The Player

Brielle

7:24 AM

Beethoven's symphony number five blared through the speakers as I leaped across the stage, landing gracefully. All spotlights were on me as I danced, the audience seeming to extend on forever. I spun, leapt, and glided across the platform before final finishing in my ending pose. My chin was held high as reassurance flooded through my body; I knew that I had done well. However, no one was clapping.

The audience's eyes were wide. The room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

"Clap!" I yelled franticly from the stage. "Clap for me!"

I held my stomach in agony, tears running down my face. It wasn't until my hand touched my abdomen that I realized it was bare. Looking down at my body, I realized that I was completely naked.

Suddenly, the room went from dead silent to loud, filled with the laughs of the audience. Tomatoes were launched at me. They then began to throw dirt, then furniture, then cars, until a mid-sized home was being hurled at me.

"No!" I shouted, a lump in my throat. "This can't be happening to me!"

The room began to shake as the laughs grew in intensity.

"No!"

The room shook even more, until I could no longer stand up.

"No...no...no..."

of God wake up

now laying on my bed in my room. I quickly touched my stomach and felt my pajamas, letting out a sigh of relief.

in his voice. "I had

don't know what you dream about, but you may

my eyes, I looked at the clock, and then let out a long string of curse words. It read 7:25,

brother out of the way before sprinting to my bathroom. I brushed my teeth before I threw on my leotard, tights, and ballet flats on before securing my tight coils in a bun and chucking my

stairs, I dashed to my car, hightailing it to school in an attempt to be

taking dance lessons during the summer to prepare for my showcase in October, and it seemed that I was late to them nearly every day. For the last week, my instructor was getting more and more

time teaching dance, in hopes of

at my school, Vista Valley, thirty minutes late. As I

I was not disappointed.

teach in five minutes! I get that a schedule might have just been a suggestion at your old studio,

I heard this speech every day for the last week. I let out a sigh of relief, knowing that her anger wasn't as

from our time together, you have shown time and time again that you are not a professional. So, I'm taking your solo for the On-Pointe showcase and giving it

Wait what?

showcase in October was the most important event in my entire career. Julliard scouts were going to be in the audience, and if I impressed them with my solo, I would have a chance to go

can't do this!" I pleaded. "Please, this means so much to me, I will do anything

just unfortunate, because all of your talent is wasted on someone who doesn't

out. "I'll

the modern and clean dance room. He held a wrinkled paper, looking lost,

three-time homecoming king, and a colossal douche. He was just another rich kid who walked