The Cursed Ballet Read Online Free Page B

mention of it, her stomach growled like it had been called to life. She thought for a second. Had she eaten that day?
    â€œI don’t know.”
    Nurse John sighed and nodded. “Yes, that’s what I thought.” He cleared his throat and said, “Ophelia, dancing is a tough business. It’s hard on your body, especially classical ballet. To do the work, you have to be properly fueled …”
    Light dawned on Ophelia. This was Nurse John’s eating-disorder spiel. The coconut water, the close talking … Nurse John thought Ophelia had stopped eating on purpose.
    Ophelia had a hard time not snorting. She knew a lot of ballet dancers had eating disorders. It’s not like that was news. The competition, the stress to keep a lean body, the perfectionism … Well, it was a perfect storm.
    But that had never been Ophelia, luckily. She liked food a lot, but not too much, and she always ate when she needed to. Otherwise, well, she would pass out. And then she almost hit herself in the head; that’s exactly what had happen.
    Now she just had to convince Nurse John that it wasn’t a disorder, just a mistake. Otherwise, she’d heard what happens to girls like that. They’d spend days trapped in the nurse’s office while he watches them eat. And if things don’t get better, they go off to treatment. Ophelia had seen it more than once.
    She thought all of that was a great solution. Until now.
    Nurse John’s voice reached Ophelia’s ears, “… overnight, at least for tonight.”
    â€œWait, what?”
    â€œYou’re going to stay overnight tonight, just so I can make sure your electrolytes are balanced and you’re properly fueled.”
    â€œBut I can’t tonight! I have to dance Giselle!”
    Nurse John patted her shoulder. “And you will. But we have to get you better. And we have to make sure you eat. So tomorrow, you can dance!”
    Ophelia couldn’t tell him the real reason—she’d miss dancing Giselle with Devon. Dancing at class was a faint second. But the determination in Nurse John’s eyes told Ophelia that she’d be doing exactly as he said.
    Tears coursed down her face.
    â€œThere, there,” said Nurse John. “It’s only a dance.”
    Ophelia sobbed. Not a dance. It was love.

Chapter 9
    Despite her heartbreak at not seeing Devon, Ophelia was surprised at how hard she slept that night.
    When she woke up the next morning, she ate a huge breakfast, making Nurse John smile.
    And making herself feel much better, she realized. Ophelia hadn’t realized how awful she felt. She had been too wrapped up in Devon.
    The familiar panic shot through Ophelia, but the feeling was more muted than it had been the day before. Missing one night with Devon didn’t seem as dire now. She had to remind herself to eat—she felt better than she had all week.
    For the first time in days too, she wondered how Madeleine, Sophie, Kayley, and Emma were doing.
    Nurse John gave her a pass to go to classes, but not to ballet practice. When Ophelia walked into civics, she smiled at Kayley and the girls. They all gave tentative smiles back. And when lunch came around, Ophelia sat at the table with them, heaping her plate with lasagna.
    She dug in to her dish and said “Holy crap, this is good!” as the other girls stared at her.
    â€œHow are you feeling?” Madeleine asked. “That was so scary in class the other day when you fell.”
    Sophie nodded. “Yeah, you had a little seizure. Like you were possessed or something.”
    Ophelia swallowed. Nurse John hadn’t said anything about that. No wonder he was concerned. She was slightly embarrassed but shook it off.
    â€œI’m fine, now. I just hadn’t eaten enough.”
    She took another bite of her lasagna.
    â€œWhy not, though?” Kayley said. “No offense, but you looked like death. Your eyes were dark, and you seemed