Sacking The Player

Walking into the Café, I see it’s practically dead, which is good for me, so I can eat quickly and get to class a couple of minutes early. I need to go over my notes. Now who’s the hypocrite?

“Hey, Amaya, your usual?” The waiter, I believe his name is Paul, asks me when he comes over.

“Yup. I’m starved so if you could also throw in an extra pile of bacon that would be awesome,” I say smiling at him.

“Sure thing. Be about ten minutes.”

I want to text Tate and say thanks for invading my dreams, but I won’t give him the satisfaction. Instead, I pull up Trinity Ballet Company’s website. Oh my god. They are holding auditions in a couple of months. Last year, I wasn’t ready, but this time I am. I read through their requirements and guidelines being sure to bookmark everything for later. Even if a scout doesn’t pick me at the fall recital, I’ll still have a chance to live my dream.

I know I promised I would finish school first, but I really want this. I eat my food quickly and dash to my first class unable to contain my excitement over the auditions. I can’t concentrate during clinic at all and it takes me two tries to wrap a wrist properly.

I keep expecting Keith to pop up at any moment and ruin my day, but thankfully, he is holding true to his word.

Finishing up with my school day, I head over to the dance hall. Madam said there was no class today, but we had to be there to find out what our role is in the recital. Still can’t believe we’re doing Frozen. It just seems so cliché because everyone is doing a Frozen theme for everything lately.

“Okay everyone, I have the list done up. Some of you didn’t make the cut, but that doesn’t mean you can just miss classes. The people that made it, must hand me over your school schedules so I can work extra practice times around them.”

We file into a single line so each person gets a turn to see the list on the backboard. A few girls walk away looking upset about not getting a part. My heart squeezes when Kendra, one of the top dancers in this program squeals, revealing she must have gotten a good part. Finally, it’s my turn, I go up to the board and see my name at the top of the sheet, I’ll be playing the part of Elsa. Oh my God.

I run out of the building fast, almost knocking a few people over in the process, and get back to the dorm in record time.

“Courtney!” I scream as I open our door. “I got the lead role in the recital!” I screech.

She runs out from the bedroom and squeals pulling me in for a tight hug. “That is so awesome. How’d that wench Kendra take it?”

“Oh, stop it, Kendra’s actually really nice.”

“Yeah okay, I’ll give you that, but she usually has the starring role.”

I shrug. “She stil

l has a major role she’ll be playing Anna. I’ll be playing Elsa.” I smile.

Court groans. “Seriously? You guys are doing fucking Frozen?”

I nod, smiling stupidly at her. I check the clock. “Shit, I’ll start getting ready, we don’t want to be late.”

**

“You almost ready?” Courtney shouts.

“Yes,” I hiss. “I’m completely ready.” I really am this time. Before we head out, my phone rings, and I see it’s my dad. Groaning, I answer the phone and tell Courtney I’ll only be five minutes. The show doesn’t go on for another two hours, but the traffic to get there will be a shit show.

“Hey, Dad,” I answer.

“How’s my dancing star?” He asks sarcastically.

I roll my eyes. “I’m great, actually. I was able to get the lead role in the fall recital this year.”

“That’s nice. How are your classes?” He asks, changing the subject. Both him and Mom wanted me to become a doctor, thinking I was wasting my life away by wanting to dance professionally. At least they were somewhat happy when I decided to get into sports medicine.

“It’s going good actually, I dropped a few of the elective classes I don’t need, so I can focus just on the classes needed for my Masters degree and dance of course.”

“Are you going to go for your doctoral degree?” He asks, of course he would.

“Only if I don’t make it big with my dancing, then yes.” He knows this, we’ve had this conversation many times. It’s been the subject of many heated debates. He thinks dancing is a hobby not a career. He’s always supported my interest in dance and paid for all my classes and costumes, but he really wanted me to follow his footsteps. But that’s his dream, not mine.

“You know I love you, Amaya, and I’m proud of you, but I don’t want to see you wasting your life with foolishness.” Here comes the same old speech he’s constantly giving me. “Dancing can’t pay your bills. Once you’re out of school, I won’t continue paying your way. After graduation, you’re on your own.”