༺ NINE ༻

When I wake up, it's to the smell of food.

Beside that pleasant thing, I'm quite comfortable. There's a blanket wrapped around my body and the surface under me is soft.

Thomas must've brought me home so Mom could lie me down on my bed.

My eyes flutter open as I groan, because I can still feel that I'm a bit tired from yesterday, and I see a TV in front of me.

Alright. I'm in our living room.

My eyes dart around only to realize it was still Thomas's living room.

Ha.

That's cute.

Newt's going to kill someone.

"I already called your family and explained the situation. Didn't want to wake you up so I let you stay here."

I jump at his voice, then land on the floor with a thud.

Good start, Rose.

I hold up my thumb. "I'm okay."

Thomas laughs. He is standing behind the couch, his hair messy and not styled, which it never really is, but he's wearing jeans and a white shirt, so he must've been up for a while already. 

"Good morning to you, too," he greets. "Just on time for scrambled eggs and a toast."

I get up. Look down once the blanket fell off and luckily see that I'm still wearing the same pants and shirt as yesterday. "What time is it? I got ballet and— oh my god, I think the roles are already sent!"

"Calm." He chuckles. "It's eleven. You slept long, but I didn't want to wake you. Still got an hour and a half left."

I sit down at because Thomas scoots the chair aside and rub sleep out of my eyes. "Your parents didn't ask any questions why there's a girl sleeping on their couch?"

"I explained it to them." He lays a toast down on a plate and sprinkles the scrambled eggs from the pan to the toast. "They didn't mind."

I nod, then look around. His house is the same form as ours, but obviously has different decorations. By the fireplace that's left from their couch, I see pictures of a young boy with two adults. The walls are either white or old pink, which matches some of the candles and plants I think his mother put down.

"Here." Thomas scoots the plate over to me. "You'll need it before ballet."

I smile, my cheeks heating up as I push the plate back. "Thank you, really, but I can't... ballet requires eating four hours before."

"Not sure where you heard that, but I'm well aware almost all sports require eating an hour or two hours before. Four hours, and you'll have a lack of energy. Also, you shouldn't eat nothing for six hours long. Dance takes two hours already. Take a snack between. Otherwise, you're starving yourself."

"Do I have to believe that?"

"Yes. It's all facts. I only speak facts, Blondie."

"But I'll be bloate—"

"No one gives a shit." He holds up his hand. Hands me the plate. Crosses his arms and then gives me a look. "Come on. Eat up."

Sighing, I start to eat, but I can no longer feel myself enjoying it after all of this. "I'm not starving myself, you know," I tell him. "Don't say that again."

"I know," he replies softly. "Just keep the old eating patterns. AKA, eat whenever you're hungry."

I nod, slowly. "Thanks, Thomas. I'd almost call you Thomas The Genius."

He grins. "A genius I am, eh?"

And I look down, hiding the blush on my face. "Sometimes."

A laugh leaves his mouth. "We should probably check if your role is already sent before you go to class. Your mom wanted to know."

My eyes widen with both excitement and fear. Fast, I eat the rest of my breakfast. "Alright. Come on. I need to know!"

The nervousness that suddenly overtops me makes me take his arm and pull him outside. No coats are needed; it's hot enough, and I press the doorbell of our house so long that I only stop when it gets opened.

"You have a key," Newt spits out, his face already full of irritation. Probably because I slept over at his friend's house.

"I'm gonna see if my role is already chosen!" I push him aside. Mom is sitting on the couch. She looks up when I enter, her face hopeful, so I hop right beside her.

My excitement is really making me crazy right now.

"I'm gonna look!" I peep. It takes long to unlock my phone with shaking hands, but I manage, then see there indeed is a new email in my inbox.
"It's there!" A yelp leaves my mouth. "Newt, hold my hand. And my morality."

He does what I asked. I think I'm squeezing the shit out of his hand as I open the email, scroll all the way down with closed eyes, and then open them.

A scream echoes through the house.

"I got it!" I let go of Newt and make a jump. "Mommy, I'm gonna be Clara! He chose me!" And I hug her, then Newt, then Thomas. "I got it, I got it!"

The happiness is almost overwhelming. I've never felt this good about a role, neither have I jumped around or yelled because I got the role I wanted. But right now, I'm smiling so hard my cheekbones hurt and I can't help but repeat the words not only in my head, but also out loud.

They chose me.

Beside the fact that I might've been bloated and need to lose a few pounds and maybe don't do all the movements as smooth, they chose me.

"I've never seen anyone this happy over a part."

I make another jump to hug my brother, my arms tightly around his slim body. "This will all lead me to France, Newt! It's gonna be awesome!" And I hug my mom again.

Can't help it.

"Wait." I jump back down on the couch. "Who's the male lead?" My eyes trail over the screen. And...

Obviously, I don't know who that is.

"Aris Jones," I read. My eyes automatically meet Thomas's. "Do you know him? Is he nice? Do you think I'll grow a nice relationship with him?"

"Yes, yes, and I suppose yes," he replies, his tongue piercing the inside of his cheek. "He's a nice kid."

"Awesome!" I look around. I already know nothing can break my day today. Those girls can say whatever they want, but I'm bloody happy and I won't let them ruin it. "Who can give me a lift?"

"Me," it comes out of three different mouths.

"I can immediately see if this Aris is decent enough to dance with my sister."

"I have groceries to do, Newton. I might as well just bring Rosa."

"Rose. Also, I can bring her because I've got hockey in the same building anyway."

"I'll give you both a ride," Mom says. "Newt, decide for yourself of checking that boy is really worth your time."

"Of course it's worth my time," he insists, following us outside and into Mom's car, where I'm still beaming (after I changed and grabbed my stuff).

"I got it," I repeat again. "Do you think this will be good enough on my report so I can go to France?"

"Guess we'll see."

I squeal as I think of how awesome the show is gonna be. And the fact Newt actually let me sit in the front without complaining. He's—I look at the back seat—whispering with Thomas.

"Spill the tea," I tell them.

They move away super fast, both looking out of their own window. "There's no tea to spill."

"We weren't even talking to each other."

"Or planning anything."

Newt shoots Thomas a glare. "Nope. We weren't."

I frown. "Y'all are weird." And turn back around. "Where are Nya and Dad?"

After I ask the question, Thomas and Newt are whispering again. "They're actually at the cinema," Mom says.

"Nice." I nod. We arrive, and I'm inside Sports so fast it's like I turned into Sonic or something, my smile not hidden.

I start my walk up the attic until Thomas calls my name.

"It's this way. They're in a bigger, realer ballet room for the play." He points at a hallway.

"Oh!" In a second, I'm standing next to him and Newt again. "Okay. Let's go. Are you guys seriously coming with me, though? Not needed."

They don't answer. I shrug, then attempt not to run to the ballet room from excitement. I probably look ridiculous almost capering my way through everything, but I'm so very happy.

Maybe because after all the things about Janson, I felt hopeless about this school and now I'm dancing for Clara.

Janson greets me by the door, telling me to just walk through and sit down, until he spots Newt and Thomas.

"Oh, this is my brother," I announce. When Newt doesn't move, I elbow him in the side.

"Newt," he says, shaking Janson's hand.

The blonde steps aside, so Thomas and Janson are face-to-face, and Thomas stares at the man as if he's a fetus or something.

I sigh.

"Thomas." Janson nods. He also holds out his hand for the boy to shake, who only does it after staring at it for a few seconds. "How're your injuries?"

I see Thomas squeeze Janson's hand a little harder than he should've, and the man's face twitches in pain. "Good," he replies. "They're fine."

Must be about a certain accident I'm still very curious about.

"That's nice to hear." Janson pulls his hands away with a smile. "And Teresa? I hope she's alright after resigning."

"She's fine. Thomas says the words with such hatred that it both makes me want to stop their conversation and listen to it. "And you? I hope you're alright after losing your best dancer."

Janson smiles. "I might've gotten an even better one, Thomas." And he tilts his head at me with a smile.

Immediately, my whole face turns red.

"I'll believe you on that," he says. "First time."

Janson takes a step closer toward the boy. "Come on, Thomas," he murmurs. I barely hear his words. "We both know it's not the first time you've believed me."

Thomas stiffens, yet his voice is steady when he replies. "At least it's the first time I believe the truth."

Janson chuckles. Then after what feels like forever, takes a step back and motions at the room. "Take a seat, kid. Or leave. Whatever you prefer."

Thomas walks up to Newt, smashing his shoulder into Janson's just like he has done earlier. "Hand me the rat spray before we watch this," he says, louder than necessary, and gives Janson a last glare.

I groan. "You toddlers. Just bloody sit down and don't interfere with my teacher."

"Then he shouldn't have interfered with me," Thomas bites out. "He's such a—"

"I'm going to dance." I get up before he can say more things that get me feeling less happy. "Let Janson do his job."

"If he gives you a tip that I do not like—"

"Newt." I slap him on the knee. "Please."

After all, they luckily don't attract any unnecessary attention to themselves. I spent the lessons seeing all the females practice their dances as I dance a few of my own. Beside that, not interesting happens.

But the busyness starts from Monday, Janson said.