One Perfect Pirouette Read Free

tall and slim with not a hair out of place.
    The four of them glaring at me together was a pretty scary sight.
    At the end of the class, we curtsied to Ms Ellergren and were allowed to go. As I walked towards the changing room, my knees quivered – from exhaustion, relief or both. But I’d survived my first class without making a complete idiot of myself. I sank down onto the bench with my bag on my lap and closed my eyes.
    Pain jabbed through my right ankle. ‘Ow!’ I opened my eyes.
    Stephanie was already past me. She half-turned and sneered, ‘That’s what you get for sticking your legs out like that, stupid.’
    Neither of my legs was in her way, but answering her back would have been a waste of breath. I clamped my mouth shut and rubbed my ankle, wondering how big the bruise would be and whether I could get ice onto it in time. Probably not. I took my ballet shoes off and tucked the ribbons carefully inside. Mum had said it would be a month or more before she could afford new shoes, so these would have to last me.
    I sighed, stood up and pulled my jeans and T-shirt on over my ballet gear.
    â€˜How do you like Ms Ellergren’s style of teaching?’ Lucy asked, pausing next to me. She untied her bun and her brown hair spilt out in long curls.
    â€˜She’s tough,’ I said. ‘I’m going to have to work double time just to keep up.’
    â€˜You’ll be fine,’ she said. ‘But I can tell you – it’s practice at home that makes the difference.’
    â€˜I’m used to that.’ It was how I’d done so well in Mrs Calzotti’s class. One lesson a week wasn’t enough, she said, so she’d given me lots of stuff to do at home and sometimes I’d had a class with her on my own.
    Lucy pulled on her bright pink jacket. ‘My dad laid a floor down in our garage just for me. I’m going to get into the special audition training class if it kills me.’
    My head jerked up. ‘What’s that?’ I’d read all the information about Ms Ellergren’s school, but there’d been nothing about a special class.
    â€˜It’s the six-week intensive that starts next week. It’s for students auditioning for the National Ballet School, but she’s only letting a few of us into it.’ She glanced at me. ‘You’re pretty new, so I guess you’re not up to that yet.’
    â€˜Mmm.’ My brain whirled. Why hadn’t Mum told me about this? The NBS audition was my whole reason for being here. How could I not be in the class? Did it mean I wouldn’t be able to audition this year? Ms Ellergren hadn’t seemed too keen on the idea. My skin felt cold and clammy. ‘So, what do you have to do?’
    She shrugged. ‘Dancing and stuff. See you next Saturday.’ She gave me a little wave and left.
    The room was nearly empty, but I sat, thinking, folding my ribbons over and over. A special class like that would make a huge difference to my chances, but Mum hadn’t said a word.
    What was going on?

chapter 2
    When I went outside to wait for Mum, the last of the mothers weren’t bothering to park, just picking up their kids and taking off. Everyone seemed in such a hurry.
    A few minutes later, our car chugged down the street and Mum pulled over, tooting the horn. I cringed, jumping into the car and slamming the door behind me. ‘I was standing right there! Did you have to let the whole world know?’
    â€˜You looked like you needed cheering up.’ The car lurched as she took off, gunning it to the corner and out onto the main road. I grabbed at my seatbelt.
    â€˜Was your class really awful?’
    â€˜No! Well, it was hard. But that’s good. I’ve got a lot of catching up to do, that’s all.’
    â€˜I thought Mrs Calzotti was a good teacher.’
    â€˜She was. But Ms Ellergren is the best. And she expects the best,’ I said. ‘Did you know