So She Dances (by nightowl1216)

Chapter 1: First Impressions

Beads of sweat rolled down my forehead and I'm pretty sure I smelled like a woolly mammoth.

But I loved it.

Sweat meant I was working hard. Just because it was the first day of dance class didn't mean we were getting any slack. Oh no, it was the opposite. Because of that, we looked pro. The cast of Footloose had nothing on us. And that was absolutely surreal.

Just the fact that I was standing in the presence of Elizabeth Harley was a dream in itself. It wasn't fully sinking in that she was going to be my dance teacher for my last two years of high school. Alumni of Julliard, choreographer of dance shows there once she graduated, I wanted to pinch myself. But it wasn't a dream. No, I was living the dream. My dream.

The music stopped, and everyone struck the pose we were assigned.

I swear, the smile wouldn't leave my face. I felt like a complete dork for being so giddy, but I couldn't help myself. This school was amazing beyond words. I had to be the luckiest girl in the world.

Ms. Harley let out a low whistle. "You guys are setting the bar high for this year, aren't you? You all did great. Now, go get showered and remember dinner is in a few hours. I'll see you in class same time tomorrow."

The joy I had just moments earlier quickly dissipated as I watched the kids around me draw to their friends like magnets, chattering about their summer and heading for the courtyard to hang out. It reminded me that 1) I had no friends here, and 2) I didn't even know where my dorm was.

I subconsciously clasped my hands in front of me and bit my lip,staring out the floor to ceiling window to the courtyard. I'm on the second floor. I know that. But do I go right or left once I'm in the courtyard? Ooh, cute boy!

"Is everything all right, honey?"

I whirled around to Ms. Harley. "Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm good." Am I that much of an open book? I suddenly realized I was the only one left in the dance studio besides my teacher. Oh. "Um, I know my dorm is on the second floor, but I have no idea how to get there."

It killed me to ask for help like this about something so tiny as my dorm location. I had already been there several times today, for Pete's sake! I didn't want to appear like I was some incompetent 17 year old incapable of doing anything on her own. Well, almost 17 year old. I mean, come on! I had to make a good first impression. My teacher was practically a celebrity in dance.

"It's on the second floor? You take the stairs."

I stared at her blankly. Was that a joke? Do I laugh?

She caught on to my dumbfounded expression before I could decide on an appropriate reaction and she broke into a smile. "I'm just kidding. It was a stupid joke. Do you know the welcome sign outside the front office?"

"Of course," I lied. We have a welcome sign? I had to be the most unobservant person ever.

"When you walk a little further, there's a fork in the road. The middle leads to the courtyard, and the left leads to the girls' dorms. There are signs everywhere. You can't miss 'em."

"Oh, right! Duh." Because I totally knew that. "Thank you." I was so stupid. Could I just crawl into a hole and die?

"Not a problem. Remind me of your name again?"

"Isabelle,"I replied automatically.

"Well, if you need anything else, Isabelle, please don't hesitate to ask. And welcome to La Joie Par La Danse."

I smiled out of obligation, but once I was out of the dance studio, I was about as panicked as a chicken running around with its head chopped off.

How I was so graceful at dance, yet still had thoughts about chickens running headless, I had no idea.