Chapter 2

* A Few weeks later*

It has been almost 3 weeks since my mum didn't come home. I'm worried but she texted me that she was in a safe place and she's okay. My parents fought a lot and I do think that they need time away from each other and especially from work to clear their mind. But, now, I can't help but thinking if they are going into a divorce.

I woke up in the morning and went to shower, I found myself silently crying in the shower. I decided to go to school without my dad because I don't want him to see me hurt like this. I felt like crap but I do know that laying in my bed and crying all day wouldn't help me.

Before I left for school, I stuck a note to my dad saying 'Morning dad, Shasha is picking me up today to school. Don't forget to eat your breakfast and love you, dad!. Love Shayna x'.

I lied, Shasha is not picking me up. I just feel that I need some fresh air so I walked to school while listening to Photograph by Ed Sheeran. Walking gave me some unexplainable relaxation from things that happen in my life.

When I arrived at school, I kept walking to my locker, then I bumped into someone. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you there," I said without looking for that person.

Then, the person had a dark but deep voice said, "You know if you want to apologize to someone you need to look at that person in the eyes so he or she would have known that you are sincere". I looked up to the person, it's the new kid.

"It's Edward, right? well, I'm sorry, " I said and he replied, "It's alright... well you seem like someone that had a lot of things going on in your mind.".I was about to reply, then Shasha interrupted me by playfully punching me in the arms and said "SHAYY!! Your dad calls me just now asking if you are going to school with me… you should text me first if you need me to cover you, Shay".

Then, she saw Edward "Ohh hey greenie," she said to him. Edward just nodded and left to class while I and Shasha walked to our class "Sorry Sha, forgot to text you... I just needed some fresh air so I went for a walk " I said and she just nodded.

I'm pretty sure that she knows something went wrong with me, but I'm glad that she hasn't asked about it yet.

*Lunch break*

I and Shasha are sitting at our table eating our food, then some evil devil queen, Joanne Sims comes to us and says "Well hello guys, how was your summer? I bet you spent most of your time in therapy, right Shayna?" she said smirking at me.

" Anyways... Shasha, me and my girls were just wondering if you want to join us in the school drama club?" she said with her fake smile.

Shasha looks at me then says to Joanne, "I love to join the club but can Shayna come too?".Joanne looks at Shasha like she was crazy "This girl in my club, huh... heck no we just want you, Shasha not her so if you still want to be in the club stays at school at 4 pm, bye." said Joanne and she left to her group.

I looked at Shasha and said "You can't drag me to that club Sha but you, girl go for it...I know your passion for acting so go okay". I and Joanne never knew each other until the incident three years ago.

*Flashback*

"Can I have all of your attention, please? Alright, for this year, I've decided that Shayna, you're going to be the lead for the upcoming Swan Lake," said my ballet instructor, Ms Porter.

I have been dancing ballet since I was 3 years old when I got myself audition for Black Swan which is the way that leads me to Joanne. I am going to admit that Joanne is such an amazing dancer, but every time you see her dancing it always lacks emotion because the only thing is in her mind it's all about 'WINNING AND TECHNIQUE'.

Ballet is my passion, I've always wanted to be a prima ballerina. I was happy with the news.

After the news that I have been chosen as Black Swan and White Swan, I was waiting for my mum to pick me up, then Joanne walked towards me and said "That role is supposed to be me!!! DON'T FEEL TOO COMFORTABLE TERESA BECAUSE I'M GOING TO GET MY ROLE FROM YOU!!".

That girl always picking out on me. I don't even know what I did to her for her to such a bitch to me. I guess it's how it is in every story, there will always be a bitchy side of it. But, this time, I was standing on the edges of my patience.

I said "Maybe you should be the one who got those roles... but guess what? I ALREADY GOT THE ROLE SO TRY AGAIN NEXT YEAR AND I DON'T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT YOUR FILTHY THREAT.". "I really don't have time to fight with you, Joanne. But sorry not sorry." I added.

"YOU ARE GOING DOWN HOE!" she said and I mumbled silently 'I think you need a mirror' then she just left. If I had known that those words are going to lead me into the worst part of my life, I shouldn't have said that.

I was all alone by myself every time I'm in my ballet lesson. I don't have friends, I mean real friends. I thought there were some people that I can call them as a friend of mine but I was wrong. They insulted me behind my back 'Shayna is so fake' 'All of those were just an act to get Ms Porter's attention' and some of it accuses me sleeping with Luke Andrews, one of our ballet instructors who is also my childhood friend. I don't really care about this stuff, but it hurts hearing them call me 'slut' for something I didn't do. For god sake, I see Luke as my big brother well, that's what I thought. Well, I used to have a tiny bitty crush on him but I moved on....maybe

The day of our rehearsal, I was done with my rehearsal so I decided to practice more because practice makes perfect. I asked Luke to join me practising so that's what we did practising.

After practising, we both were sitting on the bench, drinking water and getting ready to go home.

Luke said "You know, Shay...You are such a tough kiddo " and I said "Huh? What do you mean, Luke??".

"We all know how your friends are treating you, especially Joanne.. treating you like shit yet you are still here practising and smiling," he said. At that time I was just smiling at him and said "That's why I'm here, Luke... dancing makes me forget about the bad things" but inside me, I just wished that I could tell Luke that I have been treated much worse like Joanne and others bullying me, beating me and stuff.

Luke just continued talking "Uhmm Shayna, I was wondering if I can ask you out for dinner tomorrow if your boyfriend doesn't mind" and I said, "I don't have a boyfriend, Luke and yes, I would love to have dinner with you".

Luke looked surprised and said "FOR REAL THING, YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE A BOYFRIEND?? I mean you are a beautiful girl" and he starts to lean on me saying "If you don't have a boyfriend that means I can kiss you" then he kisses me and I am sitting there, letting his lips on mine. The moment feels so right that I kissed him back. The feelings came back just like an electric shock in me.

Someone was taking a photo of Luke kissing me. Luke pulled away when he realized the flash from the camera in our direction. He went after that person who took our photos.

He came back to the practice room and said: "Whoever that person is, well he or she got away pretty quick".

While me... I am just trying to figure out what is happening between me and Luke, I said to Luke "I bet that person is going to tell everyone about this, right?... It's okay Luke... You can leave me if you think what's happening here is the wrong idea, I understand".

I was about to leave, but Luke stops me by saying "I don't regret kissing you, Shayna... I know it's weird because of our childhood memories together, but I really like you." Those words make me believe that Luke will never be the person who is going to leave me all alone so guess what? I did it...

I grabbed his face and kissed him.

Luke and I start dating after the 'date' he asks me before. The showcase ended, I felt great and grateful for the opportunity. Strangers and instructors congratulate me on my performance. I was about to go into my room to change and just go home, but then someone pushed me and started beating me... that person started to kick me in the stomach and the next thing I know I was unconscious.

I woke up and found myself in the bed at the hospital. I felt so sore and really tired then my mum came into the room and said " OMG!! YOU ARE AWAKE...LET ME CALL THE DOCTOR AND YOUR DAD!". I was about to stop her, but I'm just too tired to do so.

The doctor came along with my parents, "Hello Shayna... my name is Doctor Gordon, how do you feel today?" said the doctor. I just weakly replied "sore... What happens to me? Why am I here?".

My dad said, "You were found unconscious after the showcase, honey... you have been beaten really bad, remember?". I shrugged

Doctor Gordon said " I'm sorry what happened to you, Shayna but I'm afraid that now you aren't allowed to dance anymore... your leg has pretty much been damaged by the person who beat you so you will be in therapy for your leg, but still it's a risk for you to dance again".

I was in shock when my mum is reaching my hand to comfort me. I politely asked Doctor Gordon and my parents to give me some time alone.

That's when I realized my dream and my hope was over. I felt numb and hopeless.

*Present*

Shasha snapped me out of my thoughts "earth to Ms.Shayna Asher, damn girl. You make me wonder what is going on in your head". "Nothing, okay... Let's go, we have English next."

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After the incident, I thought my life was over... ballet helps me go through my problems, not just me wanting to be a ballerina as a career. If you are wondering what happened between me and Luke after the horrible incident, well me and him are still dating and he has been such a supportive boyfriend.

Going to therapy was a lot of work. Even though I know I could try to do ballet again, but I couldn't afford to deal with it emotionally.