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well enough and I needed to build up my confidence, because I’d definitely never lacked that before.
    Or maybe I had to believe I was right where I needed to be and deserved to be there as much as anyone else. It had just been such a long time since I’d really, really had to work at being the best, instead of it being natural. And if I didn’t get over myself and push myself, confidently, then I would never improve.
    We practised our turns next – first preps, then single turns, then double.
    â€˜Go for the triple if you like,’ Miss Caroline called out. ‘Strong supporting leg, core engaged, arms sharp and shooting out or the momentum won’t take you round. Spot, spot, spot!’
    Then we divided into two groups to do travelling turns across the floor – port de bras single, port de bras double, port de bras triple.
    I decided to put my thoughts into action.
    Triple turns. I’d never managed to successfully complete a full one. But today was my day.
    I psyched myself up while Miss Caroline counted us in. Off Paige and I went. One two three, prepare, turn. No problems there. One two three, prepare, double turn. Paige fell out of it but BAM! my feet and face landed dead on. Paige stopped then but I barely noticed.
    My gaze was set straight ahead. Focus.
    Port de bras, prepare. Turn one … two … focus, Ellie, do everything that Miss Caroline said you should, don’t give up halfway through, push through, want it, know you can do it … three!
    My feet came together, I was facing the right way, and I wasn’t sprawled on my bum.
    My first triple turn!
    I heard Riley and Ash cheering from the corner.
    I knew, then. It may have been just a triple turn, but it was like I found the old Ellie somewhere in the middle of spinning and hurled her back into the world.
    And boy, was she glad to be back!

Chapter Fourteen
    One chassé, chaîné, gallop, jeté! Perfect!
    One tuck jump, step through, arabesque. Beautiful!
    Turn, turn, turn, and split jump. Got it!
    â€˜Yes!’ Billie called, jumping down from the stage where she was sitting. ‘Nailed it! My head just exploded from the greatness! Go have some water, my honeys! I love you all!’
    I went to retrieve my pink drink bottle with a spring in my step. My confidence from class at Silver Shoes had carried into my Mary Poppins rehearsal. I walked into it with a ‘positive mind’, and once my head was clear of being uncomfortable and shy, it was so much easier to believe in my ability to dance.
    â€˜Ellie, you’re such a good dancer,’ Cadence sighed as I took a big swig from my water (Mum had added orange slices and berries in the bottom, and it was all kinds of delicious). ‘I was meant to be here learning my lines for Act One Scene Two,’ she continued, ‘but instead I’ve been watching you. The height you got on that jeté! I can only get that high in my dreams.’
    â€˜Well, Cadence,’ I said, ‘your mind and heart can take you places even your body didn’t think you could go.’
    I don’t know where that came from, but I decided it made me sound really smart so I just shrugged and took another swig of water as if I said wise things like that all the time.
    â€˜You’re going to be so famous, Ellie,’ said Cadence. ‘It will be, like, one minute you’re here and the next you’ve got your own headlining show on Broadway.’
    â€˜Fabulous!’ I said, pulling out my packet of snakes and offering them to her. ‘I’ll still be able to see you, because you’ll have the starring role in Cats or Chicago or something.’
    â€˜Cadence Kohdean and Eleanor Irvin, the “It” girls.’ Cadence giggled. ‘From the back streets of Bayside to the bright lights of Broadway!’ She pulled out a handful of snakes and wrinkled her nose. ‘Gosh,’ she said, ‘I so wish they would make these in