Prologue

PROLOGUE

Sienna

" S eriously, Sienna? You're going to turn into a cow if you keep that up." My mother snatches the box of chocolates from the table and walks over to the trash can, dumping them out slowly as her disgusted glare drills into me. The bite of chocolate in my mouth slides down the back of my throat, slowly reminding me of my mistake as it drops into the pit of my stomach like a heavy brick.

"I only had one, Mom." I swallow down my nerves, now regretting my weakness. But it was a chocolate-covered cherry, which are my absolute favorite.

"When are you going to take pride in your body, Sienna?" Her head shakes as her eyes slide down my frame, the disgusted sneer tightening every single one of her features. "Look at Lexie Grayson. Do you see how perfect her figure is? I doubt she stuffs her face every day with junk food. No wonder she got the lead in the recital. No one wants to watch a fat cow twirling around up on stage."

I don't eat junk food every day. I have a green smoothie every morning, veggie sticks for lunch, and a salad for dinner. This was the first time in ages that I allowed myself a treat. And Lexie does eat junk food. She brings candy and chips to school every day. At dance, she brings a pack of cookies as her snack. And I know for a fact I weigh less than her. But Mom doesn't see the truth. Everything about Lexie—her hair, her face, her dance skills— is perfect. I bet if she had her choice between daughters, she'd choose Lexie as her little girl.

"Come on. We need to get going, or you'll be late for class."

I rise from the table and follow her out to the car, wishing I hadn't made her mad. Now the twenty-minute drive to the dance studio is going to be miserable.

"Now, listen to me, Sienna. You better be on point today. No flat feet. And watch your arms. They've been hanging crooked and look sloppy. If you keep up the lousy job, your father and I are going to pull you from the studio. There's no sense in paying all that money so that we can be embarrassed by you when you're up on stage. Understood?"

"Yes, ma'am." I nod, though I'm not sure how she could feel embarrassed by me. Ms. Halloway thinks I'm one of the best dancers in the class. She's always using me as an example for the other girls. But ever since Lexie was chosen as the lead for the recital, Mom suddenly thinks I'm the worst dancer (and daughter) on the planet. She's been criticizing me after every class. And she keeps threatening to pull me from the studio. I love dance. It's the only good thing in my life. It's the only place I feel free.

"Just look at her," Mom says as we pull into a parking spot. I turn to where she's staring and see my friend climbing out of her car. "Lexie is such a beautiful girl. She's the kind of girl a mother can be proud of."

The jealous hatred bleeds in. The pain digging deeper this time. I wish Lexie would just move away and never come back. I wish she would quit dance and leave the studio. Then I wouldn't have to listen to my mother's hurtful words every day. Then maybe Mom would actually love me.

We walk into the building and Mom goes straight to the viewing room while I head into the studio. She's the only parent who stays and watches class, but it's not because she enjoys the music or the dancing and wants to show her support; she wants to watch my every move so that when we get back into the car, she can tell me all the mistakes I made. And then point out how perfect Lexie was.

"Ms. Halloway," I say, approaching our teacher. "Could I talk to you in private?"

"Sure, Sienna. What is it, sweetheart?" She pulls me to the side of the room away from all the other girls who are all busy stretching.

"I'm not trying to be a tattle, but Lexie has been saying some really mean things about the girls and has been acting so rude to all of us. Just because she has the lead doesn't mean she's better than the rest of us."

Our kind instructor shakes her head, looking extremely disappointed as she points her stare across the room at the girl who I'm sure my mother is woefully watching on the other side of the glass. "No, she is not better than the rest of you. Thank you for sharing that with me, Sienna. I will speak to her and will make sure it never happens again. Or else, she'll be kicked out of the class. I do not tolerate bullies in my studio."

I nod, trying to bite back my smile. And when Ms. Halloway starts getting onto Lexie, critiquing her every move throughout the entire two hours of class, I have to bite back my giggle. I wonder what Mom will say about the perfect girl today. Especially since Ms. Halloway spent the entire class praising me and using me as an example for Lexie. Maybe Mom will finally see that I'm good enough. Maybe she'll finally love me more.