Head to Head (On Pointe Book 2)

by Penelope Freed

  Peeling the top layer of bread off, I pick at mine. “I think so. Aurora felt good last time we did it and my legs felt good in class today. I’m just relieved I made it through the first cut.”

  “Well, you know we’re proud of you no matter what, right?” Mom pops a pickle between her teeth, eyeing me thoughtfully. “Have you thought about whether you want to spend your summer here or at PSB?”

  “A little? Martin keeps trying to convince me to come to CBS. When they gave us that tour on Tuesday morning, he spent the whole time whispering why I should come here in my ear. I think he just wants to have someone he knows there. But it would be nice to know where I’m going when I get to summer school.”

  “Martin does seem like a pretty persuasive guy. Remember, the teachers you have this week aren’t going to be at CBS. I think one of the contemporary teachers might be, but I know the rest are not. In fact, the teacher you had yesterday, Melanie Harville? I was chatting with her after class and she is definitely going to be on staff at PSB. So that’s something to keep in mind.”

  Possibilities swirl in my mind as I eat. This week hasn’t changed any of my reasons on my various pros and cons list. It is definitely exciting to be here in New York City, but what I have to keep in mind is that most of my time this summer will be spent, should be spent, dancing. Not being a tourist. I can’t let the lure of being in NYC override the reasons I pick a summer intensive. And I enjoyed Ms. Harville’s class yesterday. Why is this decision so hard?

  I slip my phone out of my bag while Mom and Ms. Parker chat, wanting to let everyone know how things are going.

  Me: I made the first cut! Competing Aurora tonight. Sorry I haven’t been checking my phone, I’m too scared to look at anything. Martin is the selfie king and tags me every time. Safer to keep my phone off.

  I send an almost identical message to Trevor. I know they’re probably in school right now, but I’m hoping I’ll catch one of them at lunch. Unsurprisingly, Katy is the first to answer.

  Katy: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

  Katy: So freaking happy for you Hannah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Of course this is followed by a couple of gifs, mostly of fireworks exploding in the sky. Katy really loves fireworks.

  Lisa: So excited for you, I knew you could do it! Do you know what time you go on yet?

  I fill Katy and Lisa in on my morning and who else made the first cut before I get a text back from Trevor.

  Trevor: Congrats! So happy for you TT. Wish I could be there to cheer you on. Knock ‘em dead tonight, can’t wait to hear how it goes.

  Me: Thanks, fingers crossed nothing goes wrong.

  Trevor: Wanna know a secret?

  Trevor’s text sends a thrill through me.

  Me: Always

  Trevor: I’m dying to see a picture of you in your tutu. Get Martin to take a picture for me tonight, please?

  If I wasn’t sitting in the middle of Central Park with my mom and my ballet teacher, I’d twirl with happiness right now. Warmth fills me and I can’t help the grin that cracks my face. How could I have forgotten the giddiness that Trevor makes me feel? In my attempt to stay focused, I’d let myself forget the way Trevor can say just the right thing, the way he makes me feel special.

  Me: I can do that.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Lisa

  “No! That’s awful!” I have to pull Katy’s phone from her hand before she drops it. Hannah pulls a face at us through the screen, telling us about the competition tonight. Some poor girl’s shoulder strap broke on her tutu.

  “Was she okay?” Second-hand embarrassment floods through me. A shoulder strap snapping on stage is every girl’s worst nightmare, probably second only to starting your period in the middle of a performance.

  “Yeah, she was fine, it was a good tutu, so it’s not like it slid down or anything. She just couldn’t do as big a backbend. She was doing that one variation from Paquita, you know the kind of slow one, with the double pirouette in attitude?”

  “Oh, I love that one!” Katy swoons next to me on her bed. We’re lying side by side, still sweaty from class. Since we both wanted to Facetime with Hannah, I came home with Katy after our Friday night class. With Hannah gone this week, I’ve been making an effort to hang out with Katy a little more, I think we’re both a little lonely without her.

  “Okay, but you still haven’t told us how you did,” I point out. Hannah is stalling and I want to know why.

  “I was getting there!” Hannah laughs. “I guess I did pretty good, Ms. Parker said so. My variation felt good. Oh here!” A second later both our phones ding with an incoming text. I open it up on my phone since we’re chatting on Katy’s. Hannah sent us a photo of her backstage in her tutu. Her pale peach and gold costume is lit from the stage lights coming through the wings next to her, the tiara I know so well pinned to her head, her mane of red hair tamed into a sleek French twist. She’s smiling sweetly for the camera, looking exactly like the princess she’s playing. A second photo pops up after it, taken when she wasn’t paying attention. She’s facing the stage, eyes closed, face bathed in the harsh lights from the stage, hands subtly waving in front of her body. I’ve seen this Hannah so many times before we step out onto the stage. She’s visualizing the scene she’s about to perform, getting herself ready to dance. I’m surprised she has a photo of it.

  “Did Martin take these?” I ask, curious.

  “Yeah. Trevor asked me for a photo in my tutu so I asked Martin to take a couple and send them to me.”

  “They’re gorgeous!” Katy almost rolls off her bed in her enthusiasm. “Okay, but quit stalling, tell us if you’re in the finals tomorrow.”

  Hannah’s grin is all the answer we need.

  “Ah! Yes!” Katy hops off the bed and starts dancing around her room, the force of which sends me rolling off the bed myself. I thump painfully onto the floor, dropping the phone and laughing. Hannah’s laugh floats up from the screen as I struggle to find it in the mess of blankets on Katy’s floor.

  Finally finding it, I hold the phone up to my face to see Hannah still laughing at our antics. “I’m so excited for you Hannah. They’re livestreaming the finals tomorrow, right? Will you send us the link?

  “Of course. They start at seven my time, so I think that’s four in the afternoon for you, right?”

  “Yeah. We’ll be watching for sure.” A horrible thought creeps into the back of my mind. “Hey Hannah, do you know the order you’re dancing in? Do the junior division finalists go first?”

  “Sort of. It goes junior division contemporary, then senior division contemporary, then junior classical, then senior classical.”

  “Got it.” I’ll have to find a way to make it all work. Somehow, I’m going to fit in my own morning ballet class, driving out to Pasadena with Hunter, touring JPL and then driving back, all before four in the afternoon. “I’m so excited for you Hannah, you’re going to be amazing. And no matter what happens now, you made it into the finals, that’s an accomplishment.”

  Hannah’s grin fades a little at my words. “I know. It’s just... I was mentally prepared to not make it, I never thought I would get this far. I don’t know what I should be feeling right now. Mostly, I feel overwhelmed.”

  My heart aches for Hannah and I tuck away the sliver of jealousy lurking in there. Right now, my friend needs me. I can only imagine how overwhelming it must be, the pressure and the uncertainty. She was so scared to go, I’m sure she never expected to get into the finals, even though everyone who knows her, knows how talented she is. Am I still jealous that she’s in New York and I’ll probably never have that kind of opportunity? Absolutely. But right now, how I’m feeling isn’t what’s important.

  “Hannah, you’re going to be amazing. Oh! Lisa, you should spend the night tomorrow and we can watch the livestream together. We can watch it on the tv downstair
s when you get back with Hunter.”

  As if thinking about it summoned him, Hunter peeks his head in the door of Katy’s room. “Uh, are you guys okay? I heard the crashing downstairs.” I wave from my tangle in the blankets on Katy’s floor, earning me a smile. Reaching down his hand, I grasp it and he pulls me up off the floor, electricity sparking up my arm from his touch, flustering me.

  “Yeah, yeah, we’re fine. Just celebrating that Hannah made it into the finals.” Katy breaks out into another dance, thrusting her arms and twisting her hips. Thankfully, she doesn’t notice that Hunter hasn’t let go of my hand yet, or that he’s standing awfully close. And I’m exponentially glad she can’t see the way I can’t look away from his face or that my breath is catching in my chest.

  “Lisa? Katy?” Hannah’s tinny voice sounds from near my chest. Spell broken, I glance down to see that I’m holding Katy’s phone against my chest. Quickly, I pull my hand free from Hunter’s and hold the phone out so Hannah can see us.

  “I’ll let you go, but I’ll send you the link for tomorrow, okay?”

  “Love you babe!” Katy’s voice echoes over my shoulder so I angle the phone so Hannah can see Katy. “We’ll be watching!”

  I angle the phone back towards my face. “I’m so proud of you, you’re gonna be amazing tomorrow. Text me if you need a pep talk, okay? And send us more pictures!”

  “Send Trevor more pictures like that, you look hot!” Katy laughs when Hannah’s cheeks go bright red. Hunter’s low chuckle reminds me that he’s still leaning in the doorway, watching our ridiculous antics. My own cheeks go warm at his scrutiny.

  “I gotta go, love you guys!”

  “Love you!” Katy and I call out before I end the call.

  “I should go, let me text my dad to come pick me up.” Because of course, I still don’t have a car. What is the point of my driver’s license again?

  “I can give you a ride. I have to go to the grocery store anyway.” I almost forgot Hunter was there.

  Katy eyes him. “What are you getting at the store? Maybe I want to come with you.”

  “Garlic bread and I have to get gas. You’re not invited.” Before I can object Hunter is dragging me away.

  “Bye Katy, see you tomorrow,” I call over my shoulder as I’m pulled downstairs and to Hunter’s truck.

  “Hop in, Sport.” With an exaggerated bow, Hunter opens the door for me to climb in.

  “Do you really have to go to the store?” I ask once Hunter slides into his seat.

  “I really do need to get gas for tomorrow.”

  I pin him with a look.

  We’re silent for a moment as Hunter backs out of the driveway and starts to drive away from the Quinns’ house. “Maybe I just wanted to drive you home. Is that a crime?”

  “I guess not, but Katy is going to think it’s weird.”

  “I don’t particularly care what my sister thinks, Sport. You’re the one who does.”

  I’m silent the rest of the way to my house. He’s right, but that doesn’t mean I’m wrong to worry about Katy’s opinion.

  Hunter doesn’t say anything, just lets me think in the silence. All he does is turn the radio on after I haven’t said anything for a minute. Pulling into my driveway, he turns to me before I can climb out.

  “So, I couldn’t help overhearing that Hannah’s thing starts at four tomorrow? What time are you done at dance?”

  “Class finishes at eleven.”

  “How about I come pick you up from the studio and we head straight to JPL? Unless you need to go home first?”

  I was planning to come home and shower, but making sure I get back in time to watch Hannah is more important. “Sure. I’ll see you there.”

  “Can’t wait.” Hunter leans towards me for a split second, then seems to change his mind and sticks his hand up in the air.

  “Uh… what am I supposed to do with that?”

  “High five?”

  Laughing, I slap my palm against his and slide out. Tomorrow is going to be interesting.

  Craning my neck, I try to get a glimpse of the Mars Exploration rover on display in front of me. Unfortunately, the crowd has pushed me back behind Hunter’s shoulder and I can’t see much of anything besides his very wide, very muscular back. Not that I’m complaining, but it isn’t exactly the view I was going for. Hunter throws his arm over my shoulder and draws me under it so I’m standing in front of him, my back against his chest. One of his hands rests casually against my hip. As interesting as the Mars Rover in front of me is, Hunter’s hand on my hip is the only thing I can think about. Driving here, I was determined to keep the conversation on neutral topics like school and our project, trying to convince myself we can only be friends.

  Never mind that I’m not sure I want to be just friends, I know I have to. I don’t have time for dating, I don’t. That’s what I keep telling myself. Listening to the engineer answering questions about the rover in front of us, Hunter rests his chin on top of my head, pulling me closer against him. I don’t hear a word the man is saying. Did he just sniff my hair?

  “Want to go check out the Assembly Facility? I think there’s a tour starting in a few minutes,” Hunter whispers in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. God, I’m such a nerd. Laughing at myself, I nod. As he leads the way, Hunter grabs hold of my hand, pulling me along behind him until we’re free of the crowd. I should pull my hand free, but I don’t have it in me to resist him right now.

  Slowing down once we’re outside, Hunter tugs me close, until we’re walking side by side, following the signs to the tour meeting place. We get there in time to tag onto the group leaving.

  My feet ache from all the walking by the time we’ve looked our fill at all the amazing and interesting projects they have out for display at JPL. Hunter is like a kid in a candy store, dragging me from exhibit to exhibit, talking to the engineers and scientists. He’s probably asked a dozen different people what school they went to, if they needed a Master’s or a Ph.D. It’s adorable, honestly.

  I’m sure I look like a sappy girlfriend the way I’m following him around, but I can’t bring myself to care. For once I’m not worried about someone from school seeing us, or for Katy to catch us out. I’m reveling in this chance to just be with Hunter. Is this how normal people go on dates?

  “You guys are so adorable,” one of the few female engineers, points out as I crow over my higher score on a satellite configuration simulation. “Also, way to kick ass!” She holds her hand up to me. Laughing, I slap her palm with mine. Hunter also holds his hand up and I smack it with my own. Instead of dropping his hand after I hit it, he curls his fingers around mine, bringing my hand up to his mouth and pressing a soft kiss to my knuckles.

  “Ugh, seriously, y’all are killing me. I wish I had a boyfriend as swoony as that.” The engineer sighs. My eyes are glued to Hunter’s face, to the admiration in his eyes. Has anyone ever looked at me like that before? Has anyone ever seen my brain as something to admire, rather than something to take advantage of?

  “You only beat me by one point,” Hunter points out. He pulls his phone out of his pocket to check the time. “We should get going, but how about I buy your smarty pants some victory ice cream before we hit the road?”

  A block from his house, Hunter pulls over and parks the truck. “What are we doing? This isn’t your house?”

  Somehow on the drive home, I’d gone from sitting against the window to holding Hunter’s hand, to sitting in the middle of the bench seat with Hunter’s arm around my shoulders. If you asked me to tell you how it happened I couldn’t, but it’s like there’s magnets in our bodies that keep pulling us closer. Hunter’s fingers trailing up and down my arm are the only thing I’m aware of, the rumble of his voice as we talk adding to the vibration of my whole body.

  “I know, I wanted to talk for a second before we go inside.” I’m still tuck
ed under his arm, but at his words I sit up straight.

  Now I’m nervous.

  “Okay…” I fiddle with my fingers in my lap, staring out the windshield, a sick churning in my stomach. Hunter pulls his arm out from behind me, shifting his body to face mine.

  “Why are you so dead set against dating me?” I open my mouth to give him an excuse, but Hunter interrupts me. “Don’t tell me you don’t have the time. Lots of people are just as busy and make time for each other. You can’t tell me if you wanted this you couldn’t make it happen. And what does Katy have to do with it?”

  He’s not wrong. I could make the time if I wanted to. Do I tell him the truth?

  “The idea of dating you is terrifying.”

  “Terrifying? What on earth is scary about me?”

  “Not you. You don’t scare me. The idea of dating you scares me. For one thing, I’ve never done this before.”

  “By this, you mean dated? Never?”

  “Nope. I’ve always spent all my time in the studio and there aren’t exactly any guys there, you know.”

  “Yeah, but what about at school? I know that other guys must have thought you were hot.”

  The idea of anyone at school thinking I’m hot has me choking back a laugh. “Yeah right. No one at school thinks of me as anything other than the nerdy chick you want in your group project so you can get an easy A.” At his incredulous look I huff. “I’m serious. At school, I’m invisible until someone needs help with a test. And really all they want is to copy my answers.”

  “I’m pretty sure that’s not true, but tell me other reasons why I’m so scary. Don’t think I didn’t notice you haven’t denied you want to date me.”

  “Like I said, I’ve never dated before. I don’t know if my parents would even let me. “

  “You’ve never asked?”

  “No. Never had a reason to.” I shrug. “And Katy… Katy already said she lives in yours and Jack’s shadow, Cole’s too. At dance she’s always in Hannah’s shadow, we all are. Can you imagine how she’d feel if suddenly she lost one of her best friends to her brother?”