Baby Lips

Chapter 22

It was strange seeing myself in this attire. My hair was held back in a bun that sat right at the crown of my head. A pair of pink tights hugging my legs and a black leotard that became a bit more snug on my body due to the fact that my boobs and butt have grown since I last put on the stretchy material. I smiled at myself, starting to feel more excited about this dance class than nervous. 

I pulled on a pair of jeans over my tights, threw on my jacket and tightly wrapped a scarf around my neck before grabbing my bag, filled with old ballet shoes and baby powder, and was out the door in minutes. 

I took the tube to the studio that Danielle had texted me about. And to be honest, I was pretty familiar with it. On my random visits outside Oxford I would pass by it and normally just sigh heavily at the fact that I couldn’t join the gorgeous dancers I caught a glimpse of through the windows. But this time, I could be one of those gorgeous dancers I fantasized about. I clung to the strap of my bag in anticipation as the metro doors slid open and I skipped out of the station. 

My heart thumped against my ribs too a point that I thought it was almost audible to the people around me. I took one final breath in hopes of warding off any anxious feelings I had, and wrapped my thin fingers around the cold, silver handles to the studio. As they opened, a rush of heat hit my brittle bones and flushed the color back into my face. Girls of all sizes as well as many muscular boys ran frantically through out the place. Most of them giggling and finding their way to the small clique of people they enjoyed the most. That was the thing about dance studios, you had to find a place to fit in or else you’d be looked down upon. 

I gulped as I made my way over to what looked like the open locker station. I excused myself and smiled politely as I pushed my way past the several dancers clad in leg warmers and new Russian pointe shoes. I walked with my head down in this new environment, afraid of making any kind of wrong eye contact with someone.  

But just as I was about to reach the cubbies, I felt myself walk right into someone and stumbled backwards. I have really got to stop running into people. I thought as I quick memory of mine and Harry’s first meeting flashed in my mind. It came to a halt with the person I had just rammed into turning around. I met a beautiful pair of blue eyes with a tint of green to them. Her body was long and thin and her lips spread into a genuine smile.  

“I am so sorry!” She said running a hand through her dirty blond hair. Her voice had a cute rasp too it and she seemed enthusiastic, even when she was apologizing. 

“Oh, it’s fine.” I smiled back at her. “It was my fault anyway.” I shrugged my shoulder and she laughed as she began to shimmy her bony shoulders out of her black leather jacket. She eyed me for a while, and I could feel myself get redder by the second, before she spoke. 

“I’ve never seen you around here, are you new? What’s your name?” She bombarded me with questions at a rapid rate. I laughed lightly and nodded my head, unwrapping my scarf from around my neck. 

“I’m Scarlett, and yeah this is my first time here.” The girl clapped her hands together and sat down on the bench across from the lockers, she dug in her bag before grasping a pale pink pair of pointe shoes.  

“Scarlett? A beautiful name you’ve got, love.” She said as she pulled out her dark blue jelly toe-pads. “I’m Madeline Ferguson, but you can call me Maddie. Everyone does.” She said right as a tall boy passed her shouting, “Hi Maddie!”. She smiled and waved back, nodding her head toward me. 

“What did I tell you?” I laughed in response. “Are you here for Bonnie’s class? Tell me you are here for Bonnie’s class. How did you even find out about Bonnie’s class?” She asked, her accent making some of her words hard to understand.