He takes a step toward me and kisses me. “Are you ready?”
I take a deep breath. “I think so.”
I take a few minutes to change and put my hair up in a neat bun, then I grab my bag, and we leave my room.
We’re running late, and Jase should have been at his first class a while ago, but I’m happy that he’s with me. We walk over to the practice building together and separate at the second floor.
“See you later,” he says, kissing me and going up one more level to his class. I don’t want him to leave, but he’s got to get to his class, and I have to do this alone now. My legs feel a little shaky as I walk down the corridor. I don’t know what to expect. I don’t know how the others will react. I don’t know anything at all.
Everything will be fine.
When I enter the studio, the others are already doing their warm-up exercises.
Everyone pauses at once. They look at me, and I freeze and turn red, then white as a sheet. I turn to Mr.Conrad for help, but he’s also looking at me, with compassion in his eyes.
“Zoe!” Mae’s excited squeal gets my attention, and a second later, she’s throwing her arms around me. “I’m so glad you’re back!”
I hug her, and it feels right. “I am too.”
Mr.Conrad claps his hands and gives us a stern look. “There’s nothing to see, people. Back to the barre. We have a lot to do.”
The others obey, and I give him a grateful look. He smiles at me encouragingly.
Mae grabs my hand and drags me to the barre, where she was just standing. Jessica slides over a bit to make space for me.
I put my hand on the barre, take a deep breath, take the first position, and bend my knees in a plié. I do what I’ve been doing for most of my life.
I dance.
* * *
As I walk to pas de deux class with Mae, I feel calm. Everything is like it was before, even though everyone knows. No one asks meany questions or makes comments about what happened. I can sometimes feel eyes on me, but there’s no gossip. At least not that I can hear.
Jase is sitting with Skye and Ches on the floor as we walk in. His gaze immediately finds mine.
“God, you two are so in love,” Mae says in a stage whisper. I think everyone in the room can hear her.
“That’s true,” I say, because it is.
“I hear we’re having a couple’s movie night this weekend?”
“Aha, then Tristan already asked you? I wanted to tell you myself, but—”
“That’s okay,” Mae says gently and squeezes my hand. “I get it. But yeah, Tristan asked me.”
“I’m glad you’re coming too.”
“So am I. Now go to your prince; he’s been gazing longingly at you this whole time.” Mae gives me a gentle push in Jase’s direction.
I suppress the urge to stick my tongue out at her and tow her over to Jase and Skye with me.
“Mae is being stupid,” I say.
“That’s new,” Skye says sarcastically, but her eyes are gleaming mischievously.
“Hey, that’s not fair! You’re not any better, Skye,” Mae says.
“I never claimed to be.”
