That Summer

Paul was sitting in the Donahue's kitchen on the morning of the first Monday Evangeline would be able to return to dancing. He was eating a bagel as he waited for Bryan to come downstairs so they could head over to the studio together.

Evangeline came bouncing into the kitchen with her dance bag over her shoulder, three quarter leggings on her legs, a tee shirt covering the top half of her leotard and flip flops on her feet. She looked different in those clothes than she ever had before. Paul couldn't place exactly what it was that looked so off, but he thought it looked good.

"Good morning, Paul," Evangeline smiled brightly. His eyebrows raised in surprise. He couldn't recall her ever saying hello to him happily, much less genuinely happy.
"Morning," he responded slowly, eyes still following Evangeline while she grabbed a breakfast bar.

Evangeline only smiled at him brightly again before disappearing out the back door. Paul was shaking his head when Bryan entered the kitchen looking like he'd just rolled out of bed. Which he probably did.

"Well good morning, sunshine," Paul smirked.
"Shut up," Bryan grumbled and tousled his hair. "You seen Evangeline?"
"Yeah she was just here. And she was happy. It was creepy," he shook his head.
"She gets to go back to dancing today, that's why. And it's a good thing too."
"Why?" Paul raised his eyebrows, throwing out the second half of his bagel.
"She's gained like ten pounds," his friend snorted and grabbed an apple.
"Really?" Paul questioned quietly and thought back to seeing her that morning, and then it all made sense. Her face was rounder and her leotard was a bit tighter. But she certainly wasn't unhealthy. And he thought it just made her more beautiful than usual.
"It's because she's so used to getting physical activity every day and then suddenly she stopped. It'll probably come right back off."
"I thought she looked fine this morning."
"She does," Bryan shrugged. "It suits her, but it doesn't suit a dancer, you know?"
"Yeah," Paul murmured back in thought.
"Look we've got to go. We've only got a few more days left in the studio."
"Yeah, let's go," Paul agreed.

But he couldn't shake the gnawing feeling on the inside of his stomach.

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Evangeline entered the studio that morning with her tee shirt and flip flops already in her bag and her toe shoes in her hand. The looks she got from the other dancers didn't bother her.

A few looked annoyed that she was back because she would undoubtedly be her perfect self again. Others looked apathetic and just smiled at her and still others gave her a look she couldn't quite read. And when the whispers started, she grew a little self conscious. She didn't know what they could possibly be whispering about, but figured it was just because they didn't want her back.

"Alright, class. Settle down," Anna said as she entered. The whispering stopped immediately and all fell silent as Anna's eyes fell on Evangeline. "Well, Evangeline. It's so nice to have you back," she gave a faux smile and looked the girl up and down. She gave her the same look that some of the others had.
"Thanks."
"Alright let's get started shall we?"

Twenty minutes later, the dancers were all performing the short routine they had leanred during the class. A CD of allegretto piano music was playing and this is what they were dancing to. As they danced, Anna called out corrections to the students.

"Darcy, eyes off the mirror. Jacob, point your foot more. Support your arms from below, Andrea."

And then there was something no one ever thought they would hear.

"Evangeline, you need to work on your turn out."

The entire class seemed to simultaneously falter when the comment came out and Evangeline herself almost stopped dancing to stare in disbelief. She had never, ever been corrected before. She was Evangeline Donahue. She had a spot secured in the English National Ballet Company.

Evangeline Donahue did not make mistakes.

Her feet continued with the steps she had learned, but her eyes remained disbelievingly on Anna's face. Anna only smiled saccharine sweetly in return, her eyes glittering happily. "And you need to improve your extension."

Evangeline gritted her teeth and put her all into the remainder of the class until she thought she would pass out. Anna had minimal remarks for her for the rest of the time, but she still had one or two. And for Evangeline that was one or two too many.

As the class was getting ready to leave, Evangeline was the first to have her things packed up and headed for the door. She wanted to get away from all the whispering and giggles and stares that hadn't left for the past hour. Just before she made her way out the door, Anna called after her once more.

"Oh, and Evangeline?" she called. The dancer paused at the doorway and turned slowly towards her instructor. "You should consider seeing a nutritionist. They can help you with your weight issue." And she smiled brightly.

A chorus of stifled giggles, gasps and snorts flew out from the scattered groups of dancers and Evangeline threw them all a glare. She then smiled at Anna and left the room.

As she made her way home, she kept reminding herself that this was the first time she had danced in two weeks. That she was rusty, that she would get better, and that if she had gained weight, it would all come off as soon as she got back into her routine of dancing nonstop. But with all the things Evangeline told herself, none of it mattered.

The seed had already been planted.