Dedicating Every Day to You

Chapter Fifteen

I'm up at six thirty in the morning a few days later. We've got auditions today for the spring ballet. We're doing Cinderella, and I'm really nervous. The advanced ballet kids are going to be all the big roles, and I'm officially an advanced ballet kid.

The house is empty and I'm home alone. John had to take over an early shift this morning, and Alex had to drive to New Jersey to meet with someone about Washington's new idea. I go downstairs and reach into the back of the freezer for the hidden box of Toaster Strudels.

See, John hates stuff like that. He says his cooking is so much better than anything from a factory. Alex and I, however, are obsessed with tater tots and frozen pizza and pudding cups. We have to hide them or John throws them away. There are puddings in the cleaning closet and tater tots individually wrapped in foil and tucked inside an ice cube tray.

I microwave my Strudel and entertain myself by hiding the frosting packets in different places. We can't risk John throwing away our sugary goodness.
I take exactly 1.2734 (or something) bites of breakfast before my nerves won't let me anymore. The butterflies in my stomach have a delicate appetite, and if I eat too much I'll throw up at my audition.

I tug my jacket on over my leotard, tights, and shorts, lace up my sneakers, and run outside. I'm more calm and relaxed when I run, as if there's nothing standing in the way of me. I love the feeling of flight, and running brings me closer to that.
I get to school in only fifteen minutes and thirty-nine seconds, a new record. When I get inside, Theodosia is waiting at my locker.
"Can I throw my stuff in your locker?" She blows a bubble of cinnamon gum.
"You have your own locker, Theo." I start to put in my combination.
"It's all the way at the other end of the entire school," she whines, making puppy-dog eyes at me. "These boots are not made for walking."
"Fine. Use the top shelf." I roll my eyes and then laugh.
She makes a funny face and pecks me on the cheek. "Have I told you lately what a great friend you are?"

Harriet comes waltzing over. She's dressed, as usual, in white and black with her sparkly red sneakers, and her matching red backpack shines in the fluorescent light of the hall. "Hey, Kathryn! And Theo, fancy meeting you here! Kath, my locker is way at the other end of the school and I've got a bunch of books...can I stick my bag in your locker?"
I scream silently and rest my forehead against the cold green metal of locker 789. "Sure. Everyone can use my locker instead of their own. Call up the president and offer him locker space- oh, wait! I can do that, because I know him."

I sink to the floor. I don't like feeling like this, but once I get nervous I can't stop ranting until all of it's gone and I just collapse and eat some frosting.
Harriet takes my hand. "I'm sorry, Kat. I can go use my own locker."
"I can, too." Theo crouches next to me. "I didn't know it bothered you."
"It doesn't." I bury my face in my hands. "I'm just having a nervous breakdown, because I have auditions today for Cinderella and I know I'm going to mess up and get cast as a mouse, or worst, not get cast at all."

"Kathryn, you're amazing! You're going to be great, and I wouldn't be surprised if you get Cinderella herself." Theo pats my shoulder and smiles reassuringly.
"Have confidence," Harriet whispers in my ear. The bell rings for class, and she squeezes my hand before getting up and walking off.

The ballet kids have homeroom off to do warm-up, so I head to the studio and start stretching. I have to make sure that absolutely everything I do is perfect. I run through the positions in my head, flexing my feet and holding my arms above my head.

Chad, the dance master, stalks in, glaring once again at all of us mere mortals. He walks with a lethal grace, and in all black he's like a panther slinking through the room.
"Alright, students. Today, we are doing auditions for Cinderella, and hopefully some of you are capable of dancing adequately to fill the roles. First up, Annmarie."

A tall red-haired girl rises slowly and lopes over to the center of the room. Her song begins to play and she spins and leaps slowly, every motion measured. She is a beautiful storm, dancing and matching herself to the music. I watch, frantically trying to adjust my audition routine to be polished, pretty, good.

I'm so busy trying to change my routine that I stop paying attention.
"Next, Kathryn. Kathryn. KATHRYN LAURENS-HAMILTON!" Chad knocks on the floor. "Hello? Does anyone listen to me?"
I jump up and run to the center of the room- or try to. I trip over the blocks in the tips of my shoes and barely keep myself from falling on my face.

The music I've chosen, Beethoven's Flight of the Bumblebee, begins to thunder through the speakers. I flex my feet once, close my eyes, and let the music take me over.
In my mind's eye, I'm soaring through a sun-kissed sky, dancing with delicate and frantic movements. I'm flying, floating on wings spun of air and starlight and spider silk.

The music ends, and I feel myself sink down to the ground. I think I did a good job, but the truth is that I don't even really know what I was doing the whole time.

After class, I walk out with a feeling of warmth and pride. My best friends were right- all I needed was a little confidence.

(A/N) Wow, I can't believe how fast this story is rising! It's gotten almost 1k reads in less than a month. Thank you all so much! If you like it, or if you don't, please leave feedback, because it makes me happy and lets me know what I need to fix. Love you all!
~Jamie