that, and they can’t delete all of it. Won’t save that poor SOB though.”
Just then, the ambulances came screeching in. The attendants had to fight their way through the crowd to reach the man. The boys and Anna, Grace, and Alexandra fought their way through the crowd towards Taylor and the girls.
“Omigod, did you guys see that happen?” Anna asked them. Taylor just became more hysterical.
“The police!” she sobbed. “And then … down! He just had a sword! I thought it was drugs.”
Keiko put an arm around Taylor and led her back to the bench. The rest followed, in shock.
“I just can’t believe that our police did that,” Grace said. “What do they think they are, American?”
“Hey!” said Jonathon. “That was definitely your police who did it this time.”
“Do you have your cell?” Keiko asked Taylor. Taylor didn’t answer. She was still sobbing and incoherent. Keiko lifted Taylor’s arm and searched through her jacket pockets. She found it and called Charlize. Jessica tried to give Taylor a Kleenex, but Taylor hit her away, burying her head in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Your mom is coming soon,” Keiko told Taylor, patting her on the shoulder. Everybody else started phoning, too.
“We can drop you off at Mr. Yu’s,” Alexandra told Julian. “And you. At your home,” she added to Tristan.
“There’s Charlize,” Keiko said with relief. Everyone looked up, happy to see a familiar adult.
“I was just coming to pick Taylor up anyway,” Charlize said as she reached them, out of breath. “What happened? Oh, Taylor! Are you hurt?”
Taylor ignored her, still crying.
“Someone was shot … I mean tasered,” said Keiko. “Not Taylor. This other guy … it was the police, it happened right next to us.”
“Oh, baby,” Charlize said, hugging Taylor. “Sweetie, please stop crying.”
“She hasn’t stopped crying since it happened,” said Delilah.
“Oh no! She’s probably in shock,” Charlize said. “I’ll have to take her to emergency for a tranquilizer.” She coaxed Taylor along to the car and buckled her in her seat.
Chapter Seven
Alexandra Dunstan
Excited for Harbour with Julian Reese and Tristan Patel!
Alexandra went down the list, counting. “Three pictures of tendu à la seconde, head shots for all of them, four in arabesque, three letters of reference …” she muttered.
Emma came into her room without knocking. “Mom wants to know if you want breakfast before you go to rehearsal.”
“I’m not going to rehearsal right now, I’m going to Harbour and then rehearsal.”
“Whatever,” said Emma, raising her eyebrows and flopping onto Alexandra’s bed. “How come you have so many black bodysuits out?”
Alexandra sighed. “I need to decide which one is best, so I know which one I am wearing for auditions.”
“I like that one,” Emma said, pointing at a black bodysuit laid on the pillow. Alexandra glared at her. That one was her favourite, but she didn’t feel like agreeing with Emma right now.
“Go away, Emma.”
“Aren’t auditions after Christmas? How come you’re getting ready now?” Emma showed no signs of leaving.
“Because I want to.”
“Oh, okay. Do you want break—”
“Yes, go away!” Alexandra yelled. She pushed Emma out the door, shut the door behind her, and turned back to her computer. She sighed, looking at the pictures on the website. Crossing both fingers, she looked up. Please, can I just get in somewhere and go. Royal Ballet School would be nice, but obviously SFB or SAB would be cool too. Really, I’m not that picky, any of the others would also be appreciated.
Beth called upstairs, “Alexandra, if you want me to drive you downtown, we have to leave really soon. Get down here and eat breakfast.”
Alexandra went downstairs, grabbing her bag. When she saw the waffles, she asked, “Actually, can I get something to eat downtown?”
“Alexandra.… Okay, I guess we don’t really have time for you to eat here anyway.” Alexandra grabbed a banana and followed her to the car.
As they drove downtown, Alexandra sang along to Linkin Park, “Hands held high into the sky so blue/The ocean opens up to swallow you.”
“Is that the music from your contemporary solo?”
“No, Mom. I couldn’t use it for a contemporary solo. I’m thinking of this one, though,” she said switching the song. “Do you like it?”
“Yes, I like that one. Look over there. What are they protesting this time?”
Alexandra rolled her eyes. “It’s called Flux.”
“What, the protest?”
“No, the song.” They pulled up to Harbour. Alexandra looked at her cellphone. She had enough time to go to Starbucks before Jules and Tristan got there. She ran across the street and ordered a Clean Green juice. When she looked out the window, Jules and Tristan had just arrived.
“Hey,” she said as she reached them. “It’s right here.” Jules was looking around, confused.
“Wow, I was standing right in front of it,” he said. “Is it really small?”
“No! It’s upstairs, it’s quite big actually.”
“Geez, that’s a lot of stairs,” Julian said.
As they stretched in the studio, Julian asked, “Who’s the dude in the pink girl’s tights?”
“He’s here a lot,” Alexandra whispered. “He has mental problems. The government pays for his classes here. He’s fine though.”
The teacher came in, and Julian sat up quickly. “She’s really tall,” he sounded surprised, “and, like imposing-looking.”
Tristan agreed. “She used to go to the academy, you know.” He ran over to her.
“Come on,” Alexandra said, grabbing Julian’s arm.
“Hey! I’m so glad to see you guys,” the teacher said, putting down her coffee and hugging Tristan and Alexandra. “And who is this?” she asked, smiling at Julian. “I’m Leah.”
“That’s Jules. He’s new at the academy.”
“Oh, I see. Don’t listen to the academy too much,
