The Perfect First Step

 PLEASE READ: Hey everybody! This is a co- written story between five people. Clary (EpicPopsicle), Lily (Angelloves2read), Ger (GenuineJewel), Nik (smilieyniknik), & Tabitha (Slytherinwitch13). Yes we know, it’s seems like a lot, but that’s only because through the awesomeness of Google docs. Which lets us all be on a document, like word, at the same time. Allowing us to all write, edit, read, and comment on what the other writers have written. This makes it easier for co- writing anything. It helps you out with writing so its not two or more totally different writing styles. But enough about the docs, let’s talk about this story. First off, we want to thank you for clicking to read our story. There was a lot of planning that went into this idea, considering there is five of us. Basically, each of us writes a chapter and the other contribute to it, but there's a main author behind each. A dedication will be put up at the top of each chapter to whoever was the main author behind each.

Chapter One

Nicoletta’s POV
      
I blinked at the blaring stage lights as they shined into my eyes. I was used to it. As usual I could only make out the silhouettes of the large crowd, and I could tell that tonight it was packed. I could only just make out the features on the judges faces and vaguely remembered them from previous competitions. I took my pose in the center of the stage, waiting for my music to blare out of the speakers. But it didn’t. Instead, music that was not my own softly started. This music was classical. I froze and starred out into the crowd. It was dead silent, my biggest fear. I felt as if I was a deer in head lights.
      
This kind of thing never happened to me. I whisked my head to the side and could see our teachers, Esme and Tim, standing offstage, mouthing insults at me. I knew they were threatening me; they were going to take away my national title or make me come to class double time. I felt my eyes begin to burn. I noticed my mother standing off to the other side, looking disappointed and furious all at the same time.
     
I then saw my friends and teammates, Isadora and Nina, looking shocked at my mistake. I was embarrassed to mess up in front of my friends and biggest competition. I turned back to face the stage lights yet when I turned back around I was standing in our elite dance studio staring at the golden framed national dance company team. Our eight person dance team was feared by many dance schools; where ever we went we won.
      
A two thousand and eleven national ribbon was hanging from the corner; we had won this past summer. Under the Riviera Company Dance Team logo were our names; Maria Angelo, Isadora Blair, Massie Lawrence, Sara Luciette, Stephanie Nolan, Nina Rose-Lee, Nicoletta Sage, and Jenny Wines. Then Tim walked over to the sign, I couldn’t move. He began to peel off my name, Nicoletta Sage. I wanted to scream and protest but I couldn’t. My life was over; I had nothing left to live for.
      
“Letta!” I heard someone scream, I fluttered my eyes and closed them again trying to see if I was still dreaming or not. 

“Letta, first day and as usual you’re sleeping in.” With that I knew I was not dreaming. I flipped myself over to see one of my best friends, Nina, standing in my room dressed and ready.
      
“How did you even get in here?” I asked a bit concerned sitting up, not caring that I probably looked hiddeous. My mother was a hair dresser and left around five in the morning everyday to get to work as it was her own company. “The front door is usually locked.”
      
“Yeah, but that back door isn’t.” Nina responded, “Now we have about fifteen minutes to get to school and Isadora is outside waiting in the car.” I groaned and rolled over not wanting to get up for many reasons that Monday. Yes Monday, unfortunately school started this year on a Monday and as did dance.

“Come on, get up or we’re leaving.” Nina turned and walked out of my room, knowing that they actually would leave if I didn't hurry.
      
I made out to the car just in enough time to make it to homeroom and thankfully we were all in the same homeroom. It felt as if I never had a break at all. I remembered this time to grab my dance stuff and I left it in the back of Isadora’s car. We had dance at two thirty and school ended at two. There was no tolerance for being late.
      
As we arrived to homeroom the classroom was almost completely full so we settled for a lone table in the back of the class room. We were outsiders in this school. As we walked in we were eyed, not because of how we looked because in my opinion, we were all dressed our best. It was because we were the mysterious dance girls who disappeared for days only to come back and then disappear again.
      
They didn’t understand and probably never would. Homeroom today was extra long; because it was the first day and they had to deal with the scheduling. The teacher began to talk but it went through one ear and out the other.

“I totally forgot!” Isadora exclaimed through a whisper. Nina and I turned our heads to face her. “Did you know, that Maria is not returning to the dance company this year?” she said, solemnly.
Nina’s and my own eyes widened. Maria was a year younger than us and she was amazing.
      
“What?” I responded extremely confused, “Why! And how do you know for sure?”
      
“My mother.” Isadora spat. Her mother was the ultimate dance mom who knew everything about everyone. “Remember how her dad lost his job last year and they were struggling to pay for their apartment, let alone her dance career? Well, he got a new job offer that paid double…in California.”
      
“She moved?” Nina asked shocked, “I’m surprised, her mother was really into the Riviera Dance Company.”
      
“I know, but I assume it was either dance or a house. Her father made the decision without their opinion.” We never ever lost team members. Our dance team had been us eight since we were in the ten to eleven age group. Now being juniors in high school we had grown up together like siblings. Losing someone was like losing a family member. It felt weird.

“I’m sure she won’t give up on dance. They left just last night, it was very last minute.” Isadora went on the explain, running her hands over a small wrinkle in her silk shirt.
      
“What about the eighth member though? We need eight people, that is what our group dances are designed for.” I asked even though I assumed she probably didn’t know the answer.
      
“Ms. Sage, Ms. Rose-Lee, and Ms. Blaire, I assume that your conversation is perhaps far more important than what I have to say, correct? I presume that you are all going on about that dance shenanigans once more.” Mr. Locke was an older bitter teacher who probably should have retired years ago.
      
We had the unfortunate experience of having him as our history teacher last year and he was the least bit understanding. Most teachers would let us have as much time as we needed to make up our work yet he gave us only two days to make up all work, including test and reports. Saying nothing we turned towards the board. This was going to be a very long day.

That day was terrible, to put it lightly. We may have had the same homeroom but different class schedules. I was alone for the most part. It was the last class of the day and I had calculus, how perfect. The day went on with mostly looks and only a few people tried to talk to me. I don’t know if they thought I was weird, quiet, or stuck-up, who knows? They knew that I had something going on.

The teacher had yet to arrive and I took the only seat available in the middle of the room.

“Nicoletta, did I mention just how glad I am that you are gracing us with your presence today?” Turing my head towards the right Vicky Montgomery was looking at me with an amused look.