The Heartless Dancer

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

“In riding a horse, we borrow freedom”[1]

After the Valentine’s Ball everything seemed very boring compared to that night. As usual Bryar had to ace all her tests and keep up with her homework that was turning into continuously growing pile. They had a new big play going on, Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Bryar had asked for a small part in this musical. She loved doing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang last time but she needed to concentrate on her dancing more now. Nonetheless she loved the play and it was a great success. Mr. Jackson was very happy with how the play had turned out.

Next to Drama Bryar also had to really concentrate on her Modern, they were going to perform three dances with all the other Modern classes so she had to nail the choreography. Ms. Leda was very sweet and always helped if she needed it. Bryar did pick it up pretty fast but sometimes it just needed that little extra. With the girls’ help after lessons Bryar could dance the three dances flawlessly before they had to perform it for real.

Bryar also started to notice that people came up to her, sometimes it was to say something short or just to say hi. One day, while having breakfast with the girls Bryar asked them if they knew why suddenly everyone behaved like that.

Aoide answered. “There is so much competition here but even we can recognize a great dancer when we see one. Most think it’s best to befriend you instead of creating enemies.” Carmina and Noa agreed with her. Noa swallowed her orange juice before adding:

“Face it, you’ve become known as ‘Bryar Kerrington’ instead of ‘Kara’s cousin’.”

Carmina agreed. “All your hard work is paying off, Blaze. I’m proud of you.” The longer Bryar thought about it the better she felt about it. She loved her aunt to pieces but to create your own bit of fame was something truly special.

It was a Saturday morning when Carmina barged in the room while Bryar was lying on her bed in her pyjamas. She’d come down and had breakfast but headed right back up again. Nobody looked up if you wore your pyjamas on Saturday and Sunday morning, so she hadn’t bothered getting dressed either. She was reading her English book like Ms. Brontë had been banging on about for the last few weeks. But Carmina wasn’t having any of it.

“Come on Blaze, you need to get out for a while. Otherwise all the homework stress and boy drama is going to get to your head.” She fell on the bed next to Bryar. She sighed.

“Go on, have a study break.” Bryar stretched herself and got off the bed, Carmina smiled while waiting in anticipation.

“Well, because you asked so nicely.”Carmina jumped up and cheered loudly.

“Ok, be down in a half an hour at the front door. See you there.” Bryar rolled her eyes before moving towards her wardrobe to choose an outfit for today.

In the end Bryar decided to wear a burgundy jumper with dark blue trousers and brown tie boots. The jumper really brought out the red in her hair, which she braided in a simple side-plait. As soon as she was dressed she added some make-up, jewellery and her look was completed. She shrugged into her chocolate brown body-warmer and tied her navy blue scarf around her neck before getting her fringe handbag from the floor and closed the door behind her.

As promised the three girls were waiting patiently downstairs for her. Bryar walked over and Noa linked her arm with hers as Aoide and Carmina walked in front of them. They had to write their names in a book so that the school knew the exact time when they left and when they came back. After they had done that they decided on what they were going to do.