LITMIR.BIZ

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face as she passed all the other students leaving. Seeing her face, Peter Dunstan pulled out as soon as she had closed the door, leaving the academy as quickly as he could. As soon as she was sure they were out of sight, Alexandra burst into tears.

      “What happened?” Peter Dunstan asked sympathetically, while trying to manoeuvre into the fast lane.

      “They … they did it again!” sobbed Alexandra. “I’m double cast with Anna for Arabian! And Grace and Aiko are sharing Sugarplum and Snow Queen, and Anna’s also sharing Rose Queen with the new girl, Kaitlyn! She’s already got one cast of Clara. I can’t believe the Demidovskis did this again! I am so F-ing sick of it! And Leon and Jonathon are the slave boys!”

      “How do you know what you got already? I thought they only told you on Saturday?”

      “Oh, well this year we have to sign a contract.” Alexandra wiped her eyes and checked her eyeliner in the mirror. “Everybody who got a principal or solo role had to. So we all said we weren’t going to sign if they didn’t tell us what we got.” Peter Dunstan raised his eyebrows. “Okay,” Alexandra smiled slightly. “Tristan said that, and then we all sort of nodded in agreement. I mean, they can’t kick Tristan out, they don’t have enough boys in the academy to do that. And none of the boys in the company would do it for free. They’re already paying Dmitri to do Cavalier. They’re not exactly going to pay another boy.”

      “Lexi, it’s actually okay that you only got Arabian. You sat out yesterday because of your stomach, right?”

      “Yes.”

      “Well, we’ll just tell everyone that you needed some rest because of Genee, so you asked the Demidovskis to give you something less demanding for The Nutcracker. We can say that we wanted to take you away for a vacation to recover, and just skip The Nutcracker altogether, but the Demidovskis begged you to stay, and we just couldn’t let them down. Since you got bronze, everyone will believe that,” he nodded to himself, satisfied.

      “Dad, that’s perfect!” said Alexandra, much happier. Blowing her nose one last time, she reached to turn on the music.

      “Lexi, do you have to turn that on right now?” Peter groaned.

      “Yes. I could use my iPod, but then I would be destroying my ears …” she said, raising her eyebrows.

      “Fine then, but no Damien Rice, or Radiohead, or Coldplay.”

      “Dad, fine! I’ll put on Kelly Clarkson!”

      “Great! I like her songs … I think.”

      Alexandra rolled her eyes.

      As they walked in the door, Beth Dunstan called out, “Good, you’re here! The meat’s just done, perfect timing!”

      “Mom, I told you, I’m going vegetarian,” Alexandra said, frowning as she walked into the kitchen.

      “Well, the rest of the family isn’t, sweetie.” Beth gave Alexandra a hug. “And you’re too skinny right now. It was fine for Genee, but you don’t need it for now. I don’t want you going to McKinley looking like a concentration-camp prisoner. I don’t appreciate all the phone calls from ‘concerned counsellors.’”

      “Mom! Could you please just not!”

      “Okay, okay. How was the academy today?” Beth mashed the potatoes.

      “I didn’t get a good part. Only one cast of Arabian lead, and Grace got Sugarplum first cast and Snow Queen second cast, but it’s okay,” Alexandra peeled a mandarin orange. “Dad said we can just tell everyone I needed a break because of Genee.”

      “That’s a good idea. I’m sorry about that, though, honey. I thought things would be different with a bronze. Oh, well. Could you please call your sister and brother down for dinner?”

      “Sure,” said Alexandra. Going upstairs, she called, “Justin! Emma! Dinnertime!”

      She went into her room and closed the door. Trying to breathe normally and calm down, she sat on her bed. Why does this always have to happen? Alexandra thought miserably. Why couldn’t they just cast me? No, every time, I have to stand in that stupid line, and watch, as people who aren’t as good as me get cast above me, yet again. Don’t cry, don’t eat, don’t hyperventilate, she willed herself to calm down, silently. Grabbing her knees, Alexandra hunched herself into a ball. She stared down at her feet. Great, she thought, that blister has gotten even bigger. I wonder if I should wear the stupid Gaynor Mindens tomorrow to give it a better chance to recover. As casting suddenly came back to her mind, Alexandra’s legs flew out from under her elbows. She scrunched her eyes shut, trying to drive the image away.

      Alexandra lay under her blankets. It’s midnight, go to sleep, she thought. Giving up, she got out of bed and sat down at the computer, staring blearily at the screen. She checked Facebook: one friend request. Clicking on it, she frowned. Julian Reese, who on earth is that? Oh, the new boy, she remembered. She clicked accept. Finding an old Skins episode, and plugging in her headphones so she didn’t wake anyone else up, she sat down on the chair and sighed, resigning herself to a long night.

      At breakfast the next morning, Alexandra was not at all tired. From past experience, she knew that this meant she would suddenly run out of adrenalin in the middle of ballet class. Justin was at the counter making what appeared to be a lot of sandwiches. “Are you making some for me and Emma, too?” Alexandra asked Justin suspiciously.

      “Yeah right! Make your own,” Justin said. “I’m staying late at UBC and I want to watch a soccer match, so I need extra sustenance.”

      “Why don’t you actually play yourself?” Alexandra asked as she inspected the fruit bowl.

      “It’s a girl’s team, duh,” Justin rolled his eyes.

      “Where’s Emma? And Mom and Dad?” Alexandra had suddenly noticed the absence of half her family.

      “Dad’s at work, and Mom’s with Emma at some gymnastics meet. Your friend Grace’s mom is coming by to pick you up for school. In, like, half an hour I think.… I dunno, I wasn’t really listening.”

      “Oh great,” groaned Alexandra. The last thing she felt like doing was taking an almost hour-long car ride with Grace and her mother.

      As Alexandra got in the car, April Kendall said, “Oh Lexi, sweetie, we all missed you so much! I haven’t seen that beautiful face in so long! You aren’t looking very well, though, honey. I was just telling Grace that. I do hope you aren’t ill!”

      “No, I’m just fine, April!” said Alexandra, smiling through gritted teeth. Grace smiled sympathetically at her, and Alexandra remembered why she actually did like Grace sometimes, like when it wasn’t casting day.

      “Hey, Mom, wait a sec, ’kay?” said Grace. “I’m going to go sit in the back with Lexi.”

      “Of course, darling. You probably have to tell Lexi all about what has been going on here while she’s been away! And let me tell you, sweetie,” she turned around in her seat so she could see Alexandra, “there has been a lot going on.” Alexandra smiled sickly a sweet smile back at her.

      Everybody actually made it to the bus stop after school on time for the first bus.

      “Wow, even Leon made it,” laughed Tristan as they filed on the bus. It was same bus driver as the day before, and recognizing him, Tristan laughed. “Hey, ’sup?” he asked, grinning.

      The bus driver looked at him sourly. “Have you lot multiplied?” he asked suspiciously.

      “No. Maybe you’re seeing things,” Tristan asked earnestly, peering up at him with a concerned expression on his face.

      Looking nervously at an old lady sitting in one of the front seats who looked distinctly worried, the bus driver growled, “No, get back there.” He gestured towards the back.

      Julian giggled as he followed Tristan to the back seats. Kaitlyn pushed past Taylor to sit next

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