GIRL- A Transgender Story|Book One Of "The Students Of Buford Academy" Series

Dance Class

I've been shaking all morning, trying to keep my composure. I had cold feet and felt as if I was born with two left feet. I couldn't think straight. Any information thrown at me for the past two hours was a swirl of gibberish going in one ear and out the other. This was most likely the most stress-filled a day of my life...

Today was the day we would try out for dance parts in Ms. Will's dance class. We were doing "The Twelve Princesses" and I had been practicing for MONTHS to be Rowan, the second princess. I knew her part like the back of my hand. I knew absolutely everything that needed to happen today.

I was walking to class with Xena through the hallways, there were paintings from art kids and posters for theatre plays, after school choir club, flyers about a missing dog... Even posters for our dance recital. We were talking about what part we wanted, how well we thought we would do, overall, the conversation was a mix of chill, to stress, to chill again.. I told her I wanted the second princess, Rowan. She gave me a funny look, raising her left eyebrow and cocking her head to the side, and smiles.

"The second?" She asked. "Funny. You look like a lead character girl." Nobody has any idea how much confidence I have when someone tells me the word "girl." You would be surprised how much it means to me! Like, I actually DON'T come off as a boy?! Yes!! I chuckle. "Um... She has very... painful positions." I answered with a small smile on my face. Xena nods. We sit down in the room.

I look around and see the pink painted walls, along with her mahogany rest diagonally sat in the corner. She finally put her posters up! There were posters on the wall for different dance shows, along with an ECU Banner above her desk. I assume she went to college there.

The dance teacher walks into class, her hair up in a messy bun and holding her pink laptop in her hands, along with her car keys, wallet, and a McDonald's McMuffin. She places a piece of white paper on the mirror using tape, written all over the paper in blue, pink and green pen. It read:

Do Now

What character are you hoping the play in "The Twelve Princesses"? Why? Do you think you will be capable of getting this part?

I look around and see everyone scribbling quickly into their notebooks. I'm sure everyone is writing about being the leading Princess... Well... Other than the two guys, Chase and Jerald. There were more guys in our class but there weren't enough male parts, so they'll be working as behind the scenes. They chose to. It's upsetting to know that they'll only get to play small parts, Chase and Jerald-- the businessman and father. At least they'll be seen. That's why I'm really happy nobody knows I'm a boy. If they did I would have never gotten the part I wanted. I would've been called mentally ill and shamed here.

I honestly hate the fact that dancing is seen for girls, there are a lot of good dancers who are guys. Maybe if the system wasn't so messed up there could be mired amazing male dancers.

We finished the do now and got ready for auditions. She gave a speech on how there are no small parts only small dancers. She started calling us based on our age. Our class was a mixed class, where we had grabs 1st-5th. We all go to the room across the hall and start practicing. Since Xena wants to be Princess 1 and I want to be Princess 2 we start practicing together. Most of the scenes we had were together anyways. We were halfway done with the first act when Julia says, "Hey, everyone! We should, like, totally run through the scenes together!" She says, her amazing blonde curly hair flipped behind her shoulder. "Let's assign everyone rolls for now so we can have fun!"

Julia, how do I say it, is kind of like a Regina George of this school, but a WHOLE lot nicer! Julia doesn't really belong to a clique. She's always preppy and making people smile. But she's not exactly smart either. Let me explain.

We were in... Maybe in second grade, we were learning about clouds, she asked: "I thought the rain was when the clouds were peeing?"

Yeah, not exactly the brightest. Even yesterday when we were doing the math, she asked why there was the letter "X" is math class as the multiplication sign. I mean... Come on.

However, I like her. I find her nice, funny, kind hearted and she's a comical relief when it comes to classes. She knows a ton of puns.

Everyone listens to Julia. My point, Julia is friggin awesome! She got us all lined up and walked down the line, her blue tutu bouncing up and down with every step.

We all practiced and when one person was called into auditions one of the stage crew boys would step in and take their place. It was efficient, I did have a good idea of who might get what part after watching certain performances.

We start getting into positions and we practice. I learned that I could actually raise my leg higher than I expected. Julia complimented my posture and smooth way of moving. "You're like, a swan, gracefully moving across the lake. You're a natural!" She says, she continues to twirl and dance. She has one part in the play with a ribbon, so I pulled my bun out of my hair and let her use my purple ribbon.

30 minutes later, Mrs. Will called me into her classroom to perform. Let's just say, I think I was pretty awesome. I was never off cue and I did the scene with Xena with no mistake.

After dance class was over I made my way to Mr. Robert's class, sit down at my stupid desk in the stupid back corner of the room in the worst class ever.

Why couldn't dance class be all day long?