Chapter Eighteen

Dancing my waltz with Benji on the Silver Shoes stage, I realised it was probably the first time I actually really loved ballroom.

And do you know why?

It wasn’t just because all my friends and the people I loved were watching me.

Or because there was no pressure to win anything.

Or because, for once, I actually felt like I knew the routine I was performing.

It was because I wanted to be there. I was excited to show off my dancing, and what I’d worked so hard learning.

And because I was having fun.

I remembered why dancing was such a magical thing.

As soon as our waltz music, ‘Greensleeves’, began playing, a silence fell over the audience. I started my fouetté turns, and every time I went around I caught a sparkle from the butterflies in my hair.

After I couldn’t fouetté anymore, and I had collapsed on the ground (acting, of course!), out came Benji as the tin soldier.

He picked me up and we went into our closed hold. Just before he began to lead into our driving step, he did the biggest, cheekiest grin, like he was about to have the best time.

My heart melted, or maybe it was the fairy ballerina’s. And we began to waltz.

It really seemed like Benji and I were going round and round in a music box. Sometime during our dance I noticed Ellie, Riley and Ash had come to the side of the stage. They were huddled in the wings, watching us.

Forget about box steps and underarm right turns, whisks and promenade to close. It was just the story of the fairy ballerina and her tin soldier. There was also this new, nice feeling that I hadn’t had before.

It was trust. Trusting your partner. I finally knew what Fleur meant when she kept calling out, ‘Paige, Benji! Where is your connection? You must have connection!’

Connection didn’t mean touching someone. It meant trusting them. And ballroom made that really clear.

Mum had found a version of ‘Greensleeves’ where the music at the end actually slowed down in tempo, like it does when the music box runs out.

Benji and I began to turn slower and slower, until eventually I stopped moving and stood still. Benji bowed to me, as if to thank me for the dance, and then the lights faded as he walked offstage.

I blinked. I took a big breath. I stood in the darkness, slowly becoming Paige again, and not the fairy ballerina.

Then Benji was fumbling for my hand and the lights came back on. We walked to the front of the stage for our bows.

Fleur and Miss Caroline were clapping and cheering louder than anyone. Miss Caroline tipped me a wink that said, ‘You pulled it off, Paige!’

Mum was sitting next to them. When I caught her eye, she put one hand on her chest and blew me a kiss.

Her eyes were teary and I realised she was doing an embarrassing Mum cry. Usually it’s Riley’s mum who does that. It’s kind of a joke between us four girls – whose mum will cry this time?

Speaking of us four girls, suddenly Benji and I were surrounded by the excited cheers of Ellie, Riley and Ash. Even before we’d got offstage they were jumping all over us and squeezing us to bits.

Poor Benji.

But that’s how it was at Silver Shoes.

And I never wanted to be anywhere else.