CHAPTER 1
The alarm clock screamed to life, shattering the peaceful morning silence. Diana groggily reached over to switch it off, her voice laced with sleep.
“Ugghhh, it’s already 5:30…!!!”
She rubbed the remnants of sleep from her eyes, her mind foggy.As she stumbled towards the washroom, the weight of the day ahead settled upon her. Dance classes after school, a long list of chores...and Selin’s last day. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought. She couldn’t miss school today, no matter how tempting it seemed.
“Sel’s sake, I have to be strong,” she muttered to herself, grabbing her towel for a quick shower.
The bus ride to school was a blur, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of Selina’s departure. They’d been inseparable since freshman year, sharing every secret, every laugh, every tear. The thought of being apart was unbearable.
As she spotted Selina in the school hallway, her heart ached. They exchanged a bittersweet smile, both aware of the impending separation. “Hey Sel, don’t be sad...we’ll stay connected, no matter what,” Diana said, trying to sound convincing. But deep down, she knew it wouldn’t be the same.The day ahead loomed, a mix of sadness and longing. But for now, they had each other, and that was all that mattered.
As the final bell rang, Diana and Selina shared a bittersweet smile. They knew this moment was inevitable, but it didn’t make it any easier.
They exchanged a tight hug, holding on for a few extra seconds. “Goodbye, Sel,” Diana whispered, her voice barely audible.They pulled back, and Selina handed Diana a cold ice cream cone. “One last treat,” she said, her eyes sparkling with nostalgia.
With a final nod, Diana turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing in the silence. She didn’t look back, knowing that Selina was watching her go.
The dance studio beckoned, but Diana’s heart felt heavier with each step. She knew she’d never forget this goodbye, this moment that marked the end of an era.
Diana pushed open the dance studio door, the familiar scent of sweat and music enveloping her like a warm hug. But her heart still felt heavy, the goodbye with Selina lingering like a shadow.
“Hey,Dee,where were you?” Scarlett’s voice pierced the air, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she grabbed Diana’s shoulders.
“You’re late, and you look like you’ve been crying!”
“Just had a rough morning, that’s all,”
Scarlett’s gaze narrowed, her eyes searching Diana’s face and said
“What happened?”
Diana hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But Scarlett’s concern was like a balm to her soul, soothing her raw emotions.
“Selina left,”
“Oh! Today was her last day?”
“Yeah” Diana sighed
And to make her friend feel better , Scarlett knew exactly what to do.
“Dance practice, stat!” Scarlett declared, dragging Diana along like a reluctant puppet. “Trust me, it’ll take your mind off things.”
Diana raised an eyebrow, her eyes still puffy from crying.
“You think pirouettes and pliés can fix my broken heart?”
“Hey, it’s worth a shot, right? Plus, I have the perfect distraction.”
And with that, she launched into a breathless monologue about her latest crush, a boy in their maths class who apparently had the most dreamy eyes and chiselled abs.
Diana rolled her eyes good-naturedly, but couldn’t help giggling at Scarlett’s over-the-top impressions and dramatic sighs.As they danced and laughed together, Diana felt her sadness slowly lifting, like a cloud disappearing from the sun.
As Scarlett and Diana chatted, their conversation was interrupted by the sound of the door swinging open. They both turned to see who had entered, and Diana’s eyes widened as she took in the familiar features. But her mind struggled to place the face, her thoughts consumed by a sense of déjà vu.
