behind the smile

And were back

Calypso's P.O.V
Another year at Keaton, I remember last year when Vanessa (Vee), Carly (Cee) and I just started here as freshman. And now we're sophomores, this could be a fresh start for all of us, and after the sprinkler incident last year, I think we could all use a fresh start.

I walk through the school gates and am welcomed to the sight of dancers showing off their skills and the musicians jamming out with their instruments. The Visual Arts students were scattered around the entrance, sketching the landscape and liveliness into their art books, and I finally spot Cee over with the Primas. 

I was in the Primas with Vee once upon a time, that is until we were both kicked out. But Vee and I are doing just fine, I remember when she broke her ankle, I was there for her every step of the way. Don't tell Cee this but, I like Vee a bit better, but that's only because we met first and we spend way more time together. We're both in Sloanes crew now and we are having a blast. Dont get me wrong, I love all styles of dancing, but I will always love hip hop above all other styles, it runs in the family. 

My family moved from Ethiopia when I was still in my mothers tummy, but I picked up a lot of the Ethiopian language, along with French, Russian, and a few others. The reason I had to pick up a lot of different languages is because my family travels during the holidays, like, a lot. My mother is a famous choreographer whilst my father is a director, basically meaning I miss a lot of school which ends in me getting foreign tutors and voila, you have me, a multilingual child. 

Back to my parents, my dad Is rarely home since he has movies to direct, usually in some far off exotic country. My mother on the other hand is stubborn and hardheaded, some *cough most cough* would call her a perfectionist. If I get even just one move wrong it's like World War III is about to occur. My mum owns a resident dance studio where Vee, Cee and I all ended up attending classes and ultimately starting our friendship trio, it's cool and all but sometimes it feels like I never leave the studio. 

I see Vee dancing with Sloane's crew and decide to go for the safer option, which is to go and dance with Vee. "Hey, how was your holiday" Vee asked.

"Oh ya know, the usual, travelling to a different country, learning a new language, practicing so that my parents don't disown me" I reply with a slight giggle at the end, she laughs, "So how was your holiday" I ask. "It was okay, we went to Europe and went to Paris, I got to see the Eiffel Tower, which reminds me" she rummages around in her bag for a few seconds and pulls something out, she reveals a cool looking black barrette. 

"I got one for you and Cee, I know you love the colour black" she says. "Vee you really didn't need to do that" I say, gently taking the hat from her waiting hands "But thank-you". Just as we were getting to the good part of the dance we heard a knock on the windows. Vee and I looked up to see principal Durani. "You" he points to Cee, he turns around and points at me and Vee "You and you, with me now". Well, that's one way to start of sophomore year. 

We follow principal, "so lets get the facts right, you set off the sprinklers" we did, "Caused thousands of dollars worth of damages" we did, "you did however raise the funds to pay back the school during the open house" We did!, "and the reason you did all of this was so that you could save Julie Maslanis art exhibit from being sabotaged" we did!, " And the sabotage was orcistarted by what" that's where it gets complicated 

"Technically Vanessa said-" I was cut of by principal Durani "I have heard all you have said miss Dominica" he stated, glancing back at me and giving me a signal to stop talking. noted. " Its time for me to do the talking now, Keaton isn't just a school, its an incubator of imagination, a place where dreams are formed, challenged and nurtured, where the future is born, where talent, hard work and passion is everywhere you look. Are you looking ladies" we look around to see a few dancer's warming up, musician playing and singing whilst artist's are observing and writing their findings, some are even painting.