“Do you have any questions?” he finally asks.
I shake my head. “Not at the moment.”
“If you do, you can come to me or talk to your teachers any time.” He gets up and walks over to a shelf. A moment later, he puts a gray jute bag on the table in front of me. “In this bag, you’ll find everything you need for your first few days with us. Your schedule, the school rules, and of course the sweatshirt that everyone gets. You have basically the same schedule as everyone else in your grade, aside from electives. I’ve already arranged with Miss Chelsea that you won’t be dancing in pointe shoes yet. But you’ll still attend her class and work on your technique, okay?”
I’m so taken by surprise that I can only nod silently. No pointe work. I’m not sure whether I’m relieved or not. Part of me is glad because I’m not ready after such a long break, and because I found pointe difficult enough before. I don’t know how the rest of me feels right now.
Pearson glances briefly at Grandma and then gives me an encouraging smile. “I hope you’ll settle in quickly. But please don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You’re here to learn and grow, and that doesn’t happen overnight. You’ve been through a lot. Take your time, okay?”
I’m not sure why I suddenly feel like crying again. Maybe I just didn’t expect him to be so nice.
“Okay.”
“Wonderful. Your classes start tomorrow at nine.” He turns to my grandmother. “Penelope, do you have a moment? I’d like to discuss something with you.”
“Of course.”
“Thank you.” He glances at his watch and smiles. Then he hands me something that doesn’t register with me until a moment later as the key to my new room. “I’m afraid I don’t have time to show you around today, but I think I’ve found someone who can.” He walks to the door, and I automatically turn around in my chair as Grandma does the same. The back of my neck prickles nervously. What is he talking about?
The question is answered as two girls enter the office, both with red hair, one more coppery, the other auburn.
“Meet Zoe and Mae,” Pearson says, introducing them. “They’re also freshmen. You’re in the same hallway in the dorm. They’ll show you around.”
“Hi!” Mae, the girl with auburn hair, grins at me. “Shall we go?”
“Sure.” I glance briefly at Grandma, not sure why. I don’t need her permission. She nods anyway.
“Go ahead.”
I stand up, feeling indecisive for a moment. Hugging Grandma goodbye is out of the question. We don’t have that kind of relationship.
“Let’s go, then.” Mae’s smile gets wider.
I nod stiffly to Grandma one last time and give Pearson a grateful smile. Then I take the bag from the desk and follow the two girls who are waiting for me at the door. But before I leave the principal’s office, he stops me.
“Oh, Rayne?”
I turn around. Grandma has her back to me already.
Pearson’s expression is warm. “Welcome to the New England School of Ballet.”
Chapter 6
Rayne
Alone—Chandler Leighton
“By the way, I’m Rayne,” I say, introducing myself as we walk through the empty hallway back toward the entrance hall.
“We know. Pearson told us about you,” Mae replies. Her voice has a gentle, compassionate tone that makes me nervous.
“We’re so sorry about your parents,” Zoe adds, just as gently and sympathetically.
I blink frantically and take a deep breath. “Thank you.” Silence grows between us, the two exchange a quick glance, and it’s like when Pearson greeted me before. It feels uncomfortable and weird. They don’t know me. They can’t say anything to make me feel better, and to be honest, I don’t want to hear anything either.
“What’s it like here?” I blurt out because I can’t stand the silence. I want them to fill it. With anything. It doesn’t matter what.
“In three words: exhausting, challenging, awesome,” Mae says, counting on her fingers.
