Dance Academy: Second Chance Read online

  He can’t believe his eyes. We’re all on this huge charter boat, waving and shouting.

  He grins madly. ‘This was meant to be low key!’

  We sail majestically down the harbour, stereo pumping, everyone eating and drinking and soaking up the sun. When we anchor in a bay, the boys have to show off with dives and jumps into the water. Just as the sun is setting, I find Ethan sitting alone at the table, concentrating hard on his phone.

  ‘That’s a serious look. Did someone de-friend you?’

  Ethan looks up. ‘My phone says I just bought a ticket to Barcelona.’

  It takes me a second to realise the implications, and I’m a bit blown away. ‘Wow, I think that’s officially an impulse purchase.’

  He nods, that determined Ethan look on his face. ‘I’m going to have a coffee with Impresión. Every day. Until they realise they can’t live without me.’ He looks at me, concerned. ‘Are you going to be okay? Abandoned by your last remaining family member?’

  Is he kidding? I stand and turn to the group. ‘Hey, everyone,’ I yell. ‘My big brother is off to conquer Europe! Finally.’

  They all clap and I give him a hug. It’s cool. Really.

  Until I have to actually say goodbye to him – he’s going so far away. I hug him fiercely, determined not to cry, but the tears come anyway.

  Ethan hands Abigail a large envelope. ‘The song lyrics. I gave Finn your number.’

  Abigail shakes her head, and he adds, ‘How about we don’t email regularly?’

  ‘I wasn’t planning on it,’ she replies. Now that’s odd.

  Then he turns to Tara. ‘This is starting to feel very Wizard of Oz. It’s been special, Webster.’

  ‘It has.’

  Ethan smiles and heads for the cab’s passenger door. It’s all too real now, he really is going.

  ‘Play nice,’ he says, and the cab drives away. I keep watching the space he left behind, wondering how I’ll survive without him.

  CHAPTER 3

  I was great at waving Ethan off – until it all sank in. Suddenly I have no one to lean on, and I just hope he’s having an amazing time in Spain. Tara may be back at the Academy but we’re certainly not back to being friends.

  I head down for lunch at the café and they’re all sitting together at the table – Tara, Ben, Grace and Christian. One spare spot at the table and no way am I going to take it. Majorly awkward.

  Then Ben yells, ‘Kat. Spare seat, if you want.’ I try not to look at Christian but I can’t help it, and Tara sees us.

  ‘Idiot me,’ I say. ‘Left my pointe shoes in the studio.’

  ‘They’re hanging out of your bag,’ Ben says, and everyone stares at my shoes. Grace smirks, and Tara sucks in a big breath.

  ‘Stay,’ she says. ‘Seriously, I’m taking the Zen approach. What happened is in the past.’

  She looks at us both, and I relax just a tiny bit. Does she really mean it?

  ‘If you guys want to be together, be together,’ she goes on. ‘I’m still a cheerleader for love.’

  But Christian gets up. ‘Okay, I’m gonna go.’ And he walks out.

  ‘Me, too,’ I mutter and bolt in the opposite direction. That was awful. Why did he do that?

  Then Christian takes off up the coast with Sammy and I’ve got some breathing and thinking space.

  The latest gossip is about Ben. Nobody knew he’d had cancer except Tara, but now everyone is talking and wondering. Surely he is okay now? Maybe I should say something to him. When I see him, he’s trailing a bunch of red and white balloons.

  I say, ‘Ben! Ben, Ben, Ben. Do you remember my cheerleading tryouts?’

  He turns. ‘In detail.’

  ‘You skipped your doctor’s appointment. Was that to …’ I feel bad but he just stares at me and walks on.

  Then Abigail comes up to him, all sympathetic. ‘Biopics about cancer and genocide always get the Academy Awards. You’ll get fantastic marks.’

  Ben is not happy at all.

  I’m getting ready to go out when Christian knocks on my door. He’s probably come to tell me nothing is going to happen and we should just forget it, and I start babbling.

  ‘Don’t worry about me. We can just ignore the fact that Tara’s given us permission.’ I can’t shut up! ‘If there was a moment, we’ve probably missed it now so there’s really no point …’

  Christian interrupts me with a kiss. I can’t talk, I can’t think, I kiss him back. And smile.

  CHAPTER 4

  Now that we’re a couple, Christian and I want to spend all our time together, but with classes and schedules, it’s hard. One night we go fishing off the wharf, and we actually catch a fish! But when we try to sneak back into the boarding house, it looks like war has broken out. First years against second years, flour and water everywhere and all over everyone. It’s a huge mess! Just as we make it through the front door, Ms Histead catches us.

  ‘And, you two,’ she snarls. ‘Don’t even try to pretend you were fishing.’ I show her our fish in the bucket as evidence but she’s not impressed. ‘In that case, you’ve broken curfew. Put that down and pick up a mop.’

  Christian asks Sammy and Ben, ‘Another strike?’

  Remi pipes up from his side of the room. ‘There’ll be more to come. We’re always one step ahead.’

  ‘Particularly where ballet’s concerned,’ Lulu says.

  All the second years scoff and Ben laughs. ‘We could out-dance you any day.’

  Remi pirouettes and smiles back. ‘Are you threatening a ballet battle?’

  ‘There’s no such thing,’ Sammy says.

  ‘A hip-hop war, then,’ Christian says and Sammy nods.

  ‘Second-year crew versus the ballet tragics,’ Ben suggests. I can tell the second years like this idea. Remi looks at Lulu – hip-hop’s not their thing, but they’re not going to back down. ‘Saturday afternoon.’ Everyone glares at each other, hands on hips, hostile.

  ‘We’re done here,’ Remi says. ‘Let’s bounce.’

  The first years have finished cleaning their side already and they leave us with a horrible mess.

  ‘They’re well-oiled, I’ll give them that,’ Ben says.

  They sure are, and we’ve got plenty more cleaning to do before bed. I sigh and pick up a bucket.

  When I finally get upstairs, I’m texting and somehow I wake Abigail up. She groans under her eye-mask.

  ‘Sorry,’ I say. ‘But how is it possible you slept through that?’ Maybe she wears ear plugs, too.

  My phone pings – Christian has texted me back already, and I smile.

  ‘Let me guess – Christian?’ Abigail says. ‘Because you’re not going to see him for a full six hours?’

  ‘Ha, ha.’

  She stares at me. ‘Look at you. You’re addicted.’

  ‘I’m not addicted!’

  ‘Your pupils are permanently dilated. You made him your phone wallpaper.’

  I scoff. ‘Coming from the girl who spoons her Pilates mat.’

  But she doesn’t stop there. ‘Admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery, Kat.’

  I roll my eyes and turn out the light. Abigail is just being mean as usual. But her words keep echoing in my head.

  The next day, they’re still there. I’m kissing Christian by the stairs and Tara walks past, making me feel horribly guilty all over again. Maybe this is OTT. I have to say something to Christian. ‘Hey. So we’re not one of those vomit-inducing couples, maybe we should introduce some guidelines for behaviour.’

  ‘Guidelines,’ he says. ‘Hmmm.’

  ‘It could be fun,’ I say brightly. I need to convince him about this. ‘Obvious stuff like a limit on PDAs. No hand-holding – we’re both capable of walking unaccompanied.’ He doesn’t look convinced.

  ‘I give you two hours before you crack.’ He lifts my hand up like he’s going to kiss it.

  ‘You’re not that irresistible.’ I try to walk off but he’s still got my hand, so I pull it awa
y, give him a little wave and escape. See – I can be super-cool about this stuff!

  I warm up with the first years in the studio. We’re all in unison, with Lulu counting as we throw our legs above our heads in grand battements.

  Lily turns to me. ‘Are you going to be on our side?’

  ‘Pointless question,’ Remi says scornfully.

  Lulu sneers. ‘She wouldn’t dare betray her boyfriend.’

  What a cheek! ‘I’m sorry. Do you see him attached to this hip? I could cross lines if I wanted to.’ They look doubtful. ‘And I am exceptional at hip-hop. I might be the best chance you guys have.’

  That took the smirks off their faces, except now I’ve undoubtedly talked myself into a pile of trouble. They need some heavy coaching, so later we all cram into my room. Abigail’s trying to ignore us, writing in her notebook. They’re all still in ballet gear. No baggy pants or T-shirts in sight. Not a promising start.

  ‘Okay, crew. Why don’t we start with a headslide?’ They look at me blankly.

  Abigail says, ‘It’s a front chassé, but on your face.’

  Lulu gazes at her adoringly. ‘Abigail, you have to help us. The second years don’t appreciate you like we do.’

  Just then, Ben barges in. ‘Ladies of krump,’ he starts. Sammy is just behind him, and when they spot the first years, they look horrified. ‘Dude, the enemy’s invaded.’

  ‘Secret first-year training,’ Sammy says. ‘Say it isn’t so, Kat.’

  I shrug. ‘Technically, I am a first year.’

  Sammy angrily turns on Abigail. ‘Abigail? I guess your usual aversion to team sports still applies.’

  Abigail looks from Sammy to her team of first years. ‘No, I like competition.’

  She nudges me out of the way and turns up the hip-hop music, standing in front of the first years, pretending Ben and Sammy aren’t even there. ‘We’ll start with the basics. Plié, then isolate your rib cage. Devant, centre, derrière, return.’

  They start copying her – they get it now it’s ballet. Sammy and Ben can’t believe it and leave in a huff. I guess I’d better join in.

  My new guidelines are just as tricky. How many texts have I had from Christian since lunch? Six? I’m not answering, but I’m not so sure this is the right thing either. Where’s Ethan when I need him?

  Later, outside, Tara and Grace walk right past me as if I don’t exist. Tara looks creepy, like a Grace clone all of a sudden, and they’re heading for the beach. Tara is skipping classes? That is seriously weird.

  The second years are having a party and I shouldn’t go, but Christian is waiting for me. ‘I’m taking you to a party,’ he says.

  ‘That’s very masterful but I can’t. I’m with the first years so I really should …’

  He just pulls me out of the room.

  ‘Okay.’ I give in.

  Downstairs, the party is so not happening. There’s hip-hop on the stereo, and Sammy’s dressed up in big glasses, beanie, bum-saggy jeans and a fob-watch necklace. Neat stacks of cups and plates sit on the table. He’s tried hard but the room is nearly empty.

  I stare at his get-up. ‘Sorry. Were we meant to dress up?’

  ‘No,’ he says. He picks up a box. ‘Look. Twist It.’

  How could he think a nerdy game like that would be fun? Ben arrives in an afro, hoodie and gold bling, carrying a plastic water pistol. ‘Let’s get this party started.’ He high-fives Sammy, then spots the box. ‘Is that … it’s Twist It! I am a human pretzel!’

  Sammy stops stressing out and Ben cons two girls into playing. Christian and I keep talking while they play, like we’re in our own little world, holding hands and laughing until Sammy comes over. ‘I appreciate you can’t live without him,’ he says to me, ‘but I need you on mingling.’

  Here we go again. First Abigail, now Sammy. ‘I can live without him.’ I force out a laugh, trying to make it sound like a joke, but I hate to think how that sounded to Christian.

  Suddenly, Tara leaps down the stairs into Grace’s arms, laughing hysterically. ‘Oh, my god, I LOVE you!’ she says to Grace.

  Grace actually seems disconcerted. ‘I’ve created a monster,’ she mutters.

  Tara makes some monster sounds, which just adds to the weirdness from earlier. Then she sees us watching her and pretends to ignore us.

  ‘You know what?’ she shrieks. ‘I’m totally going to pash somebody tonight. Hi, Ben!’

  Ben looks uncomfortable. She’s only drinking orange juice, but Grace grabs it off her. ‘No more of this.’

  ‘Sammy!’ Now Tara is hugging Sammy, and sways into the wall. I don’t think that’s just orange juice somehow.

  ‘I’m not going to pash, Sammy.’ She giggles at Grace.

  Sammy glares at Grace. ‘Did you do this?’

  She makes a face. Guilty. She changes the subject to distract Sammy. ‘We just saw the first years with fire hoses. Check upstairs.’

  I’m chatting with another girl when Christian comes over. ‘Sorry. Could I borrow my girlfriend for a second?’ He leads me to a quiet corner.

  I don’t like how he looks and my stomach lurches a little. I’ve stuffed it up again.

  ‘Can I still call you that?’ he asks.

  ‘Of course you can.’ I pause. ‘I’m sorry. I just meant it about dialling things down.’

  ‘I thought we were cool,’ he says. He’s trying to say something else when Tara comes running across and pushes me out of the way.

  ‘You said you didn’t want to see your dad,’ she gabbles. ‘You broke up with me because I found your dad. And now you visited him?’

  Christian is stunned. ‘How about let’s not do this now.’

  ‘How about let’s,’ Tara says.

  I try to help Tara, attempting to lead her outside. ‘T, come outside. Come talk to me.’

  She turns on me in a rage. ‘I don’t want to talk to you, ever again.’ She wrenches her arm away from me and stumbles. I feel like she has just punched me. I can’t believe she said that. She hates me!

  Grace appears and tries to help, too, but Tara pulls away from her. ‘No. I’m dancing.’ She skips across the room. ‘With Ben.’ She grabs Ben and twirls underneath his hand. ‘Because Ben likes me, don’t you Ben?’

  He makes a face at us, tries to smile. ‘Uh-huh. Sure.’ He makes a sudden decision and throws her over his shoulder. ‘Let’s go outside.’

  She giggles madly again. ‘Oh, we’re kissing outside!’ And they disappear, thank goodness. I just want to crawl into a crack in the floor.

  Ten seconds later, a first year yells, ‘Miss Raine is coming! Drain the hot tub!’ and we all bolt. I’m so glad this night is over.

  I try to avoid everyone the next day but Sammy spots me in the corridor. ‘In here. Now.’

  I can see Christian inside with all the other second years. My heart thumps hard. ‘I really have to …’

  ‘Now.’ He pulls me into the studio and closes the door, blocking it with his back. I try to smile at Christian but it doesn’t come out right.

  ‘Okay, I’m talking,’ Sammy says, ‘and no one’s going anywhere until I’m done.’ Everyone stares at him. ‘In fifteen minutes we’re meant to have this hip-hop battle and, as far as I can tell, none of you are planning on showing.’

  Grace shrugs. ‘Let’s not. Then they’ll know we’re too cool to care.’

  ‘Okay,’ Sammy says. ‘We can be so cool that we never talk to each other again either.’ Nobody can look each other or Sammy in the eye, including me.

  ‘We have four months left of second year,’ he goes on. ‘And third year’s only going to be harder.’ He looks around. ‘This war isn’t about beating the first years. It’s about us being there for each other. And I don’t know about you guys, but I think that’s something that’s worth fighting for.’

  I glance at Christian. Sammy’s right. But will everyone agree? Will they do anything?

  Sammy goes to make a dramatic exit, but he bangs into the door. I don’t know whet
her to laugh or cry, but I know I feel guilty. About lots of things. I’ve messed up again, but can I explain it to Christian?

  When Christian and I are alone, I say, ‘It’s a well-established fact, too much of me gets annoying. I’m annoying myself right now.’

  He looks sceptical. ‘So you’ve been protecting me?’

  ‘I’m protecting me. If I get too addicted to this and then you change your mind … I don’t know how I’ll handle that.’

  Finally, he gets it. ‘I’m not planning on going anywhere.’

  ‘But you can’t promise that,’ I say.

  He just kisses me and there’s no more I can say. This has to be good enough as it is.

  The first years are waiting for us on the wharf, all dressed in red. We march down together and I grab Christian’s hand. No more guidelines!

  Behind me, Tara says, ‘I’m swearing off orange juice forever. Can we please leave it at that?’

  Ben’s not going to, though. ‘I just … I can’t kiss someone unless it means something. It’s not how I roll.’

  ‘You take it seriously,’ Tara says. ‘Me too.’ She leans over to Grace. ‘I think “Rebellious Tara” is going back in her box.’

  ‘Noooo,’ Grace cries. I’m relieved. I don’t care what Grace wants, I just want Tara to be normal and happy. I leave Christian, joining the first years again and they cheer.

  Lulu spots Abigail. ‘Abigail! Over here!’

  But Abigail smiles, turns aside and goes with the second years. That makes everyone sit up. Both sides front up to each other. Sammy tilts his head at Remi. ‘You were saying?’ The first years look a bit devastated.

  Ollie calls out, ‘Listen up. All battles are your own style – I’ll tell you when to step down. Let’s do this!’

  Someone turns the music up loud and Sammy and Remi get into it. They’re both into big power moves, trying to outdo each other. We cheer them on, but Remi’s clearly not up to Sammy’s level and he drops out.