Page 18 of The Virgin's Dance
“Right back at ya, sweet cheeks. But, I have news. Jeremy texted me earlier—Kristof’s got clearance to doThe Lesson.”
Boh’s eyebrows shot up. “Really? I thought Liz was going hard on him to drop it.”
“He got it through. Although, she did make him includeRomeo and Juliet—don’t make that face, some of us like it.” Elliott grinned at her grimace. “Although I don’t hope to get one of the leads. Jeremy and Vlad will get them.”
Boh studied her friend. “Still crushing hard on Jeremy?”
“I think I’m actually getting somewhere. We hung out the other night, just drinking and eating pizza, but it was good.”
“Any action?” Boh smiled at him but inside she was annoyed. She knew Jeremy made the most of Elliott’s crush on him, and she also didn’t believe for a second that Jeremy had any intention of “being” with Elliott. He was using him and it pissed her off. But she couldn’t interfere—it wasn’t her place to. She just hoped Elliott wouldn’t get hurt.
“Nah, but, you know, slow burn.”
Boh smiled, remembering what Pilot had said last night. “I do know.”
Elliott nudged her with his shoulder. “How come you dislike R and J so much?”
Because my father loves it.“It’s that whole teen angst angle. I mean, your families are rich, and you’re only a few years away from maturity when you can be together. Why kill yourselves, douchebags?”
Elliott snickered. “You don’t believe in love at first sight?”
She was ready to say no, her usual answer, but now she didn’t know if it was true. With how she felt about Pilot, from that first day—was it really any different from the insta-love between Shakespeare’s teen lovers?
She pushed the thought away.I am not in love with Pilot Scamo. Not yet.As they made their way into the building and to the changing rooms, they heard Serena’s high, grating voice.
“I mean, why? Why does she get the spotlight shined on her? What’s so fucking special about her?”
Boh and Elliott looked at each other and both rolled their eyes. Serena could only be bitching about Boh … again.
“Boh is the principal whether you like it or not, Serena,” Grace was saying as Boh and Elliott made their way into the changing room. Grace winked at Boh, who grinned back at her. Grace looked back at Serena. “Just be grateful you got the lead in the middle segment.”
Boh raised her eyebrows at her friend and Grace smiled. “You’re the lead forLa SylphideandThe Lesson, babe. Congrats. No one could do a better job.”
“Thanks, Gracie.”
“Holy crap,” Elliott was holding a piece of paper. He looked up, amazement in his eyes. “I’m your partner forThe Lesson.”
Boh was delighted for her friend. He had been toiling away in thecorps de balletfor years, losing out to Vlad and Jeremy on leading roles most times. When Vlad had been promoted to principal danseur over Elliott, he had been crushed. Now he was overwhelmed and picked Boh up and spun her around.
Everyone except Serena laughed at them. She slammed down her makeup and stormed out of the room. “Ding dong, the witch is dead,” Vlad sang in his Russian accent.
Their good mood lasted until Kristof’s class, which had been extended to three hours, late in the afternoon. He ran them ragged, criticizing every plie or port des bras. “You look like a bunch of fucking construction workers,” he spat at them.
Elliott started to sing “YMCA” and the others giggled. Kristof rounded on them, and they shut up. His small eyes focused on Elliott. “You think this is funny?”
Elliott shut his mouth, but Boh noticed a small smirk playing around his lips. He met Kristof’s eye and something passed between them she didn’t understand.
Kristof huffed out a sigh but moved on. Huh. His usual trick of exploding and making an example of someone was missing today, and it freaked her out.
By the end of the day, Boh was exhausted. Kristof made her go over and over her choreography forLa Sylphide,and now, when she took her shoes off, her toes were split and bleeding. She hoped Pilot didn’t have a thing for feet because, any ballerina would tell you, their feet only looked beautiful in shoes while they danced.
“Ugh,” she said, and wincing, tore off a loose piece of toenail. It could have been worse, but whatwasworse was the dizziness.
It had started around four in the afternoon and although Boh pushed through, it had gotten worse incrementally over time. She glanced at the clock. Seven p.m. She waited until the changing room emptied out then leaned her head against the cool tile wall and closed her eyes. Bright sparks flashed behind her eyelids and she felt as if she might throw up.
Her phone bleeped.You done? Want me to come pick you up? P x
Before she could answer, Grace came to find her and taking one look at her friend, knelt down beside her. “Hey, kiddo … you dizzy again?”
