The Player

Brielle

6:01 PM

Today was the day.

Out of my entire dance career, today was the day that would determine everything. It would determine if I would go to the Joffrey School of Ballet in New York, my dream school. If I didn't get in, I would have no clue what to do.

Today, the scouts were coming to watch our high school's dance showcase. We have one of the best dance programs in California, and every year they send people to see new talent. Since I was one of the best dancers in the program, if I did well I could really impress them. Then, just maybe, they may offer me a spot in their program after high school.

However, there was one giant wrench in this plan. Christopher. Mrs. Riley forced me to teach him dance if I wanted to perform, and now he had to do the showcase with me. Ever since we started dating, we had been practicing non-stop. He insisted, since he knew how much this opportunity meant to me.

But now that we were broken up, we hadn't practiced in days. Since we hadn't talked since then, I didn't even know if he was still coming. I wasn't even sure if I wanted him to.

I stood in front of the mirror, pulling my long, chestnut hair into a tight bun atop my head. Right now, I couldn't focus on us. I needed to get into performance mode.

I started my usual routine for before performances. I plugged in my earbuds, blasting Beyoncé as I continued to get ready, dancing and singing while doing so. Usually this helped to calm my nerves, but today I had no luck. The butterflies in my stomach refused to rest.

I made myself a quick dinner before calling Scott downstairs so that we could leave. I needed to arrive at school early so that I could practice my routine. I had changed some parts so that if Christopher didn't show I would still be able to perform.

Usually I would ask Sam to drive me, but after Scott and I's heart-to-heart, I suddenly felt much closer to him. I wanted to spend as much time as I could while I did, just in case it happened to wear off.

"I'm coming!" he yelled from upstairs, however his pounding footsteps were already a dead giveaway. "You excited?" he asked once he arrived in the kitchen.

Nervously, I took a big gulp of my water. "I think so." He rolled his eyes.

"You say this every time and then you kill it," he placed his hand on my shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry."

I wanted to tell him that this time was different. This time I had to rely on my ex-boyfriend to succeed. This time I was so emotionally drained from this week that I didn't even know if I had the strength to perform.

But, instead of worrying him with my problems, I just nodded my head.

He stared at me with a knowing look. "I've known you for sixteen years Brielle, I can tell when something's bothering you."

Damn. I knew that our conversation made us closer, but I didn't know that it gave him telepathic abilities.

"I'm just worried about having to dance with Christopher."

His body tensed at the mention of him. "Don't worry about that jerk."

if he doesn't show up." I felt myself began to grow even more anxious. "Or even worse, what if he does? I don't know if I can handle

me. "Brielle, you are the most talented and strong person that I know. So much has happened to you this past week, and yet here you

ever think of it like that, but I guess in a way he was right. I could have been laying in my bed right now, wallowing in my own pity instead of chasing my dreams. I guess I was

anyone can pull this

good to know that no matter what happened, I could always count on my

are we waiting for," I said as I rose up from my

a loud whoop, my energy contagious. "That's what I'm

I managed to hold on to my positivity all the way to

beautiful.

those words alone were enough to stop the negative thoughts about Christopher in their tracks. When we arrived at school, Scott drove to the front

"You ready?"

nodded my head. It

you ever feel nervous, just look for us." I let out a

I suppressed my upcoming nerves as I made my way to the auditorium. I was greeted by my dance

one hand and talking into a walkie-talkie with the other. Everyone flurried around her as they prepared for the show, all creating an atmosphere of completely chaos. At the center was Ms. Riley,

took a step back from me, scanning me up and down.

lip. "Do you really

annoyed when I lacked self-confidence.

I will club

your partner?" she asked absent-mindedly, preoccupied with her clipboard once more. "Did you manage to make him look somewhat good?" My heart dropped

strong. I am beautiful. I

mustered up all the strength within me to stop my resolve from cracking. "He actually learned a

to take all the credit as being a

I did not expect that," she laughed. "When I first forced you to dance with him, I was only doing it to teach you a lesson. I was planning on ending the punishment after a week or two. But then you

jaw dropped. I wasn't supposed to be forced to dance with

to what would have happened if Mrs. Riley didn't force us together. We wouldn't have dated, and I wouldn't have had so many amazing memories. I wouldn't

chance to hurt me. I wouldn't

reason, for some reason that I would love so badly to change, if I had the chance

something inside me to change

that

there was a chance that he still wouldn't show up. I was about to explain to her that he wasn't going to be dancing with me

that entered caused my

way toward me. As he grew closer, I could inspect his face more clearly. The swelling around his eye had decreased significantly, and the purple bruising was barely noticeable.

turned around to find the