Sophie Cleverly - The Dance in the Dark

I smiled. It had been so strange for me, seeing Scarlet in the cottage where I’d lived when I believed her to be gone forever. Strange but wonderful. I hadn’t even minded when Aunt Phoebe burned the turkey, or when she’d given me the exact same knitted scarf that she got me last year. This time, Scarlet got one too.

“Four,” she said. “The weather is getting better.”

“Ha!” I exclaimed. “Not as much as I would like. My dress is getting damp. And look at those clouds!”

Scarlet pouted at me and put the notebook away in her pocket. “Ah, but this is different. This is a new year. The promise of spring is in the air!”

She stood up, spread her arms wide and took a deep, relaxing breath.

A raindrop landed on her nose.

We both laughed as we ran through the sudden downpour, back into the school and into our new beginning.

Life went on. And for the first time, school was simple. The weather was a little warmer and brighter. Scarlet and I were woken by the bell each day, went to lessons, ate a disappointing lunch, went to more lessons, and ate tasteless stew for dinner. Straight to bed with no night-time excursions.

I was happier, and I kept telling myself that. After all, there were no secret diary trails, no ghosts to hunt, no teachers waiting round the corner to give you a caning. That was better, wasn’t it?

One March morning, Scarlet sat down next to me in assembly and practically slammed her head on my shoulder. “Ivy,” she declared. “I am utterly bored.”

I let out a sigh, glad that I hadn’t been the one to have to say it. “Me too.”

“For goodness’ sake, let something interesting be announced this assembly,” she moaned.

“Like what?”

Nadia Sayani leant over from the row behind. “Perhaps an untimely death,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows.

“No!” I said. “No more untimely deaths!”

Nadia giggled and sat back again, and my twin grinned mischievously. Then the teachers began their usual round of shushing, so we sat up and paid attention.

“Good morning, girls,” said Mrs Knight, and waited for everyone to chorus their good mornings back. Our head of house had often taken assemblies before, but it was somehow different now that she was in charge of the school. “I have a special announcement for you today.”

Our ears collectively pricked up.

“As I expect you all know, your practice examinations will take place at the end of this term …”

We all groaned. Surely this couldn’t be the special announcement?

She waffled on for some time about the exams. Sunshine was spilling in through the hall windows – even though it wasn’t very warm outside, it was heating the room and all of us inside it, making me drowsy. I was usually a careful listener, but that day I tuned out most of her words.

“And now for the announcement,” Mrs Knight said in a more cheerful voice. “Miss Finch?”

I turned my gaze to the side of the stage, and saw our ballet teacher. She had started using a cane recently, as her old injury was playing up worse than ever. But nonetheless, she gave the hall a friendly smile as she climbed up to the lectern.

“Hello, girls,” she said. “I’m pleased to announce that we will be having a special performance this term from the ballet students.”

I grinned at my twin. That was us!

“They will be dancing the famous ballet Sleeping Beauty . The auditions will be held in a few weeks, and the roles will be chosen by a small judging panel of teachers.”

I swear Scarlet clapped her hands in excitement, a gesture which reminded me a little of someone else.

“And if that wasn’t exciting enough,” Miss Finch said playfully, “it will be taking place in the Theatre Royal in Fairbank. All students and parents will be able to purchase tickets, should they wish to.”

Scarlet’s eyes sparkled with the lights of fame. She was hooked, I could tell. This was her big chance at ballet stardom.

I was excited too, of course, and nervous, but my excitement was dampened. My twin’s enthusiastic response reminded me of the sad, Ariadne-shaped hole on the bench beside me. What was excitement if you had no best friend to share it with?

All Scarlet talked about was the ballet recital for the rest of the day. Not least in ballet class, where she spent more time going on about how brilliant it would be than actually practising.

But my sadness was increasing. By the time we went up to our dorm room to get ready for dinner, I felt like crying.

“What is it , Ivy?” said Scarlet, plonking herself down on the bed beside me. “You’ve been quite the sourpuss all day. Aren’t you happy about the ballet? It’s what we’ve always dreamt of!”

It’s what you’ve always dreamt of , I might have thought, but my mind was elsewhere. I was staring at my bedside table, where a pile of letters from my friend sat. I wasn’t sure whether to admit to my twin what I really felt, but before I could stop myself it came pouring out. “I miss Ariadne,” I said. “I just wish she was here! Things are so dull without her!”

“Oh, thank you very much ,” said Scarlet. “Aren’t I good enough for you?”

“You know what I mean,” I replied.

She sighed and lay back on the bed, her head almost hitting the wall. “All right. I miss her too.”

“There’s got to be a way to get her back.” I bit my lip. “I swore that I would. But after what Mrs Knight said …”

“I know. Her father wants her to stay at home.”

I undid my school tie and twisted it round my fingers. “It’s not fair , is it? She did nothing wrong. Her father should let her come back if she wants to.”

“He won’t,” said Scarlet. There was always a hint of anger in her voice when she spoke about it. “She’s his precious daughter. He wants to wrap her in cotton wool and never let her out again.”

It was hopeless.

I blinked back tears as I walked down the hallway to the lavatories. I didn’t want to be soppy in front of Scarlet. I’d only just convinced her that I wasn’t as wet as she’d always thought I was.

But as I walked into the lavatories, I saw someone else I really didn’t want to cry in front of.

Penny stared right at me. “Well, if it isn’t the crybaby,” she sneered.

I said nothing, and tried to ignore her. She hadn’t picked on me so far this term. I had been hoping it would stay that way.

“I’m talking to you, crybaby,” she said. She shoved me, and I fell back against the cold sinks.

“Ow! What was that for?” I said.

“I’m sure you think you’ve won,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “You and your sister may have got away with everything, but I don’t forget.”

Penny had a memory like a particularly vindictive elephant. Well, two could play at that game.

“I don’t forget either,” I said, trying to be brave. “I haven’t forgotten that you tried to tell on us to the headmaster, or that you pushed Violet into the lake.”

“We made up,” snapped Penny. “It doesn’t matter any more.”

“Then why are you picking on me again?” I asked. Every time I thought Penny had changed, her old horrible self reappeared just as quickly as it had gone.

“You’re going to shut up and stay away from me,” she growled. “Before I give you something to really cry about.”

Ivy seemed shaken when she came back into the room. “What’s up?” I asked.