Book #2 Center Stage

 

Satin Slippers #2

Center Stage

By Elizabeth Bernard (December 1987)

12 Chapters, 144 pages

 

 

Chapter 1

 

            Leah Stephenson is in love! With SFBA (San Francisco Ballet Academy) campus, that is, and everything about her new life at the greatest dance school in the entire world. Just this morning in class Madame Preston complimented Leah on her port de bras. Everything is coming up roses for fifteen-year-old Leah on this glorious October day as she basks outside on the lawn between morning and afternoon periods. She gets to dance almost all day and is surrounded by people who eat, breathe and talk ballet all day long. It’s heaven! Lying back on the grass, it would seem nothing could go wrong for Leah at this very moment.

 

Alexandra “Alex” Sorokin interrupts Leah’s daydream to tease her about the geometry homework she is supposed to be working on. Alex is from Russia and while her English is nearly perfect, three weeks into the new school year has really solidified their friendship as Leah enjoys teaching Alex new American colloquialisms. Alex has dark hair and eyes and is as tall as Leah and just as good a dancer.

 

Kay Larkin, a petite, dark haired dancer with wild curly hair spends part of her time each day in the school office here on campus as part of a special work scholarship. She skips up to join the two girls almost bursting with the news she just heard, the latest gossip. SFBA is going to let students participate with the regular company members in a special statewide tour to promote ballet in high school assemblies. At first, Alex just yawns. As a third-year student, she knows all about these field trips and the heckling that comes with dancing in front of your unappreciative peers who could care less. Kay’s news is really not that big a deal.

 

Except, Kay continues, the main demonstration will be the famous balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet and the school wants SFBA students (teenagers) performing it, more relatable to the audience. That gets a reaction from Alex. She’s always wanted to dance Juliet! She may just try out in the auditions after all. Suddenly Leah and Kay aren’t so excited anymore. Auditions? Compete against each other? Alex just shrugs. That’s life in the dance world. Besides, this is a pas de deux so it will really depend on which guy the school picks to dance Romeo because his female partner will need to be a good match both in her coloring and physical appearance as well as her dancing ability. Leah is more troubled by the possibility one of them will get the coveted role and there goes their friendship. Alex isn’t worried.

Chapter 2

 

            Red headed, green-eyed, Pam Hunter cries out as she lands with a hard thump on the studio floor during class. Her pas de deux partner, James Cummings (whom we met twice in the first book) accidentally dropped her. After her intro in Book #1, the Southern girl with the sultry accent is Leah’s enemy here at school and Leah’s not so crazy about James either, the stuck up snob. Alex isn’t like that, but Leah still can’t believe Alex considers James a good friend here at SFBA. Not romantically, just as a friend and, she’s assured Leah, he’s an incredible pas de deux partner-really good at what he does. He’s not really snobby either, just a very dedicated dancer who is going to be the next Baryshnikov. (He’s American)

 

            Pam is still pouting but James points out her long, manicured fingernails are what caused the accident. The teacher tells Pam to switch with Leah and while she’s at it, cut those fingernails. Leah is surprised but steps forward to take her place on the practice floor. The music begins and Leah runs into tall, dark and handsome James’ arms to be lifted high up in the air. Until she came to SFBA, Leah had never experienced dancing with a male partner before and while this isn’t her first time over the last month partnering with a guy, it is the first time she’s ever felt like a real ballerina on a stage. James knows how to make his partner look good. His strong hands, the way his dark eyes are staring soulfully into her blue ones. Leah knows they are just acting but…no boy her age has ever looked at her that way before! Leah is intrigued.

 

            The music stops and as if flicking a light switch, James is “off” and back to his brooding, unfriendly self. “Not bad,” is his bored comment to Leah. The male teacher, Patrick, agrees. They looked good together, in fact, Leah and James are pas de deux partners from now on. Pam looks ready to kill Leah.

 

            Class is dismissed. Leah takes one look at Alex’s face and is about to apologize profusely when Alex stops her. Gossip spreads way too fast already, save it for the changing room or back at the boardinghouse. Despite her obvious depression, Alex isn’t angry at Leah for stealing her favorite dance partner in pas de deux class today, they looked really good together. Kay agrees. Leah and James were practically made to dance Romeo and Juliet but the bounce has gone out of her step as well. Leah is trying very hard not to mind what should be the best lucky break she’s ever had in her life. The role of Juliet is practically hers.

 

Chapter 3

 

            Over the next two days, Leah reflects how dancing with James in pas de deux class is pure magic…until the music stops. She asks Alex about it who just laughs. That’s how James is and why Alex loves partnering with him and once Leah gets to know him better and his mannerisms, she’ll like him too. Except Leah may be developing a little crush on James already. James may be a shoo-in for the part of Romeo but there are two other male students here at SFBA who might end up getting the part. Alex and Leah continue to speculate on this as they enter the SFBA dressing room.

 

Leah is shocked overhearing Pam telling all the girls she stole James from Alex on purpose for a better chance to get the part of Juliet. “Say that again?!” Pam shuts up and with Alex’s whispered urging Leah focuses on getting changed, wondering how anyone so beautiful could be so nasty. Leah can’t help but bring up the subject again once the other girls are talking and chatting among themselves. Leah reminds Pam she was James’ partner first before Leah was told to switch to him. Pam replies she never really liked dancing with him anyway. Another girl cuts in to remind both of them dancing their best in the auditions today is all that matters and there are more parts out there besides Juliet. Pam doesn’t favor the girl with a reply just silently beckons two of her minions and they exit the dressing room. Leah rushes to finish dressing in her leotard and tights, a little embarrassed at her outburst.

 

Chapter 4

 

            Leah is so upset she slips and falls during audition. She glances over at a smirking Pam and the reader wonders if maybe Pam is part voodoo witch as Leah has a crazy thought that Pam made her slip and fall. One of Leah’s teachers is named Diana (we met her in the last book) who is also a Company Principle and Solo artist. She gave Leah a hard time in the last book and from the look on her face she is not about to show any sympathy to Leah right now either. Leah gets to her feet and resumes the steps but the damage is done. She can’t focus for the rest of the audition combinations and continues to mess up, though she doesn’t fall again. Pam is practically gloating. Diana doesn’t say a word.

 

            Alex tries to help Leah feel better as they exit the studio. Leah can hardly see through her tear-filled eyes as her friend insists every dancer here at SFBA has “off” days and to be glad her fall didn’t result in a serious injury. Leah thinks of Pam’s nickname for her, “The Great Stephenson” and how by the end of the day everyone at SFBA will know about her “off” day.

 

Chapter 5

 

            Of course, Leah is cast as Juliet. Pam and the rest of the girls are at the main bulletin board in the front hall of school pouring over the list of who made it and who is dancing what. Seeing Leah approaching, Pam congratulates her in a loud voice, not upset or angry at all. There it is for everyone to see: LEAH STEPHENSON-JULIET in pas de deux from Romeo and Juliet

 

At first Leah is confused why Pam doesn’t seem to mind. She even sticks out an enthusiastic hand to congratulate which Leah ignores and continues reading the list. Pam is dancing the next big role-a tricky mazurka from a non-classical ballet all the first year students just finished learning in repertoire class of which Pam was the only one who had already mastered it. A perfect solo role for her. Alex and Kay get to be “Barre Belles” another important part of the assembly program so the audience can see what a typical ballet class looks like. Leah is happy for her friends; she even congratulates Pam who makes a few rude comments that “The Great Stephenson” only got Juliet because of her connections with James and being Madame’s favorite while SHE gets to dance the big solo based on talent alone. Leah fumes knowing Pam is exaggerating.

 

Turning around, Leah comes face to face with Alex who had not yet seen the posting list but from the look on her face, she heard everything. Kay comes squealing down the hall to congratulate Leah. The tall Russian girl turns and walks away. Leah excuses herself and catches up to Alex in the stairwell, shocked to discover Alex is crying and while she puts on a brave face and congratulates Leah she turns right back around and continues up the stairs, refusing to talk about it anymore. Leah sinks down on the steps and bursts into tears until Kay finds her. Kay just happens to know that for the last two years; Alexandra Sorokin has had the lead role in whatever main piece the company was doing for these assemblies. Last year Alex and James danced one of the pax de deuxs from Swan Lake and brought the house down. She’ll get over it! This makes Leah feel a little better but getting both the lead role that Alex had her heart set on and practically stealing her dancing partner, Leah wouldn’t blame Alex for never speaking to her again. Kay promises her, just give Alexandra some time to nurse her wounds and she’ll be Leah’s friend again. Kay also found out James will be dancing Romeo but the ballet class demonstration is going to be six boys and four girls which is a complete lie since everyone knows the ballet world is dominated by girls. Kay agrees with Leah explaining the powers-that-be want all those high school boys to know ballet is not for sissies! Kay looks at her watch, squeals and they jump up and run tearing off their street clothes to reveal the dance attire they are wearing underneath-they are going to be late for Madame Preston’s class!

 

Chapter 6

 

            Leah’s last period of the day is her first official rehearsal with Diana who will be coaching them, the accompanist Robert, and James. She enters the studio and follows James’ example by finding an empty bar and warming up. No one acknowledges her.

 

            Diana, who is of Asian decent, pins her long, silky black hair up as she begins the rehearsal. First item of business: they have less than one week to prepare! They dance next Tuesday. Leah gasps. She has never performed with a partner in a professional setting like this before, she’s not ready! Diana informs her, matter-of-factly, she’s heard stories from her fellow Company dancers who came from other companies of having to dance an entire ballet, Swan Lake for example, on less than ten days coaching and rehearsal time to prepare. You just polish as you go. She recommends Leah and James will need to spend every waking minute of free time they have this weekend practicing their hearts out. Maybe then, they’ll be ready and not embarrass the school.

 

            Leah and James take their places, the music begins (Diana is recording the piano for them on a cassette tape as well so they can rehearse on their own in the future) and Leah makes herself forget everything except the dance. James is smiling at Leah like she’s the sun and for Leah it all feels so natural. When the music stops, her heart is pounding and not just from the exercise of performing the beautiful dance. One look at Diana’s face and Leah’s blood runs cold. Was she that bad? Diana regains her composure so quickly for a minute Leah almost wonders if she imagined it. Diana then proceeds to launch into a full out critique of everything they did wrong, ripping their dance up one side and down the other and, Leah notes, her comments are mostly aimed at her, not James implying she is the one who needs to put in the extra work. Leah fights back tears, James looks sympathetic but says nothing in her defense.

 

            For the final blow, Diana then pushes past Leah, takes her position in the corner of the room and orders the music to start, proceeding to dance the pas de deux in Leah’s place throwing herself into it with such dramatic flare James nearly drops her at the ending overhead lift and pose. He mutters an apology and Diana huffs back to her seat by the mirrors.

That’s how it’s done, she sneers to Leah. Your port de bras is all wrong.

 

            Leah is both shocked and angry. James is also annoyed with Diana. She made him do it all over again with her because of Leah’s ARMS?! He thought Leah danced it just fine the first time. Diana overrides him and continues the coaching session making Leah mark out the entire dance with James and never letting her dance it full out again always butting in to take Leah’s place insisting she can demonstrate the positions much better. James even speaks up, angrily reminding Diana he is the one dancing this with Leah, not her. He insists they dance it together, one last time, all the way through and Diana lets them but with rehearsal over, after Leah weakly applauds her teacher-a tradition in the dance world-Diana merely picks up her things and exits the rehearsal studio. James also gathers his things and leaves without saying goodbye and completely ignoring Leah.

 

            In the changing room, Diana is brushing out her long hair and while she first compliments Leah on a good rehearsal, she is quick to comment that Pam (her favorite) is much better suited to this role with her strong, athletic jumps and passion for dance. Leah knows better. Juliet requires classical lines and soft movements which are her strongest dance points, and she has Madame Preston’s compliments to prove it. She keeps this to herself, instead, she sweetly reminds Diana, who was one of the judges, if she really feels this way, why didn’t Pam get her role? Diana frowns. Because she was outvoted. Both Patrick and James wanted Leah. Diana gets one last dig: this Company dance for Juliet was originally choreographed on HER. But keep working on your port de bras, dear, you might just make something of yourself yet. And with that Diana leaves the room, slamming the door so hard the walls shake.

 

Leah cries quietly as she finishes getting dressed. She fixes her smeared makeup and exits the room, nearly running into James who had obviously been waiting for her so he could offer her a ride home. Well! Knock Leah over with a feather, what brought this on? James wants to be friends?!

 

It would appear he does. He parks in front of Mrs. Hanson’s boardinghouse. As Leah shuts the passenger side door and is about to head inside, James calls from out the passenger window asking Leah for a date Saturday afternoon, after they finish rehearsal. There’s an art exhibit at the local museum, want to go? Um, okay, Leah accepts. Why not. It’s Degas’ famous ballerina paintings so at least it’s a dance related date! James hits the gas and takes off. Inside the boardinghouse, the dinner bell rings as Leah ascends the front steps.

 

Chapter 7

 

            Because Alex was not at the dining table with the rest of them, Leah hesitates in front of her bedroom door which suddenly flies open. The girls stare at each other then speak at once before Leah is invited in so they can have a long heart to heart and reconcile. Both apologize before settling into the gossip of Diana’s crazy jealousy of Leah. Alex knows all about it, but Leah is skeptical. Is Diana really jealous of HER? Alex produces some healthy snacks and they dive in, still chatting about dance. It’s good to be friends again. Leah also asks her best friend for advice about Pam. Yes, get in line Pam for you are also crazy jealous of Leah, but even Alex agrees Pam is vicious. “Let’s kill her.” Alex suggests in all seriousness but with a wicked twinkle in her eye before guffawing while Leah is incredulous even at the mere suggestion. Alex repeats her original advice again. Let it go, don’t let anything Pam says or does get to you. Chrissy in the last book told Leah the same thing over the phone. Leah knows they are both right.

 

            Back in her own room, feeling much better, Leah remembers she never told Alex about her date with James and is about to rush back down to Alex’s room when she stops herself. Better to let it be a surprise. Wouldn’t want to risk another threat to their friendship.

 

Chapter 8

 

            It is late afternoon, Saturday, and the last two days have gone smoothly for Leah and James rehearsing their dance just the two of them. Even today, James was just as ruthless as Diana was in that first rehearsal, insisting they go over their steps until Leah feels like she could dance it in her sleep, but it is really coming together and it’s exciting. Outside, Leah looks at the golden waters of the Bay sparkling in the sun then turns to find James looking at her like he does when he’s in character during their rehearsals. He tells her she really is the best partner he’s ever danced with. He wishes she were getting into the company next year, like he is, so this partnership can continue. Except Diana is already in the company, Leah remembers and fights panic, finally accepting what Alex and others have already confirmed, Diana’s jealousy is all too real. Suddenly she is glad becoming a company member is still a few years away. Leah keeps these thoughts to herself. Why James is being so friendly? She asks him this aloud. Since they’re going to be dance partners, having good chemistry offstage will reflect in their performance, James tells her.

 

            They get in James’ car while they’re talking and James tells Leah about himself while he drives to the museum for their date. He grew up in Seattle but had to move out at fourteen thanks to his Dad not being very impressed with his ambitions to become a great ballet dancer. He wanted his sons to play football. Dad was the coach at the University. His mom is a housewife and therefore sided with her husband. Letting his brother pursue the athletic career, James moved to the area and lived with one SFBA’s male instructors and his wife in Oakland so he could study dance here at SFBA. With the boy-girl dancer ratio of 4:1 here at SFBA and the connections with his teacher, he had no trouble getting into the school. That was two years ago. Leah also tells him a little about where she is from but James launches into a funny story that makes Leah laugh.

 

            As they exit the car and enter the museum, Leah cannot deny her growing attraction to James. He really is what Alex said, interesting, fun to be with, yet complicated. Someone she wants to get to know better. But once inside while admiring one of the paintings of ballet dancers warming up in a rehearsal studio from another era, the male security guard compliments Leah on her physical appearance but obviously doesn’t think much of James, just because he’s a sissy male ballet dancer. James, not so gently, grabs Leah’s arm and drags her outside to the car. This museum trip is over. Now it’s back to SFBA to get a few more hours of practice in before bedtime.

 

            Leah, understandably, feels manipulated and betrayed as James starts the engine. James only brought her here for a short break to guarantee she wouldn’t run off so they could rehearse more? They already spent all day today in the studio. She’s starving, exhausted, but James, turning on his charm, insists. He wants their dance to be just right. A few more hours tonight doing some final polishing and it will be perfect. Especially if he can do it with her. Leah sighs and agrees as she gets out of the car but doesn’t pull away when he puts his arm around her, pulling her close as they walk up to the school entrance.

 

Chapter 9

 

            Mrs. Hanson will keep something warm on the stove for Leah to eat later tonight after she finishes her rehearsal. She hangs up the school landline phone, returns to the studio and she and James get started but it is obvious they are both too tired. They have no accompaniment either since James forgot to grab the boom box. With his bad humming it’s no wonder the magic is gone. Ballet dancers weren’t meant to sing and dance at the same time! Leah begs him to call it quits but James wants to keep going and since he’s the older, more experienced dancer while Leah is just a fifteen-year-old freshmen, she gives in.

 

            But Leah is having trouble focusing. James reminds her the only way great dancers get to be really great is by doing it repeatedly until it’s perfect. He’s not sure about her, but he is going to be the greatest dancer the world has ever seen. Leah rolls her eyes but then James speaks in a softer, more gentle tone and her heart skips a beat. Okay, they’ll do it again just one more time and they won’t even start at the beginning but from the middle-James’s solo with lots of turns and jetés through the air, circling the stage with Juliet standing in the middle. He takes his place and begins. In character, they can’t take their eyes off each other…until James is lying on the floor, white faced, writing in pain. Leah screams.

 

            James tells her to go find ice. Now. (He’s right. The swelling needs to be brought down immediately or the injury will only get worse.) Leah runs downstairs to the school cafeteria and kitchen. Since the whole place is deserted this late on a Saturday night, there is nobody to ask for help. Leah considers calling Madame Preston or even Mrs. Hanson but fears they will only get in trouble if they report this, rehearsing after hours without permission. Back with James, he presses the compress to his sprained foot and continues to insist this is nothing. He should be just fine in a few minutes. By Tuesday it will be as if this never happened, and they will dance their piece in the show with nobody the wiser. Leah is appalled. This injury looks serious. James needs to go see a doctor tonight or at least first thing tomorrow. James says no way and he’s not going to let an insignificant little girl lecture him about foot injuries, either.

 

            The drive back to the boardinghouse is tense with neither of them saying much. It is now past 10pm. James tells her dancing on an injury is common for dancers. Leah gets out, glances over to Pam’s window just in time to see a flutter at the blinds-she’s spying on them. James calls to her softly from the driver’s side and Leah leans her head back in through the open passenger side window. He’d really appreciate it if she says nothing about what happened tonight to anyone, not even Alex. Those dark eyes are casting their spell on her again as he leans closer to brush his lips across hers. Leah is feeling positively light-headed. Breathlessly, she promises and James kisses her again. This time, Leah hopes Pam is really watching from her window!

Chapter 10

 

            On Sundays at SFBA both students and company members have the opportunity to take a special instruction class from one of the top tenured teachers at the school. Today is Madame Preston’s turn and Leah never misses one of her classes. James is here too but is clearly in pain. Leah is surprised nobody is calling him out on it. Class ends and in the changing room, both Alex and Diana remind Leah she has rehearsal with James like right now and shouldn’t even be in here.

 

To Leah’s added shock, James pokes his head into the girl’s changing room to remind Leah of their rehearsal. Pam smirks. James just can’t stay away from Leah, eh? Leah has to restrain herself from telling everyone what happened while frantically thinking to herself why James would still want to rehearse today with that injury. He’s crazy!

 

James, indeed, drops Leah during a lift. Since James is indifferent, Robert stands up from the piano and comes over to make sure Leah is okay. She is but a quick time out is needed. He leaves to get some coffee. James takes this opportunity while they’re alone to threaten Leah, pushing her up against the wall. She better not say anything to anyone about this injury. Their performance WILL go on and nothing she can say will make him change his mind. They argue. Leah rubs her sore arm where James grabbed her. James is downright nasty. Who is Leah to tell him how his foot is feeling? He moves away, steps on his injured foot wrong, cries out and goes down. Leah rushes to his side, sympathetic tears blurring her vision. She’s going to get help.

 

Somehow, James is back at her side, grabbing her again, just as roughly. She promised. He shakes her, none too gently. If she blabs he’ll give her something to cry about. Understand? Leah tries to pull away. He’s hurting her. (Um, Leah, this is harassment.) Then James does an abrupt 180. His voice goes soft and dreamy as he explains to Leah why he’s so driven. He was bullied most of his life by other boys because of his love of dance, then his own family wouldn’t accept him. He is driven and now, with Leah, he finally found the perfect partner. Tuesday all his dreams are going to come true!  Leah understands, she really does, but she doesn’t want to see James kill himself because he’s so blinded by ambition.

 

James gently turns her, putting his arm around her so they can see themselves in the mirrors. They were made to dance this pas de deux together. Don’t worry, he tells her again. As long as she doesn’t say anything about his injury, he’ll manage to dance on it come Tuesday and he won’t drop her again. His face turns dark in the mirror-unless she spills the beans.

 

Just then their accompanist enters the room, James steps away and Leah hides her fear while James informs him they’re done for the day. (Oh, Leah, you need to tell someone, and not just about James’s foot injury either!)

 

Chapter 11

 

            Tuesday is here and Leah is riding in one of the school vans heading to one of the local high schools for the demonstration. James made her take a window seat and is sitting so close to her, he might as well be in her lap, this is to make sure she doesn’t speak to anyone. Thanks to Pam, everyone assumes they are a couple and since they are dance partners too it makes sense to leave them alone to discuss their dance and share their nerves which is true as Leah is very nervous.

 

Over the chatter, laughter and noise of the vehicle, James tells her softly he went to a doctor in the city somewhere who gave him a cortisone shot in his foot. It worked like a charm. No more pain. He’ll be able to dance on it. Leah is anything but relieved. It’s against school rules to do that! Not just for insurance reasons but to prevent them from mistreating their bodies. He could be expelled! He is not happy at her quiet outburst as heads turn their way but at least he doesn’t get physical with her again. Instead, he pretends to sleep while keeping one hand firmly on her shoulder. Leah feels trapped, like a victim in a hostage situation.

 

Diana is in the program too dancing a pas de deux with Patrick as the final number in the program. Everyone is getting changed into their costumes in the girl’s locker room. Leah grabs a can of hair spray and coats her blond hair so not a single strand will fly loose. This is not just for vanity, Leah’s narration says Madame gave all the first year students a lecture about performance protocols. They are being treated like professional dancers and in the professional world: a hair out of place, a loose toe shoe ribbon or even a costume falling off right in the middle of a performance can mean a heavy fine which comes out of the dancer’s own pocket. The girls had giggled but Madame told them it had happened to a famous ballerina once whose partner accidently ripped her tutu during a supported turn and had to improvise by removing the whole thing and tossing it into the wings leaving the world-famous ballerina in nothing but her skimpy leotard and tights to finish her dance in. She had been fined and it had not been cheap.

 

Waiting in the wings for her turn, Leah is pleasantly surprised at the high school audience’s response to the dances and even the ballet class demonstrations. The kids are asking Patrick intelligent and insightful questions and seem to be enjoying it so far. Pam is next then it will be Leah and James’ turn.

 

Before they go on, Patrick tells the audience pas de deux means “double work”(Google says it also means “work of two” in French and is pronounced “paw-day-dou”) and is a real high point of classical dancing giving the impression of being one body in a beautiful and technical dance. He presents for them now: Leah Stephenson and James Cummings dancing the balcony scene from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet.

 

Leah can hardly walk over to the mark on the floor of the pitch-black high school auditorium stage (with dried Coke serving as rosin covering the stage floor so nobody slips and breaks their necks) her legs feel like jelly as she waits for someone to start the cassette player over the loudspeaker but is so nervous she’s forgotten her first step. What if James doesn’t catch her? What if his foot gives out right in the middle of their dance? Two spotlights illuminate them and Leah hears girls in the audience gasp. She allows herself to smile too. Tall, charismatic and handsome James with his dark hair falling over his forehead and soulful eyes full of love as he gazes at his Juliet is enough to woo any female audience member. There’s a moment of panic anyway for her as she can feel James’ arm shaking as he lifts her high above his head. Bringing her back down, he whispers he’ll be okay before she dances away from him again, her body on autopilot. Now she understands why dancers rehearse so much, thanks to the constant repetition, muscle memory is serving her well and before Leah knows it, their dance is almost over. James' difficult solo with all the midair turns arrives, the one he injured his foot on during their marathon rehearsal. Leah hears a gasp from the wings and realizes James changed the choreography switching the turns so he goes the opposite direction, landing on his uninjured left foot. The audience doesn’t have a clue but Leah wonders if Patrick won’t be chewing James out for this later. Cheers and applause explode out from the audience as James finishes his solo with a dramatic flourish. He is supposed to end in Leah’s arms. Instead, he collapses at her feet. Someone in the front row screams and the music is abruptly switched off. The curtain comes hastily down as company members including Diana come rushing over to investigate. James isn’t moving. Diana turns to Leah and practically screams at her, demanding to know what’s going on. As if it’s all her fault.

 

James moans weakly to Diana that it’s not Leah’s fault. He hurt his right foot and the cortisone wore off. He’s not sure he can walk. And with that, he faints again.

 

Chapter 12

 

            Kay and Alex attend to Leah giving her a glass of water and Alex instructing Leah to put on these leg warmers to keep her muscles loose. Leah can hear Patrick calming the audience, telling them the show will resume in just a few minutes. James hobbles by Leah, with support from guys on both sides of him. He reaches out and touches her, softly apologizing. She was right. He should have listened to her. Leah bursts into tears. Kay takes Leah into her arms as she sobs, James may never dance again, and it’s all her fault! Diana is incredulous hearing this. James hurt himself during one of their rehearsals and Leah said nothing?! “He threatened to hurt me if I told,” Leah finally admits to them but all Diana-the-witch cares about is that James was going to be her official partner next year when he joined the company and now that’s ruined and it’s all Leah’s fault. Alex stands up for Leah. James would push and even threaten Leah to dance despite an injury, he’s that driven and that ambitious. But nobody is  concerned about Leah or about filing a harassment report on James.

 

            Patrick comes up to announce he will finish the pas de deux with Leah, not Diana who is already physically pulling Leah out of her costume, oozing sympathy for the “poor kid” too shaken and in shock to dance what everyone knows has always been her piece all along, but Patrick overrides her, ordering Leah get back in that costume right now. The show must go on and Leah has to go out there and finish the dance because this is still a professional performance. Leah manages to stop crying as it suddenly all clicks for her. The company’s gifted star dancer, Diana Chen, really is scared of up-and-coming Leah who in just a short year or two could very well be the company’s newest star soloist with James as her partner…not Diana. She must be a pretty good dancer it she's got Diana that scared of her as future competition. Confidence back, Leah calmly tells Patrick she just needs a few minutes to warm up and fix her makeup and she’ll be ready to go on. It’s time to dance and for Leah that’s all that really matters.

 

THE END