I dance. Ballet to be precise.
If you asked me why, I wouldn't be able to give you an answer.
I don't find it beautiful, or exhilarating.
I don't hate it either.
I do it because it's all I know how to do.
I wake up early in the morning to stretch and do a pre-practice leg routine. I am allowed to eat half a grapefruit and two eggs for breakfast. I have to be at practice at before school at 5 AM. We do group work for two hours.
I don't even know the name of the person working beside me. We've danced beside each other for two years.
It's not that I'm shy. I just don't care.
I shower, taking my time under the freezing cold water, and am thirty minutes late to my first class. I like the cold water. It reminds me that I am a solid thing, not something that melts and can slide down the drain with the water.
The teacher looks up, but disregards my late entrance. I never show up on time, the teachers don't care either.
I don't care about school. I look out the window, observing the birds. I don't find them beautiful; they are only something to watch to pass time.
The teacher handed out a quiz towards the end of the bell, I don't even bother writing my name on it. I don't know any of the answers.
The next few classes pass by the same way. During lunch I go to the ballet room to stretch before our next class. Ballerinas aren't supposed to eat lunch.
I walk to my next class, it's chemistry lab, so I have to go to a different room. I'm late again. My teacher sighs.
"How do you expect your grades to improve Kaharu-san?" I looked at her. She knows I don't want them to improve. I hear people snicker in the class, but I don't know their names. "Will anyone volunteer to be Kaharu-san's partner?" More snickers. Nobody wants to be partners with the girl ranked at the bottom of the class.
I was about to say I just wouldn't do the lab, but I saw a boy raise his hand.
"I will, sensei." He had blond hair and violet eyes, he reminded me of a bird.
"Thank you, Suoh-san." The teacher replied. I think she was relieved since she wouldn't have to give me another failing grade.
"I'm Tamaki Suoh, It's a pleasure to meet you." I nodded at his introduction. He tilted his head at my silence. "And what is your name princess?"
"Kaharu-san." I replied with a monotone voice. He didn't need my first name. He would just forget it.
"Alright, Kaharu-hime." He chuckled. I didn't make a joke. I did not understand why he was laughing. "Shall we begin?" I watched him fill the beakers, my head resting on my arms. "Would you like to help?" He asked me.
"No."
"Don't talk much, do you?" He asked, giving me a half smile. I watched him like I did the birds. He talked throughout the lab. I don't know what about. But I liked his voice.
The class ended, but the boy stopped me in the hallway. "Kaharu-hime, would you mind coming to the club I was talking about?" He asked. I don't remember him talking about a club, so I just looked at him. "It's every day after school. If you just came by I'm sure you would have a good time."
"I have dance." I replied.
"Oh, well I'm sure they give you a break, right?" He asked, looking dissappointed.
"Friday." I said, not really paying attention to talking so much as paying attention to his eyes. I had never seen violet eyes.
"Friday you don't have practice?" He asked, I nodded. "Excellent, I'll see you then!" He replied with a warm smile. I don't know what club he was talking about, or why I would see him there.
I had one more class, but I didn't bother attending. I went straight to the dance studio to begin our afternoon exercises. We practiced for two hours before getting a thirty minute break with another hour of practice. My day came and went like usual.
I got home. My dad was in his office. He doesn't come out for dinner. I eat a salad with no dressing. Ballerinas don't eat salad dressing.
I went upstairs to cross another day off my calendar. Friday was circled. My dance recital wasn't for another six weeks.
Friday was the day I was going to die.