Read Online Pirouette by Robyn Bavati - Free Book Online

that Hannah’s not real .

    â€œWhy waste money on a DNA test?” Hannah asked, when Simone suggested using Hannah’s credit card to make the payment. “I mean, isn’t it obvious we’re identical twins?” She watched as Simone slid easily into the splits, her hips square, her posture perfect.
    â€œTo us,” said Simone, raising one arm and bending over her outstretched leg with enviable elegance. “It’s obvious to us. But don’t you think it will be easier to tell our parents if we’ve got the proo f ?”
    â€œI guess,” said Hannah. “Yeah, okay.”
    Simone’s torso swept the floor as she changed direction, reminding Hannah of what had inspired her to dance in the first place. Simone really did move beautifully. Even a simple thing, like lifting an arm into fifth position, was transformed into an act of grace when Simone did it. She doesn’t know, thought Hannah. She doesn’t how amazing she looks, what a gift she has.
    Simone flipped onto her stomach and pulled one foot up over her head, her back strong and superbly arched.
    â€œYou won’t really give up dancing, will you?” Hannah asked. “I mean, look at you.”
    â€œThis isn’t dancing, it’s stretching,” said Simone. “To me, stretching’s like breathing.”
    â€œIsn’t dancing like breathing?” Hannah asked.
    â€œNot anymore.” Simone stood up and came to sit beside Hannah on her bed.
    Hannah couldn’t let it go. “I get that dancing’s tiring. I get that you really need a break. And it’s your right not to dance, and I fully respect that … but Sim, if I could dance as well as you, I’d want to show the world … ”
    â€œI used to feel like that,” Simone agreed. “It’s not that I don’t like dancing. If I could do it just for myself … if I could dance alone in a studio, that might be different. I’d be dancing for me. When you’re on your own, there’s a purity about dance. It becomes a kind of … meditation. But as soon as someone else is watching, there’s this weight of expectation. It ruins everything.”
    The girls were quiet for a while, each wrapped up in private thoughts.
    â€œYou didn’t tell me what else you did today,” said Hannah at last, “besides finding out about DNA. You weren’t bored, were you?”
    â€œBored?” Simone almost laughed at the question. “I felt free. For the first time in years.”

thirteen
    â€œYou don’t remember him, do you?” Sam said to Hannah while they were eating lunch on the lawn the following day.
    Hannah frowned and shook her head. Though Sam was interesting and friendly and great company, she had an annoying habit of referring to events that Hannah knew nothing about. Now, for instance, she was talking about some guy who’d been at Candance the year before. Hannah thought it best to simply admit she didn’t remember. “What did you say he looked like again?”
    â€œTall, curly hair … you said he was cute.”
    â€œDid I? Well, don’t forget it’s been a year.”
    â€œStill … ” said Sam, her tone accusing, “I’d never forget a guy who liked me. I mean, not that many of them do,” she added, blushing.
    â€œI’m sure loads of them do,” Hannah jumped in, grateful for the chance to steer the conversation away from herself. “You’re smart and gorgeous, and tall … ”
    â€œToo tall,” said Sam.
    â€œAnd a wonderful dancer … ”
    â€œToo tall for a partner … ”
    â€œIn a traditional ballet company, maybe. Still, don’t you want to do more experimental stuf f ?”
    â€œYeah, but it’d be nice to think I had a choice. What kind of dancing do you want to do?”
    â€œEverything,” said Hannah. “I think I’d get bored with just one