just so tiny!” Taylor was glad for the recognition.
“Well, it’s the only bodysuit I brought, okay?” Kaitlyn said defensively. She went unhappily to the stalls to get changed. When she went upstairs, she self-consciously sucked in her stomach as much as she could and hoped that her thick-looking thighs would be attributed to her warm-ups. She sat down in the hallway to stretch, alone. Everyone was in their own groups, and nobody invited her to sit with them. She wondered why and sighed. It can’t be intentional, she told herself. She stuck her foot out, admiring the arch. She looked around to see if anybody else had noticed.
Instead she heard Tristan, who was stretching Anna’s feet, say, “Anna, your feet make me sick! Can I, like, chop them off you, so I can have them?” Anna giggled happily. Kaitlyn listened in disbelief. Anna’s feet can’t even remotely compare to mine! she thought angrily.
Finally, Taylor and Keiko came upstairs, and Kaitlyn smiled, relieved. But they passed by without even looking at her. They went to sit with a group of the Japanese students against the wall by the door to the studio. Kaitlyn watched them giggle as they huddled about some manga book.
Taylor was in hysterics. “Pornographic comics?” she rolled on the floor, laughing hard. “Doesn’t that defeat the point?”
“Look, look!” Keiko said excitedly. “Now on subway!” They all leaned forward to get a closer look.
Feeling self-conscious, Kaitlyn went over and sat next to them. “Whose are those?” she asked uncomfortably.
“Kageki’s,” Keiko said without turning round. “I stole them out of his locker this morning. He still hasn’t noticed that they’re gone.” Just at that moment, Kageki came thundering up the stairs, and Keiko quickly stuffed the books under her bag.
“Where are they?” said Kageki, looking at Keiko and the other girls. Mao giggled.
“What?” Keiko looked up at him innocently. They all began arguing in Japanese. Keiko quietly translated it to Taylor. Kaitlyn scooted away, feeling even more awkward, and began putting on her pointe shoes.
Chloe came up to her, smiling sweetly. “I’m so glad we are Clara together! I can’t wait to start rehearsing, can you?”
Michael came up and sat down next to them. “Chloe is really pleased that she got the part,” he informed Kaitlyn. “I’m quite pleased with my own role of Fritz as well. I am glad the Demidovskis recognized that I am capable of it.”
Kaitlyn looked around to see if anyone had noticed that she was sitting with the two little kids, but nobody was paying any attention. “Yeah, I like doing Clara. I’ve done the role several times before, actually. I am excited to do Rose though, that’s one role I haven’t done before. I was Sugarplum fairy last year.”
“I didn’t know you were doing Rose,” Michael said with fake enthusiasm. “I didn’t see it on the board.”
“Oh, that’s just the office staff’s fault.” Kaitlyn tried to sound unconcerned. “I am doing Rose one cast, and Clara one cast.”
“Oh. Well, I am sure you will be a great Rose…. And Clara. Both of you.”
Chloe smiled at him. “You’re so nice, Michael!”
“Thank you, Chloe,” Michael said, widening his eyes. Kaitlyn gazed intently at his eyelashes, wondering if they were dyed.
Mr. Moretti opened the studio door and called them in. As Kaitlyn passed by, Mr. Moretti frowned. “Ah, Kaitlyn,” he said softly, but everyone went silent so they could listen. “I am so glad that you were able to join us.”
Kaitlyn frowned, confused. “Why wouldn’t I be able to come?”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?”
“Oh!” she said, suddenly realizing what he meant. “You mean because I wasn’t here on Friday?”
“Yes, finally the light comes.” Mr. Moretti was sarcastic.
“Oh, I was sick on Friday. I told Taylor to tell you.”
“Oh, and you did not think to inform me yourself?” Mr. Moretti was smiling his Cheshire cat smile. “You thought it would be better to make Taylor do this? Might I suggest choosing someone with a brain next time?” The students giggled behind him.
Taylor blushed and smiled. “It’s not my fault I’m not smart.”
“Missing rehearsal is not acceptable,” Mr. Moretti said. “As this is the first time, you have only lost the role of Rose. Do it again, and you will be out of the show. If you are really ill, you come here and watch or mark. I do not have the patience to teach things repeatedly just because someone is lazy and does not care.”
Kaitlyn mouth fell open in shock. The scene over, everyone began talking again, shedding their warm-ups and stretching their feet. Nobody looked at Kaitlyn. It was as if she didn’t exist. Mr. Moretti began setting the prologue.
As Taylor walked by, Kaitlyn grabbed her arm. “Why didn’t you tell him that I was sick?”
“I forgot! Besides, you should have phoned in yourself.”
“Well, you didn’t tell me that, did you?”
“I forgot,” Taylor wrestled her arm out of Kaitlyn’s grasp. Kaitlyn stood there, trying not to cry. What is Mom going to say? she thought, careful not to make eye contact with anyone. How can I tell everyone that I’m not Rose? she thought, suddenly panicking as she remembered she’d already told everyone that she was. Mr. Moretti called her over as if nothing was wrong.
“Ah, Kaitlyn, Chloe. The Clara is sitting here with her Mama, admiring her. Come on, Kaitlyn, do it first. Sit on the stool while your Mama fixes your curls. No, that is all wrong. Act happy, you think you look beautiful. Chloe, you try. Yes, that is right. Kaitlyn, study the way Chloe does this, you need to learn from her.” Kaitlyn glared at Chloe, who ignored her and smiled up at Mr. Moretti.
“Now, it is dancing with the dolls.”
Finally, Kaitlyn thought. Mr. Moretti had been working on the parents’ dance for the last hour.
“Chloe first,” Mr. Moretti said. Kaitlyn clenched her hands into fists at her side. The first cast was supposed to get to try first. If he doesn’t stop trying to infuriate me, I am going to kill that man. Or my mother will. She felt a bit happier at the image of Mr. Moretti dead. Of course! Kaitlyn thought suddenly, relieved. The Demidovskis won’t let him do this. Mom said they promised me Rose and Clara! She smiled, problem solved.
“Kaitlyn! Are we boring you?” asked Mr. Moretti. “Could you attempt to pay attention? I am not going to repeat this, so you had better concentrate. If you don’t know what to do, Chloe does.” Kaitlyn glared at him and wondered if the Demidovskis would fire him for not obeying their orders about casting.
After rehearsal, Kaitlyn was still angry. Even if he couldn’t really take Rose away from her, it was still humiliating. And now she’d had two less rehearsals of the role than Anna. She slammed her locker door shut and went upstairs, not saying goodbye to anyone. She didn’t notice that no one said goodbye to her either, not even Taylor.
As
