Cee-Jay looked around nervously. Her dance mates were beginning to warm-up at the teacher's request, but she was deep in thought. Last minute questions popped in and out of her head. Honestly, she had thought mom and Karyn were going to watch practice, at least, and wasn't completely prepared to make a get away now.
But she took a look around, swallowed a breath of air, and moved away from the line of ballerinas toward the door.
"Cee-Jay, where are you going?" Her teacher asked.
"I, uh, have to . . ., uh, go to the bathroom." The elder ballerina frowned, but shoed CJ away with a flicking motion, and CJ quickly walked out the door.
She had not taken three steps when she heard her mothers voice, and the small ballerina froze, but fortunately, the voice came from around the corner. CJ ducked down, and tried to listen in on the conversation, but after a few strange looks, decided a different course of action was needed.
Remembering her ability to wish from great distances, CJ whispered, "I wish that until I say I was a seventeen year old ballerina named JC who works here as a part time instructor."
CJ's body transitioned instantly from a tiny ten year old to a leggy ballerina with curly, applesauce colored hair and wearing white tights and a light blue leotard. Satisfied, JC nee CJ walked into the office backroom, near to where Karyn and Jon's mom talked. They had confused looks on their faces.
"Why are we here?" Karyn looked around the ballet studio.
JC quickly turned around, "I wish that mom and Karyn remembered CJ."
"Oh, right, CJ."
"Right. I was thinking we should sign her up for the ballet II class now, instead of waiting till the last minute." Apparently, when Jon became JC, she got all of the ballerina's skill and knowledge of the studio, because she knew that Ballet II classes for CJ wouldn't start for another six months.
"What about the Nutcracker? They're starting sign-ups now. They may be full soon."
"I thought you made a deal with CJ that you would let her decide if she wanted to stay in ballet," Karyn said, but Jon's mom waved the comment off.
"She's probably forgotten about that. Besides, we could just wish that she would like ballet." Karyn nodded, and the women signed CJ up for another round of classes and the Nutcracker. JC was shocked and saddened that her mother would so callously disregard the deal she made the other night, and more callously use the stone to control Jon. JC's jaw clenched as the two walked back to the studio where they thought CJ would be, but wouldn't. A moment of panic swept through JC, and she wondered if she should wish herself back into CJ. But she felt a pinch on her arm, and turned to see none other than Sarah McMillian standing next to her.
"Hey, are you going to help with the teen class? Or do you just want to stand around?"
JC thought to just walk out, but decided against it, and followed Sarah to the other class room. Let's see how mom and Karyn like to be played with, JC thought.
