(no subject)
Zara and andrew finished her number and turned to the dance instructor breathlessly and expectantly. If it was successful, it would be expressive and innovative and edgy, just as madame had wanted. If it failed, Zara would look like a fool.
The old woman raised her eyebrows. "It is unlike anything I have ever seen before" she said finally. Zara looked at andrew, who shrugged, also uncertain of what that might mean. She kept them in suspense for a moment before grinning widely. "It's beautiful. I love it and I'm sure the Julliard scouts will love it too." she said proudly before exiting the room.
"Julliard?!" Andrew exclaimed. The best dance college in north america. He grabbed Zara and spun her around excitedly before exiting the room, leaving Zara to try and take it all in. Did she really even WANT to go to Julliard? She knew her mother wanted her to go. She looked around the messy studio she had to clean by herself. She hated doing janitorial work, and on this particular day, after what had happened with spinner, she just wanted to go home.
She sat down and started to undo her pointe shoes. Maybe it would be okay. She smiled to herself a little. Julliard WAS a good school. And she did love to dance. She sighed contentedly and a shadow fell over her. A large roll of money fell at her feet. She looked up and saw Eve and Lisa.
Lisa was once her best friend before she moved. Eve had always been her biggest competition. She had been watching Zara and getting more and more angry by the day. "We took up a little collection!" Eve said with a sarcastic smile. "To pay for your classes and a simple, secondhand costume. Now maybe you dont have to play little match girl after class or get pity from madame"
Zara stared at her incredulously, the smile fading from her face as she stood up and handed her the money. "I dont want it" she said, frowning and walking to the back of the studio to get the broom.
"Oh come on!" Eve followed her. "Too proud are we?" She crossed her arms. "You cant eat pride, Zara" she said flippantly. "Then again thats probably not a problem- you dont eat much of anything do you." She laughed and encouraged lisa to laugh too.
Zara kept her eyes at her feet. "This abbott and costello routine is really getting old" she looked at eve and rolled her eyes. "Take your money, buy a nose job and some slimfast, and get out of here so I can do my job?" She forced a smile. She would not let them know it bothered her.
Zara was strong. She did not let ANYONE see her cry. She hadnt in years. That made them know you were weak. And that they could hurt you. She wouldn't let them know that they hurt her. She kept her tears in their ducts by sheer willpower until they had walked out to the parking lot.