"And the winner of the Sunshine National Female solo round ages 15-18 is Grace Andrews." I scream as loud as I can as the girls from the studio rush up to give me a hug. I'm shaking, I can't believe it. I slowly walk over to the announcer as I see Sasha, the only person in my age group that made me second guess on whether or not I was going to get this win. She is from BTSA's, Biltterman's Technical School Of The Arts, and my biggest enemy. She glares at me with the second place trophy in her hands.
They hand me the trophy, I smile as walk off the stage, freaking out. I did it! Mrs. Layla comes up and gives me a huge hug. Nivea comes up and hugs me too. She knows that this is a big deal for me. I smile knowing that I worked hard on this and I am so glad that all my hard work paid off. I walk back to our dressing room when I hear two of the studio girls inside. I would know those voices anywhere. I listen in on their conversation and instantly wish I hadn't.
"She's not even that good. Sasha's extensions were better." Tina?
"I agree, plus Sasha's switch splits were way higher and she had a better landing." Natasha? I glare at the floor. I thought they were my friends. I hear our studio director coming down the hall.
"All dancers from the Layla Geno's studio back to the dressing room please." She calls as I enter the room. I look at the two girls and I am sad to see that they are my two closest friends and that I had guessed right. Tina and Natasha. I walk over to my bag and put the trophy on the table.
"Grace you were so good!" Tina says walking up and giving me a hug. I force a smile as I thank her.
"You dance with such beauty!" Natasha adds on. I nod as Mrs. Layla our studio owner comes into the room.
"Congratulations Grace. I knew you could do it." Everyone smiles as they clap for me and I can tell that everyone seems to hate me. All I see is forced smiles and hatred in everyone's eyes.
"Thanks Mrs. Layla. But everyone did amazing!" I state trying to bring the attention off of me.
"Ok girls, tomorrow we celebrate!" I turn as my mother enters.
"I'm so proud of you!" My mom smiles and I thank her.
"Could we talk later?"
"Sure of course." That's all I say before mom starts undoing my hair and moves on to Nivea's when she is finished with mine, we get all packed up before leaving.
<>
"So what did you want to talk about?" Mom asks me when we are on our way to the airport to get home.
"I want to move."
"What?" Nivea looks at me shocked.
"All of the girls at the studio hate me mom! I heard Tina and Natasha talking about how I shouldn't have won!"
"But it is the summer before your senior year of high school!" Mom shouts as a crazed look creeps on her face.
"Mom, I don't care. I want to move. I need to make real friends and earn my way up to the top!"
"You did. You spent five out of seven nights at the studio practicing, since you were three!"
"I just want this time to be different mom!"
"Fine if we move then, I get to pick where."
"Mom!" Nivea pipes in but it's already too late.
"Deal!" I smile knowing that anything is better than where I am. I love Mrs. Layla and the girls but if they all secretly hate me, then what do I have to lose? I couldn't help thinking that next school year was going to be amazing.
<>
"Why do you have to go?" Natasha asks me at the congratulations party that has also turned into a farewell party. It's the third day of summer and I'm excited to get away from here. I know they are all secretly happy. Mrs. Layla might give Natasha or Tina a solo for next season. I just shake my head at the thought.
"I want to. I'm done here, I've accomplished my dream." I smile as the lie pops into my head.
"What do you mean? Isn't it your dream to be professional?" Tina asks me.
"Yes, Australia ballet asked me to come and train with the company next season!" I smile as their faces drop. All of the girls stop to look at me.
"Look at my beautiful butterfly." Mrs. Layla smiles walking over to me to give me a hug. I told her last night what was really going on so she just hugs me and acts normal. Nivea smirks and rolls her eyes as I just wink at her.
"But you haven't even graduated yet!" Dawn looks angry.
"You haven't even applied!" Presley looks like she is going to pass out.
"They said no distractions and I move there after the summers over." I nod. That part is sort of true. Mom wont tell me where I am going, I do know it has to have a good dance program. Dad even convinced mom to let me change my name. I don't know if they meant legally, probably not. Nivea seems to want this too. I started training her last year and now she's in the top of her age grouping, which means that this coming dance season will be the same as mine.
"All the way to Australia?" Gemma looks at me in shock. "You mom is letting you go?"
"They are coming with. Plus its all my mom ever really wanted. Would your mom not let you go if you got into a program that makes sure you make it into one of the top ballet companies?"
"It's all just so soon." Tina fake smiles as I look down at the time. 'Ten pm.'
"Speaking of so soon. I should probably go. Plane leaves tomorrow at five am for the summer intensive that I am going to. See you guys whenever." I smile giving Mrs. Layla one last hug.
"Stay safe and keep up with dance." She whispers before letting me go.
"Always." I wave before leaving all of the girls watching my back as Nivea and I practically skip home.
<>
"Grace! What did you do to your hair!" My mom yells at me. It's two days until I move to my new place and I start at my new school, and mom, Nivea and I are heading home from the Intensive camp. I shake my head loving the feeling of my short hair in the brease. My hair is new and different! Ever since I was small my hair has always been long dark brown curls that I never saw because most of the time I pinned them back in a slick bun. I smile loving the feeling of the hair brushing my neck.
"I made it different. I don't want people to look at me and think Grace Andrews." I state. I look at the short wavy blond hair in the mirror as my mom looks like she is going to pass out. Nivea laughs, I can tell she loves it too. We pull up to our house and Nivea and I rush in.
"Well since you messed with your hair, we are not moving!" Mom states.
"What?" I ask sad. She looks over at me as dad walks in the room to greet us.
"Ted, look at what your daughter did to her hair."
"You look beautiful darling." Dad smiles and kisses the side of my head as I hug him.
"Thanks Dad." I smirk at mom as she looks at dad angry.
"Ted! We are not moving."
"Ok dear." Mom smirks at me knowing she has won. I swear sometimes she is worse than a sister, Nivea isn't even that bad. I glare at the floor as dad continues talking. "But we can't just pull her out of school. Looks like she will be going there on her own." And just like that he takes off walking away so no one can argue with him.
"This is not over young lady!" Mom yells following dad downstairs. I shake my head as I enter my room. I rush up the stairs to the upper level that mom and dad turned into a studio for Nivea and I. I turn on some music and just dance. I move from all the different types of dance that I have learned. I love the way my hair moves with me. I laugh as I spin turning thinking that my wish is coming true, I'm moving.
<>
"Mom! Dad! Lets go!" I smile jumping up and down. It's four twenty in the morning and I am so pumped.
"Honey!" Mom hits dad. I rush out of the room. I walk down the hall to Nivea's room.
"Vea! Come on!"
"Will you still be able to train me?" She asks. She looks like she didn't get a wink of sleep. I sit on her bed.
"Oh course, you'll just have to come to my new school and I can train you there." She hugs me and I hold my fourteen year old sister close. She is only three years younger than me, but she is my sister and I'm going to miss her so much. I rush back into my parents room with Nivea in tow.
"Guys, It's quarter to five." I say as they both jump awake. They rush around trying to get everything done. I smirk knowing that at least I got them out of bed. I pile all of my things into the car, with Nivea's help. Just as I'm finishing my parents rush out, obviously not looked at the clock yet as they rush into the car and I get into the back with Nivea.
"Lets go! She can't be late."
"Mom look at the time!" I laugh as she does and she turns to glare at me.
"It's four thirty!"
"What?" Dad looks sad.
"Just think, if I didn't wake you up then you would have rushed around anyways and I could have been late, now we know for sure that I won't be!" I smile at them as mom scoffs and dad pulls out of the driveway smiling and shaking his head. The ride to the train station was short and silent. I was to excited to talk and that's a first for me. I couldn't help but wonder where I was going.
"Come on. Lets get your luggage all loaded up." Dad and I give them my luggage and we get on the escalator to go up the stairs. We follow the signs until we get to security. I smile at my family and hug them goodbye.
"Remember, dance is with Miss Kim on Thursday, Friday, all day Saturday and all day Sunday. You will be staying in a dorm that the school funded and have fun." Mom says all in one breath. I'm going to miss them like crazy.
"Grace, when can I see you again?" Nivea says crying. I hug my little sister close.
"Soon I promise!"
"I love you kid. Be good and call us every once and a while ok?" Dad says wiping a fake tear.
"Love you too dad." I smile with tears in my eyes. I walk into security as mom, dad, and Nivea wave goodbye and I disappear into the line of people. I finish going through security with just enough time to find my terminal. I look at my ticket. 'Train 6.' I walk around to find it already boarding. I get in the line and find my seat. I sleep the whole ride through and when I get off into the LA train station I walk off to find someone with my name on a huge poster.
"Hi, I'm Mae Perrin." I smile at the lady. My name is Grace Mae Andrews and Perrin is my mother maiden name so I just used that.
"Hello Mae, I am Miss Kim."
"It's very nice to meet you!" I smile at her. I wonder how I didn't notice her strong turn out and muscles earlier. We start walking towards a car. We get into the car and she smiles as she turns to look at me.
"I will be taking you to BTSA and-"
"BTSA?" I ask in shock. Mom got me into Biltterman's Technical School of the Arts?
"Yes, now classes start tomorrow. There is a uniform that is worn only on assembly days, tomorrow is an assembly day so make sure you wear it. Your mother said you would be dancing Thursday and Friday's from after school until around ten and all day Saturdays and Sundays."
"I was wondering if we could change that."
"What would you like? I'm a new teacher, just got out of a contract with the Royal Academy of Dance in England, so my hours are pretty flexible."
"That's amazing. I would like Tuesdays and Thursdays after school and Sundays all day, I would like the studio Wednesday's so I can train my sister, would that be ok?"
"Yes."
"And could you not tell anyone I dance."
"This school is all about dancing!"
"I know, but could you keep this a secret? If not I will have to look for a different teacher."
"If that is what you wish."
"Thank you. Also just so you know, I will show up right after school, but I need at least thirty minutes to stretch out before and after each practice."
"That is a very good habit."
"Thank you, Also every morning I will be getting up probably around five to do core strengthening and weight lifting."
"Good. Now lets get you to your dorm so you can get ready for the day ahead of you."
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Hey! This is my new book! I needed to get away from werewolf's for a while and the ATIMS sequel is no where close to half finished so I thought I would post another story from Coming Soon.
Tell me what you thought of this chapter. I have lots planned for this book and I'm really excited to share it with you all.
To the top is Kherington Payne as both Grace and Mae.
This chapter was edited by the amazing @_xMemeTrash! I am so thankful that she's willing to edit these chapter! I hate grammar!
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-Kaira