Shooting Star

Chapter 12

"Hey," I said tentatively to Janelle.

Janelle ignored me.

"Hi," Natalie and Aly-G said, coming into the changeroom.

"Hey guys," I said, smiling. "I'm sorry I ditched out on dance last week," I added quietly.

"Nah, it's all good, since you guys won!" Natalie grinned.

"Yeah, that last shot at the very last possible second was unreal," Aly-G admitted.

"I know," I said. "I still can't believe it. And I was there!"

We all laughed. Except Janelle. She kept a stone-cold face on.

She stood up and strode out of the changeroom.

"What's up with her?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"She's more than a little pissed off at you for choosing Kylie over her," Natalie replied quietly.

"I didn't choose Kylie over Janelle!" I gasped, horrified.

"That's the way she sees it," Aly-G said quietly. "I mean, I know you didn't, because you wanted that title so badly and you would've done anything to play in the tournament. I get you. If that had happened right before a dance competition, I would've done what you did."

I shrugged, secretly pleased. "Then why is she still mad?" I asked.

Natalie bit her lip. "I think it's a jealousy thing. You and Kylie go to the same school, you spent almost four full days with her this weekend, as well as the weekend before that."

"That's total bull," I remarked. "I see Janelle 20 hours a week."

"But you see Kylie 20 hours a week at hockey, and if you add the hours at school that you see her..." Aly-G's voice trailed off.

"That would make it 30 hours," Natalie finished.

I put my foot paws on and stood up. "I guess you guys are right," I said quietly. "But I apologized to her yesterday!"

"How?" Natalie asked.

"On the phone," I admitted. "I got back at 10:30 yesterday night." I yawned.

"Maybe you need to physicaly apologize in person," Aly-G suggested.

"You may be right," I said hesitantly. "Thanks for the help, guys."

"No problem," Natalie and Aly-G said in unison.

We entered the studio and started stretching. Janelle was sitting on the floor in perfect middle splits, obviously wanting to avoid a conversation with anyone, since her head was smashed up against the floor.

"Janelle," I said. "Can we talk?"

She didn't move.

"Look," I tried again. "I'm sorry I ditched you guys last week. But look at it from my perspective. I wanted to play in that tournament so badly, and the doctor said if I wanted to play in the tournament then I'd have to refrain from extensive use of my head. And let's face it, you use  your head so much while dancing, it's going to mess it up somehow."

"Then how does playing hockey not kill your head?" Janelle asked viciously.

I flinched. Janelle had never spoken to me like that before. "I was playing non-contact hockey last week," I said, as calmly as I could.

"Not during the tournament," Janelle pointed out spitefully.

I bit my tongue hard, trying not to scream at her. "I avoided that at all costs. I don't know if you were watching the final game, but I got hit so hard during the second period I sat out almost all of third period because my head was killing me."

Janelle pursed her lips and didn't say anything.

I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Janelle. Please forgive me?"

Janelle pulled through her middle splits and stood up. "No," she snapped, and walked off.

I stared at her in shock, then turned to see Natalie and Aly-G, who were mirroring my expression.

I bit my lip to keep from tears leaking out. What the hell? I thought. Why would she say no like that?

Natalie and Aly-G sat down beside me and we continued to stretch in silence, until Aly-G said, "I don't know what's up with her."

"She's being completely awful to you," Natalie said quietly. "I'm sorry."

"Thanks," I sighed. "I think you're right, it is a jealousy factor."

"But what are you gonna do to fix it?" Aly-G asked.

I bit my lip. "I have no idea.” I really don't, I told myself. This whole situation with Janelle is messing up my mind. Is she jealous about the fact that Kylie and I are better friends or that we hang out more often? Is she upset because she thinks Kylie and I are best friends now? Even if that were the case, what's wrong with having two best friends?

I glanced at Natalie and Aly-G. "Did I speak out loud?" I sighed, noticing the looks on their faces.

"Yeah," Natalie admitted. "But look at it from her way. If she thinks you and Kylie are best friends, she's going to feel compelled to hate Kylie. Or at least jealous of her. I mean, Kylie's the most popular girl in the 11th grade, and she's got everything, looks, talent, all that jazz. Janelle doesn't think she stands a chance against Kylie."

"But that's ridiculous," I said. "Janelle's got to know I'd never choose between my friends in that way. Look, I can't even begin to compare the two. Janelle and Kylie are completely different people, and different AND special in their own ways. Kylie dazzles on the ice; Janelle dazzles onstage."

"True," Aly-G said.

Natalie opened her mouth to say something but stopped when Ms. Ellis and Janelle came into the room. "Let's get started, ladies," Ms. Ellis said. "Let's go across the floor. Here's your pattern: Drag step, kick ball-change, pique, step step plie, fouette land in fourth position, pirouette to arabesque. Drag again with your front leg."

"How many fouettes?" Natalie asked.

"Three," Ms. Ellis replied. "Natalie, Bree, you two first."

She started the music. "5, 6, 7, 8!"

I started across the floor. Drag step, kick ball-change, pique, step step plie. Fouette, turn, turn, turn, pirouette, arabesque. All again: drag step, kick ball-change, pique, step step plie. Fouette, turn turn turn land in fifth, arabesque.

I made it to the other side of the studio with Natalie. We watched as Aly-G and Janelle attacked the combo.

"Janelle, STOP!" Ms. Ellis called. "Your preparation for your fouette was incorrect. Bree, show her how it's done."

"I'm not learning from her," Janelle spat out and pointed at me.

My mouth dropped open. "Excuse me?"

Ms. Ellis seemed at a loss for words. Then she coughed. "Janelle, calm your tone of voice down. Either you learn from Bree, who was the only one doing it right, or you sit out for the rest of class."

"I thought Natalie and Aly-G were doing it right too," Janelle insisted.

"But their plies weren't deep enough to turn them four times," Ms. Ellis said, glancing at the two girls in question. "Deeper plies, girls, and you'll be turning forever."

"Cool," Natalie smiled. Aly-G nodded in agreement.

Janelle stomped off to the side and sat down.

"Janelle get back here," Ms. Ellis called.

"You said either I learn from Bree, or I sit out," Janelle snapped. "I would rather die than learn from Bree, so I chose to sit out."

I turned bright red. "What the hell is wrong with you?" I screamed. "ALL OF TODAY YOU'VE BEEN AN ABSOLUTE B-" I cut myself off. "AN ABSOLUTELY AWFUL PERSON, EVEN WHEN I APOLOGIZED TWICE! WHAT'S GOING ON?" My voice cracked and I whispered the last part: "Why do you hate me so much?"

The entire studio was silent after my outburst.