

But what's in the Packet?