On Pointe by Sheryl Berk Read Free Book Online Page B

teased, but Rock could feel her cheeks burning. All the boys in the scene laughed and pointed at her. She was happy to be the only girl in the soldier corps—she liked to be the center of attention—but not when she made a stupid, clumsy mistake.
    â€œThese prop rifles are probably heavier than the broomsticks we’ve been using in practice,”Marcus instructed them. “Handle them with care.” He cued the sound crew, and the battle scene music swelled. The group marched in perfect unison around the stage.
    â€œHigher, higher,” he said, correcting Rochelle as she struggled to keep the rifle suspended above her head.
    When they finished, she was panting. “That thing must weigh at least fifty pounds!”
    Hayden held the rifle in one hand as if it were light as a feather. “I’d say about six pounds. You just have weak muscles.”
    Rochelle raised an eyebrow. “Are you calling me a wimp?”
    Hayden chuckled. “Rock, take it easy! I’m kidding around. I’m just saying you are the only girl who’s playing a soldier and maybe it’s a little tough for you …”
    Rochelle crossed her arms over her chest. “Because I’m a girl and I can’t cut it?” she challenged him. “Is that what you think?”
    Hayden shrugged. He didn’t know what elseto say. Clearly, he had put his foot in his mouth. “Maybe you just need a lighter rifle?”
    Rochelle shoved the prop at Hayden and marched off to her friends in a huff.
    Hayden handed both back to Marcus. “I don’t get it. Did I say something wrong?”
    â€œI am not one to give advice in the love department,” the director insisted. “When I was your age, I had a knack for saying and doing everything wrong.”
    Hayden suspected he was talking about his breakup with Miss Toni when they were teenagers at American Ballet Company. Rochelle and Scarlett had filled him in on everything.
    â€œWhat I will tell you is this,” Marcus continued. “You want to patch things up before they get in the way of the ballet. And that’s not a suggestion. It’s an order.”
    Hayden looked over at Rochelle. He swore he saw steam coming out of her ears. “She’s really mad at me. How do I patch things up when she won’t even speak to me?”
    Marcus demonstrated a graceful
saut de basque
into a bended knee on the stage.
    â€œOkay, I get it,” Hayden said. “Beg.”
    He went over to Rochelle and did the same dance move. He kneeled at Rock’s feet and took her hand and kissed it.
    â€œGet up,” Rochelle said, tugging on his arm. “This is embarrassing.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Hayden apologized. “Please forgive me.”
    â€œAww,” Bria said, sighing. “This is so romantic!”
    But Rochelle wasn’t buying it. “I challenge you to a duel
en pointe
,” she told Hayden.
    â€œA what?” he asked, scratching his head.
    â€œYou think you’re such a big, strong guy. Try walking in my shoes for five minutes!”
    She handed him a toe pad and one of her pointe shoes. “You stand on your toes and I’ll stand on mine, and we’ll see who lasts the longest.” She strapped on her left shoe and waited for Hayden to put on his.
    â€œRock, this is ridiculous. I don’t wear toe shoes.”
    â€œWhat’s the matter? Too hard for you?” Rochelle taunted him.
    â€œThey won’t even fit me.” Hayden tried to wiggle his way out of it.
    â€œTry mine,” Anya offered. “I’m a size nine wide. I have huge feet like my dad.”
    Hayden slipped his toes into Anya’s shoe and laced the ribbon up his ankle.
    â€œThis is so silly,” he said, limping over to Rochelle. “What is this supposed to prove?”
    â€œThat everyone has his or her own strengths and weaknesses,” she said. She put on the right shoe and went up