Page 13 of When Hearts Awaken

The pressure in my chest increases, the hairs on the back of my neck stand like a cat’s would in the presence of predators.

Ignore him, Taylor. You’re Odette. The white swan is the queen and doesn’t care about the peasants watching her.

Temps levé arabesque. Leap. Extend the back leg. Leap again. Soft and vulnerable, gentle like a swan.

My mind refuses to settle and I feel my ballerina persona slipping. I come down from what must’ve been at least the hundredth leap today and my ankle protests. I’ve pushed myself too hard after my injury in the rooftop studio.

“Fuck!” I grit out. “What the hell, Taylor. That is the shittiest performance ever.”

At this rate, I’ll be lucky to keep my current position as a soloist in the company. A promotion will definitely be out of the question.

Frustration lances through me and I bite back a growl before I perform the last leap again, my movement exaggerated with the generous pizzazz of the black swan. I even add a shake at the end for the heck of it.

If I’m going to fail Odette again, at least I’m going out as badass Odile.Fuckers!I imagine giving a middle finger to the world because I can’t do that in front of everyone in practice. I snort, laughing at my petty act of rebellion.

You are nuts, Taylor.

I plop on the floor and stare at my fellow dancers, still hard at work.

Bethany McLean, our reigning principal dancer, executes the sequence I failed just now. There’s no frustration, no torture, no agony. There’s only the wistful vulnerability of a cursed swan who fell in love with a handsome prince.

She’s everything I can never be.

My nose burns and I tear my gaze away. Desperate to distract myself, I pick up my cell phone from the ground. A few messages await me.

Grace

Meet up at Corazón tonight, ladies? My treat. I’m craving spicy sushi and tequila. *Hearts emoji x5*

Millie

Someone is in a good mood today! I can’t believe you’re opening your own consulting firm soon. Ms. Overachiever making us all look bad. A hot boyfriend. Check. Girl boss. Check. Winning in life. Check. *winking emoji*

Grace

Aww, stop it. You’re next. I know it. You’ll find your man and then I’ll make fun of you. And I’m only starting a business. You’re going to get a PhD and change the world. You’re the one winning in life.

My lips twitch as I read the messages from my sister and my girlfriends. Grace went through some hell last year, but she’s now happily settled down with her financial titan boyfriend, Steven Kingsley. My sister, Irish twins as others call us since she’s only ten months older than me, deserves all the happiness in the world.

Belle

Ugh. I’m a failure all around then lol. Not only do I have to deal with my slimy boss every day, there are no hot men in my vicinity. No hot boyfriend. Check. Not acing my career. Check.

Grace

How’s that possible? You work in the fashion industry. How are there no hot men?

Belle

Okay, I amend that. No hotstraightmen. And wait a minute, why are we talking about me?

I snort before grinning, my earlier frustration lessening. Annabelle Law-McKenzie, known to friends as Belle, is the only child of a fashion empire, but unlike other rich kids, she’s working her way up from the bottom at her family’s company and is one of the sweetest and most down-to-earth people I know.

Millie

Sorry to disappoint, but I can’t go tonight. My asshole of a professor gave us a lot to do. I’ll be holed up in the apartment for the foreseeable future.

Millie

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