Chapter 10
The rest of the dancers were standing in a little group backstage when Marissa ran in and joined them.
The curtain was still down. Madame was finishing her speech.
Marissa looked carefully at the girls to see if anyone was laughing at her in her leotard, but she saw only relief on their faces.
She didn’t have time to think anymore, because outside the curtain, Andy was playing the opening music.
The dancers rushed to take their places. Marissa stood in the middle of the stage, both arms held gracefully out to the sides.
The curtain rose. Marissa was almost dazzled by the bright lights, but she didn’t hear any laughter from the audience. They gasped with delight as she leapt across the stage.
Marissa felt stiff for the first few steps. But as she danced, she started really listening to Andy’s playing. The music was so beautiful. Marissa felt like her body wanted to soar right above the audience.
Marissa stopped thinking and started just dancing. She moved with the music.
When the recital ended, she could hardly believe she was actually Marissa, instead of the Rose Fairy.
She held the final position, with all the dancers in a circle around her. The audience burst into applause. The clapping sounded like thunder. Marissa could hear people yelling, “Bravo! Bravo!” Her heart was pounding.
She had done it! She had danced like she was the Rose Fairy. No one had laughed. Instead, they were applauding!
The dancers lined up and joined hands the way Madame had taught them. They bowed to the audience as the curtain came down. Once the audience couldn’t see them, all of the dancers started jumping up and down and hugging each other.
Rachel grabbed Marissa and gave her a big hug. “You did it!” she said. “I knew you would! That was amazing.”
“You were amazing too,” Marissa said, hugging her back.
“What happened?” Rachel said. “I thought you weren’t going to put on the leotard.”
“I wasn’t,” Marissa replied.
Just then, she caught Kelly’s eye. Kelly gave her a little nod and a smile.
After a second, Marissa smiled back. “I had a little help at the end,” she told Rachel. “But I think I had it in me the whole time. I just didn’t know it.”