NCIS High School Teenage Years

Chapter 6: Naughty Girls

A couple of weeks went by after their sleepover. Tali and Ziva were spending more and more time at Ms. Fontaine's ballet studio, and loved every second of it. Tony missed hanging out with Ziva after school because of her busy ballet schedule, but he was happy the Ziva was doing something that she actually enjoyed. She was coming home everyday with a smile, instead of bruised and bleeding from Krav Maga training.
Tony was going to surprise Ziva and Tali by picking them up from rehearsal. Ari usually was their designated driver, but today Eli had wore him out with Mossad Training. Tony offered to drive the girls home when Ari collapsed on the couch.
Ari told him the girl's dance schedule for the day, and Tony felt his mouth fall open. Ziva and Tali had Broadway Jazz from 4pm-5pm, Tap from 5pm-6pm, and Ballet (class and rehearsal) from 6:30pm-9:15pm.

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The whole class grew silent when Ms. Fontaine walked into the studio, holding a piece of paper.

"Girls, gather around". She ordered them.

Ziva, Tali, and the rest of the dancers gathered around Ms. Fontaine.

"For our upcoming performance, you all will performing in Rhapsody in Blue". She declared. A few dancers gasped, and clapped their hands. Ms. Fontaine took a deep breath and continued. "As most of you all know, Rhapsody and Blue is divided into three sections: Naughty Girls, Tap Duet, and Solo. For Naughty Girls, there are only seven dancers. The duet will be performed by one male and one female, and there will be an understudy for the Solo".

Ms. Fontaine unfolded the piece of paper in her hands, and read the casting.

"Ella, Paige, Mia, Sophia, Ziva, Claire, and Tali are Naughty Girls. Lauren, you will have the Solo, and Charlotte, you will be the understudy. I have not yet decided who will be dancing with Sean for the Tap Duet". Ms. Fontaine looked up from the casting list. "You all have five minutes to put on your pointe shoes and wrap skirt. The skirts you wear for repertoire. Go".

The dancers walked out of the studio, and into the dressing room. They all were taking excitedly about the parts they got.

Ziva unzipped her dance bag, and pulled out her pointe shoes. She sat on the floor next to Tali, and tapped her toes. Once her toes were all wrapped up in masking tape, she put on a thin toepad and slipped her pointe shoes on. As Ziva was tying her ribbons, she noticed that the ends were fraying.

She sighed. "Does anyone have a lighter?" Ziva asked the girls in the dressing room.

"I've got one". Mia said, and tossed her a mini lighter. Ziva thanked her, and held the flame close to the fraying ribbons. As soon as the ends of the ribbons melted, she clicked the lighter off, and handed it back to Mia.

Ziva reached into her dance bag, and pulled out two short black wrap skirts. She handed one to Tali. Tali grinned sheepishly to Ziva.

"Thanks Zi. I forgot mine again". Tali said, calling Ziva by her American nickname.

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As soon as everyone was ready, they walked back into the studio, and warmed up.

Ziva was warming up her hips at the barre with Tali. She leaned into her sister and whispered in Hebrew. "Did you want to be a Naughty Girl?" She asked.

Tali looked up at her sister. Realizing that Ziva didn't want anyone to eavesdrop on their conversation, Tali responded in Hebrew. "No. Not really. I mean, I would rather be part of a duet than a group. But, it's ok I guess".

As Ziva and Tali were talking and warming up, Ms. Fontaine walked into the studio.

"I am going out for coffee. I'll be back in a little while". She announced to the class. "I want everyone to watch the DVD of Rhapsody in Blue, and learn your parts". She gestured to the small television set resting on top of the piano. "Mia, you are number 1. Paige, number 2. Tali, number 3. Sophia, number 4. Ella, number 5. Ziva, number 6. And Claire, number 7".