Chapter Five

The following days leading up to orientation passed by in a blur. Nicole had made sure to take in the little town a bit more, absorbing all its wonderful sites, amazing food and visiting the local library. Some of the books in there had been a bit out of date compared to the type of books that were popular now, some worn down and others boring to the core. But there were a few interesting ones, guess she just had to have a bit of patience and time to find them in that huge library. Other than that, she found herself spend more and more time with Charlotte, spending time together going out for lunch dates and more than once, a few night clubs here and there. Ava on the other hand, she had strategically and successfully been able to avoid her, so far. But Ava, as far as Nicole could tell, is very persistent and she knew her luck would eventually run out and she would corner her.

Other than that, her life on campus was okay so far. So far so good really. Putting down a crime novel she had been reading, she realized she had about 20 minutes before her first ballet class here would begin. With excitement building up she got up off her bed, slipped on her leg warmers and black and white panda slippers before grabbing her a prepacked gym bag with her ballet stuff in it. Wearing a hoodie on top to conceal her leotard underneath she slowly opened her bedroom door, peaking around the quiet space to ensure that Ava really wasn't around. Once satisfied she walked out and locked her bedroom then the apartment door before walking out the dorm building out onto the campus grounds. The dance studios were a bit of a walking distance from here and separate from the rest of the other buildings, but she didn't mind. It gave her a bit of time to listen to her music and let her imagination take over.

Arriving at the dance studio she stared at it in awe. She had seen it in passing when Charlotte was giving her the tour but being inside it was something completely different. She felt adrenaline and nervousness rushing through her all at once. This is the one thing she had to ensure she was perfect at, the best of the best at in order to ensure that her scholarship stayed hers until she finished her studies here. The one thing that would keep her up at night if she didn't excel in it.

Walking upto the lady at the front desk she placed her documents onto the desk before speaking up.

"Morning ma'am, my name is Nicole, I am one of the ballet scholarship students."

"One of? More like the only one my angel. All of these young one's dancing have mommies and daddies paying their fees."

"Oh."

Nicole couldn't help the sinking feeling that she got. If she thought it was worse when walking through these doors, it had just intensified by a 100 now. Not only was she the only Ballet scholarship student but she had to now compete with dancers from rich money? Dancers who probably had private tutors on the side. Feeling her heart sinking a bit she kept a straight face and clear mindset. She knew better than anyone that if she deflated herself or even let the negative thoughts in just a little, they would eventually take over and win, and she couldn't let that happen, under any circumstance.

"But don't lose faith my angel. The fact that you got this scholarship out of so many proves that you deserve to be here, just as the same as them. And besides if you need a few extra lessons my door is always open, 24 hours a day except on Sundays. I learnt from you youngsters that Sundays are reserved for lovers eyy."

Smiling a little Nicole quickly took in the elderly lady, noting how she looked a bit old and fragile but strong, strong enough to hold her own in a fight it seems. Looking back up at her she noticed how her brown eyes seemed to hold a whole lot more than just humor. Her eyes held wisdom and a whole lot of knowledge in them. Knowledge that would have one cowering away it seems. Smiling back at her Nicole took her ballet student card from her and dancing schedule before bidding her goodbye. She had a feeling she would be seeing the old lady more than she thought she would.

****

"Alright class, that's it for today. Remember to eat healthy, practice, attend class and you will be just fine. Lastly do we have a Nicole here with us today?" Nicole, please come forward the rest of you, you're dismissed."

Class today had been okay, nothing Nicole couldn't handle, but, being called forward in front of everyone else still made her feel like maybe she was doing something wrong all along.

"Ma'am you asked to see me.

"Aahh yes, so you are Nicole, our scholarship student."

Hearing that ever so often didn't make her feel any better. She just wanted to keep the fact that she was the only scholarship student in the class on the downlow as much as possible.

"Yes, ma'am I am. Is everything alright?"

"No no, everything is wonderful my dear. I just wanted to see who you were for myself. It's not every year where we get a scholarship student with us, this is one of the best dance academies in the world after all. Your generation tends to find the art of dancing, what is the word again... lame and uncool."

"Oh, trust me ma'am I love ballet, it is everything to me."

"Mmhh I can see that. Well then just continue working hard and you will be fine. You do understand that you have to be amongst the top 3 best dancers or the best of the best in the class, there's no other option."

"I know and I understand, I will work hard I promise."

"Okay then, toodooloo."

Walking back to her locker, Nicole couldn't help but feel like there was something she was missing. Her dance teacher seemed nice and friendly, so what was she missing?

"She doesn't like you; you know."

Turning around Nicole came face to face with a red head with piercing blue eyes staring right back at her.

"What?"

"Our dance teacher, she doesn't like you. You took her daughters spot when you accepted that scholarship."

"But how could I have taken it; the scholarship was for international students."

"Exactly. Her daughter stays in Korea with her father. That scholarship would have insured the daughter shifting from there to here without paying much."

"Oh, but it's not my fault that I got chosen, I guess I was just simply better than her."

"Careful now village girl. getting cocky might just cost you, besides, you may have been the best amongst the international students but in here you are competing with dancers who have been the best for years, and to continue studying here you have to be better than them better than me even."

"Oh yeah thanks for the tip, by the way, I have a name which is Nicole not village girl, learn to use it please."

Nicole turned back towards the red head when she burst out laughing, wiping imaginary tears from her eyes.

"Wow I knew I liked you village girl, the name is Tammy by the way. You and I are going to be the best of friends, I can feel it. Now hurry up and change, I'm starving."

Turning away and smiling Nicole couldn't help but accept Tammy's invitation for lunch. Besides Charlotte she had no other friends here around her age. It felt good having someone else to talk to, even though they were technically enemies, sort of, in class. Hauling her gym bag over her shoulder she decided to give herself a bit of a break and stop pondering over her ballet classes. Classes had just began which meant she still had plenty of time to make it to number one and stay there too.