Felicity didn’t notice. She wasn’t paying attention to anyone and danced in the middle of the stage by herself. She was beautiful.
I faced Violet to see what her reaction would be. She bit her lip so hard you would have thought she was trying to draw blood.
“Felicity, that’s enough!” Walt stood up. But she didn’t stop. “Felicity.”
“Felicity!” I yelled, and she froze.
Her chest was rising and falling over and over again. She had her hands on her waist as she took deep breaths.
“Felicity, rest for a few moments and come back. Everyone else, your break is over. Let’s run it again. We only have three hours before the musicians need the stage to practice.” Walt headed back to them, leaving only Violet in the chairs.
“I don’t care how well she dances,” she sneered, looking at me. “She isn’t better than me, and—”
“If it were Melrose, you would probably say thing the same thing, which is why she messed up. No one is trying to be better than you, Violet. She’s just dancing.”
“Mr. Darcy, the event planner wishes to see you,” a staffer said.
“Go, Violet, and rest.” Felicity had taken her place, and there was nothing she could do about it.
Felicity
4:50 p.m.
I was backstage, stretching my legs, when Melrose came over to me. Sighing, I looked away, but she sat in front of me.
“You piss me off,” she muttered.
That sounds like a personal problem is what I wanted to say, but I didn’t need to deal with any more shit today. So I said nothing.
“I’ve worked at dancing all my life. You just did a few years of school, and all of sudden—”
“Not just school,” I yelled at her, sitting up straight. “I was dancing before I knew how to walk. My mother was a dancer for the American Ballet Theatre. She would practice with me in her arms. And I would watch, wanting to be just like her. She was the one who taught me how to dance. Hell, she taught me how do everything. When she died, all I had were music and dance. I practiced every day and night for sixteen years. It wasn’t just dance school; it was Juilliard. It’s been a long time, and every part of me is aching right now, so please give me a break. I get that you people hate me.”
She reached into her bag to pull out a jar. “This is for the aches and pains. I was going to say you pissed me off, but I hope you dance like that at the gala. When you shine, we all do. I’d rather be backup to a great dancer than a second-rate leader. But watch out. Next time you will have to fight me for a spot.”
There were a few nods from everyone as they gathered their things, leaving one by one. When they were done, I collapsed on the floor.
Only a few more days, and this would be all over.
“Your mother was a dancer for the American Ballet Theatre?”
Rolling over, I saw the brace on Violet’s leg before I saw her face. Mentally, I groaned, getting back up. I can’t catch a break today.
“Yes, she was,” I muttered, taking my bag.
“What was her name?”
“Why does it matter?” I tried to move past her, but she clenched on to my arm.
“Who are you?” She glared at me. “You come in out of the blue. You have Theo wrapped around your finger, and now you’ve stolen my spot.”
Ripping my arm from her, I took a step away. “I didn’t steal anything. Your knee is ruined, and you can’t dance. I’m sorry. It sucks, but I didn’t do that to you.”
“And you got close to Theo so you could dance, right? You planned it from the start—”
“I know you and Theo once had relationship, but I didn’t ruin that for you either.”
Her jaw clenched. She pulled back her hand to slap me, but I snatched it.
“What, are we in a soap opera? You go around slapping people now? Get over yourself, Violet. The world does not revolve around you.” Dropping her hand, I left to get away from her.
“Something about you isn’t right, and I’m going to find out—”
“Goodbye, Violet!”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The Calm
Felicity
11:10 p.m.
I shot out of bed, running straight to the bathroom. Once again I was on my knees, my face in the toilet, puking. Once again my head felt like it was going to explode, and I was coated in sweat.
“Felicity?” Mark sat beside me. “The gala is in less than twenty-four hours. You need to get real sleep and eating something more than nuts.”
“Between my nightmares and my nerves, I don’t know how.” I picked myself up off the floor. Looking into the mirror, all I could see were the bags under my eyes and how horrible my skin looked.