The familiar piece fills the room, an orchestral work from the originalSleeping Beauty. I want the lead role of Princess Aurora. Whether I can achieve her sweetness and grace is anyone’s guess. This particular part is a variation in the first act. She’s celebrating her sixteenth birthday, on the cusp of being cursed to a hundred-year sleep, and dancing alone before meeting four suitors.
I take my position in front of the mirrors, cue my entrance, and begin.
There are pieces we’re still working on, movements I wanted to perfect, but my body feels good. My leg is solid, almost entirely painless while I dance. It’s strong again. That alone is enough to bring a burn to the backs of my eyes.
The aquatic therapy helped—and I almost couldn’t do it because of money.
I turn my mind back to Aurora. I don’t believe her parents told her about the curse. If they did, she wouldn’t be tempted later in the act to inspect the spindle. She wouldn’t have been so curious as to reach out and prick her finger on it.
Would I have been so curious about Greyson if I knew all that my mother had done—and was doing?
Before I know it, the music has moved on, and I hover in my final pose. I come out of it and meet Mia’s eyes in the mirror, shocked that she has a huge smile on her face.
“It’s like you never left,” she says softly.
I beam.
“Truly beautiful. Work on those parts that weren’t as seamless, but other than that?” She shakes her head. “You know, I would’ve loved to see you inSwan Lake.”
The role I had.
“Maybe I’ll dance as the white and black swans one day.” I lift a shoulder.
She frowns. “It’s unlikely Crown Point Ballet will do it again.”
I tilt my head. It would be unusual for me to stay with the same company for the entire length of my career. But I don’t answer—it wouldn’t really do either of us any good for me to tell her I plan on leaving CPB one day. In fact, I have a feeling it would hinder me.
Mia nods again. “I just wanted to stop by and give you some more information aboutSleeping Beauty, if you have time?”
I check my watch. I have the studio for the rest of the evening, and I’m curious about why she stopped by. I nod to Mia and leave Greyson in the room. We go down the hall to a darkened studio. She picks the one Grey and I had our… um… moment. My face heats, and I squash those memories.
“Crown Point Ballet is usingSleeping Beautyto hold open auditions for the company,” Mia says. That’s a way to get new blood into the company. Most hold open auditions maybe once a year, gearing up for the season. “We have a new choreographer for this ballet, but I think you know him. Shawn Meridian?”
I raise my eyebrows. Shock echoes through me—chased byexcitement. Do I know him? Sort of. Do I want to dance his choreography? Abso-fucking-lutely. “I had the pleasure of meeting him once. My mom wrangled me an introduction when we went to see one of his ballets. I was in high school. Pretty sure I made a fool of myself and gave him a tape of me dancing. How did you know that?”
She chuckles. “Believe it or not, there was a time when you wouldn’t shut up about it.”
“That makes sense.” Especially around the other girls. There’s a competitive edge amongst dancers. We’re friends, but we also all want to come out on top. Bragging is normal.
“We’re hosting a summer intensive,” she adds. “Which I think you’d excel at. Get your stamina back. And then we’ve got a home season and jump into national touring from there.”
I nod along. I don’t bother to tell her that I already know this. I toured with the company as part of the ensemble and later a soloist. My chance at principal prima ballerina—the coveted spot—was ripped away before our season started. Before I had danced in front ofoneaudience.
“Anyway, I just wanted to give you a heads-up about Shawn and the open audition. I’m looking forward to seeing you bring your A game.”
Because I’m competitive. That’s why she really told me. Letting me know I’m not just up against Crown Point Ballet for the lead spot—while that’s noteasy, I know most of the girls. I’ll be up against anyone. Everyone.
“Thanks,” I murmur.
She nods and leaves me standing in the empty room. We never even turned on the lights.
“Interesting meeting.” Grey leans against the doorframe, his hands in his pockets.
“Mia,” I say faintly. “Yeah, she’s an interesting person.”
“Seems like she’s looking out for you, yeah?”
I shrug it off. “Is she? Or does she just want someone…” Familiar? Safe? I don’t want to be either of those options. I want to be the one who everyone gravitates toward. The one all the choreographers want to work with. “Either way, I guess it’s a good thing.”