21 Сhapter
Ethan couldn’t leave it at that, so after Pen and George left, he decided to go to Arizona. He was afraid for Pen, because she was so gullible, and hadn’t yet understood what her friends, and George in particular, might be capable of.
He ran into the restaurant, and immediately ran into Beth, who was on her way back to the kitchen.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
“Hi, Beth.”
“Hi,” she replied.
“Do you know where Pen is? She just left with George, and I don’t even know what to think.”
“She’s fine, serving tables,” she replied and pointed her hand in Pen’s direction.
“Thank you,” I thanked her and walked over to Pen.
“Hello,” he said hello, but Pen was silent. She did not want to see him, especially after she had learned the whole truth about him. And yet she thought there was something good in him, but she was wrong. It was all confirmed by George. And she wouldn’t be a toy to Ethan, ever! She wouldn’t give up her virginity.
“Why did you go with him?” He wouldn’t back down. Why was he picking on her? She didn’t want to have to answer to him.
“Leave me alone,” she said, grabbing her tray and walking toward the kitchen.
“We need to talk, Pen,” he grabbed her by the arm, catching her in the doorway. He didn’t back away. He knew his friend had already brainwashed the girl. He knew that like no one else. To make a victim feel good about himself and then turn out to be her true savior and prince.
“Let me go and never touch me again, Ethan! I told you everything in the hall; we have nothing more to talk about. I hope you will not come to Juilliard again and let me rehearse in peace, for there is not much time left. I really hope you have a conscience. Otherwise, I’ve said all I have to say. You’re nothing to me, after what you told me today, and after what I’ve learned about you. I knew people could be hypocritical, but not this hypocritical,” she snapped and walked into the kitchen, closing the door in Ethan’s face.
What did she mean when she said she knew things about me that drove her away? It’s George,” Ethan thought, and went without further thought to the VIP room, where he expected to find his former friend.
“Ethan, what brings you here?” George asked him.
– You bastard, what did you tell her about me? – Ethan, not holding back his emotions, jumped at him with his fists.
– “Calm down, Ethan. Nothing that isn’t true about you,” he pushed him away from him. Ethan staggered a little.
“You overreacted, George, and you’re going to regret it,” he threatened his former friend and walked out.
“All the same, I’ll find out the truth. If Pen doesn’t want me to bother her, please. I won’t come to Juilliard anymore, and after the contest, I’ll fly straight to Italy. Since there’s no point in staying here. I will try to talk to her again, but only after the tournament. She’ll listen to me, she’ll listen to me. Yes, that’s what I’ll do.”
***
The day of the contest and Penelope’s birthday came. From the very morning she read congratulations from her loved ones with congratulations. They wished her to win the contest.
Surprisingly, she received a message from George as well. To which she was greatly surprised.
“Congratulations, baby girl. I wish you tear it up in the competition.” She was pleased to read it.
There was also a message from Ethan.
” Perhaps I had no right to write to you and cloud your celebration since this morning, but once again I listened not to my mind, but to what was beating in my chest.”
I wish you success, I wish that all your dreams and wishes come true. And, of course, I wish you a victory today.
His message surprised me greatly. Perhaps Pen would have believed what he wrote if he hadn’t known it was all a lie. He wants to seem good, but he’s bad. And you can’t trust him,” Pen decided to herself and began to dress.
Once she was dressed, she went straight to Juilliard, where Sam and the boys and Ethan were waiting for her.
“Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations,” they began to shout in one voice as she stepped closer to them.
“Thank you, guys. I’m so glad I have you guys.”
“You should win today with David. This is your day,” Steven told her.
“We’ll definitely do it. Right, David?” she turned to him.
“Of course we’re going to beat everyone.”
“The bus is here, take your seats,” Sam called to them, and they all ran to the bus.
“Well, good luck,” Sam shouted, and the bus drove off. Ethan still didn’t dare approach her. He knew she was still angry with him. Especially since he didn’t want to quarrel with her again before an important contest. He sat silently in his seat near the window, and did not even look at Pen.
“Pen, have you thought what you will add to your dance if the judges ask? They can demand it, to be sure of your creativity.” Sam asked her.
“Yes, I have an idea,” she answered Sam.
“Fine,” Sam said, and turned away from her.
They arrived at one of New York’s finest theaters, the Millennium, which was on Brighton Beach Avenue, exactly twenty-five minutes later. On the Millennium stage, touring bands, entertainers, dramatic performances, and much more are staged. There are also various contests – dance and song contests. And tonight, there will be a dance contest, the “Dance Star Ballet,” in which Pen and David will take part.
The judges here are strict, who have chosen contestants for such dance TV shows as “Dance opening”, “Ballet couple”, “Dance with the famous”. In the last of them, Pen would have dreamed of participating and dancing with the best ballroom dancer, the winner of the tenth season – Rafael Noel, who conquered all America with his touching performance and confession of love to the whole country to the dance teacher – Erica Lambert.
“Let’s not waste another minute getting dressed,” Sam shouted as everyone entered the theater.
“Okay,” the boys replied.
“Once again, good luck,” they wished Pen and David, and went into the auditorium, where there were already many spectators.
Pen went into the dressing room and got ready. The makeup artists were waiting for her.
“Hello,” she said as she approached the two girls.
“Hi, we don’t have a lot of time, so we’ll get right down to your hair and makeup. What about the dress? Is it a standard one?
“Yes,” Pen replied as she unpacked it and showed it off. The dress is dark red, one might even say more like burgundy. No bust bust cut, but it had a bare back. There was no lace on the sleeves and edges. The length was above the knees. But it was a rumba, a dance of passion.
“Great dress,” said one of them.
“Really, it’s chic,” agreed with her second.
“Oh, we haven’t introduced ourselves. I’m Christy, she’s Abigail.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Pen.”
“What about shoes? Heeled shoes?”
“Yes, lacquered 10-foot stilettos.”
“Well, that’s it, it’s time to fix you up,” said Abigail, and began to conjure Pen as she sat down in a chair.
She did it for about fifteen minutes, since they were used to handling things quickly and neatly.
She had been conjuring for about fifteen minutes, for they were used to dealing with things quickly and neatly.
“I’m done,” she announced to Pen as she turned her toward the mirror.
Pen was surprised; she couldn’t believe it was her. She applied dark blue eye shadow to her eyelids, black mascara on her lashes, put on bright red lipstick, and added pale pink blush to her cheekbones.
Her eyes had never been as expressive and large as they were now.
“Perfect,” Christie said, assessing her look.
“You’re magic, thank you,” Pen thanked Abigail.
“I can only do my hair,” Christie said.
“What would you like? Long locks, up, or braided hair? It’s so long, you can do anything with it.”
“I wouldn’t mind curls.”
“I hear you,” said Christy, and began to make it up. She brushed and curled Pen’s hair for ten minutes at most.
“Done,” she said when she was finished. Pen saw in the mirror a girl who should participate in a beauty contest, and be sure to win.
“You are real wizards,” Pen said as she rose from her chair and wanted to hug them, but they moved away from her.
“I’ll be back later, and you’ll have to change to complete your heart-eater look,” Abigail said, and then she and Christy left the dressing room together.