Christian and Abigail combine against Lulu and Lily, and I just love the way Christian is so powerful and graceful at the same time. They are both awesome! He and Abigail outclass the first years – again! Lulu scowls.
Then it’s three against three – Tara, Ben and Grace battle against me and two other first years. It’s a close bout but in the end Ollie holds up Ben’s hand in victory. The first years are all out of moves and they leave as the second years cheer and keep on dancing. I stay with my friends, and it’s a great feeling to be back with them – and with Christian.
CHAPTER 5
I wish I loved skateboarding. It’s scary to put your trust in something barely 20 centimetres wide. All I can do is wobble. Christian whizzes up behind me on his board and kisses me, and then our boards jam together and we have to stop. As we walk along the wharf, he says, ‘So what’s your schedule like?’
‘First up, inappropriate PDA. Tick.’ I cross it off my invisible list as someone toots behind me. A beaten-up, old red van drives towards us. ‘And then avoid getting run over by the dude who can’t read “Pedestrians Only”.’
It pulls up next to us and the dark-haired driver smiles at Christian like he knows him and says, ‘Hey. Not a bad place if you live in a city.’
Christian doesn’t answer that. He says, ‘What are you doing here?’
I look from one to the other – what is going on?
‘I thought …’ The guy hesitates. ‘Didn’t I text you?’
‘No,’ Christian says shortly.
‘Oh.’ He looks awkward. ‘Thought I’d take some time off.’
This is awful. I have to say something. ‘I’m going take a wild stab. You’re Christian’s …’
‘This is Raf.’
‘Oh. Well, I’m Kat.’ I stick out my hand. ‘It’s great to meet you.’
‘You, too.’ He shakes my hand and glances at Christian’s stony face. ‘I should probably find a car park nearby?’
Christian just looks down at his feet and I jump in again. ‘There’s one down there. We can show you if you like.’
Christian jumps in. ‘No, we’ve got to get to class. We’re running late.’
‘Then we’ll catch up later. If that’s all right?’ Raf looks hopefully at Christian, but Christian grabs my hand and walks away so fast I can hardly keep up. He doesn’t say a word, and there’s no way I’m going to ask. Not now, anyway.
After class, Sammy wants us to meet in the common room. I sit on the couch, hugging a cushion. Today seems like a big drama day, and now Christian is missing. Sammy stands in front of the television, looking like he’s about to give a presidential address.
‘Thanks everyone for being prompt.’
‘Is popcorn appropriate?’ Grace asks.
‘I wanted to tell you – the inner sanctum – before you heard it from someone else …’ Sammy pauses. ‘I’m seeing Ollie.’
I am so happy for him! I leap up and hug him. ‘Yay. I am so proud of you. And he is gorgeous.’
Everyone else is cool about it, too. ‘I knew it,’ Ben says. ‘I have the best gaydar.’
‘You have no-dar,’ Sammy says. ‘And I didn’t say I was gay. I just have a boyfriend.’
‘Kind of heteroflexible,’ Grace says. ‘Cool.’
Abigail stands up, and she looks annoyed. ‘I can’t believe I wasted studio time for this.’
I’m dying to know how it all happened. ‘Who asked who out? I’m suffering details deprivation.’
Sammy shakes his head. ‘I’m surprised you’re all accepting it so easily.’ He looks at Tara, who still seems to be struggling with it all. ‘Tara. You’re looking shocked. Are you feeling shocked?’
There’s a moment of silence, and then Tara jumps up and throws her arms around Sammy. ‘I have always wanted a gay best friend.’
I doubt this was what Sammy was expecting, but he goes with it and hugs her back. On my way up to my room, I grab a DVD. Grace and Tara are behind me but I keep moving. I don’t want another confrontation with Tara.
‘I can’t believe that was your first coming out,’ Grace says. ‘I averaged one a week at the Royal.’
Then Tara calls to me. ‘Kat.’
I stop, stunned. She’s actually talking to me. I turn around. She smiles at me. ‘We’re doing this circus thing this weekend. It sounds pretty fun.’
Grace pipes up. ‘Except I think it’s for second years only, T.’
‘Zach’s all about inclusion,’ Tara says. ‘I’m sure we can win him over.’ She smiles at me, kind of nervous and hopeful. ‘I mean, only if you want to come.’
I know my mouth is gaping open, but I’m not about to let this peace offering go. ‘Yeah, I … I think I have a sequined leotard somewhere. See you tomorrow.’ I smile back at her and escape upstairs before she can change her mind. I just hope this really does mean our friendship is mending at last.
Next day, the circus is mind-blowing. We follow Zach into the big top and it’s all amazing, so colourful and yet kind of old world. One guy executes an incredible backflip on stilts right in front of us. Two performers on a stationary trapeze wrap themselves around each other. And above us, a young woman spins at breakneck speed on a web apparatus hanging from the ceiling.
She grins down at us and shouts, ‘Who let you in here?’ Then she climbs down and heads over. Zach introduces us. ‘Everyone meet Charlie. Acrobat and –’ He’s kissing her! ‘Wife extraordinaire.’
That is even more amazing!
‘Nice work, Zach,’ Ben says.
‘I’m going to be like your flight attendant this weekend,’ Charlie says. ‘“Your safety is my priority.” Any questions?’
No one puts their hand up. Zach leans over to Charlie. ‘Ballet kids. No idea what they’re in for.’
This place is brilliant. I stare at the two guys stacking chairs up to the roof, and then one balances on the top. Are we going to be doing that?
Once we start, they get us to try all kinds of stuff. Grace and Abigail turn themselves upside down at the bottom of two brightly coloured silk ropes called a tissu that hang from the ceiling. Charlie watches, instructing, as the girls compete over who can extend themselves into a more flexible position. Those two never give up.
Next, we all have to put on protective elbow and knee pads so we can be stilt walkers, which is maybe just a little better than skateboarding. Zach supervises. ‘Core strength, people.’
Tara winces between me and Grace, and rubs her stomach. ‘My tummy is already cramping.’
‘Snap, we’re in sync,’ Grace says in a smarmy voice. ‘That happens, doesn’t it, Sammy?’
He’s wobbling on his stilts, and Charlie has to hold his hands. ‘What?’
‘You get your period at the same time as your best friend,’ Grace says.
I roll my eyes.
‘Only anecdotally,’ Sammy says. ‘It’s never been proven …’ He looks at her suspiciously. ‘Why would you ask me that?’
I’m still tottering away but Ben and Christian have totally mastered the stilts and are having a pretend sword fight with juggling pins. Zach snaps at them, ‘Christian and Ben, come with me.’
‘And me?’ Sammy asks. ‘Zach?’
But Zach’s not listening. ‘Ladies, you’re outside with Charlie.’
At last, I can get off the stilts. The world sways a little when I climb down but I’m glad to be on solid ground again.
But on the grassy area, Charlie is standing at the base of a flying trapeze rig. A really huge, high trapeze rig. My stomach clenches into a knot. We all gather around the net and look up at the two flying trapeze artists swinging above us.
‘So, the trapeze,’ Charlie says. ‘Trapeze is all about the bond you have with the other flyer.’ She gives one of the artists a nod and she pushes off from the platform, swinging back and forth. ‘Now, that connection is vital because when you’re performing without a net –’
The other artist starts to move, too, then leaps and connects cleanly with the
catcher, and they swing, linked together. ‘– you’re putting your neck in someone else’s hands.’
My heart is in my mouth. We watch from below as they begin a simple but graceful routine. Tara turns to me as Grace inspects the net. ‘You should go up with Grace.’
Is she serious? But I don’t want to hurt Tara’s feelings. ‘Er, I doubt we’re that compatible. Connectivity wise.’
‘You’ve got heaps in common,’ she says. ‘You’re both …’
‘Blonde?’ Oops, that slipped out.
Tara’s not going to give up. ‘You’ll like her, once you spend more time with her.’
Joy. I’m really looking forward to that.
Charlie has got a safety harness ready. ‘So who’s going to be my first pair?’
I look across to Grace. Maybe I can make an effort for Tara’s sake. ‘Grace? You can be catcher.’ I hope this won’t be the death of me – literally. Once I’ve got the harness on, I climb up to the platform and Charlie joins me. Grace is already swinging on the trapeze upside down.
‘I am a fruit bat!’ she says.
Charlie keeps her serious face on, and I’m glad. I need a lot of serious here.
‘All right,’ she says. ‘Keep your arms firm, Grace.’ And then, ‘Kat, it’s all about the timing. Big leap.’
Right. Big leap. I have a bad feeling about this. I push off, swinging towards Grace. At the last minute, I can’t let go and swing back again.
‘Don’t you trust me?’ Grace calls.
Well, no. But I don’t want to look like a chicken. On the next swing, I take a breath and let go to make the leap. Grace misses me, of course. I fall and bounce in the net. She giggles. ‘Harness wedgie. Sorry.’
I glance at Tara and shrug. I don’t trust Grace any time, not just on the trapeze.
Then it’s Tara’s turn and I know she’s petrified. Grace is still swinging as catcher, and she’s no help. ‘Come on, T. You’re literally leaving me hanging.’
I watch from the ground as Tara leans backwards. I’m more scared for her than I was for me. She launches off the platform towards Grace … who misses the catch, so Tara drops down onto the net. Grace laughs and follows her down. ‘Sorry,’ Grace says, but she doesn’t sound sorry. ‘I thought you were all about the flying.’
‘I am,’ Tara snaps and turns away.
‘Awww. The little petal is scared,’ Grace teases and Tara flushes bright red as they climb off the net.
I can’t stand it anymore. ‘Of course she’s scared, Grace. She had a broken back. And do you really have to talk in that voice?’
‘Kat,’ Tara says.
‘Sorry. Just as the “best friend” you’d think she’d understand why you might be worried about getting injured.’
Tara faces me. ‘Grace does understand. She’s been there for me. Through all of it.’ There’s an edge in her voice, and of course Grace adds, ‘Unlike you who made it worse.’
‘And there it is.’ Now it’s out in the open, and I’m not backing down, but when I look at Tara, she stays silent. ‘Great jump to my defence, T.’
I walk away and she comes after me. ‘Kat.’
I’ve had enough of this. Tara needs to be honest with me. ‘Have you forgiven me? Or is this just punishment in closer proximity?’ I can tell by her face that nothing’s changed and my heart slides downwards.
‘I’m sorry …’ she says. ‘I honestly thought if I was over Christian but … it’s what you did.’
‘One kiss. And you guys were broken up.’
‘No. You liked him the whole time I was with him. And before that. You lied to me. I want to forgive you –’
‘But you can’t. So … we’re never going to be friends again?’ I can see she can’t get past it, even though she’s not being fair. I want to cry but Grace is hovering in the background with a smirk on her face.
‘I guess not,’ says Tara, and goes back to Grace. I feel like I can’t breathe, I’m so sad.
I follow them back into the tent, wanting to avoid everyone, but there’s a drama happening. Sammy is up on the tissu, all bound up in the silk, looking very stuck.
‘He’s having a moment,’ Abigail says.
‘Let yourself fall like I taught you,’ Charlie calls to Sammy.
‘Relax. Unwind, so to speak,’ Ben suggests.
‘Why don’t I just plummet to my death, too?’ Sammy says.
Zach looks exasperated. ‘Sammy, you’re the one who begged to do this.’
‘Really? He hates heights,’ Tara and I both say together. I can’t help glancing at her, but then Sammy groans and lets go into a twirling fall, screaming the whole way down until he finally sprawls on the mat.
‘Still breathing?’ Zach asks, and leans down to help Sammy up.
Ben laughs. ‘Apart from the lady screams, that was impressive.’
But Sammy jumps to his feet and pushes through everyone, and I can tell he’s really upset and humiliated. ‘Just get away from me, all right?’
I don’t get why he’s behaving like this. Usually we all support each other. Even Ben is looking puzzled.
We have some time out for a while and I notice Christian isn’t here. Ben tells me he went off with Raf. Okay, cool. I call him and he answers.
‘Hey. Where are you? What are you doing?’ I sound like an interrogator but I thought he was supposed to be here, no excuses.
‘Hey … Yeah, just hanging out. With my dad.’ He sounds happy about it, for a change, so I let him go. Circus is over for the day.
The next morning, I eat breakfast with Christian and he’s like a nervous cat. ‘You should come watch me get my learners,’ he says. ‘You could help me cheat.’ He holds up the road transport rule book.
I laugh. ‘No. You spend time with your dad.’
‘Does that sound weird to you? My “dad”.’
‘It sounds awesome,’ I say.
‘But …’ He looks guilty. ‘Will you be all right to go back to the circus?’
He gestures at the lounge room and I can’t help it – I turn around and there’s Tara and Grace on the couch watching TV together, cereal bowls in their laps. I can be brave about this.
‘I’m not being pushed out. Running away and joining the circus has always been my backup plan.’
He nods and takes off. I yell, ‘Good luck!’ And try not to look at Tara and Grace again.
But by the time we get to the circus, I’m definitely not ready to back down and be a wuss. While I’m putting resin on my hands by the trapeze, I decide to say something to Tara. I need her to know how I feel.
‘You don’t have dibs on feeling betrayed, Tara.’
‘Please can we just –’ she starts, but I’ve had enough of being the bad guy.
‘Yes, I liked Christian all that time and I tried to make it go away because hurting you is the equivalent of cutting off my own arm.’ She tries to interrupt me but I’m not finished. ‘But that doesn’t go both ways, does it. You are the one who ended our friendship. Like it never meant anything. So you don’t get dibs on feeling betrayed.’ I move past her and start climbing the ladder.
Charlie has teamed me up with Tara today. I’m going to be the catcher. I swing back and forth, my knees firmly over the bar. Even though I’m still angry with her, I know how scared she is, and I also know that I’m not like Grace. I call out to Tara. ‘I’m not going to drop you.’ She doesn’t look convinced. Then it’s like something shifts inside her and she leaps off the platform, swinging out and then looping her legs over the bar for the next swing.
It’s as though the whole world slows down. On my next swing, here she comes, and then she lets go. I reach out as far as I can, see her hands, feel them in mine, and I grip hard, harder than I ever have before.
‘I’ve got you, T,’ I say, as everyone cheers below.
‘I know,’ she says, and finally I wonder if it might be okay after all.
Neither of us can hang on any longer – we fall through the air, safely onto the net, a
nd then jump up, laughing and hugging. That was awesome! I feel like I just climbed Mt Everest!
But even better, now I know I have my best friend back.
CHAPTER 6
I’m sitting on the stairs with Tara, eating lunch. It’s great that we’re friends again, but something’s up with Tara. She’s kind of tetchy and I can’t work out why. Neither can she.
‘Headache?’ I ask.
‘Nope,’ she says.
‘Backache?’
She thinks. ‘Uh-uh.’
Grace is sitting behind us. ‘I’m developing a severe case of invisibility.’
‘Pardon?’ Tara says.
But I get it. Grace is not happy with either of us. ‘Exactly,’ she says. She goes back to her magazine, while Tara frowns.
‘Sorry, I just don’t know what’s wrong with me. Dancing’s fine. My back is fine. Even this sandwich is fine.’ She tosses it back on the step.
Grace waves the mag at her. ‘Have you checked your star sign? Cosmic Carla doesn’t lie. Taurus?’
I try to be helpful. ‘No, she’s a Libran.’
Grace fakes a smile at me, but before she can read it out, Tara says, ‘Star signs are only useful when you’re in love. Or at least, have a crush.’
‘Ah. Mercury’s in retrograde. It’s disrupting your Libran balance,’ Grace says, but Tara’s face has gone dreamy and then she smiles.
‘Of course. I feel scratchy and unfulfilled. That’s what’s missing.’
‘A stable Mercury?’ Grace says.
‘A crush.’
Oh, no. Panic time. I’ve been here with Tara before. How can I derail her? ‘Oh, T, perhaps a hobby would be safer. I’ve heard quilting is making a comeback?’
Too late. ‘A crush,’ she says. And off she goes.
After class, in the common room, we play a game of Celebrity Heads with a pile of yellow Post-it Notes. Tara has Miss Raine stuck to her forehead. ‘Am I single?’ she asks.
‘Eternally,’ I answer.
‘You’d be surprised,’ Grace says. ‘Online dating has a lot to answer for.’
Tara tries again. ‘Am I hot?’
Dance Academy: Second Chance Page 3