Breaking Pointe by Samantha-Ellen Bound Read Free Book Online Page B

tights?’
    â€˜Yep.’
    â€˜Make-up case?’
    â€˜Yep.’
    â€˜Shoes?’
    â€˜Yep.’
    â€˜Hairspray?’
    â€˜Yes, Nana.’
    â€˜Good, your hair’s all messed up frombasketball. You’ll need about half the can.’
    I kissed Nana on the cheek and opened the door. ‘Thanks for driving me. I’ll see you after.’
    â€˜Somebody’s gotta take you home,’ said Nana. ‘You have fun, Riles. I’ll be watching.’
    I bet she would be. Nana is a very enthusiastic spectator, and usually ends up crying at the end of the dance.
    I grabbed my stuff and jumped out of the car. My body had tonnes of energy from winning the grand final and I couldn’t wait to get on stage. I didn’t know how I was supposed to sit still and do my hair and make-up for the ballet performance!
    Backstage was like Tutu Central, and I pushed and shoved my way through until I reached the dressing rooms. I couldn’t see any Silver Shoes girls in the first one. All I saw were girls from our main rival, Dance Art Academy, so I quickly got out before I got their germs.
    Paige was the first to react when I walked into the right dressing room. She’d probably been watching for me.
    â€˜Riley!’ she said. ‘You made it!’
    I flung my armful of stuff down on one of the benches.
    â€˜Yep,’ I said, ‘and only a little late. Nana didn’t even have to break the speed limit driving here.’
    â€˜Did you win? You did, didn’t you?’
    Paige could probably tell from my face that we had. My skin felt like it was buzzing.
    She gave me a hug. ‘That’s so cool!’ she said. ‘Congratulations!’
    Jasmine just so happened to slip by then. ‘I hope it was worth it for almost ruining the eisteddfod for Silver Shoes,’ she said, nose in the air.
    â€˜Jasmine, honey,’ called Paige’s mum, Mrs Montreal. ‘There’s a ladder in your tights, babe.’
    â€˜What!’ Jasmine swivelled to look at the back of her legs. ‘Tove!’ she shrieked. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?! Mum!’ She rushed off.
    â€˜Hey Riley, honey,’ said Mrs Montreal. ‘Good to see you, sweetie. You want me to do your hair? I need something to do. Paigey’s all done.’
    Paige looked, as always, like someone’s prized, perfect doll. Normally I didn’t like people fussing over me before a show (I was happy to get myself ready), but I felt like I needed to sit down for a bit to get in the ballet mindset.
    â€˜Sure,’ I said. ‘All my stuff is in that bag.’
    â€˜Ooooh, I just love this bag,’ said Mrs Montreal. ‘Where was it from again?’
    â€˜Fiji,’ I said. ‘Our cousins sent it over.’
    â€˜You’re so lucky to come from there,’ said Mrs Montreal. ‘You want to hide me in your suitcase next time you go? I could use a break!’
    Mrs Montreal looked as she always did – like she’d just spent the past week at a spa getting massages and facials.
    â€˜Sure,’ I said, ‘as long as Paige can come too.’
    Paige grinned at me and pushed a huge bag of jelly snakes my way. ‘Here,’ she said. ‘Ashley and Ellie snuck backstage before and gave us these.’
    â€˜Not too much sugar, Paigey,’ said Mrs Montreal, combing her fingers through my messy curls.
    Paige rolled her eyes and took one anyway. I don’t think her mum even noticed.
    I closed my eyes and concentrated on relaxing my body, turning it from a basketball champion into the Fire Maiden. Even though Paige was by my side, she didn’t talk much – unlike Ellie, who would have gone on and on about the dance we were about to do; or Ashley, who would be cracking jokes andbeing silly. But it was good to know Paige was next to me. It helped me feel calm.
    When I opened my eyes, my hair was pulled back into a slick bun and I had red sequins