Right now it's 3:30pm, mid afternoon. I'm at the ballet studio in the Homles Chapel performing arts centre. A whole bunch of us (including Dawn and I) have been called for the final cast reading. We don't know which parts we have, but we do know that we definitely have parts. This is the most nerve-racking part; the waiting, the suspence.

"Do you know if they've cast the boy roles yet?" I asked Dawn, who was tucking her spikey, black hair into a headband.

"No, apparently they find out later tonight" she said "They wanted to tell us seperately, in case there was any bitch-fighting about whose dancing with who"

"That's silly" I scoffed "It's not as if someone would rip another girls hair out if she had to dance with Harry for example..." then I remembered that it was a strong possibility.

"That's why that policy was made" Dawn whispered "Last year for 'Swan lake' Ellie Jones was chosen to play Odette, and when Taylor found out she went nuts! She started rumours that Ellie had STD's so all the boys began bullying her, it was nuts!"

"Geez, I had no idea Taylor was that much of a bitch"

"Do not underesimate her" she whispered "She's evil!"

"Alright girls, settle down and keep quiet!" The schools dance instructer, Miss Rose, silenced the room.

"Now, you all know why you're here. You've been called here because you've been selected for a role in this years production. Now remember, there are talent scouts representing the London, performing arts acadamy attending, so I want everyone dancing to their full potential!" Oh. My. God. Talent scouts! This is a HUGE deal for me.

"Now pay attention very carefully, because I shall now announce the female roles" she held out the list in front of her and began to read aloud.

One by one, the roles were announced, and the tension was cut very slowly. When Dawn was announced one of the fairies, she gave me a quick hug, squealing with excitement. When Miss Rose reached the lead roles my heart was pounding, would I get the role? Was my dancing good enough? I only had about three seconds to find out.

"And the role of Clara goes to..." She flipped the sheet over "Bethany Vanderpark"

Dawn and a few of the other girls congradulate me, as well as the ocasional moan from the other girls who had auditioned for Clara. I can't believe I got the main role! After every role I've auditioned for, after every background role I've played, I finally have the part I want! I danced harder than before in my audition, and the work has payed off. I could hardly believe it.

I stayed behind because Miss Rose wanted to see me about something, I told Dawn that I'd just meet her and Faye at the cafe, that I'd meet them in five.

"You wanted to see me?" I met Miss Rose at the ballet bar.

"Oh, yes! Firstly, I wanted to congradulate you on winning the lead, we really wanted a fresh face this year, and you're such a unique dancer. Secondly, given that you're playing Clara I want you to get as much private rehearsal done as possible. Here's a key for the upstairs studio; you can use to the studio whenever you want for rehearsals only, and the only other person with a key will be the male lead. Work as hard as you can and this production shouldn't be a bother for you" she handed me the single key, accompanied by a single keychain of the laminated performing arts, card.

"Thank you Miss Rose" I took the key and clipped it onto my ballet slipper keychain, along with my house key and my locker key.

I'm performing in the nuttcracker. This also meant I could possibly rehearsing with Harry, who was apparently my boyfriend now. How the hell was this going to pan out?

                                                                ***

I met Dawn and Faye at this little cafe near the main shops. They had already ordered so I just put my order on their table and joined them. Faye was telling us about Taylor's little gang of friends getting into a scrap at the public park, it was between them and some ex-inmates from some juvinile centre. It was so big that somebody even filmed it on their phone. I should check youtube in a few hours to see if someone uploaded the fight.

"Beth?" Faye turned to me "What's going on between you and Harry?"

"What do you mean?"

"We just saw you guys outside the chip shop the other day" Dawn said "You two looked very close"

"we were getting lunch, that's all" I said "It's not as if we were kissing or anything"

"That's another thing" Faye said shakily "Taylor saw you as well, when you guys left she was so pissed that there was smoke coming out of her ears"

"That bad?" I asked, appalled.

"Yeah, she gave you a warning to stay away from Harry, but it's not as if Harry cares. He doesn't have any feelings for Taylor, he only wanted her for the sex. But Taylor still wants Harry, and she doesn't care who gets hurt"

"How can somebody be that evil?" I asked them "If she was Harry's girlfriend, and he actually felt something for her, then I'd understand her pocessiveness. But she's not his girlfriend and I'm pretty convinced that he doesn't have any feelings for her, so I can easily say that she has no right to control him"

"Be careful what you say Beth" Faye warned "You don't know how far Taylor is willing to go"

After fifteen minutes of mindless chitchat, we were joined by Roxie. She was fresh out of the hair dressers, this time her hair was a lovely shade of neon orange, with gold streaks running through the ends. She told us more about the fight that involved Taylor's friends; apparently it was caused by the other girls calling Taylor a 'white-trash, princess slut'. Taylor's friends got mad, and the rest is easy to figure out.

As my friends continued to gossip my mind was focused on Harry. How was this whole thing going to work between us? Sure I like him, and I'm convinced that he likes me, but that might not be enough. With my over-protective parents, and his possessive ex, how the hell are we going to survive?

                                                                     ***

I sat with Harry, underneath the climbing wall of the playground, which exists in his secret park. I sat leaning against him; his arms spooning my waist tightly into his muscular body. His chin rested against my shoulder as my hair brushed his cheek. Right now we were talking; it was nothing of any important subject, just mindless chatting.

"what do you want to do after school?" I asked him.

"I-I'm not sure yet. I haven't really thought about it" he stammered "But...I would like to go to London though, that's the one thing I'm certain about"

"Why London?"

"I'm not entirely sure" he said "It just sounds so big and different; when you're stuck in a town like Holmes Chapel your entire life the idea London appeals a little more" he chuckled.

"There were some parts of London that I liked" I said "It was the community we lived in, before mum and dad established the big, fancy business, and shipped us off to the suburbs. It wasn't a rich neighbourhood, but everyone was treated equally. Nobody discriminated or judged you on how much money you earned, you were treated like family either way. There was no racist people, or rich snobs, it was just really nice"

"Doesn't sound like the London I've heard of" he said "My big sister Gemma used to tell me horror stories about London; she told me that the streets were filled with pedo's and children-snatchers, waiting to catch annoying, little brothers like me. Even that didn't put me off" he said, I felt his smile against my hair.

"It really depends on where you live" I said "If you choose the right friends, the right neighbourhood, and the right places to hang out, you're safe"

"Where did you like to go?" he asked me.

"This is going to sound strange, but it was always the playground in this old, hotel building" I said, giggling "All the other kids said it was haunted by a little girl called 'Christy', I didn't believe them so I went to see for myself. It wasn't haunted but there was a Christy; one of the residents toy-poodles, it turns out" Harry chuckled along with me.

"You are always full of surprises Beth" he said-wait a minute! He called me Beth.

"You called me Beth" I said "Not that I'm not relieved but...why?"

"Because it seems so much more natural" he said "Bethany felt too long, and I thought that Bethy might get me into trouble with your sister so...I think I'll have to call you Beth from now on"

"Then I think you made a very wise choice" I said, smiling.

I settled back onto him; it was freezing cold out here but our bodies felt warm together. Not only was Harry my 'secret boyfriend' he was also becoming a real friend now.

Chapter thirteen at last! Sorry it took me longer to update, but I'm finding it hard to get the inspiration, that and it is possibly the busiest time of the year!! So I'm thinking of doing a Christmas themed chapter for the ending, but don't fret! The ending is so far, far away (Not sure how far just yet) But I'd like to fit a bit of Christmas in. To conclude this update I'd just like to say, keep reading if you like this story and I shall indeed keep updating, 100 READS SO FAR!!! yahoo! that's it for now!! Julz xox