Watercolour

Five

Alana's P.O.V

"Okay, guys... that's it for today. Get changed and I'll see you all again on Tuesday."

I grabbed my bag and rested it on the floor while I re-tied my hair and put my socks back on. I then unzipped my bag and pulled out my maroon hoodie, throwing it over my head. I sat down on the floor and slid my feet into my converse before standing up, slinging my backpack over my shoulders and heading for the door.

"Oh yes, Alana," Stacey called.

"Yeah?" I said, turning around.

"I'd like you to do a solo for the dance."

"Okay..." I replied awkwardly.

"You'll need to put in a few extra hours of practice away from Tuesday and Thursday rehearsals though."

"Okay, that's fine," I assured her.

"What day is best for you? You could do lunchtimes or after school," she asked.

"Um, well I can do Friday after school or maybe, Monday or Wednesday lunchtime."

"Good. Well, you know where to find me if you want to use the studio... we'll start choreographing on Tuesday as normal, okay?"

"Sure, yeah... that's fine. Bye," I said, opening the door, walking out into the hall and wrapping my scarf around my neck.

"Okay, see you tomorrow, Alana."

There was a slight chill in the air but September was still making the most of the sunshine. The sky was a deep orange and touched with wispy clouds. I unlocked my phone, plugged in my headphones and headed home.

*

"Mum?" I called, shutting the front door behind me.

"Yeah? I'm in here, love." I walked through past the dining table and into the front room where my mum was sat reading her book. "Hiya... how was dance today?"

"It was good... Stacey wants me to do a solo," I answered, as slumped onto the sofa and started untying my laces.

"That's fantastic," she said, enthusiastically. "I forgot to ask you... how was youth group on Sunday?"

"Lucas and Jemma weren't there but we played a few games... it was fun." I kicked off my shoes and sat cross-legged on the sofa. "Oh, yeah... there's a youth challenge day on the 18th of October and I was wondering whether I could go instea-"

"That's your Nan's birthday, sorry love."

"Mum... please can I go; I've been to every other birthday party of Nan's. It's not like I'm going to miss anything exciting," I stated bluntly, standing up and walking into the kitchen.

"Alana... don't be rude. How much is it anyway?" she inquired.

"It's free," I called whilst pouring myself a glass of juice. "Does that mean I can go?"

"Probably not," she said.

"So, that's not a definite 'no'?" I asked hopefully.

"Look, I'll talk to your father and see what he thinks."

"Yes!" I exclaimed. "That basically means that I can go, right? Dad won't mind me going."

I grabbed my bag and my shoes and walked up the stairs into my bedroom. I put my shoes away in my sliding wardrobe and got out my Sociology folder. I opened it up to the homework that I'd started late last night and stared, perplexed, at question four. I doodled on my paper for another five minutes before I decided that I needed to get on with it and that I needed help. Mum was hopeless at helping and Dad was still at work. I pulled out my phone and dialed Alex's number. Apart from my Dad, he was the one of the smartest people I knew.