Page 39 of Juliet & Her Romeos

Now, wherever I look, I can only catch glimpses of myself from different angles. Sometimes, I want to smash the glass to escape them.

Next to the door is a long table, which is filled with ranks of instruction manuals and Katerina’s files.

Above it, a giant clock dominates the studio.

The Romeo pack’s motto rose emblem, as well as the academy motto that’s taken fromRomeo and Juliet, is painted in the center of the roof:

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet

On the opposite side to the table stands a waist height barre, which most of the dancers are gathered around, warming up.

The company members are dressed the same as me in golden leotards and tights.

I pull my knees up to my chest, inspecting my en point ballet shoes. I slide my hands around to the toes, where the toe pads inside protect my feet with padding.

This morning, I discovered that the toe pads were missing from my ballet bag.

My equipment often goes mysteriouslymissing.

When I saw Ariana watching me with a malicious gleam in her eyes from across the locker room, I knew that she’d taken my toe pads in order to get me into trouble.

Ariana’s bullying is more subtle than Silvanus’ thrown punches or open hazing of Ambrose.

Perhaps, women are simply better at psychological warfare than men.

Fists don’t hurt as much as words. Plus, exclusions can destroy you without a word being spoken.

Ariana has slyly isolated me with a talent that surpasses her dancing and she’s great at that too.

She’ll hand out water bottles to everybody but me, while making it look like she simplyforgotto bring enough.

She’ll invite the rest of the dancers to practice with her but give me the wrong time. Then I only turn up when everyone else is leaving.

She’ll secretly tear orstealmy costume or props.

Laugh, if I fall.

It’s lucky that I have friends like Mary.

Mary drops to the vinyl floor next to me, before expertly sliding into the splits.

“Good thing that your friend is both awesome and responsible enough to have the key to the extra equipment, right?” She nods at my shoes.

I smile, glancing at her.

Mary is taller than me with flaming red hair that’s trying to escape her messy bun. She has freckles over the bridge of her upturned nose and mischievous green eyes.

“Responsible?” I chuckle. “Try a good actor in front of Miss Katerina. I don’t know how you’ve tricked her into thinking thatyou’rethe sensible one out of this lot. But thanks for the new toe pads. You saved my ass.”

Mary shoots a glare at Ariana. “We need to take serious revenge. Do you want me to lock Ari in the equipment closet? Seduce Rem into dancing with me, instead of her? Add laxativeto her oatmeal and see how explosively she dances on stage then?”

Startled, I laugh. “Hold on, Mary. Whatever happened to not reacting to the mean girls?”

“Ari’s trying to wreck your chance of winning, that’s what.”

“Don’t you want to become the principal as well?”

Mary stretches gracefully to touch her toes. “Not really. I know that I’m not built to be a principal and I’m okay with that. My pack are poor. They were going to be homeless. So, Mom sent me here as a way to make sure that I had a future. I have a roof over my head, food, and training. I’m happy simply to stay in the background and watch you shine. You’re the star, and I won’t let an entitled asshole like Ari fuck with that.”

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