Attitude Read Online Free

stud earrings… “So,” Melissa says, “how many of us do you think will get invited to stay in the fall?”
    Zoe shrugs. “They’ll take more from the older group, probably.”
    Danika nods, her expression thoughtful. “From our group just two or three, I bet.”
    â€œThat’s it?” I say, dismayed. “Two out of ten?”
    â€œAt best,” Melissa says darkly. “But I can tell you right now, it won’t be Iako or Miss No-Bun. So really, it’s more like two out of eight.” She extends one leg, toes pointed and stretched out in front of her. Tendu devant , I think automatically.
    Edie giggles. “It’s like a TV show, you know? Like Survivor .”
    Danika laughs, and Zoe lowers her voice to imitate a reality-show host. “The tribe has spoken.”
    Melissa looks thoughtful. She lowers her foot to the ground. “Summer session is four weeks. So if eight people have to go, that’s two a week.”
    â€œOh, come on.” I laugh, but I feel uneasy. “That’s not how it works. I mean, no one’s voting people off.”
    â€œSure they are,” Melissa says. “I bet Diana and Mrs. Hoffman are talking about us right now.” She puts on a fake German accent. “Zat leetle girl—ze Chinese girl, Iako—she doesn’t have the drive, the passion. She gives up too easily.”
    â€œI’m pretty sure she’s from Japan,” I say. “Not China.”
    â€œSame difference,” Melissa says.
    â€œNo, actually—” I start to speak, but she cuts me off.
    â€œThe point is, Cassandra, that Iako was practically crying at the end of the class because it was too hard. Her hip was hurting.” She smirks. “A dancer has to be strong. If she can’t handle a little pain, how’s she going to cope with being a professional dancer?”
    Anya nods. “We should vote her off right now.”
    â€œIt’s not our decision,” I tell Melissa. My heart is beating faster than usual, and I wish this conversation wasn’t happening. The last thing I want to do is make enemies. “I mean, we can vote if you want, but everyone will still be here.”
    â€œWill they?” Melissa’s voice is sharp, and her blue eyes are icy.
    I can feel the hairs on the back of my neck lifting, prickling. “Well, yeah, of course. And who says Diana and Mrs. Hoffman will agree with your choices? It’s their votes that will count in the end.”
    She ignores me. “Show of hands. Who thinks Iako isn’t cut out for this? Who is ready to vote her off?”
    And all around me, the hands go up. Melissa. Edie. Anya. Zoe. Danika. I clasp my own hands together behind my back. “Cassie?” Edie nudges me, her eyes wide and anxious. “Aren’t you voting?”
    I know Iako has as much right to be here as any of us. And I know what my dad would say: Just do what you know is right, Cassie, and everything else will fall into place.
    But a small voice in my head is screaming at me: You’re putting a target on your own back, Cassandra! Just go along with it! Because I can tell that Melissa is the queen bee around here, and making her mad is probably a really bad idea.
    Especially since I have to live with her best friend for the next four weeks.
    Besides, it won’t really hurt Iako if I vote. The whole thing is stupid, but it’s just a game, after all—it’s not like these votes actually count toward anything.
    I lift my hand, and Edie grins at me. I smile back, but there’s a sick feeling in my gut. Maybe they’d understand, but I know my parents wouldn’t be proud of me right now.
    â€œThat’s six votes,” Melissa says. “Iako’s history.”

Four
    After a short break, the ten of us are taken to have our pointe shoes checked and get new shoes if we need them. Mrs. Hoffman, who is friendlier now than she seemed