Beyond the Cherry Trees: The Cook Brothers Series (5 page)

“A little,” I shrugged as I stood there staring up at him. He towered over me, making me look like a small child next to him. Of course, my rigorous training kept me little. I’d always been on the petite side, and worked very diligently to stay that way.

“A little?” he scoffed. “I can feel all your ribs. You need to eat a burger or something. You’re not going overboard, are you?” His eyes softened as he watched me. Garrett knew that Joe was constantly on me to be perfect. He knew that there was a line of girls waiting to take my place. He’d always been supportive, and I wasn’t sure why he was beginning to question me now.

“I’m fine,” I groaned. “Just added an extra mile to my run and cut my evening calorie intake in half.” I rolled my eyes. “Now, come on. We need to finish the rest of this dance.” I tossed the towel I’d been using to wipe the sweat off my forehead before getting back into position.

“Just promise me you’re being safe about this,” he stared down at me as I glared up at him. “I’m serious, Mia. Not getting enough of the right things can make your bones brittle. I don’t plan to drop you, but I also don’t want to worry about you breaking if I did.”

“I’m fine.” I pursed my lips. “Let’s go.”

WHEN REHEARSAL FINALLY
ended, it was late. Garrett and I had practiced into the evening hours alone before we moved into the auditorium to practice with the rest of the cast. Things were going well, and Joe seemed happy. I should have known that things wouldn’t stay that way though. Just before getting ready to leave, I came down out of a relevé wrong and twisted my ankle. It was just a twinge, but I knew I’d be feeling it if I didn’t get it iced and soon.

I quickly packed my things, pulled on my sweats over my dance attire, and made my way outside. I had a small apartment just a few blocks down the street, and had walked to the studio that morning.

When I entered my dark loft, I sighed in relief. My ankle was throbbing at this point, and my toes were on fire. It had been a long time since I’d pushed myself this hard, but the idea of convincing Tyler to come on opening night fueled me. I wasn’t sure what I could say or do to get him there, but I wanted to try. I wasn’t even sure where he lived now. Based on the expensive suit he was wearing, I knew he couldn’t still live in the tiny place we’d shared.

I moved around my loft with ease as I turned on a few lights and made my way into the bathroom. As hungry as I was, I knew I needed a soak in the tub first. Every muscle in my body hurt, some more than others, and my feet needed some serious TLC. I slowly stripped out of my sweats, leaving a trail as I pushed open the tiny door that hid my bathroom. I turned the knob on the tub to let the water begin to heat before stripping out of my leotard and tights. When I got to where the tights covered my feet, I sucked in a painful breath. I was used to my toes bleeding on a long day, but that combined with the new shoes had caused it to be worse than normal. My tights were practically glued to my toes with dried blood. I cringed as I sat on the closed toilet seat and picked at the offending objects, trying to get them off me. By the time I’d freed myself, the tub was nearly full. I slowly stood, careful not to put too much weight on my ankle, and I lowered myself into the warm water.

It felt heavenly as I sank in up to my neck. I’d pinned my hair on top of my head before climbing in, and as I leaned back and closed my eyes, I all but drifted off to sleep. I couldn’t remember ever feeling this tired except maybe when I’d auditioned for Julliard.

“I’m never going to be good enough for this,” I whined as I fell out of a turn I’d been doing since I was eight. Tyler had been staying after school and giving me support as I practiced for the audition that I was hoping to land next month. I’d sent in an application to Julliard six months ago when I’d finally decided that that was where I wanted to go to school. Tyler had been so excited. He’d been accepted to NYU, and we’d already started making plans for our big move.

“You’re going to be great,” he grinned as he turned down the music I had playing in the background. “They’d be crazy not to take you.”

“Everybody that’s there is going to be great,” I muttered as I scowled at him.

“But everybody isn’t you,” he smirked.

I rolled my eyes at him as I positioned myself and attempted the turn again. My body moved effortlessly through the air as the world spun by me in a blur. Thoughts of not being good enough settling right in the forefront of my mind. “I don’t know, Ty. Maybe I’m not good enough.”

“What?” He stood and ambled over to me, stopping in front of me, and placing his hands on my shoulders. “You are good enough. You’re more than good enough, and you’re going to show all of us that you were born for this. Do you hear me… you were made for this Mia. You make it look effortless. You move around on stage like you own the place. You’re so graceful. You remind me of a bird, delicate but strong at the same time.”

“You make me believe it, Ty. I love you.” I grinned as I pressed a light kiss to his lips.

“I love you too. Now, get back to work. You’re stalling,” he winked as he smacked my ass and spun me.

I spent that entire afternoon and evening running turn after turn and going over my audition piece. Ty had been right. I nailed it, and one of the judges told me the same thing. I made it look effortless and seemed like I was born to dance. I’d spent the night soaking in the tub, much I like I was doing now.

I stayed in the water until it cooled before climbing out and hobbling into my tiny kitchen area. I popped a few painkillers before wrapping my ankle and falling into bed. Dinner could wait. I didn’t need the extra weight, and I was so tired that sleep was the only thing I was interested in at the moment.

As my eyes fluttered closed, and I let myself succumb to exhaustion, my dreams filled with thoughts of Tyler and wondering what he was doing at that very minute. How could I convince him to come to ballet, and what would it take to get him to forgive me? There had to be something…

MORNING CAME ALL
too quickly, and when I slowly rose from my bed, my ankle protested against the weight. I glanced down at it, and I grimaced in pain. It was swollen and purple. I couldn’t believe that a sprain could be that painful. I slowly lowered myself back down on the bed as I pulled my foot into my lap. This was not happening. The top of my foot was slightly discolored, but when I removed the wrap I’d placed on my foot the night before, I hissed. It looked bad. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had an injury swell or bruise so quickly.

I slowly hobbled into the kitchen, took a few more pain relievers, and grabbed my phone off the counter. Tears pricked my eyes as pain sliced up my leg, and reality slowly began to sink in. Something was really wrong, and my worst fear seemed like a possibility. I bit the inside of cheek as I dialed Garrett’s number.

“Lo?” his groggy voice came on the line. “That you Mia?”

“I need your help,” I sniffed as I tried to keep my voice steady.

“What’s wrong?” I could hear the sheets ruffling on the other end of the line as Garrett perked up.

“I don’t know. I think I really hurt myself yesterday.” I was panicked. “Garrett, what am I going to do? What if I can’t dance?”

“Calm down. We don’t have to be at rehearsal until late today. Did you rest it?” I could hear him moving more and figured he was getting dressed.

“Yes. I tried to walk this morning, and it hurts so badly. I’ve never had a sprain hurt like this.” I began to sob.

“Did you run on it or anything last night?” he murmured.

“No! Nothing!” The tears were coming now and so was the panic. “I came home, soaked it, and went to bed. What am I going to do?” I shrieked. “We open in four days!”

“Ok, I’m on my way over. Give me like ten minutes and calm down.” The line went dead, and I tossed my phone on the bed, rolling to the side, and curling up in a ball. This was my worst fear. Not dancing. If I had to tell Joe that I couldn’t dance, he’d replace me. I’d lose my spot, and my career would take its first hit. It wasn’t fair in the least.

By the time Garrett made it over to my place, I had worked myself into a full on meltdown. I was convinced that my career as a dancer was over, and I was destined to be a has-been. I’ve always been melodramatic, but today, I seemed to take it to a whole new level.

“Let’s get you to one of the company docs and see what they say. You may just need a couple of days rest.” Garrett smiled as he helped me into his car. He had given up his morning at the gym to help me, and if I’d been thinking clearer, I would have been a little more thankful.

We drove to the studio, and after a few minutes with Joe, we were referred to a clinic across town. Supposedly, they were the best in their field and would offer the care and diagnosis that I’d need. I was hoping a few days of pain medication and elevation was all I needed, but as my foot throbbed, making me aware of the pain I was in, I had my doubts.

“SO, THAT’S IT,”
I grumbled when we made our way back outside. We’d been at the clinic most of the morning, and the news I was given was not what I wanted to hear.

“I’m sorry, babe.” Garrett hung his head as he helped me back into the car. “I’ll help you get settled, but what about taking some time off?”

“I don’t want time off,” I muttered. “I want to dance,” I frowned as I stared down at the air cast that wrapped my ankle.

“Well,” Garrett’s brow scrunched as he climbed in behind the wheel. “I think time off is exactly what you’re getting whether you like it or not.”

A broken ankle. That was what the doctor had said. I had a hairline fracture in the fibula. I could still walk, but the injury would heal faster if I didn’t, so now I had this lovely set of crutches to go along with my bruised ego. While we made our way back to my place, I watched my dreams go up in smoke. It would take months to get back to this place once I healed, and based on my prognosis, I wouldn’t be dancing in
The Nutcracker
or anything else until at least March. Six weeks of crutches, then another month of physical therapy before I could start training. Only then would I be able to really put weight on it and dance. The problem with that… I’d be sorely out of shape, and lacking the dancer’s body that I worked so hard to achieve.

“Cheer up!” Garrett offered a half-smile. “It could be a lot worse.”

“I can’t dance! How much worse could it get?” I squealed as I fisted my hands and pounded them against my thighs. “I’ve worked my whole life for this, and then in one afternoon, it was all taken away.”

“You’ll get it back. You’re not getting kicked out Mia,” he sighed as he pulled over in front of my building. “So Shannon will go on for you this winter. Big deal. I know how much you wanted this part, but we’re doing Swan Lake in the spring. Concentrate on getting better so you can nail the lead.” His lips pulled up on one side as he shifted to face me. “I know you can do it.”

“I guess,” I mumbled as a tear slipped down my cheek. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I should go home for a little while. Get some perspective on things.”