Abigail: Through the Looking Glass Read Free

seconds before I speak.
    ‘Tara,’ I say, ‘you probably shouldn’t use that.’
    I’m finding it hard not to laugh. I take a deep breath and control myself. Laughing now would spoil the whole effect.
    ‘Seeing as you felt comfortable enough to use my toiletries, I didn’t think you’d mind if I used that brush to clean my toenails,’ I say, casually, inspecting my toes. ‘They came up really well … ’
    Tara is gagging as I grab my dance bag and leave. As I go, I hear Kat’s voice saying, ‘She’s good.’
    It’s almost time for Miss Raine’s class, and Tara is lounging on her bed.
    ‘Taking your time?’ I say. ‘You of all people can’t afford to be late.’
    I put my phone and keys on the bed, and go to the cupboard to get a jumper.
    ‘I’d better get a move on, then,’ she says.
    I turn back to pick up my keys and phone, but they’ve gone. The door bangs shut behind Tara.
    ‘Hey!’ I yell.
    I race to the door, but it’s locked. I pound on it with my fists.
    ‘What do you think you’re doing?’ I shout.
    ‘Abigail?’ says a muffled voice. ‘Is that you in there?’
    That’s Kat’s voice! I might have known that she’d be behind a stunt like this.
    ‘Open the door!’ I demand, banging on the door again.
    ‘It’s not like you to be late for Miss Raine’s class …’ mocks Kat.
    Meddling with my deodorant is one thing, but they can’t mess around with my career. I
need
to attend these classes!
    ‘I’m not kidding, Kat,’ I reply. ‘Open the door!’
    ‘Don’t worry,’ she says. ‘I’m willing to unlock this door and help you maintain your sickeningly perfect attendance record.’
    She slides the room exchange form under the door.
    ‘All you have to do is sign on the dotted line,’ she says.
    I push the form straight back. I’m not going to be blackmailed into anything.
    ‘Not in this lifetime,’ I say.
    The form is slid back under the door. But they don’t realise that phones aren’t the only way to communicate. Tara’s computer is sitting in the corner. All I need to do is send an email and someone will be up here to let me out.
    I sit down in front of the screen and open the email application. I’m just starting to type when I spot the document on Tara’s desktop. It’s called ‘Ethan’. I open it and can hardly believe my eyes. She’s written a list of pros and cons about Ethan!
    This is the perfect way to show them what happens to people who try to stand in my way. It’ll stop them wanting to swap rooms, too. As soon as Kat finds out that Tara’s crushing on her brother, it’ll be the end of their friendship.
    I hit ‘Send’. Everyone at the Academy is going to receive this.

CHAPTER 3
    ‘Pop quiz,’ says Patrick, our teacher. ‘Who can tell me the real meaning of
pas de deux
?’
    ‘It means dance of two,’ I say.
    ‘That’s its literal translation,’ he says, ‘but what does it really mean? Beneath the French words? Metaphorically?’
    I feel my cheeks growing hot, wishing that I hadn’t been so quick to answer. I try not to show that I don’t have a clue what he’s talking about.
    ‘Pas
de deux:
two bodies, one soul,’ he’s saying. ‘A guy and a girl dancing together to produce one pure emotion. That’s what today’s class is all about.’
    It sounds awesome. In my mind’s eye I can already see myself being lifted into the air by my dance partner, creating art and magic on stage together.
    I’m brought back down to Earth by the fact that Patrick’s holding up an egg.
    ‘There are three important ingredients in
pas de deux
,’ he says.
    He tosses the egg to Christian, the guy who arrived at the Academy late. He’s looking moody and mysterious as usual. He catches the egg and throws it to Kat. She tosses it to Sammy.
    ‘Trust …’ says Patrick as the egg is thrown around, ‘… unity … and … ’
    I catch the egg easily and throw it towards Tara … just as Ethan walks into the studio with Isabelle. Tara turns and the