Chapter 7
Marissa felt her jaw drop. How could she have gotten the part? She hadn’t auditioned.
She could hardly think about it because Rachel was pulling her into a crazy dance in the middle of the floor.
“This is incredible!” Rachel said after she finally stopped twirling Marissa around. “I knew you’d get the part.”
“I think it’s a mistake,” Marissa said. “I didn’t try out! How could I get the lead role without even auditioning? I told Madame I wasn’t going to be in the recital.”
“Who cares?” Rachel asked. “You’ve got the lead! Aren’t you happy?”
“Yes,” Marissa admitted. “But I’d better go talk to Madame.”
“She’s in her office,” Rachel said. “She said we’d take the day off from practice. Rehearsals for the recital start tomorrow.”
“Thanks,” Marissa said. “Will you wait for me?”
“Of course,” Rachel said, smiling.
Marissa knocked on Madame’s office door. Her teacher looked up. “Hi, Marissa,” she said. “I was expecting you.”
Marissa sat down.
“I know what you want to talk about,” Madame Stone said. “You got the part of the Rose Fairy because you are the dancer who deserves it most. I saw your warm-up dance before the audition. You captured the spirit of the role. You danced every step beautifully.”
“But I was just playing around a little,” Marissa protested. “It wasn’t a real audition. I just heard Andy playing, and I couldn’t help dancing.”
“That’s exactly what I mean,” Madame said. “The music inspired you to dance. That is one of the qualities of a great dancer. I think you could be a great dancer. But you can’t let your lack of confidence stop you.”
“But Madame, I wasn’t even going to be in the recital at all,” Marissa said.
Madame frowned. “I want you in that part,” she said. “I expect you to be here at every rehearsal, dancing your very best. That is all.” She turned back to the papers on her desk.
“Okay,” Marissa whispered. She got up and left the room.
Rachel was waiting for her outside the building. “What did she say?” Rachel asked. The two turned and started walking down the sidewalk.
“She said that I got the part because I deserved it, and I have to dance the role,” Marissa said. “This is going to be hard. I mean, it’s not that I can’t do the steps. I know I can.”
“So what’s the problem?” Rachel asked.
Marissa sighed. “It’s just that when I get up there in front of everyone, I feel so big and awkward,” she said. “I feel like everyone’s wondering what I’m doing onstage. And the costume is that red leotard. Everyone will laugh when they see me in it!”
“You have to stop worrying,” Rachel said. “No one’s laughing at you.”
“Clarice and Kelly are,” Marissa replied.
Rachel rolled her eyes. “Those girls make fun of everyone,” she said. “Are you really going to let two immature girls ruin your chances at dancing the lead in the biggest recital of the year?”
“No, I guess not,” Marissa said slowly. She paused.
Then she said, “I don’t know how I’m going to do it. Maybe Madame will let me dance in a closet or something.”
“Don’t count on it,” Rachel said. “Besides, we’ve got a lot of practicing to do. The recital’s only a week away!”