Read Online Abigail: Through the Looking Glass by Rachel Elliot - Free Book Online

for the try. They’ve won!
    I’m cheering and clapping, and when Sammy sees me there’s a fire in his eyes that I’ve never seen before. He’s walking straight towards me – purposeful, determined and passionate. Then he kisses me – right in front of everyone.
    Everyone’s laughing and whooping, but in that split second, all the feelings I’ve had and all the things Jai said crystallise into a decision, and I know that I was wrong.
    Sure, ballet is always going to come first. But there is life outside of ballet too, and right now, wrapped in Sammy’s arms, I feel happier than I ever have. So I kiss him right back, and the people around us disappear, because all I can think about is him.

CHAPTER 12
    Tara has dislocated her kneecap, and she’s using the time she can’t dance to organise a formal. Miss Raine is furious but I think it’s a good idea – I went half crazy those weeks when I wasn’t allowed to dance. Tara needs something to take her mind off it.
    It’s not as if I’m usually good at empathising with people – or interested for that matter – but I can imagine how terrified she must be feeling. Her whole future depends on her body being in peak form. An injury like this could be a total disaster. You can lose all your dreams so fast. And if dreams are all you have, what’s left when they shatter?
    I can’t believe that I was worried that being with Sammy might stop me focusing on ballet. Our relationship seems to make our dancing richer andmore lyrical than ever before. I feel a connection with him that I have never had with any other friend.
    I know he feels the same way, and things are so intimate between us that I’m not surprised when he asks me if I’ve thought about taking things to the next level. Part of me wants to say yes. It feels so right that Sammy would be the one who … But the whole thought scares me.
    ‘We’re not ready,’ I say, as softly as I can.
    ‘Right,’ says Sammy at once. ‘No. I didn’t think so either.’
    But the next day, as I watch him practising a
port de bras,
I start to wonder if I made the right decision. He is just right for me. We are a perfect couple. Are we really not ready? In lots of ways I feel ready. And for it to happen with Sammy, my best friend – there’s something wonderful about that.
    This relationship is outside ballet – it doesn’t depend on me doing well at the Academy. It’s about us being friends and caring about each other. It’s something that I can have whether I’m a dancer or not. I want it to get better and better – stronger and stronger.
    ‘What?’ he asks, catching me staring at him.
    ‘Nothing.’
    He leans towards me.
    ‘About yesterday,’ he says, sounding awkward. ‘I feel bad it might’ve seemed like I was … you know … like I was pressuring you. And I don’t want you to think that because I respect the fact that you’re not–’
    ‘Actually, I’ve changed my mind,’ I say. My palms are sweating, but I keep my voice cool. ‘I think we’re ready.’
    ‘You do?’ Sammy says with a little gasp.
    We head to the centre to perform our
pas de deux
again.
    ‘Sorry, stroked out there for a moment,’ Sammy says in a whisper. ‘Ready as in …?’
    ‘Ready,’ I say, feeling more confident now. ‘But if you don’t agree, we can wait …’
    ‘No, I’m a guy,’ he says. ‘I’m hard-wired to think I’m ready.’
    Miss Raine’s getting annoyed with us – ballet dancers should only speak with their bodies.
    ‘Okay then,’ I reply softly. ‘Let’s embrace the cliché at the formal. It’ll be … special.’
    The formal is a huge success. Fairylights twinkle everywhere you look, and the walls are dusted withsilver snowflakes. It’s like being in a Hollywood movie. But all I can think about is what’s about to happen. Sammy opens the door to his room and walks in. I follow him, tingling all over – is he feeling the same?
    I’ve never seen his room so clean. There’s a bunch of