Tiny (not so) pretty things

{ 1 }

Ballet is designed to test the limits of human endurance. I still couldn't comprehend why I therefore dedicated so much towards it in order to basically just destroy my body.

"Ew, look at that." I grimaced as I inspected my little toe. I swung my leg around to show the boy next to me and he scolded me as I almost hit him in the face.
"Maybe give me some warning, next time you wanna poke my eye out with a gross ass toe." He shuddered and I chuckled apologetically before shoving the offending foot into a ballet slipper.
I adjusted my tights while I stretched and took the chance to observe the rest of the class. I locked eyes with a couple of girls on the other side of the room and they both glanced away sharply before starting to whisper to one another.
"Stop terrorising the other students."
I looked up as Shane held a hand in my face blocking my view. I grinned wryly at him as I used it to lift myself to my feet.
"I don't actively try to terrorise anyone."
"Mmm, you're right. You just have a mean resting bitch face."
I gasped at his retaliation and frowned, turning to the wide mirror encompassing the far wall. I relaxed my facial muscles before grimacing at the knowledge of him being right and spinning to grip the barre in front of the window.
Shane burst into quiet laughter and I smiled at the grin which never failed to lift my own lips into a smile.
"Facing the barre in sixth, please."
"And so it commences." I whispered.
"Pressing over to three-quarter pointe plié. Right. Left. Rolling though the feet. And reverse. Rise, test your balance."
I carefully went through the motions in my head as everyone prepared, while listening out for the light patter of confused footsteps behind us.
"New girl." I nudged Shane ever so slightly and he turned around, gesturing to the empty space next to him.
The girl hurried over and dropped her bag down in front of the barre.
"Open to first, repeat in second and finish with a four-count side bend, right, left. And a nice full rond de corps."
Our ballet master gestured for Richard to start playing the waltz music and he started gliding across the classroom, all the while guiding us through the moves.
"You're in the sticks darling." Shane commented as new girl started to follow the moves.
From the corner of my eye I could see Nabil looking her up and down. I could see why one might be scared of him sometimes.

"Present the heel in the tendu devant people! Humour me please, people! Close the ribs! I need to see the fifth."
I took in the adjustments that Mr Brooks called out and fixed my movements slightly. However, not so they were completely perfect. When it came to ballet I preferred to blend in comfortably rather than stand out and be scrutinised. My thoughts started to stray dangerously towards forbidden territory and I frowned, concentrating further on the exercise.
"Your weight over your supporting leg does not mean slouching."
I watched the new girl's form as we twirled to face the other way and I had to say I was impressed. For a newcomer to ABS she was showing potential.

Unfortunately our ballet master had decided to be particularly vicious today. Or not. He could've been in a good mood at this moment in time. It was impossible to tell the difference.
"We don't wear junk here."
"Junk?" New girl questioned, pausing her movements.
"Junk." He pointed at her tracksuit bottoms. "You've covered what I need to see."
She apologised, removed her trousers and continued back into the flow of the routine.
"Lift in the altitude. You're sinking in your port de bras. Sternum up."
I gasped internally as I accidentally made eye contact with Mr Brooks before finishing the turn and quickly perfecting my turnout.  He turned his attention from the new girl to me for a moment and corrected a few of my movements.
"If you were to retain what I told you each lesson for the next one, you'd progress much faster, miss Sykes."
I gave a stiff smile as we turned yet again. My eyes caught Shane's over Mr Brook's shoulder and managed to see the indentations of his dimples and bit my lip to stop myself accidentally smirking at the ballet master.
"Drop that hip. No, your hip's still up to your ear."
I breathed a sigh of relief as he continued to torment the new girl instead. 
Brooks then called across the studio to the blonde on the other side, "Bette, demonstrate to the side."
I paused and leant back against the barre, grateful for the break as I scrutinised the girl across the room as she lifted her leg perfectly into the air.
"Look, do you see?"
New girl nodded quietly and mr Brooks finally admitted defeat. "Okay, I'll spare you."
He then continued to enquire as to why she was there before lecturing her on her lack of proper attire.