i love you • formula one

02

third person

~***~

02/07/2006

"Arabesque, Lyra," her ballet teacher instructed, watching the seven year old down through her glasses. Lyra had been doing ballet for as long as she could remember, but only really started to think about it as a possible future career when her best friend found a hobby. Lando had recently become so obsessed with karting after his father took the pair down to the local track to watch a race, and he has been karting religiously ever since. She was incredibly happy to see her best friend enjoying something but felt sad that his summer days were often preoccupied with practice.

With a deep breath, Lyra took her partners hand and leaned forward, her leg extending upwards to that her toes were pointing to the wall behind her at a ninety degree angle. She felt minimal stretch up her hamstrings; she had been practicing this move in particular in order to get good at her penché. Lyra held her position, focusing on her balance so that she was as still as possible. The quicker she perfected the position, the quicker she could get out of the studio and see Lando. Today was a big day for him - his first race.

Her teacher, Madam LeCroe, had a lot of belief that Lyra could take ballet further with her natural talent and flexibility. She was advanced for her class, but often lacked the motivation and focus that the other kids had.

"One eighty degree penché, hold for three." Madam LeCroe watched carefully as Lyra tipped forward. The young girl opened her hips slightly and pushed back, keeping her eyes fixed on her partner. As she tilted forward, she felt the tug in the hamstrings of her supporting leg. Slowly, her pointed toe extended to the ceiling and she moved onto her toes with the movement to practice when she would move onto pointe. The three seconds couldn't be over quickly enough and Lyra let out a sigh of relief when her teacher praised her.

"Was that alright?" Lyra asked, standing back upright with an expectant smile on her face. She had yet to do a penché without some sort of criticism from her teacher. Her partner got up and moved to the bar when the teacher waved her hand at him.

Madam LeCroe pursed her lips. "That was the best penché I've seen from a girl your age in a long time. Bien joué!"

Lyra tried not to show how happy she felt on the inside with her facial expression. She tightly bit her lips together before smiling. "Thank you, Madam LeCroe."

"For the next session, I want to work on gazelle. The one you did earlier was a little sloppy."

"Yes, Madam LeCroe." Lyra nodded her head in understanding.

"And I want you focused next time. None of this daydreaming rubbish, okay?" Lyra just nodded her head yet again in reply. She was already bouncing between her feet in anticipation of leaving and her teacher seemed to pick up on it. "Now, make sure you do opposite stretches before you go. I'll see you on Tuesday."

With an excited squeal, Lyra rushed towards her bag, sliding on the wooden floor to an eventual stop (the wall aided her). She tugged off her ballet shoes and chucked them into her bag, not caring about the reprimand her mother was going to give her for not taking proper care of them. Lyra hurriedly stretched her back out in the opposite direction to which she had been previously working, as well as her ankles, knees, and hips. She definitely rushed the procedure but was willing to deal with the consequences after she finally watched Lando race.