When I reached the large ballet room that Alex had showed me earlier in the gym, everyone stopped and stared at me. I fought the urge to run out of the classroom and go back into the hallway. The classroom was actually kinda empty, and I realized the people who were out there were all in these weird one piece things, that looked like bathing suits, but were made of black cotton.The girls were wearing these silky knee-length pink skirts, and the boys were wearing black running shorts. They were all huddled in little groups. I recognized one of the girls as Rae-Lynn, and realized this was another ninth-tenth grader class.
“Aurelia, you may be new but that is not a reason to be late for my class,” a voice snapped my attention from the groups of students meandering about the room.
A woman, I suppose Noel, was sitting in a chair in the far corner of the room by a complex looking stereo system. She was wearing the same cloth-thingy as all of the students, and an ankle length emerald green skirt. She had sapphire blue eyes and pointed eyeteeth, and her dark brown hair was pulled into a simple bun on top of her head. No hair was left down, so she looked a little severe, but at the same time she radiated elegance and power.
“I'm sorry, ma'am. Mrs. Oak asked me to stay after her class because she wanted to know how my day was going so far,” I said apologetically. Not knowing what else to do, I walked over and handed her the slit of paper.
She read over it, and rose to her feet. The way she stood up reminded me of a striking snake, because it was both sudden and graceful. She had the most impeccable posture ever, almost like her spine was made of steel. “You are forgiven. Follow me and I will get you a proper outfit to dance in, and then we will begin class,” she said.
She led me to a room that was filled with benches and lockers. A few girls were still hanging around, already in their ballet outfits. They were all gossiping, but when Noel and I walked into the room they all abruptly shut up immediately and glanced around guiltily. “What are you girls doing? Obviously not attending my class! I should send you all to Mrs. Oak right now, and then ask her to have you all suspended!” she said. She spoke in a quiet voice, but it was filled with so much contempt and anger that even I felt an urge to cower away from her.
“We were just leaving. Actually, Naida and I were trying to convince some of these people that they needed to come out with us and not be slackers,” said an all to familiar voice. Tina smiled meekly, and her cat ears flattened in fear.
“I expect better of you, Tina. I will excuse all of you...but if this happens again do not expect me to be so forgiving,” Noel said in that same dangerous tone. The room was filled with a nervous chorus of “thank you's” and “I'm sorry's” as the students pooled out of the locker room. Noel shook her head, and she headed over to a bin at the far side of the room.
“I think this leotard should fit you,” she said, handing me one of the black one-piece things that looked like a cotton bathing suit.
“Oh! That's what it's called,” I said idiotically. Noel, surprisingly, laughed.
“Yes, yes that's what it's called,” she said, shaking her head. She pulled out one of the silky skirts and tossed it to me. I caught it and smiled at her. “I will leave while you change, and when you are done you can just come on out here,” she said with a smile, and then she turned and left. Before she left, she glanced over her shoulder. “Use locker twenty four. It is empty,” and before I could say anything back, she left.
The leotard fit, but I noticed it was very snug. It fit snugly on everyone, but It was still weird wearing something so tight. It had t-shirt like sleeves, but they clung tightly to my skin. Ugh, talk about uncomfortable. The fabric of the leotard left my legs completely bare, so, needless to say, I was beyond grateful for the loose skirt. The flowing fabric ended halfway down my knee cap. I grabbed some of those super weird ballet slippers that I had saw some of the other girls wearing. The boys I had seen were all wearing black slipper-like shoes. I was grateful my hair was already pulled back, because I hadn't brought any emergency hair scrunchies, which is not like me. I turned around and walked out of the room, keeping my back straight and my head up, and braced myself for the onslaught of weird glances I would be faced with. It royally sucks being the new kid.
