Backstage: Third Time's the Charm

Jenna Cristinziano

Jenna Cristinziano
Dance Program
Grade 11
My stomach fluttered as I tried to swallow down the butterflies doing cartwheels in my stomach. I'd just spent the past half hour dry-heaving in the girls bathroom. Today was the first prima practice. Not only was it the first practice since they were disbanded last year, but it's also the first time I'd see everyone since I told Beckett about Sasha and Vanessa.

I won't even deny that I did it out of spite, but now I was starting to regret it.

I tamped down my emotions, and placed a bubbly smile on my face as I entered the dance studio. No on so much as looked up when I walked in. I tossed my bag to the ground, and began stretching.

Carly, Sasha, and Mindy stood on one side of the room, while Beckett and Vanessa stood on the other. I saw Vanessa shoot Carly a sad smile before turning to Beckett and saying something. My smile faltered for a moment.

Mindy walked over to me. "Hi, Jenna."

"Hi, Mindy! How was your summer?"

"Pretty good." She surveyed me. "So, it's pretty tense in here."

"When did you and Carly become friends again?" I quickly changed the subject.

"We stayed in touch over the summer. Besides, she really was the best choice for prima captain."

I cringed, glad Vanessa hadn't heard her.

"But what about you?" Mindy asked. "Seems like you made everyone here mad."

"Even you?"

Mindy looked at me with suspicion. "Well, I don't trust you. No one else does either."

My plastered-on smile finally faded. I nodded, and went back to stretching.

"Okay everybody, come to the center." Carly gathered us in the middle of the floor. "Qualifiers for Regionals are only a few weeks away, and we need to give a performance that will blow the judges away. I've been working on choreography with Vanessa."

At this, Beckett huffed a little. Vanessa reached over to grab his hand and squeezed it.

Carly continued like nothing had happened. "We'll start with a run through today. Practice on your free tome as much as you can."

Carly stepped aside to let Vanessa run through the choreo with us.

None of them would look at me as the practice progressed. I was surprised that Vanessa gave me a role in the dance, instead of moving me to the background.

"Vee," I said when practice was over. "Thank you for putting me at the front."

"Well, you're short." She crossed her arms. "And only my friends call me 'Vee'."

"Sorry," I said. "I really am."

"Save it." Vanessa shook her head, ponytail whipping back and forth. "Honestly, Jenna. I'm not even surprised. This is so like you."

She turned and walked out of the studio. Beckett shrugged, and followed her.

I turned back to Carly and Sasha who giggled and held hands as they strolled to the doors.

"Carly, Sasha."

The giggling stopped, replaced with cold stares.

"I'm really sorry."

"You're always sorry, and you never change!" Sasha said. His dark eyes pierced through me. "You can't fix this, Jenna. Not this time."

"He's right," Carly said. They brushed past me.

"Told you." Mindy slung her bag over her shoulder. "We don't like or trust you."

I ran into the bathroom, and locked myself in one of the stalls. I bent over and vomited, before bursting into tears.

"Jenna?" Julie Maslany's familiar voice echoed through the bathroom.

I sniffed, and opened the stall door. "Julie? What are you doing here?"

Her face popped into view, a small smile spread across it. "I'm back for a few weeks from traveling. I heard you were on the Primas and I wanted to surprise you after practice. Are you okay?"

I shook my head.

"Come on. Let's go get some ice cream."
********
After getting ice cream at McDonald's, Julie drove us to a park overlooking a nearby lake. We sat in her car, pop music blasting through the radio, and ate our ice cream silently.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Stories started bubbling up. I told her how I'd liked Sasha since freshman year. That I'd tried to wreck his friendship with Carly and Vanessa. About how we'd become friends. And how he dropped me during a dance routine. Then I swallowed my shame and told Julie that I'd tried to break Sasha and Carly up, except that it had backfired and I'd lost all my friends.

"Now they're all mad at me."

"I can understand why." Julie looked at me questioningly. "Why would you do that, Jenna?"

"I like him so much. And I'm never anyone's first choice. I'm nobody's best friend. I'm not the person people call when they need advice. I just want someone to love me as much as they love each other."

Julie squeezed my shoulder. "I know it's tough. But I'm your friend. I'm sorry I haven't called as much as I should. But you can always talk to me."

I nodded. "What do I do now?"

"They need tome to cool off. I know Carly. I'm sure she'll forgive you. Vanessa and Sasha too."

"Not likely."

"Give them time. Remember? They forgave me for getting Ms. Maria fired. And while you're waiting, be the best you that you can be."

"The best me?"

Julie was right. I needed to focus on grades and dance. And most importantly, being a better person.

Sorry for the long wait! I get so busy, but I also want to regularly update. What do you guys think of Jenna? Tbh she's my least favorite character to write, but I wanted to finish out her story for now. I have a lot of drama coming with Sasha, Carly, Jax, Austin, and Bianca! Do you guys think Austin will get away with blackmail? Will Sasha dump Carly if he finds out she got him kicked off the Primas last year? And will Carly and Vanessa's friendship survive the battle of the boyfriends?