Free Olivia and the Great Escape by Lyn Gardner

pensive. “If you’ve got this good in a year, just think how good you’ll be when you’ve been doing it for ever like me.”
    “When did you start?” asked Eel.
    “I went to baby ballet when I was three and I’ve been having lessons since then,” said Esme. “I thought I was going to have to stop when my dad lost his job two years ago, but I was lucky, my teacher said she would teach me for free.”
    “If she did that you must know for certain you’re good,” said Eel.
    “Maybe,” said Esme. “The questionremains, am I good enough?”
    “That’s what I want to know, too,” said Eel. “I thought that if I got accepted here, then I’d know.”
    Esme gave a tight little smile. “I’ve got to do more than be accepted,” she said with intensity, and Eel was about to ask her what she meant when Esme’s mum asked if they’d like her to take them to the park nearby where there were some swings.
    “As long,” she said, “as you both promise me you won’t break an arm or a leg. I’d never forgive myself.”
    “We promise!” chorused the girls.

    After she and Esme came back from the swings, the rest of the afternoon passed in a blur for Eel. All the girls took part in another class and then Eel, Esme and Violet were separated from the others and sent to see the physiotherapist. After that, Anna Popova ushered them to the door and told the three of them that they would be sent a letter in the post very soon. Eel and Esme stood on the steps of the Imperial exchanging phone numbers.
    “I hope we both get in,” said Eel. “It wouldbe fun to come here together.”
    “It would be a big move for me,” said Esme. “I’d have to leave Yorkshire and move to London. I’d miss my home.”
    At the word “home” a picture of Eel’s bedroom popped into her head. She suddenly realised what getting into the Imperial would mean. Her heart lurched.
    “Do you think you could bear it? Leaving home, I mean,” she asked Esme.
    Esme looked at her, surprised. “Of course. Coming to the Imperial is what I want most in the world. I’d give up everything to come here. I’m never going to be a ballerina if I stay at home. You have to make sacrifices for ballet.”
    “Yes,” said Eel in a small voice. “I guess you do. I just don’t think I’d thought it through.”

Chapter Fifteen
    Olivia walked up to the door of the music room. It was ajar. Kasha’s songwriting workshop had just finished. She had met some of the other participants walking down the corridor, clutching the CDs that they were going to send off for the competition. Those the judges liked most would be invited to take part in a public sing-off at the Cavendish Hall.
    Olivia paused at the door. She could hear Aeysha singing. Her voice wasn’t the strongest in the world, but the song was beautiful. It had a chorus with a catch in it that made Olivia’s insides feel a bit funny. She waited outside the door, not wanting to disturb Aeysha and Kasha.
    “That was beautiful, Aeysha,” said Kasha. “I love it.”
    “Ah,” said Aeysha, “but it was pretty ordinary until you changed those notes in the chorus. That catch has transformed it. You helped me make it something much more than it was.”
    “It’s your song, Aeysha. All I did was make a tiny suggestion. I’ve been thinking, maybe you should enter this one for the competition?”
    “I’ve been wondering that as well,” said Aeysha. “But I think I’ll stick with the two I’d decided on. If I’m lucky enough to get through to the live final, I’d be happier singing one of those because I’ve had loads of time to practise. This is brand new and I might not be so confident singing it. I’m definitely a better songwriter than I am a singer, so I think it’s best to stick with those other songs.”
    “Your call, Aeysha,” said Kasha. “But it’s a great song. I’m impressed. Maybe we can work on it again together once the competition’s over. I really think it’s got