And All That Jazz (4 page)

In the week before the competition, I walked into the change rooms at Silver Shoes and there were Riley, Paige and Ashley sitting in one corner, chatting and eating a bag of dried apples.

‘Oh, hey,' I said, going to them and helping myself to a big handful. I was being over-confident, I guess, because I felt a little left out and I didn't want the others to see. But then
I saw how much my piggy manners shocked Paige.

‘Sorry,' I said. ‘I'm starved. Whose are they?'

‘Mine,' said Ashley.

Great.

‘Sorry,' I said again. ‘I don't usually barge in and help myself to food.'

‘That's fine,' she said. ‘You look hungry. Better the apples than me.'

I saw a sneaky smile flicker at the corner of Riley's mouth.

‘How's your solo coming along?' I asked Ashley.

‘Really good,' said Ashley. ‘It was nice of Miss Caroline to give me one.'

‘Yes,' I said, ‘it was.'

‘I saw Ash rehearsing yesterday,' said Riley. ‘Very Beyoncé.'

‘I don't really like Beyoncé's dancing,' I said, which was a lie.

‘Is Silver Shoes much different to Dance Art?' asked Paige.

‘Very,' said Ashley. ‘It's a lot more relaxed here.'

‘You don't really come to dance class to relax,' I said.

‘No,' said Ashley, ‘I meant, like, the feel of the place. It's easy to have fun here. You always dance better when you're relaxed and having fun.'

‘You're so right,' said Paige.

The dried apples turned to cardboard in my mouth.

‘Anyway,' I said, ‘I'm going to warm up. It won't be very relaxing if I pull a muscle when I'm having all that fun.'

‘I'll come with you,' said Paige. She gave Ashley one of her sweet Paige smiles. ‘Thanks for the apples.'

‘That's cool,' said Ashley.

Huh. Apples. It's not even tasty junk food. I decided that next week I would bring in a big
jar of snakes, like what we normally snacked on before class, before Ashley poked her nose in. We'll see how much the girls remembered bland dried apples then.

‘Are you okay?' asked Paige as we walked out into the second studio.

‘Of course,' I said, flicking imaginary dust off my dance tights.

She gave me a hug. ‘Just in case you're not.'

For a minute I didn't want her to let go because it made my heart feel big and lovely, and her baby-powder Paige smell was very comforting. But then I remembered about her secret dance life and shrugged the hug off.

I attached my hand to the barre and began swinging my leg back and forth. ‘All I want is to do well at the competition.' I did a few more swings. ‘It will be so embarrassing if the new girl beats me in my favourite style.'

‘At least you got a solo,' said Paige. She was fiddling with her cross-over, tying and untying the knot. When I tried to catch her eye in the mirror she wouldn't look back at me.

‘Well, jazz isn't really your best style, Paige,' I said. ‘Maybe if we were doing lyrical you would have got it. You're better than almost everyone at lyrical. Or tap. Or even … ballroom.'

Paige went as pink as my jazz boots.

‘Wh … what?' she stammered.

‘I saw you practising, Paige,' I said. ‘I don't know why you had to keep it a secret from me.'

‘I don't want to,' whispered Paige. ‘But Mum wants me to enter … she picked Benji for me, so we can, you know, like she used to … the dancesport stuff.'

The other girls started to trickle into the studio so I didn't say any more. I could see
Paige holding her head like she does when she's trying not to cry.

That made me want to cry. I knew the ballroom was probably her mum's idea. Mrs Montreal used to be a professional ballroom dancer; you should see the huge pictures of herself she has everywhere in Paige's house. I guess when I'd seen Paige practising in secret, I'd been hurt but also a little … jealous? Worried? I wish I could take ten different classes a week so
my
dancing could improve too, but Mum seems to think that paying for silly things like bread and milk and petrol is more important. I mean, geez, I could go without sandwiches for a week.

‘I'm sorry,' I whispered to Paige. ‘I just don't want to lose my duo partner! We're such a good match!'

She gave me a trembly smile, and then class started.

Riley raised her hand. ‘Miss Caroline,' she said, ‘I have to leave early this afternoon; I have a basketball game tonight.'

Miss Caroline pursed her lips but didn't say anything.

‘We have a big competition in less than two weeks,' said Jasmine. ‘No one should be leaving early.' She glared at Riley and raised her chin in this snooty way that made her look like an angry emu.

‘No one,' echoed Tove.

‘That's enough, girls,' said Miss Caroline briskly. ‘That's fine, Riley, but you'll need to come in early on Saturday to make up for what you missed today.'

‘My brother plays football early –' Riley began, but then closed her mouth when she saw Miss Caroline's face. ‘Okay,' she said.

‘Very well,' said Miss Caroline. ‘You may leave, but do it quietly so you don't disturb the class.'

‘That wouldn't happen at Dance Art,' said Jasmine. ‘Would it, Ashley? No one's allowed to leave early. My cousin goes there and she said it's really strict.'

Ashley shuffled her feet while Jasmine waited for a reply.

‘Well, that was an interesting answer,' said Jasmine, turning around to swap mean glances with Tove.

‘So interesting,' said Tove.

‘The front's that way,' said Riley, pointing.

‘You mean where I always stand,' said Jasmine, acting surprised. ‘And not at the back, where you are?'

‘All the better to see you with, my dear,' said Riley. Ashley giggled.

‘Very funny,' snapped Jasmine, narrowing her eyes at Ashley. Someone had just made a new enemy.

While Miss Caroline was lecturing the girls on the importance of refined manners in class, two small hands wrapped around my arm.

‘You won't lose me as a duo partner, Ellie,' Paige whispered. ‘I love dancing with you. I'm sorry I kept it a secret. I guess I was embarrassed. Mum makes me do all these things and sometimes I just don't want to.'

‘Don't worry about it,' I whispered back.

I didn't want to stay mad at Paige, anyway. It takes so much energy to be mad at someone, much more than just being their friend. And I needed all my energy if I was going to win Jazz Groove.

Costume-fitting time! One of my favourite parts of competitions, eisteddfods, concerts and shows. Sometimes when Mum is grocery shopping I even sneak into the material store, just so I can plan out my future costumes with all the new fabrics.

When I'm famous I'd like to have a special room filled with every single costume I've ever worn. People will come from everywhere to
look at them. As it is, I keep all my costumes shoved to one side of my wardrobe and Mum always complains that there's not enough room for my school blazers. Priorities, Mum.

We were all piled around the costume room on Thursday, waiting for our turn to be fitted. I poked my head inside and there were measuring tapes and sequins and hair ribbons flying everywhere. Paige's mum was in there with pins in her mouth. She looked extremely happy – Paige is lucky, Mrs Montreal really loves helping out at Silver Shoes.

‘Looks pretty crazy in there,' said Ashley, peering around me.

‘Yep,' I said.

‘So different from Dance Art,' she said. ‘We used to have set appointments where we would come in and get fitted.'

‘Well, why don't you go back there if you miss it so much,' I said.

‘I didn't say I liked it,' said Ashley. She stepped back and tightened the ribbon in her hair. ‘It's nice here. I'm really enjoying the classes.'

‘Your turn, Ellie,' said Mrs Montreal.

‘That's nice,' I said to Ashley. I left her standing at the door. I felt a bit bad, but her new best friend Riley would probably come along soon.

‘I don't want purple,' Jasmine was saying to her mum, who was also in charge of making the group costumes for our age group. Mrs de Lacy was holding a purple dress with the most fantastic layers of creamy tulle.

‘But it goes with your royal personality,' I said to Jasmine.
Royally snobby
, I added to myself.

‘You've got pink, Ellie,' said Mrs Montreal, wrapping the measuring tape around my waist.

‘My favourite!' I exclaimed. ‘Thank you!'

Pink is my favourite colour. I saw Jasmine eyeing off my dress and knew what was coming.

‘Can I have the pink this time?' Jasmine asked. ‘Ellie always gets pink.'

‘That's a good idea,' said Mrs de Lacy.

‘Oh no, it's already done now,' said Mrs Montreal. ‘Stand up straight, Elle-belle, so I can see where to take it in.'

‘It would be a nice change,' said Mrs de Lacy. ‘Eleanor does always get to wear pink. Wouldn't you like to be different for once, Eleanor?'

‘I like pink,' I said. ‘It makes me dance better.'

‘Nonsense,' said Mrs de Lacy.

‘Oh, let Ellie have the pink dress,' Mrs Montreal said. ‘It isn't hurting anyone.'

‘I don't want purple!' Jasmine whined. ‘It makes me look like a grape!'

The two mothers stood at either end of the costume room, tulle in their hands. It was like the great dressing room showdown. And there was no way I was going to give up that pink.

‘Mum's already made pink hair accessories,' I said, ‘so I have to wear the pink or it won't match.' Mum hadn't done any such thing.

‘There are hundreds of purple hair accessories around here,' said Jasmine, pointing to the overstuffed boxes. ‘I'm sure you could find something if we swapped.'

‘I don't want to swap,' I said. ‘Mum's already made stuff. It would be rude if I didn't use it.' I was getting upset. The past few weeks had been hard and I didn't need Jasmine being sulky about what colour dress she got to wear. Besides, everyone knows I always wear pink. It's my thing.

Luckily Ashley walked in then. ‘I'll wear the purple dress if you like,' she told Jasmine.
‘My dress is blue. I heard you say that was your favourite colour the other week. I don't mind swapping.'

Jasmine stared at Ashley. Jasmine's mum stared at Ashley. Ashley grinned at me. I flashed her a small smile but then I quickly looked away.

‘This dress was too big for me anyway,' Ashley said, holding out the blue dress. ‘But it would look great on you, Jasmine, because you're so tall.'

Too bad, Jas-mean. There was no way she could say no, now.

‘Thanks,' she finally said to Ashley, grabbing the dress. But her face wasn't thankful at all. ‘Pink clashes with your red hair,' Jasmine hissed at me as we walked out.

‘It's strawberry-blonde,' I said.

Some people are just really bad losers.

Mum always comes into my room at the most inappropriate moments.

‘Eleanor Irvin!' she said. ‘What on earth do you think you're doing?'

I was balancing on my elbows with my head tucked between my knees, so I guess it was a fair question.

‘The bird pose, Mum,' I said. And then, because my concentration was broken,
I tipped over. ‘Now look what you've done!'

Lucas came barrelling up behind her. ‘Squawk, squawk!' he yelled, running in and diving on top of me.

‘Squawk, squawk!' I said back, and lifted him up on my feet.

‘Why do you feel the need to pose like a bird?' asked Mum.

‘I'm meditating,' I told her over Lucas' squeals. ‘For peace of mind.'

‘Ellie, you're ten years old,' Mum said. ‘What could possibly be on your mind?'

‘The dance competition!' I blurted. ‘It's three days away! I'm not ready! What if I mess up?'

‘What have I told you about lighting candles in your room?' Mum huffed, charging around and putting them out. All my peace of mind disappeared in puffs of lavender-scented smoke.

‘MUM!'

‘A dance competition is not a matter of life or death,' said Mum. ‘Nor is it reason to burn the house down.'

‘It IS life or death!'

‘Don't be a drama queen,' said Mum. ‘You'll be wonderful, like you always are. Now come out into the lounge room.'

‘No,' I sulked.

‘Okay,' said Mum, gathering Lucas up. ‘But then I guess you won't see what I've got for you.'

I waited for at least one minute before I followed her. I just couldn't last any longer, because I had a big idea about why Mum wanted me to come out.

I was right.

My brand new solo costume hung over the chair. It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.

Mum had made a black sparkly top that looked like a corset, and all over the shoulders and down the front in a V shape were feathers mixed with spangly jewels. The bottom was black sparkly shorts but covered in the same hot pink feathers, and the feathers got bigger and bigger until they ended in a swirly tail, kind of like a peacock. There was also an amazing jewel and feather arrangement for my hair.

‘Mum!' I yelled. ‘I love it!'

Of course I had to try it on straightaway. And when I did, it was like stepping into the skin of Celeste, famous cabaret dancer, who had stolen the entire world's hearts.

And I knew I could do it. I knew I could win the competition.

I was in such a good mood when I went to my next solo rehearsal.

‘Hi Mrs de Lacy,' I said to Jasmine's mum as I walked past reception. ‘Hi Jasmine,' I said, as sweet as can be, as I walked past her practising in the big dressing room. She looked like a codfish had slapped her in the face.

‘Miss Caroline, Miss Caroline!' I cried, running into the small studio. ‘I have my costume – look! It's amazing!'

Miss Caroline held it up. ‘Perfect!' she declared.

‘I will be!' I replied.

‘Well, this is your last rehearsal,' she said, ‘so I hope so!'

But nothing could have stopped me now.

My side split leaps had never been higher. Miss Caroline didn't even have to yell out at me to straighten my knees. The lines I created with my arms and feet were worthy of a
famous ballerina. I didn't even have to think about which expressions to use – everything came naturally. Even my travelling fouette turns, which I sometimes have trouble with, I breezed right through. A fouette is when you spin on the spot numerous times, using one leg to propel you. Often I throw my leg too hard and end up off balance, but not today. They were slightly easier because Miss Caroline wanted me to travel, and you usually stay on the spot.

At the end of the rehearsal Miss Caroline gave me a hug and said, ‘Now there's the Ellie I know. Dance just like that at Jazz Groove and you'll be unstoppable!'

I couldn't wait until I took to the stage.