Shadows to Stages

29 January 2016

Dear diary,

I was nervous about going to school today. Everyone coming up to me saying what happened, are you okay, why were you out? It's so annoying. I really didn't want them butting into my business anyway.

I got into school and as I suspected all eyes were on me. It was kinda scary. I continued walking down the hall and reached my locker. I put my things inside and when I closed the door Scott was standing there. He grabbed my shoulders and said 'Bella, are you okay. I'm so sorry, you being in hospital was all my fault. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?' I said 'Scott, read my lips. WE ARE DONE! I could have died out there and yes, it is your fault. No back off, we're finished.' I pushed his hands of my shoulders and butted past him. I could hear him calling back to me but he means nothing to me anymore. I continued walking to ballet.

I went into class and Maya and Abigail were sitting on the floor. They jumped up and ran over and squeezed me so hard it hurt but I didn't care. I've got the best friends in the ENTIRE WORLD. We all sat down and I said 'Where's Mrs Williams?' Maya said 'She left for about 20 minutes, but we don't know what for.' 'Guys, I have some bad news, but no one else can know about. Promise?' Maya and Abigail looked at each other and said 'Promise.' I told them everything. 'My mam is making me move. My mam went to pick up the car at the hospital yesterday and my dad was saying that we are packing on the week of internationals so I can't attend.' They both looked at me, mouths wide open. 'Why would your parents do this, don't they know how much you love it here?' I said 'My Mam and Dad said this is a fresh start for our family but I'm sure it's a fresh start for my parents. They recently got back together so it's clear its only for themselves.' Abigail said ' Internationals won't be the same without you, Bella.' I said 'Oh don't even worry, I'm going to internationals. I've got a plan.' They both looked at each other and said 'What?' I said 'At my house outside my window is a ladder.  For the last few days I've locked my door. So what I'm going to do is write a letter for them, I'll unlock my door and go out the window. I'll get the bus with you guys and go to internationals. Problem solved.' They both nodded their heads and we all high- fived. 'We can meet you outside your window,' Maya said. I nodded and then Mrs came in. Today she was telling us the lineup for internationals and who was competing in each round. I was so excited.

The line up:

1. Male soloist
2. Female soloist
3. Trio
4. 6 person small group
5. Genre competition
6. Semi final
7. ?

There were loads of rounds and I was nerve racking just looking at the list. Mrs Williams read out the list and people were questioning who was doing what. Mrs said 'Alright class, internationals is right around the corner, are we all ready?' Everyone was clapping and screaming. 'Okay, it's time to find out who's doing what. So make soloist is......Nathan. Female soloist is.........Bella. Trio is........Maya, Abigail and Bella. 6 person small group is.......Daniel, Abigail and Bella. Genre competition we need five dancers in different genres, so our lyrical dancer  is.......Daniel.Our ballet dancer is...... Abigail. Our jazz dancer is.......Maya. Our hip hop dancer is.......Luke and our contemporary dancer is......Bella. For our semi finals routine everyone's in that. The final round has a question mark, so I guess  we will have to wait until internationals, so everyone, hands  in. 3....2...1..... INTERNATIONALS.'

I'm in every category except for male soloist so it puts a lot of pressure and it started to worry me that hiding that I can't attend internationals is a bad idea. Mrs said ' As a part of internationals, there is an exchange program, as you all know Abigail and Sarah transferred from Beldovere talent school so two students will exchange with them. Though Abigail has enrolled permanently, Sarah will go back after internationals.' Someone said 'Who's going there from our school?' Mrs said 'It has been arranged but I'm not sure who's going,but they will be leaving tomorrow.' 

It was the end of the day and I ran to my locker since I was meeting Nathan and the front of the school and I didn't want to keep him waiting. I closed my locker and there again was Scott. I said 'Can I help you?' He said 'Congrats, on everything.' I said 'Thanks, I guess. Why didn't you get anything.' He said 'Oh, tell Nathan, good luck at internationals, when I face him in male soloist.' I said 'Wait, how could.....' It hit me. He's exchanging to Beldovere but with who? I walked past him and ran to the front of the school. Nathan was waiting there. 'I'm so sorry, Scott was talking to me.' He said 'It's fine, don't worry. We better hurry or we're going to miss our booking.' We ran down to the studio and got in just in time. We went up to the studio and were talking about internationals. 'Scott is transferring to Beldovere as a part of the exchange program,' I said. He looked at me 'Seriously, who's going with him?' I said 'I don't know, but he said good luck to you if he goes up against you.' 'Tell him right back at you,' Nathan said and we both laughed. I said 'What could be round 7, it had a question mark.' He said 'It could be a finals group dance.' I said 'No, this internationals never have a finals group routine. Sometimes it's duets or small groups or trios so all schools come prepared.' Nathan said ' Maybe we could do a duet , so at least one of them will be covered.' I was so happy. 'Yeah, but I don't think our duet we are working on could win , it's good but I don't think it's internationals ready.' He said 'I agree , maybe we can do something slower, more romantic. What theme should we have. I said 'Maybe this magnetic force between us. We try and fight it but it always pulls us back.' He said 'Very descriptive, but I like it.' We got up straight away and practiced. I loved the new duet we choreographed, it was perfect for internationals. I was ready for internationals.