The Imperfect Whistles of the Wind

six

"Madison, easy! Point those toes, Aven! I wanna see those babies elevated!"

Doniella Wavey was a thirty something year old mother of two, whose dancing career ended unexpectedly after she became pregnant during her final year of high school. Aven knew Ms. Wavey's high school self very well without having to hear the many stories. Snobby, cliquey, and didn't take shit from anyone.

Ever.

Even as she matured her teenage ways seemed to stay with her all the way until adulthood. Athough she didn't judge anyone for wearing last season's Prada, or exclude you for doing so, she still didn't take crap - even if her life depended on it.

For the last three years, Aven had endured Ms. Wavey's taunts, jeers, and rants, and when she had left the team after her incident, she had figured she'd never have to deal with her again. But Aven has come to realize she was dead wrong.

Maybe it was because they were having a impromptu morning practice, or maybe she was on a caffeine high, but Ms. Wavey was dishing out her fire at an all time high. And Aven was getting the brunt of the load.

"Aven bend those knees! You're as stiff as a board." Someone stifled a giggle.

Aven spun around quickly to try and spot the person who laughed, but she missed her cue, causing Alexia Lee to trip over her foot and fall face first on the wooden floor. The blues type song they were dancing to suddenly stopped. Muffled laughter could be heard throughout the room.

"Oh shit, are you okay?" Aven ran over to Alexia and held out her hand, but she sneered and promptly brought herself to her feet, completely ignoring Aven's extended hand.

Ms. Wavey stood at the front of the classroom, leaning on the ballet barre. Her arms were crossed and her eyes narrowed, as she studied each girl in front of her. Aven gulped when her gaze fell on her.

"Sloppy," Ms. Wavey began. "is not a word I like associating with my dancers."

Brooklyn's hand shot in the air and Ms. Wavey let out an audible sigh. "This better be good, Brooklyn."

"Oh, it's just...why are we having a morning practice? What really convinced you to call us up this early?"

What convinced me?" Ms. Wavey shot her an incredulous glare. "You mean you need to know more than what you just saw?"

"Oh no it's just..." Brooklyn paused and shot Aven a pointed look, not taking her eyes away. "if there are people holding us back, maybe they should get cut, replaced, you know - gone."

"Harding, if you have beef with someone, do you think it can wait until after my practice, please?" Ms. Wavey said.

Brooklyn twirled a lock of her dark brown hair around her finger, and she watched it intently, as if it were a task that required a lot of concentration. "I know, I understand Ms. Wavey, it's just..." She let out a groan. "I wish we could somehow get rid of our... dead weight."

At that Aven stode across the room and marched over to Brooklyn until their noses were mere inches away. Aven could smell the gum Brooklyn was obnoxiously chopping on.

"It's funny that you talk about dead weight with that humongous head of yours. It sure ain't doing you any good, yet you still lug it around."

Brooklyn clenched her teeth and her eyes narrowed into mere slits. "Listen here you little piece of shi-"

"Alright, that enough!" Ms. Wavey bellowed at the top of her lungs, stopping both the girls altercation, and the excited chatter of the other dancers.

"I'm ending this practice now, as due to obvious reasons, we won't be getting anything done today. Y'all are dismissed." Ms. Wavey said with a wave of the hand. "Except for you two." And no one had to ask to figure out which two she meant.