jumping from their chairs to see them. Iâm not among the first, thatâs for sure; I already know Iâm not getting into flying trapeze.
Still, when I do make it up there, Iâm a little disappointed to see that I was right. Riley stands at my side and congratulates me on getting into juggling with her, even though that was kind of a giveaway. I feel a little sick to see I was the only one who auditioned who didnât get into flying trapeze. Brandenâs name is at the top, a reminder that he and I are on completely different social levels. And seeing as how we wonât have any training together, I might as well get used to that fact now.
âSuch a shame,â comes a voice beside me. The drawl makes my skin crawl. âHere I was hoping weâd get to see more of your amazing aerial acrobatics.â
I glare at Megan, who is staring at the announcements with a contented, malicious smile on her face, like a cat who just ate a large and tasty mouse. Every part of me wishes I had some sort of snappy comeback, but Iâve got nothing. Not that I have any time to respond. She looks at me, her grin widening.
âItâs probably for the best. Canât have you thinking youâre good enough for Branden, can we?â Then she winks and spins on her heel,walking off toward the exit, where the rest of her sisters are waiting.
âI really, really hate her,â I mutter.
âI think the feelingâs mutual,â Riley replies. I nearly jumpâIâd forgotten she was even standing there. Just shows how much Megan gets to me, seeing as Rileyâs hair makes her stand out in a crowd. I look around the cafeteria but Brandenâs already gone, probably off to afternoon practice. âCome on,â Riley says, once more taking me by the arm. âJuggling will help. And if youâre really frustrated, we can just start throwing clubs at each other. Thatâs always helped me de-stress.â
ChapterTen
T he rest of the afternoon passes in a fairly contented blur. Itâs hard to focus on not getting into flying trapeze when there are juggling pins being hurled at my head. Rileyâs decided she and I are going to do a partner act for the final show. But she wasnât happy with just a normal ground routine, no. She wanted to add âan extra level of danger.â
Which, to her, meant doing the entire routine on top of rolling globes, which are exactly what they sound likeâgiant plastic balls Iâm somehow supposed to balance on while throwing pins. Our coaches taught us how to stand and even walk a little bit, and although I only fell off a few times, I have a feeling itâs going to be nearly impossible to combine it with juggling. Still, Riley is relentless with her optimism, and when the first session of practice is overfour hours later, sheâs already discussing our music choices as we wander over to dinner.
We pass by one of the smaller circus tentsâthe blue-and-gold oneâand Tyler steps out with a couple of other acro kids. Heâs covered in sweat and chatting animatedly with Kevin. When they walk, the backs of their hands brush.
âHey, boys,â Riley says, jumping over to walk beside Tyler. âHow was practice?â
âAwesome,â Tyler says. âI made it to nine chairs.â
âIt was really impressive,â Kevin replies.
The four of us head to the dining room together. We donât talk about TV shows or video games, not like my other friends. No, the entire way there we talk about practice and how sore we are and what weâre envisioning our routines will look like. Even though Iâve only been doing this a day, itâs easy to get swept up in it, to start dreaming of my life under the circus lightsâalbeit in a different act. I wonât lie, thoughâeven with Rileyâs excitement, Iâm still a little ashamed I wonât be making my big debut on the trapeze rig.