Breaking Pointe (6 page)

It wasn't like dancing in front of the girls was a proper performance or anything, but while I was waiting for the music to start, I had to admit, my stomach was jumping about everywhere.

I kept my face straight, though. I was fine. I'd done the extra practice, my head was clear, I knew the steps.

The girls were all sitting cross-legged near the mirrors. Paige was biting her nails and
Ellie was standing up with her arms crossed, bending down every now and then to whisper something to Ashley.

Wow. I wasn't used to this kind of up-close performance! At least on stage the audience lights are off and you feel like you're in your own little world. There was no pretending here.

Then the music started. And it didn't matter if I was in the studio with the girls a metre away; dancing on my own in the dark; or up on stage in front of the judges and the audience.

I was the Fire Maiden.

I felt her warmth come into my back and straighten my neck, and then extend along my arms until they billowed out like huge flames. I felt her heat make my feet move quickly, surely, so as not to burn anything she stepped on. And I felt her strength come out from my chest and lift me higher with every jump and leap.

I won't lie, because Jasmine is a talented dancer, too. If I kick high, she'll kick higher, and if I decide my toes are not pointed enough and elongate my foot, she'll go even further until my foot looks positively sickled next to hers.

Jasmine made an amazing Ice Queen. I couldn't really compare our two performances because they were very different, both in ballet style and personality. But I felt myself jumping higher and higher because I felt great – like I was coming out of my shell, and the more I danced the better I felt.

We finished, with me finally melting the Ice Queen until she was merely a Jasmine-shaped puddle. Even though we'd only just performed our duo, I felt more settled in my mind. The cobwebs had been brushed away – or burnt away, if the Fire Maiden had anything to do with it.

‘Beautiful, girls, simply beautiful,' Miss Caroline complimented us. She held one hand to her mouth and one to her chest. ‘You make me so proud.'

Her reaction was very different from Ms McGlone's. Even if Ms McGlone was thrilled with what we'd just done, all we'd get was a tight smile and then a ‘good', or, if she was feeling extra mean, ‘once more'.

Jasmine got off the floor and brushed down her jazz leggings that probably cost her one thousand dollars. She looked across at me and smiled very, very icily. I smiled back.

No one could question my right to be the Fire Maiden now.

‘I'm so glad you won!' Ellie squealed to me, bounding over. ‘That was so awesome!'

‘She only won in the dance,' Jasmine said. ‘It's not a personal victory. We're
acting
.'

‘I
know
that,' said Ellie. ‘Um, I do musical theatre? Riley still won, though. Don't you think she did well? I mean, you were both great, of course.' Ellie didn't look at Jasmine when she said that.

‘Thanks,' said Jasmine.

‘I can't wait until I watch you both on Saturday,' said Ellie.

‘I hope it isn't too boring for you,' said Jasmine. ‘I'm sure classical ballet isn't as exciting as
musical theatre
.' She said it like musical theatre was about as exciting as cleaning every mirror in the Silver Shoes studio with a tissue.

‘Anything with you in it gives me plenty of laughs,' said Ellie. ‘Come on, Riley, let's go.'

She led me off to the change room, where the jelly snakes were waiting and where we changed into our street clothes. That meant Ellie ended up in a pink dress, pink cardigan
and pink ballet flats; Paige ended up looking like her mum had dressed her for a high tea party; Ashley was in her denim shorts and t-shirt, and I just threw one of Fergus' old hoodies over my jazz gear.

‘So you're feeling better?' asked Paige.

‘Yep,' I said. ‘Especially after that.'

I ran into Ms McGlone on my way out.

‘Hello Riley,' she said. ‘I heard just then you and Jasmine gave an impromptu performance of the Fire Maiden and the Ice Queen, and it went very well.'

‘It did,' I said.

‘I'm glad to hear that,' said Ms McGlone. ‘And I'm looking forward to our final rehearsal on Friday.'

‘Me too, Ms McGlone,' I said, trying not to look at Ellie prancing around behind her.

Ms McGlone smiled and leaned in a little closer. ‘I knew you'd be all right,' she said, and
then she straightened up and walked stiffly down the hall.

It was funny how everyone seemed to know I'd work it out in the end. I guess what I needed, all along, was to trust myself.

Saturday afternoon.

Four o'clock.

Whistle blows.

The game begins.

Before I knew it, the ball was in my hand and I was passing it to Bella before running down the court.

A girl from the other team, St Monicas, was instantly up in her face.

‘Back, back!' I called. ‘Bella, pass!'

Bella threw the basketball back in my direction. It wasn't the best shot, but I snatched it just before someone from the rival team did.

And then I was running, tearing down the court, imagining I was at the athletics carnival and flying towards the finishing line. Bounce, bounce, bounce went the ball, I took two steps and then … GOAL!

It was a good omen. I have a thing where whichever team scores the first goal will win the game. And I'd just scored the first goal.

Nana, Fergus, Heath and Aidan were cheering from the seats, and when I looked over at Stacey she gave me the thumbs up.

Imagine if I had only just got here, all sweaty and tired and stressed from the athletics carnival. There's no way I would have enjoyed that first hoop like I was enjoying it now!

The game went on. St Monicas was a tough team. They had a great defence who
kept sweeping the ball from right under our noses, and we'd hardly blinked before the ball had switched hands and gone through the opposite hoop.

But we fought back. St Vitus had just missed out on the grand final last year, so we'd been working really hard this year with our training – and on working together as a team.

So when St Monicas' defence started their sneaky ball-stealing tricks, we were quick to pass the ball between players – a gap here, an opening there, we were on top of all of it. We'd get the ball to our side of the court and shoot at the net every chance we got.

I was earning myself quite a nice little goal tally.

Two quarters quickly ticked down. Time flashes by so fast, it's like you're constantly chasing the clock! By half-time, the other
team was four points in front. But we weren't too worried. We knew we could come back.

‘Keep finding the openings,' Stacey told us. ‘Riley, every time they get the ball they pass it onto that girl who's almost as fast as you. I want you to keep on her.'

‘You don't want me to stay offence?' I asked.

‘You're doing a great job at getting us goals,' said Stacey, ‘but we can utilise Andie for that.' She turned to Andie. ‘You cool with that? You've been doing so well at practice shots in training; you want to put that to the test?'

‘Yes!' Andie said.

‘If you see an opening to shoot for goal, take it, but stay on that girl, Riley. I know you can play defence too, I've seen it before.'

‘Okay,' I said, eyeing off my girl over in the St Monicas huddle.

‘Let's go!' said Stacey. ‘Everyone's had some water?'

We all nodded and headed back out to the court. Stacey stopped me just as I was capping my drink.

‘Looking good, Riley,' she said. ‘I'm glad you're here.'

‘Me too,' I said. ‘Thanks.'

And I thought perhaps she'd forgiven me for sulking under the bleachers, which probably wasn't my finest moment.

So the second half I played defence, which I didn't really mind. Andie was a good shot, and I was secretly happy to be chosen to match up with the girl who was our biggest threat on the other team.

I found out her name was Lex, and she was very sneaky and fast. But so was I. And I didn't give up the athletics carnival to lose the grand final!

So I watched Lex out of the corner of my eye. And when the ball came her way,
I blocked it. And when she did get the ball and started dribbling, I matched her pace, making it hard for her to go forward. A few times I even managed to get the ball off her, and then sent it down towards Andie, who sank us a few hoops.

And, bit by bit, our team kept scoring goals and moved in front.

With thirty seconds to go, we were two points in front. This was the part of the game when you look up at the clock every second, and everyone is leaning forward in their seats, their hands to their mouths, and the ball becomes almost like a hot potato – everyone wants it, but once they have it, they don't know what to do with it.

I knew what to do with it, though. Especially when it was in Lex's hands.

She'd got the ball and started to move, the clock driving her feet. But it was driving my
feet too. I chased after Lex and managed to push the ball away from her as it was coming up from a bounce.

Bella scooped it up and passed it back to me. I took off with it down the court. I could hear Lex panting behind me, so I threw the ball to Andie, who was faithfully standing near the goal.

The ball spun through the air and then …
wheewheewheewhee
– the siren went off!

We'd won! By two points! Our team erupted into cheers and that silly Heath ran onto the court to hug me.

I'm not lying when I said I sank onto the court in relief. I'd done it.

‘Got your tights?'

‘Yep.'

‘Make-up case?'

‘Yep.'

‘Shoes?'

‘Yep.'

‘Hairspray?'

‘Yes, Nana.'

‘Good, your hair's all messed up from
basketball. You'll need about half the can.'

I kissed Nana on the cheek and opened the door. ‘Thanks for driving me. I'll see you after.'

‘Somebody's gotta take you home,' said Nana. ‘You have fun, Riles. I'll be watching.'

I bet she would be. Nana is a very enthusiastic spectator, and usually ends up crying at the end of the dance.

I grabbed my stuff and jumped out of the car. My body had tonnes of energy from winning the grand final and I couldn't wait to get on stage. I didn't know how I was supposed to sit still and do my hair and make-up for the ballet performance!

Backstage was like Tutu Central, and I pushed and shoved my way through until I reached the dressing rooms. I couldn't see any Silver Shoes girls in the first one. All I saw were girls from our main rival, Dance Art Academy, so I quickly got out before I got their germs.

Paige was the first to react when I walked into the right dressing room. She'd probably been watching for me.

‘Riley!' she said. ‘You made it!'

I flung my armful of stuff down on one of the benches.

‘Yep,' I said, ‘and only a little late. Nana didn't even have to break the speed limit driving here.'

‘Did you win? You did, didn't you?'

Paige could probably tell from my face that we had. My skin felt like it was buzzing.

She gave me a hug. ‘That's so cool!' she said. ‘Congratulations!'

Jasmine just so happened to slip by then. ‘I hope it was worth it for almost ruining the eisteddfod for Silver Shoes,' she said, nose in the air.

‘Jasmine, honey,' called Paige's mum, Mrs Montreal. ‘There's a ladder in your tights, babe.'

‘What!' Jasmine swivelled to look at the back of her legs. ‘Tove!' she shrieked. ‘Why didn't you tell me?! Mum!' She rushed off.

‘Hey Riley, honey,' said Mrs Montreal. ‘Good to see you, sweetie. You want me to do your hair? I need something to do. Paigey's all done.'

Paige looked, as always, like someone's prized, perfect doll. Normally I didn't like people fussing over me before a show (I was happy to get myself ready), but I felt like I needed to sit down for a bit to get in the ballet mindset.

‘Sure,' I said. ‘All my stuff is in that bag.'

‘Ooooh, I just love this bag,' said Mrs Montreal. ‘Where was it from again?'

‘Fiji,' I said. ‘Our cousins sent it over.'

‘You're so lucky to come from there,' said Mrs Montreal. ‘You want to hide me in your suitcase next time you go? I could use a break!'

Mrs Montreal looked as she always did – like she'd just spent the past week at a spa getting massages and facials.

‘Sure,' I said, ‘as long as Paige can come too.'

Paige grinned at me and pushed a huge bag of jelly snakes my way. ‘Here,' she said. ‘Ashley and Ellie snuck backstage before and gave us these.'

‘Not too much sugar, Paigey,' said Mrs Montreal, combing her fingers through my messy curls.

Paige rolled her eyes and took one anyway. I don't think her mum even noticed.

I closed my eyes and concentrated on relaxing my body, turning it from a basketball champion into the Fire Maiden. Even though Paige was by my side, she didn't talk much – unlike Ellie, who would have gone on and on about the dance we were about to do; or Ashley, who would be cracking jokes and
being silly. But it was good to know Paige was next to me. It helped me feel calm.

When I opened my eyes, my hair was pulled back into a slick bun and I had red sequins woven throughout the strands. Mrs Montreal also did my make-up, and by the time she finished, Ms McGlone was calling out.

‘One more section and then it's us, girls! Have you all done your stretches?'

And I felt the first tiny flames of the Fire Maiden start to flicker inside me.