Pointe Of No Return. (W.I.P)

Chapter 2:

The blaring alarm woke Diane from her slumber.  "Thank goodness it's Friday," she muttered to herself as she made her way to her bathroom, turned on the shower and brushed her teeth.

Slipping out of her cotton, striped pajama bottoms and white tank top, Diane got into the shower to begin her wakeup routine.

Wrapping herself in a fluffy towel, going downstairs to the kitchen, she flipped on her coffee maker and slid some bread in the toaster before rushing upstairs and dressing for the studio.  A pair of white tights, green leotard, pink shrug sweater, black nylon warm-up pants and a pair of tennis shoes later, Diane filled her travel mug with sugared coffee and grabbed some cottage cheese on toast and was out the door.

Diane pulled her car from her parking spot as she turned on the radio to a local morning talk radio station.

'A third girl has been reported as abducted overnight.  It is suspected she was taken while walking home.  Amber Alerts went out last night regarding a ten year old; however, due to a system error, and this second alert, some areas were not alerted of this abduction.  Authorities are looking into this situation and we will update you with any news we receive.'

Diane snapped off the radio, gripping the steering wheel tighter she started wondering what area the girl was taken from.  Three girls!  The last two so close together.  How were families supposed to cope with this news?  Always wanting kids herself someday, news like this made Diane rethink about being a mother.

Diane pulled into the studio and unlocked the door.  She went to her office and started going through the studio's voice and email.  While posting on the company's Facebook page, Jodi, Rochelle and Donna came through the front door and all plopped into chairs in Diane's office.  Jodi, a short older woman with the curliest red hair you ever saw grabbed and thumbed through Danskin catalogues.  Rochelle and Donna, both around the same age as Diane at twenty-eight, sat and continued gossiping about their boyfriends as if convincing each other that theirs was the best. 

"Good morning, ladies.  You ready for your classes today?"  Diane sipped her coffee and handed paychecks to each of her teachers.

"I can't wait for those costumes to get here.  You know there's always a screw up somewhere that we have to rush to get fixed."  Jodi popped her pink bubblegum and went back to her magazine.

"Yeah."  Rochelle pipped up, "We've only got, like, two months until the summer recital.  Can't you put a rush on them, Diane?"

"You think I haven't?  Two weeks from now is a rush.  They'll be here.  This company has never let me down before.  In fact, they generally run a week early.  Don't worry ladies."  Soothing over her employees was easy for now, but inside there was just as much anxiety building in her gut to get those costumes on time.

A few moments later parents and students alike started entering the studio.  Jodi and Rochelle got to their feet and went to the teacher's lounge to get ready for their classes.  Jodi had a group of sixteen year olds she was working with on a tap class and Rochelle took her ten year old jazz dancers to their separated part of the studio and began warmups.

"Are you working with your tap trio when they get here, Donna?" 

"Diane, you're going to love it!  I took that dance you taught me that you did when you were younger and these girls are going to kill it!"  Donna was so excited, she nearly bounced in her chair.

"I can't wait to see it.  The parents are pleased I take it?" 

"We'll, Emily's mom thinks her daughter is the next big thing and wishes Emily was front and center the whole time, but she's just not as good as Haley.  She's good, but Haley is next level!"