Chapter 2 - The Impossible Audition
By nine the next morning, Ava had convinced herself the mirror was exhaustion.
The black feather?
A dream.
The movement in her stomach?
A muscle spasm.
Then she entered Studio A.
Madame Celeste Voss sat behind the casting table with three faculty members.
Nora warmed up near the barre.
She smiled when Ava entered.
“You disappeared last night.”
“Couldn’t sleep.”
“You okay?”
Ava hated how sincere she sounded.
“I’m fine.”
Nora touched her arm.
“Whatever happens today, we celebrate after.”
Ava pulled away too quickly.
Before she could ask, Madame Voss clapped once.
“Ladies. Odette variation. Quinn first.”
Nora danced beautifully.
Of course she did.
Almost painful to watch.
The faculty leaned forward.
Then Ava’s name was called.
She stepped into the center.
The pianist began.
And something inside Ava woke up.
Her first développé rose higher than it ever had.
Her balance held.
Madame Voss lowered her pen.
Her body knew corrections no teacher had ever managed to explain.
Every movement landed exactly where it should.
The room disappeared.
All Ava could hear was applause that had not started yet.
When the variation ended, nobody spoke.
Then Madame Voss stood.
“Ava.”
Ava’s heart raced.
“Yes?”
“Do it again.”
When she finished, one faculty member whispered:
“That is not the same dancer we saw yesterday.”
Nora was staring at her.
Casting was posted at noon.
ODETTE/ODILE — AVA MERCER.
Nora got first cover.
Students crowded Ava.
Congratulations.
For the first time, people moved around her like she had gravity.
Then Nora found her alone in the locker room.
“That was incredible.”
“Thanks.”
“I mean it.”
“What happened last night?”
“Practice.”
“Ava.”
“What?”
“You could barely land that diagonal yesterday.”
Ava’s smile disappeared.
“So?”
“So I know you.”
“No. You know the version of me you were better than.”
Nora stepped back.
“That’s not fair.”
Ava opened her mouth to apologize.
Then pain stabbed through her stomach.
She doubled over.
Nora grabbed her.
“Ava!”
The pain vanished.
Ava straightened.
“I’m fine.”
Nora stared at her shirt.
A small round bulge pressed beneath the fabric.
May you like
Then flattened.
Like something inside Ava had heard her name.
