[School Gym – Afternoon, Ballet Rehearsal]
Ava stood stiffly in the line of girls, arms crossed tightly over her stomach. The other girls stretched and laughed quietly as Ms. Avery paced in front of them, clipboard in hand. Lana gave Ava a reassuring glance, but Ava just focused on her shoes, feeling out of place in her leotard.
Ms. Avery: (clapping hands together) Alright, girls! Line up. First positions.
The girls shuffled into place, Ava lagging behind. Ms. Avery’s eyes scanned the line, stopping briefly when they landed on Ava. Her lips pressed into a thin line.
Ms. Avery: Ava, straighten up. Shoulders back.
Ava did as she was told, feeling the burn of Ms. Avery’s gaze linger longer than she liked. The teacher walked slowly down the row, stopping just in front of Ava.
Ms. Avery: (sighing) Ava… you need to work on your form. And… your overall physique. Ballet is about lightness. Grace.
Ava’s heart sank.
Ms. Avery: (softly, but firm) I suggest you consider shedding a little weight if you want to keep up with the others. It’ll make things easier.
The room felt like it shrunk. Ava glanced down at her body, suddenly hyper-aware of every curve, every fold that the leotard didn’t hide. The other girls exchanged quick looks, but no one said anything. Lana’s face twisted with anger, but she stayed silent.
Ms. Avery: (turning to the rest of the class) Let’s continue. From the top.
[Ava’s House – Kitchen, Late Afternoon]
Ava sat at the kitchen table, pushing her untouched plate of food around with her fork. Her parents sat across from her—her dad reading the newspaper, her mom finishing dishes. Ava’s chest tightened as she replayed Ms. Avery’s words over and over.
Ava: (quietly) Mom…
Her mother turned, drying her hands on a towel.
Mom: Yes, sweetheart?
Ava hesitated, staring hard at her plate.
Ava: Ms. Avery… she said I should lose weight for ballet.
Her dad lowered the newspaper slightly, glancing at Ava with raised brows. Her mom’s lips pressed together, considering Ava carefully.
Mom: (sighing) Well, maybe she’s right. Ballet is competitive, Ava. You have to fit the part.
Ava’s throat tightened.
Ava: (softly) But… I thought you said I didn’t need to be like everyone else.
Mom: (gently) This is different, Ava. It’s not about who you are, it’s about what’s necessary. You said you wanted to do ballet, right? This is just part of it.
Ava glanced at her dad for backup, but he only shrugged.
Dad: (nonchalant) It’s just ballet, kid. Don’t take it so hard.
Tears welled up in Ava’s eyes, but she blinked them away before anyone could notice.
Ava: (whispering) Yeah… I guess.
[Party – Sienna’s House, Nighttime]
Bass thumped through the floor as Ava sat on the edge of a couch, a half-empty drink in her hand. Sienna danced wildly across the room, hair spilling over her shoulders, cigarette dangling between her fingers.
Sienna: (laughing) Ava! Get up! You’re killing the vibe sitting there.
Ava shook her head, leaning back into the cushions. Lana sat nearby, watching her carefully but saying nothing.
Sienna: (playfully) Come on, Ava. Don’t be boring.
Ava took a long sip from her cup, feeling the burn slide down her throat.
Ava: (smiling weakly) I’m not boring.
Sienna smirked, sitting down beside her and tossing her arm lazily around Ava’s shoulder.
Sienna: Then prove it. Let’s have fun tonight.
Ava hesitated, but something inside her caved. Maybe Sienna was right. Maybe she needed to stop caring so much—about ballet, about her parents, about everything.
Ava: (murmuring) Yeah… let’s do it.
Lana’s expression tightened as she watched Sienna lead Ava toward the dance floor.
[Bathroom – Later That Night]
Ava stared at herself in the mirror, smudged eyeliner trailing down her cheeks. She swayed slightly, head spinning from too much alcohol. She wiped her eyes quickly, gripping the sink for balance.
The reflection staring back at her didn’t feel like hers. She looked thinner already—barely eating for days, chasing the feeling of emptiness with every skipped meal.
Sienna’s voice echoed faintly from outside the door, laughing with some boy Ava didn’t recognize.
Ava exhaled shakily, pressing her palm to the mirror, smearing the faint traces of black beneath her eyes.
This was who she was now.
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