Silhouette (23 page)

The whole time I just keep my focus on Mum as she nods with Natasha, smiling, relieved. Watching them, an idea forms in my mind. A path I could call my own.

Mum’s face softens when she sees me. ‘Scarlett.’ As I reach into a hug – unusual for us in public – she whispers in my ear, ‘You stole the show.’

I pull back, and turn to Natasha. ‘Thanks for coming.’

She nods once, but all else about her is the frozen ice-queen. ‘I hear you’ve been in the gossip pages.’

Straight into it, I see. I don’t shy away. ‘I can assure you that’s all over now.’

Natasha takes her time, scanning the room before turning back to me, her eyes lingering over my shaved head. ‘Well, I’m glad to hear that.’

No mention of the show, or my solo. There’s an awkward pause as I clear my throat and shift from one foot to the other. ‘You must be about to move to the new company?’

‘Next week.’

‘I was wondering … whether you’d be willing to consider me as one of the dancers.’

I can feel Mum’s reaction beside me as Natasha’s eyebrows go up. ‘That’s a change of heart,’ she says carefully.

‘Well …’ I glance at Mum, who nods slightly. ‘I haven’t approached anyone else.’

Natasha looks past me, nodding at Jack. ‘I’ll catch you in a bit!’ he calls to her, hand raised before extending it to greet a man in a black suit.

I keep going. It’s now or never. ‘Look, I know I have a lot to learn, but I’m willing to work hard. I’m asking for this chance because I’d do anything to work with you again.’

It’s not about where I’d be dancing, but who I’d be dancing with.

I’ve just hit her with the mother of all compliments, but Natasha accepts it as a given. ‘So you’re giving up on the NBC, just like that?’

It’s a test, I think. Her face is so hard to read. All I can do is tell the truth. ‘If
you
move back to the National Ballet, then I’ll knock down their door.’

She nods, her eyes creasing in amusement before signalling someone in the group next to us. ‘Arthur?’

A short, slim man in a tailored shirt angles his head our way. ‘Yes?’

‘Remember the solo about halfway through? No set. Just back lighting?’ She motions towards me. ‘She’s asking for an audition.’

‘Already?’ Arthur steps towards us, looking me up and down. ‘Well, your work is raw, but … expressive. I’d like to see more.’ He looks to Natasha who drops her chin slightly as agreement. ‘Here.’ He pulls a business card out of his shirt pocket. ‘We don’t have funding yet, we’ll be fighting for acceptance. But call me in a couple of weeks if you’re still interested in trying out.’

I take the business card, beaming. ‘Thanks. I promise you, I will.’

‘Excuse me.’ Natasha smiles at Mum as Jack pulls her away.

We just look at each other.

‘So that’s okay, with you? That I might work with Natasha?’

Mum’s forehead creases, but then she nods. ‘You know, it’s fine. I’m proud of you.’ She breathes in slowly, a new calmness about her. ‘I think your dad would have been pleased.’

I smile back and for a moment I imagine that I can feel him here, with us now rather than between us.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To Hilary Rogers, who gave me my first and most recent break: a huge thank you. It’s been an amazing journey. The more I learn, the more I see how far I still have to go. Many thanks to Beth Hall for her patient and considered editorial support. It’s been a pleasure sharing the journey with you. Thanks also to Tash Besliev for giving this story the initial nod.

A big thank you to Neil Adam at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School. He is one of those teachers who truly makes a difference to the lives of his students, and I am no exception. Thanks also to the students at VCASS who so enthusiastically and generously shared their hopes and fears: Bella Scott, Latisha Sparks and Hannah Dunlop. May your dancing lives be rich, and full of unexpected twists and turns.

Finally, all my love and gratitude to my husband, Campbell, and our kids, Porter and Elm, for listening at each stage of the process and believing that I could make it to the end, even when I didn’t.

Thalia Kalkipsakis grew up on a farm on the outskirts of Melbourne. It had a bush area down the back that was perfect for escaping and exploring. After a stint as a dancer, she edited websites and travel guides, but her biggest passion has always been writing.

Thalia cut her teeth as a series author:
Go Girl
,
Girlfriend Fiction
, the nonfiction series
It’s True
and, most recently,
Girl v the World
. Her books have been translated into a variety of languages and sold into countries around the world. Her first venture beyond series writing is a collection of unconventional short stories called
Head Spinners: Six stories to twist your brain
. One story in the collection,‘It Began with a Tingle’, is a finalist in the Children’s Fiction category of the 2011 Aurealis Awards.

These days Thalia lives in north-eastern Victoria with her husband and two children, and their two black cats.

Silhouette
is her first stand-alone novel for young adults.

Silhouette
published in 2012 by
Hardie Grant Egmont
Ground Floor, Building 1, 658 Church Street
Richmond, Victoria 3121, Australia
www.hardiegrantegmont.com.au

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means without the prior permission of the publishers and copyright owner.

A CiP record for this title is available from the National Library of Australia.

eISBN: 9781742739267

Text copyright © 2012 Thalia Kalkipsakis
Design copyright © 2012 Hardie Grant Egmont

Cover design by em&jon design
Text design and typesetting by Ektavo