Helena

I was more prepared today, warmed up. Knowing what to expect.

I’d been at the barre for about 30 minutes now, refreshing my memory on all the basics. That’s where you always go back to. The basics.

Maître Frank just walked in placing his bag on the floor and stretching. When he noticed my presence he glanced over.

“You’re here early.” He remarked.

“Yes.” I simply said, raising my arm over my head and falling down into a backbend.

“Well you know what they say.” He shrugged.

I stood back up straight, turning my attention towards him.

“What?”

“Early bird catches the worm.” He grinned.

“Oh.” I blinked.

“Do you know what today is Helena?” He asked.

“No Maître.” I frowned.

“Caravaggio.” He chuckled.

“Caravaggio?”

“Yes. Today Gerard will cast the dancers for his reinvented version of Caravaggio. Everyone will be auditioning, including you.”

“Ah..”

“You’re not nervous?” He raised an eyebrow.

“No. I’ve done Caravaggio before.”

“Yes but not Gerard Way’s Caravaggio, it’s a completely different concept, a completely different method of teaching. Don’t get cocky Helena, it won’t do you any good.” He shook his head.

“Yes Maître.” I nodded.

The room filled up slowly, starting with soloists and followed by the principal dancers. When the principals walked in, the whole atmosphere of the room changed. They had a certain level of prestige on their shoulders, a grace about the way they walked. Elegance embodied, the bodies of gods.

The last one to walk in. I averted my eyes, my heart rate accelerating.

She picked a spot directly behind me on the barre, leaning forward to whisper into my ear.

“We will see who owns this stage, little girl.” The spanish accent hissed.

The piano started and Frank gave the command for first position.

After he was done warming us up, Gerard walked into the room. He was smiling as always, a childish appearance in the way he stuffed his hands in his pockets. He was radiating, brilliance shining in his eyes.

“So, can I have Miss Rosie and Devon to the floor please.” He clapped his hands.

It was almost as if the events of yesterday did not occur, he disregarded it, kept smiling.
And Rosie kept dancing, never faulting.

“We’ll begin on Act 1, Scene 5. Our two primos will demonstrate, then I will have all soloists in pas de deux come perform it.”

I felt my insides twist, I didn’t have a pas de deux partner yet. The boys I practiced with yesterday all had one.

The music started and the two intertwined, their bodies locking together. They were as one, light as feathers on their feet, never seeming to land. I tried to focus on the choreography, pushing the beauty of their technique out of my mind.

I picked up on the way she halted herself before grabbing on to her partner, I presume her lover in the play. She was portraying the emotion of fear and hesitation. Never fully going for what she wants, never fully trusting the man beside her. However, when she did touch him she melted into his arms, her legs seemingly quivering.

And when he went to reach for her for the last time, he kissed her deeply, but she pulled away, walking a thousand miles then falling to her feet.

I clapped with the rest of the room, standing up nervously.

“So, pair with your partners everyone, we will walk you through it once more.” His eyes searched the room and they landed on me.

“Helena, pair with Frank until we can find you a partner.”

I nodded, making my way to the center of the room.

“No, I want you at front.” Gerard snapped his fingers.

I could feel the looks of hatred from all around the room.

Frank took my hand and led me to the front and center spot.

He positioned his hands at my hips, gripping me tightly.

“Right, so on my cue at half the tempo you will follow along, starting on a dèveloppé in fifth position followed by an échappé.” He smiled.

I gasped as I felt a hand slide down my back smacking and gripping my left butt cheek firmly.
“Don’t fuck this up.” He laughed and hissed into my ear.

No one else in the room seemed to notice, but my face had flushed completely red and my back had arched.

As the music started I followed along as best as I could, my mind in a tizzy.

When we stopped I took a deep breath, calming my nerves.

“Alright. Now this time, regular tempo, give it all you’ve got. This will determine your place in this production.” Gerard took a seat at the front of the room.

I closed my eyes, letting my surroundings drown out, feeling as though I was being held by my first love. A love I had yet to experience.

The music started and I opened my eyes, letting go of everything outside my own realm.

His arms spread with mine, lingering tenderly onto my skin as I glided away. When I came back to him, not only did I melt into his arms but I melted into his eyes. My whole upper body flushed red, and my bones went soft. When the music sped up again, I lingered on, my legs growing stronger as I walked away.

When my body met his again I did pull away, acting as if I were to doubt our undying love for each other. But I took an extra step back from everyone else, demanding that he come to me.

When his hands grasped my hips, he wrapped them around my back, gliding across my skin, leaving fire in it’s midst.

I melted once more, but the blush was real. The feel of his hands against me, it brought me to my knees.

I stood higher, reaching for the sky as I tried to escape my unfaithful lover once more, but he pulled me back down to earth, grasping me in his arms and crashing his lips against mine.

Tears were streaming down my cheeks as the music ended. I pulled away from Frank, coming back to reality, my head spinning.

He looked at me with eyes of bewilderment. He reached forward and wiped away the tears from my face before totally backing away and sitting back at the front of the room, a look of confusion on his face.

Gerard dropped the clipboard he was holding, his mouth open in awe. He stood up and began to clap.

Rosie stormed out of the room, leaving a very pissed off Devon.

Notes

i know this seems like it's all working in Helena's favor but the tables will turn , don't get too comfortable ;D

Comment what you think below!
Thanks so much for reading. x

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