LITMIR.BIZ

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still sobbing and incoherent. Keiko lifted Taylor’s arm and searched through her jacket pockets. She found it and called Charlize. Jessica tried to give Taylor a Kleenex, but Taylor hit her away, burying her head in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.

      “Your mom is coming soon,” Keiko told Taylor, patting her on the shoulder. Everybody else started phoning, too.

      “We can drop you off at Mr. Yu’s,” Alexandra told Julian. “And you. At your home,” she added to Tristan.

      “There’s Charlize,” Keiko said with relief. Everyone looked up, happy to see a familiar adult.

      “I was just coming to pick Taylor up anyway,” Charlize said as she reached them, out of breath. “What happened? Oh, Taylor! Are you hurt?”

      Taylor ignored her, still crying.

      “Someone was shot … I mean tasered,” said Keiko. “Not Taylor. This other guy … it was the police, it happened right next to us.”

      “Oh, baby,” Charlize said, hugging Taylor. “Sweetie, please stop crying.”

      “She hasn’t stopped crying since it happened,” said Delilah.

      “Oh no! She’s probably in shock,” Charlize said. “I’ll have to take her to emergency for a tranquilizer.” She coaxed Taylor along to the car and buckled her in her seat.

      Chapter Seven

      Alexandra Dunstan

      Excited for Harbour with Julian Reese and Tristan Patel!

      Alexandra went down the list, counting. “Three pictures of tendu à la seconde, head shots for all of them, four in arabesque, three letters of reference …” she muttered.

      Emma came into her room without knocking. “Mom wants to know if you want breakfast before you go to rehearsal.”

      “I’m not going to rehearsal right now, I’m going to Harbour and then rehearsal.”

      “Whatever,” said Emma, raising her eyebrows and flopping onto Alexandra’s bed. “How come you have so many black bodysuits out?”

      Alexandra sighed. “I need to decide which one is best, so I know which one I am wearing for auditions.”

      “I like that one,” Emma said, pointing at a black bodysuit laid on the pillow. Alexandra glared at her. That one was her favourite, but she didn’t feel like agreeing with Emma right now.

      “Go away, Emma.”

      “Aren’t auditions after Christmas? How come you’re getting ready now?” Emma showed no signs of leaving.

      “Because I want to.”

      “Oh, okay. Do you want break—”

      “Yes, go away!” Alexandra yelled. She pushed Emma out the door, shut the door behind her, and turned back to her computer. She sighed, looking at the pictures on the website. Crossing both fingers, she looked up. Please, can I just get in somewhere and go. Royal Ballet School would be nice, but obviously SFB or SAB would be cool too. Really, I’m not that picky, any of the others would also be appreciated.

      Beth called upstairs, “Alexandra, if you want me to drive you downtown, we have to leave really soon. Get down here and eat breakfast.”

      Alexandra went downstairs, grabbing her bag. When she saw the waffles, she asked, “Actually, can I get something to eat downtown?”

      “Alexandra.… Okay, I guess we don’t really have time for you to eat here anyway.” Alexandra grabbed a banana and followed her to the car.

      As they drove downtown, Alexandra sang along to Linkin Park, “Hands held high into the sky so blue/The ocean opens up to swallow you.”

      “Is that the music from your contemporary solo?”

      “No, Mom. I couldn’t use it for a contemporary solo. I’m thinking of this one, though,” she said switching the song. “Do you like it?”

      “Yes, I like that one. Look over there. What are they protesting this time?”

      Alexandra rolled her eyes. “It’s called Flux.”

      “What, the protest?”

      “No, the song.” They pulled up to Harbour. Alexandra looked at her cellphone. She had enough time to go to Starbucks before Jules and Tristan got there. She ran across the street and ordered a Clean Green juice. When she looked out the window, Jules and Tristan had just arrived.

      “Hey,” she said as she reached them. “It’s right here.” Jules was looking around, confused.

      “Wow, I was standing right in front of it,” he said. “Is it really small?”

      “No! It’s upstairs, it’s quite big actually.”

      “Geez, that’s a lot of stairs,” Julian said.

      As they stretched in the studio, Julian asked, “Who’s the dude in the pink girl’s tights?”

      “He’s here a lot,” Alexandra whispered. “He has mental problems. The government pays for his classes here. He’s fine though.”

      The teacher came in, and Julian sat up quickly. “She’s really tall,” he sounded surprised, “and, like imposing-looking.”

      Tristan agreed. “She used to go to the academy, you know.” He ran over to her.

      “Come on,” Alexandra said, grabbing Julian’s arm.

      “Hey! I’m so glad to see you guys,” the teacher said, putting down her coffee and hugging Tristan and Alexandra. “And who is this?” she asked, smiling at Julian. “I’m Leah.”

      “That’s Jules. He’s new at the academy.”

      “Oh, I see. Don’t listen to the academy too much, hey?”

      “Okay!” Julian said, grinning.

      “Well, let’s start!” Leah addressed the whole room. There was a cheer and everyone moved onto the floor, shedding extra clothing and taking last swigs from their water bottles. Alexandra grabbed Julian’s arm and led him to the centre. Tristan went to the very front, a bit to the left.

      Leah interrupted the class twice to correct Julian’s placement. “See?” she said to the class, one hand pushing his back in, the other pushing his stomach in, and her head shoving his ribs to one side. “When Jules finds this position, he is in a much more stable place. This will really improve your ballet, too. You’ll really notice the difference in everything you do.”

      She finally moved on to across the floor exercises. “And five, six, seven, eight, and slide-brush-in-breathe … and one! Feel your back curve, and up — and fall. Alexandra, suspend — yes, that’s right!” The class clapped and Alexandra grinned happily as she ran off. “Paul, you need to breathe, just fall. And jump! Five, six, and go —”

      Julian grabbed his water bottle at the side of the room.

      “So? Do you like it?” Tristan whispered excitedly. Julian nodded, choking on the water.

      Alexandra ran over to them. “Jules! You’re really good at jazz. Come across the floor with me?”

      “Sure,” Julian said, concentrating on not hiccupping. Tristan glared at him. “Why don’t we go as a three?”

      “Sure,” said Alexandra, smiling and taking Julian’s arm. “Come on, we can go in the next group.” They joined with a girl in brightly coloured Lululemon tights, forcing Tristan to go in the group after.

      “Good energy, Julian!” Leah called.

      “I really like this class!” Julian whispered excitedly as they walked to the other corner. “I’m totally stoked to come again.”

      “Yeah,

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