The Dancers -friends

I imagined Mary to disappear from my sight like the Cheshire Cat would, but she walked away like any other talented ballerina would. You couldn't hear her feet on the floor, even with her bag and rough day weighing down on her. I looked out the window and saw the city through Mary's eyes. There was another dance studio in the building across from us and I could see about a dozen jazz dancers and all of them seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. Perhaps Mary wanted to dance like that instead of strict classical where girls like Emily were perfect and any side comments were beaten away.

I could understand her jealousy, I couldn't imagine my parents favoring someone else over me, but then again, I was a writer, not a dancer. My thoughts were shaken off as I heard Emily call for me. I hurried off, she smiled that dazzling smile and said, "I thought we said the lobby? Oh well! I forgot you're not used to this place. This is the lobby by the dance studio, I meant the one downstairs. Well, come on!" Her happiness and perky attitude was catchy. Mary was quickly forgotten as Emily and some of the other dancers talked about the show and how well I played the piano. I was flattered. Truly flattered. After all, they heard music all the time and they were painfully honest women.

Sarah, a short girl with long black hair bought a pretzel and all the other ballerinas told her it was going to make her fat and useless on stage. Sarah laughed and said, "Then you would have less competition! Relax. It's only 300 calories. I just won't eat dinner." The amount of time they spent calculating calories and telling each other not to smoke or to chew gum astounded me. These conversations would have to go into my article... somehow.

"So, Emily, your solo dance was pretty awesome." I said as casually as I could. I felt like I was talking to a celebrity or famous artist, so my cheeks flushed slightly. She looked at me, put her pearl necklace to her lips and said, "I tilted on the last bit. No one noticed because Mary wanted to tease me." All the other girls told her that she was crazy and that Mary was just jealous. I wanted to defend Mary, but clearly she had a reputation for bad mouthing Emily. Could jealousy run that deep?

We entered a small coffee shop and there were people on a small platform reciting poetry. The girls bought bottles of water and I got myself an extra large hot chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles. They told me that I was going to eat myself into an early grave, but they kept eyeing the drink like it was a crisp twenty on the sidewalk. I suddenly realized that being a dancer meant giving up a lot more than time and energy...

Mary walked into the coffee shop and waved a little. I waved back, awkwardly and almost knocked over my sugary treat. Sarah grabbed my arm and pulled it down and hissed, "Megan! That girl is evil. Stay away from her. Trust me." I looked at her and whispered, "But she seems like an okay person." Sarah looked at the other girls, even Emily looked concerned. "Let me tell you something about Mary. I tried to be friends with her." Sarah said quietly, "She thought we were close, and we were, but she asked me to put glass in Emily's shoe when she wasn't looking!" My stomach knotted. Emily leaned forward and said, "I tried talking to her about it, but she told me to go jump off a bridge." I swallowed and looked over to where Mary had been, but she had clearly left. Then Emily said, "Let's drop this subject! How about we go see that movie now?" All the girls agreed and I hurried to follow them.

Glass in her shoe... what kind of girl would ask for someone to do something like that?