Dancer at Silver Spires by Ann Bryant Page B

really.
    I went back to geography on my own, because Miss Morgan had to rush off in the opposite direction. I was pleased that she wouldn’t be walking along the corridor beside me, because what would we find to talk about? My shoulders slumped forwards as I walked and I dreaded going back into geography. Sasha would raise her eyebrows at me and so would the others.
    And of course, that was exactly what happened. “What did she say?” whispered Sasha as I took my place next to her.
    I shrugged and shook my head, which might have meant, I’ll tell you afterwards because Mr. Pattle’s looking , or it might have meant, She didn’t say anything.
    It was only a single period of geography, so the bell went in no time at all and we all trooped out. The moment we were in the corridor, all my friends crowded round me.
    â€œWhat did Miss Morgan want?” asked Nicole.
    â€œDid you show her what you could do?” asked Sasha.
    â€œI bet she thought you were brilliant, didn’t she?” said Emily.
    â€œAre you going to join the ballet club now?” Antonia wanted to know.
    Only Bryony stayed quiet, but I could tell she was interested in what I was going to say.
    It was Emily’s question that had stood out for me. I could answer that one easily, because I could still recall the look on Miss Morgan’s face when I’d stopped and said, There . She’d seemed so surprised, and I imagined her talking to Mrs. Truman later: That girl, Izzy Carter, I’m afraid I don’t see any talent there. She’ll never make it as a professional dancer.
    â€œI don’t think Miss Morgan thought I was much good actually.” I’d tried to sound as though I didn’t really care one way or the other, but they were all looking pityingly at me, so I must have sounded a bit sorry for myself. “Anyway, I’m not joining the club, so it makes no difference what she thought.”
    Now they looked stunned and I knew I must change the conversation as soon as possible. “What happened with Mr. Pattle after I’d gone, Bryony?”
    â€œEr…nothing. I think he was quite relieved that Miss Morgan interrupted at that moment.”
    â€œBut we weren’t!” said Emily. “We were enjoying watching him writhe around like a squirmy little insect while Bryony pecked away at him like a big bird! In fact it was a shame that Miss Morgan had to come in!”
    I didn’t say anything but I so agreed with her.
    Not surprisingly, Miss Morgan never came to find me again over the next few days and Mrs. Truman didn’t say anything about what had happened. I stopped using the banister at the top of the stairs as a barre and I never went back into the room behind the laundry. The other me seemed to have gone, and it was a relief not to have to put up with the arguments in my head.
    The only time that ballet ever came up was if we happened to be in the common room at the same time as Olivia and Maria, because as long as there was someone in there to admire them, they always talked about the show and demonstrated bits of their dance, pretending they were just practising. Apparently they’d persuaded a girl called Kate to take Olivia’s part and Olivia was dancing Abi’s part, because Abi’s hamstring injury was still bad.
    In the queue for lunch one time, Sasha and I were standing right beside the table where Maria was eating her lunch, and for once Olivia wasn’t with her.
    â€œLiv isn’t half as good as you, Abi,” she was saying to the girl opposite her.
    So this was Abi. I hadn’t seen her around school much, but now, simply eating her lunch, I thought how poised and graceful she looked. She ignored what Maria had just said, and I felt pleased, because I didn’t like the way Maria was being so disloyal to someone who was supposed to be her friend. She and Olivia were as bad as each other.
    Abi sighed and spoke heavily. “I