Falling

Chapter One

She’d done it again. Unknowingly, sure, but she’d still done it.

It was at ballet; the same studio I’d been attending for almost thirteen years. Ms. Primrose was my instructor. She and her aggravating voice had been here for most of that time too. Cat, though? She joined last year. Somehow, Ms. Primrose seemed to like her at once, greeting her with “Well, aren’t you a pretty one!” and then every day after that with “Ah, there’s my favourite student! Come here, child. I want you to show the class how it’s done.”

She had the figure of a ballet dancer; I’ll admit that, but none of the skill, poise or talent that comes with thirteen hard years of practice plus dealing with the voice of Primrose.

It had happened a lot recently, but it was worse for some reason now. Maybe I’m falling a bit too far. Maybe I’d finally hit the bottom of my pit of ignorance.

To start the lesson off, we were stuck in traffic, and so we arrived ten minutes late. I rushed through the door hoping that somehow a miracle would occur and Ms. Primrose would have her back turned. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway because the walls were covered in mirrors. But maybe if she had sneezed, or shut her eyes just for a few seconds, I could have snuck in.

Unfortunately, the events in my life are anything but a miracle, so when Ms. Primrose caught sight of me, she yelled, “Violetta Hopkins, you’re late! After this lesson you will scrub these floors ten times over until they are slippery as butter!” She added her usual snort on the end which resulted from her dangerously flaring nostrils. But when Cat flew through the door, her hair undone, she merely said coolly, “Oh Catherine, don’t rush, dear, you’ll hurt your dancing legs.”

I sat down calmly with the rest of my class and I felt it again - the sudden urge to roundhouse kick everyone sitting in that room at that very moment. Well, everyone except Jess. She was the only person in my ballet class who I didn’t hate the guts of. Jess went to school with me, and had been my best friend for thirteen years. She was also my sister, my only sister. Well, not really. But sometimes I hoped that maybe they could’ve adopted Jess instead.

This wasn’t the main event of the class. This happened regularly. I don’t know why the police haven’t taken this lady away, or why she’s still allowed to teach, but all I knew is that from the very beginning she hated me and loved Cat. Just like a lot of other people in my life.

“I hope you all practiced the steps I told you to,” she said addressing the whole class. “I’ll pick a random person in a moment to show us how it’s done. But first…”

She glanced around the class and at each of our faces, the over at Cat who was still working on her hair.

“Catherine, dear, hurry over, I have exciting news!”

Cat quickly finished fastening her hair back then raced over.

“Yes Ms. Primrose?”

I repeated her, mumbling in a mocking tone so only Jess could hear me.

“In three months’ time it will be the annual ballet extravaganza. Now, most of you know all about it, except for Catherine here, so I’ll explain for her benefit.

“The Ballet Extravaganza is an annual tradition where each ballet school in the state selects one student to perform and show off the quality of their school. For the past few years, Violetta had been the chosen student from Ridgeway School of Dance. But, this year, with some new students in the school,” she winked at Cat, “I think others might have… a better chance.”

My mouth dropped open wide. Had she really just said that? Had she really just ridiculed me in front of the entire class… in front of Cat? A lump appeared in my throat, and I could feel my eyes turning wet.

“No offence,” she whispered non-sincerely, followed by a careless giggle.

My lips began shaking.

“Letta…” Jess whispered, grabbing hold of my arm in an attempt to comfort me.

I wasn’t hearing this. I wasn’t. The Ballet Extravaganza had always been my thing. Always.It was the one thing I looked forward to, the one thing I could do better than anyone else, and now Cat was taking it away from me. I couldn’t take it anymore. With the whole class in hysterics at me, I ran into the bathrooms and slammed the cubicle door shut. I heard someone rush in – it was Cat.

“Letty, please,” she said.

“No…” I managed to say, my voice choked with tears.

But it wasn’t her fault. However much I tried, I couldn’t make myself believe that. That’s the worst part. It’s never her fault.