Chapter Two: Introductions, Ballet solos, and Family drama

Hey peoples! So I'm glad that people are enjoying my story so far!

Guest: No, this story is in-universe. I don't want to give anything away, but you'll understand it better starting with this chapter.

CutieBunny: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REVIEWING MY STORY! By the way, Helen's older brother is named Wesley, not Weasley :).

dimiksgirl123: Thanks, I'm glad that you like the plot. It's going to start getting better though.

MotherGothelFan1: Okay, first of all, I LOVE your penname. I'm a Tangled geek. I'm also glad that you like the story too.


Let us read and let us dance - two amusements that will never do any harm to the world. -Voltaire


"In my current state of mind, I was overjoyed to be one of the select few to be given a patron to help me. Aro had made me feel comfortable that I was going to have a successful dancing career."

"It's nice to meet you, Aro." Helen replied politely, "my name is-

"Helen Hendricks," he finished, his voice as smooth as glass. "I know, I've read your file and saw your audition tape. You're a beautiful dancer."

"Thank-you," Helen said while blushing.

"Don't be modest," Aro said with a kind smile, "you are quite talented, my dear."

Helen felt her heart pound, everything about him seemed to draw her in; his voice, the way he spoke, and most of all, his charming appeal. The only thing that seemed to bother her was how the situation would play out. What was to happen next?

"Mr. Aro," Mr. Pruitt interrupted, "would you please take a seat, so we can discuss?"

"Of course," he replied politely. Aro sat down in one of the two adjacent seats across from Mr. Pruitt's desk. It almost seemed like her imagination, but the look in his eyes seemed to motion for her to sit, which she obliged to.

"Now," Mr. Pruitt began, "I think we should explain to Miss Hendricks what happens next."

"Indeed so," Aro said while not taking his eyes off of Helen, "I will be providing any and all funds required for you to be successful at the Academy, Helen." The way her named rolled of his tongue, like silk, made her heart beat even faster. "In exchange, you must perform outstanding in all of your classes."

"Oh," Helen said, bring herself back to reality. "That's alright, my scores were pretty good for the first week."

"Miss Hendricks," Mr. Pruitt said with a sharp tone, "those scores do not determine your grades in class."

Aro seemed to narrow his eyes at Mr. Pruitt, almost in anger, "but of course," Aro seemed to almost say with a tone of anger. "They make myself feel quite content with selecting Miss Hendricks."

Helen was stunned, the man barely knew her and he was already defending her?

"Understandable," Mr. Pruitt replied with a flicker of fear in his tone.

"So," Helen said in an attempt to break the tension, "what happens next?"

"Well my dear," Aro replied back in his cheery tone. "I will be permitted to viewings in your classes, and with your consent, allowed to arrange private meetings to discuss your future at the Academy."

"Oh," Helen stated nonchalantly, "that's fine."

"Splended!" Aro replied while clapping his hands and laughing lightly, once again making Helen's heart pound and her cheeks start to flush. Mr. Pruitt then asked them to show themselves out as his phone began to ring.


"Well my dear," Aro replied while walking slowly with her. "I do so look forward to our time together."

"Thank you," Helen sid with a big smile and a bit of a giggle, "but I need to ask you something."

"Whatever is it?" He questioned, his velvet like voice soothing her.

"Why did you pick me, there are plenty of other talented girls here, most of them better than me."

Aro smiled and almost seemed to reach his hand out. Maybe as to stroke her cheek or pat her on the head; Helen remained still, waiting to oblige if he did so. He seemed to have absolute control over her, it seemed both terrifying and welcoming at the same twisted time. But in the end he held his composure and retracted his hand, gracefully.

"Because your special," he said gingerly.

"Excuse me?"

"You can do what these other young ladies cannot," he explained, his soft tone making her put all of her focus on him, "I saw your audtion tape. Ev'ry step, ev'ry pirouette, it contains nothing but all of your heart and soul. That makes you special. Unique. Exquisite."

Helen took a deep breath, she needed to calm down or she would start fidgeting and spazzing out. Aro's words weren't just heard; they were understood and sticked inside her brain, making her believe everything he said. It was comforting, it was nice, but it started to scare her.

"There she is!" Both of them turned and saw Sydney and Aggie rushing down the hall toward Helen and her new patron.

"What happened?" Aggie asked, "are you in trouble?"

"No," Helen assured them, "no, I'm anything but in trouble."

Aro remained silent, he studied both of the girls, not sure what to make of them. Helen got the hint and quickly explained.

"Umm, Aro," Helen regained his attention, her voice nervous and shaky, "these are my best friends, Sydney O'dell and Aggie Becker. Guys this Aro, my new patron."

"You got selected?!" Syd said happily, "awesome!"

"Wonderful to meet you both," Aro answered politely. His tone had returned to its velvet-like texture. Just like Helen, the two of them had been easily lured into Aro's welcoming nature. "Well I shan't interrupt you ladies. It was delightful to meet you, Helen."

Aro held out his hand for Helen to shake, she was hestitant at first, but obliged. His face seemed to light up with joy when she did, and he held a strangely firm grip on her hand, until he realized she wanted to let go, his hands were freezing.

"I shall be seeing you all on Monday. Again, it was lovely meeting you." With one final cheery smile, Aro seemed to glide away down the hall and disappear.

"Okay," Sydney said while taking a deep breath, "total hottie alert."

"Syd!" Helen said shocked while swatting her on the arm.

"I'm just calling it like it is," she explained, her cheeks flushed. "That guy is an Adonis, you don't know how much I envy you right now."

"Sydney!" Helen said while swatting her again, "that's so inappropriate! He's probably married and has kids!"

"Oh, uh-huh," Aggie said in a sarcastic tone, "like you don't think he's hot, too."

Helen remained silent for a second, her cheeks were probably the color of tomatoes. "Okay, it does not matter if I do," she said while the two of them grinned toward the other, "the point is: it's inappropriate."

"Mmhmm," Sydney replied with huge grin, "sure."

"Whatever," Helen replied while rolling her eyes and walking past them while they chased after her.


Monday morning in Repertoire, Helen walked into class to a shocking sight. Sydney and Aggie were fully decked out in make up, and were chatting away with a seated Aro, slightly giggling like bimbos.

Helen rolled her eyes and walked over to them.

"Hi guys!" She said while trying not to sound nervous, "what are you talking about?"

"Well," Aro said happily, "your two lovely friends were telling me about the first time you performed a solo. As you were saying, dear Sydney?"

"Okay," Syd begun with a small laugh, "so Helen finally danced Cupid from Don Quixote, and when she finished, Helen came back stage and said "don't think for a moment that I'm gonna start fixing your love lives, girls!"

Aro gave a hearty chuckle while Helen rolled her eyes."Syd, Aggie," Helen said in a razor sharp tone, "may I speak with you over there?"

The two of them walked nervouly to the other side of the room, while Helen turned back over to Aro, "I'm sorry," she said in an exhausted voice, "the two of them haven't been well," she finished while twirling her right index finger in a counter-clockwise motion.

She marched over to her two best friends with a death glare. Sydney and Aggie remained calm as Helen began her rant.

"Okay," Helen said while trying to remain level-headed, "what part of the word 'inappropriate' do the two of you not understand?"

"Nells," Aggie assured her, "we were just talking."

"Yeah." Helen replied sarcastically.

"Really," Sydney backed up Aggie, "he asked about you, so we told him a story."

"Guys," Helen stated semi-angrily, "don't lie, you're both practically flirting with him. When you do that, you look unprofessional. Remind me again why we're here?"

"To be professionals," they both grumbled.

"Exactly," Helen assauged, "look, I know you think it means nothing. But do you really wanna find out what happens when Ramona sees you two doing that?"

"No way in hell," Sydney replied immediately.

"Thank you," Helen said in an exhausted tone. "C'mon, we better get ready to warm up." The three girls walked back to the barre where unfortunately, Allie Alexander was.

"Hey; Larry, Curly, and Moe." She insulted, "who's the tall, dark, and Greek God-like handsome guy in the chair?

"Helen's new patron," Sydney bragged, and held a smug look upon seeing Allie's shocked face.

"Yeah," Aggie assured her, "jealous?"

"Why?" Allie said with in fact a slight hint of jealousy, "thanks to Hendricks, by the end of class he'll be begging to sponser me."

"Really?" Helen asked sarcastically, "then why did he pick me?"

"Because," Allie sneered, "you're a sympathy vote."

"Didn't you learn anything from the changing room, Allie?" Sydney sneered back.

"Yeah," she replied snidely, "I learned that even though you lost all that weight, you still look fat." If it weren't for the fact that Aro and now, Ramona, were in the room; Helen would've pounced on the stuck-up bitch. If Allie really wanted Aro to sponser her, she'd better be pray that he was far away to where he couldn't hear that.

"Alright ladies!" Ramona said to get their attention, "starting today, we'll be having a guest. Mr. Aro." She motioned towards him, "he is Miss Hendricks's new patron. I hope you all realize the oppurtunity you've all been given."

"Patrons are a big deal at the Academy. If you get selected by one, it shows that you're one of the choice few who've practically been guaranteed a career with a company.

"Because while they not only provide funds for you, they also can be used at a reference when interviewing for a position. So, I'll try my best not to let me new found guaranteed position go to my head."

"Warm-up! Plies at the barre! Positions one through five! Demi-demi-grande!" Ramona yelled strictly while getting ready to start the music, "and I'm getting tired of telling you all to breathe!"

Helen and the girls silently warmed up while Ramona examined them. It was sad to say that Ramona's quick hatred of Allie was short lived, because she was back to receiving all the praise.

"Take note of Alison's lines, girls!" Ramona said loudly, "they never break. Lovely training."

Helen exhaled deeply and focused more on her technique. She tried drowning out Allie's gloating face, "Hendricks! look alive!" Ramona almost sneered as she walked past her. Helen then saw the same angry look on Aro's face as she had seen on Friday, only it wasn't toward her.

It was towards Ramona.


After warm-up, the girls had to perform their homework from the weekend, perform the solo of Raymonda from the ballet Raymonda: ACT ONE, SCENE TWO, so it was time to wear their teal pancake tutus. Allie went first and was once again praised for 'technical perfection'. Aggie was told to watch her transition lines. Natasha, Meghan, and Hanna were just blantantly insulted for sloppy technique.

Now it was Helen's turn.

"Alright, Helen," Ramona said while recovering from Hanna's performance. "Dazzle me."

With a deep breath, Helen focused. She needed to convey how conflicted Raymonda felt between her love for the Saracen knight and her fiancé Jean de Brienne. Confliction, pain, sadness, love. Things Helen had always hated having mixed together like in a giant stew pot. Like when her mother left her at four.

Her cue came and Helen literally jumped in, her emotions brought forward slowly and surely. Building up momentum while she danced, she was going to show Aro that he was correct in his choice of sponsering her, and she wanted nothing more than to make Allie look like the robotic, stuck-up, bitch that she was.

Aro was right. Every pointe, every step, they all had a piece of her in it. Her feet seemed to gain a mind of their own and did the technique for her while Helen's own mind focused on being the best artist she could be.

It wasn't until she finished and the room filled with claps did she come back to earth. But that wasn't even the worst part, she hadn't finished in a posse turn, no, instead she ended in demi-attitude turn with her head held high.

Girls were whispering among themselves, Helen turned towards Aro and Ramona Vasquez. The former looked at her with a calm and gingerly proud smile, the latter was monotonic.

"Helen," she stated dryly, "you altered the choreography, why?"

"I.." Helen begun, "I-I don't remember."

"Alison," Ramona shifted and faced a now 'expecting praise Allie', "there was a feeling of cold when you performed. I want to see what's beyond the steps. You could learn something by watching Helen."

Helen curtseyed and walked back to the group, trying very hard to control her grin.


The rest of the day was pretty normal, a solo piece due in Contemporary, a quiz World History over the Byzantium empire, they were beginning to read Romeo and Juliet in English. What puzzled Helen the most, was at the end of the day in Hip-hop. Aro wasn't there.

It was a shame too. Helen, Syd, and Aggie had personally choreographed a three person dance to the theme from Step Up.


"Where'd Aro head off to?" Asked Sydney when they left class to go change into their regular clothes.

"Don't know, didn't need to know I guess." Helen replied as they changed outfits.

"So," Aggie said, changing the subject. "thoughts on the History quiz over Byzantine?"

"Don't ask," Syd grumbled.

"I only didn't understand the question on Constantine's role in the ending of Christian persecution," Helen stated, "was it C or D?"

"It was B, Helen," Aggie replied sharply.

"Nevermind then, I missed it," Helen snorted while pulling her pale pink, button down, sleeveless shirt over her head.


"My folks will kill me if I failed that quiz," Sydney whined as they exited the building near the parking lot.

"Didn't watch the video on the link I sent you?" Aggie asked, "it's that history teacher on youtube who creates song parodies based on historical events. This one was a parody of 'Come On, Eileen'."

"That is the meaning of someone who has no life," Helen snidely remarked.

She looked up, the clouds were getting darker, a huge problem. "Do you think it might rain?" Helen asked, "I have to wait a half-hour fo Wesley's shift to end. Dad has his trial today against that crazy woman."

"Is she the one who molested that pre-schooler?" Aggie asked.

"No, that was dismissed," Helen corrected, "this one kidnaped, molested, and killed her son."

"You live in an episode of SVU, Helen," stated Sydney with wide eyes and a shocked tone.

Helen's focus was then drifted away when she saw Aro standing near a black limousine with two tall men and a petite girl. "well look at that," Helen remarked.

"He's loaded," Aggie stated sharply.

"Wonder why he's still here?" Syd asked.

There conversation came to a halt when Aro and his 'friends' took notice of them.

"Hello ladies," Aro said while greeting them happily, "how was the rest of your day?"

"Okay, I guess," Helen replied, "we were about to file a missing person's report when you weren't in Hip-hop, though."

"Yes," Aro replied with a small laugh at Helen's sarcasm, "I really do apologize for that. I'm afraid that I'm more of a...classical man, my dear. I'd much rather watch a more traditional dance that this new age, indecent style that you young ones have developed."

"Young ones?" Sydney asked, "you sound like me Grandpa!"

"Syd," Helen warned.

"No, no, no," Aro assured, "completely understandable. I'm a bit of an...shall we say, an old soul, hmm?"

Helen saw the two tall men smile while the petite girl rolled her eyes.

"So," Aro changed the subject, "are you lovely girls waiting for your parents?"

"We are," Sydney replied, "except Helen, she has to wait thirty minutes for her brother's shift to end."

"Goodness," Aro remarked, "why so long?"

"My Dad has his rape/murder trial today," Helen replied nonchalantly, "he's on the prosecution team."

The tallest of the two men now spoke, "Interesting, why does your brother take so long from work?"

"It involves a moral," Helen remarked sarcastically, "don't let a seventeen year old boy borrow his father's Bentley, unless he wants his car to be totaled."

The two men snickered at Helen's sarcasm, the petite girl looked deeply at Helen and her friends with her also red eyes, as if she was trying to kill them with her stare. Aro quickly raised an arm to the girl and motioned 'no'. "Now, now, Jane," He replied delicately.

The girl, Jane, obediantly nodded.

Helen raised her eyebrow, "is she your daughter?"

Aro laughed gingerly, "No, but Jane is my family. Same with Felix and Demetri," he motioned to the tall men.

"Wow, what a gene pool," Sydney said out loud causing Helen and Aggie to swat her arms while Aro, Felix, and Demetri heartily laughed, and while Jane smiled.

"I'm sorry about her," Helen said while blushing, "she talks before she thinks."

"Back to the subject," Aro replied with a smile, "are you friends unable to provide transportation?"

"Nope," Helen stated dryly, "Syd's Dad has a two person vehicle, and Aggie's parents hate me."

"Oh," Aro pouted in a surprising childlike manner, "I bet that's not true."

"Nope it's true!" Aggie and Sydney assured simultaneously.

"Helen's the reason I became a dancer, "Aggie explained, "and they're both doctors who love sports and hate the arts, especially dancing."

"How sad," Felix said softly, "well what of your mother, Helen?

Aggie and Sydney both got wide eyed and looked towards Helen, who semi-nonchalantly replied, "I don't have one."

"Oh," Felix said nervously, "I'm sorry."

"Oh no," Helen corrected, "she's not dead, she walked out on my family when I was four and now she lives back in her homeland of croissants and eiffel towers. she's 'ma vieille batte folle', as I call her."

The two men snickered as Aggie and Sydney gave Helen a look. Aggie's mother's Toyota Camry honked at her while Sydney's father's Dukati pulled up, and her Dad handed her a helmet as she waved 'bye' to Helen.

Aggie also waved 'good-bye' while her mother told her to hurry up.

"Well, I'm going to find a curve to sit on and start my homework," Helen huffed, "nice seeing you though."

As she turned to leave, Helen felt the familiar cold touch on her shoulder. "Helen," Aro cooed softly, "if it would be easier for you, I would have no problem offering you a ride home."

"Thanks," Helen replied as she turned to face him, "but I probably shouldn't."

"I mean't no disrespect," Aro assured.

"No," Helen said calmly, "it's just that, I don't think my Dad or Wesley would like the idea of me getting a ride from someone I barely know."

"I see," Aro said sadly, his tone had a hint of anger and disappointment.

"Thanks anyway, though," Helen said cheerfully and walked away.

Not so much as a second later, the sky began to pour and pour and pour. Helen exhaled and groaned, "Whoever just turned on the rain, I now ask you nicely to turn it off!

She did a one-eighty spin and faced Aro and his family all of whom had black umbrella's to match their dark clothes. He gave her a questioning look.

"I think they'll understand this once."


Helen pulled her hair back into a pony tail as she sat in the luxurious limousine with Aro sitting next to her, while Jane and Demetri sat adjacent to them, Felix was the one driving the car. Now that Helen got a good look at them, she realized they all shared the same red eyes as Aro, though his seemed almost mikier. They all also wore nice clothes, really nice and expensive clothes.

"I appreciate your trust in myself, Helen," Aro cooed.

"Well, I know that if this is the part where you to take me to an abandoned werehouse and do unspeakable things to me, then I'm screwed," Helen remarked sarcastically.

Demetri laughed at her comment, "what sort of things are you expecting?"

"Demetri," Helen said sharply, "I want you to think, carefully, about what the word 'unspeakable' means."

"Your sense of humor is interesting," Jane stated with a small smile.

"I aim to please," Helen replied in a sing-song voice.

After a few minutes, Felix drove the limousine into the road driveway of the Hendricks House, Helen saw Aro's eyes light up as he examined her house. "How delightfully traditional!" He mused.

"I think my Dad might of thought that once too," Helen replied before giggling, "before he spent ten grand having it repaired."

Aro gave a throaty chuckle before Felix pulled to a stop, she also just saw Henry in a yellow rain poncho collecting water in a bucket.

"Who's that?" Jane asked.

"My ten year old twerp!" Helen groaned in aggrevasion before opening the car door, she grabbed her bags and said "Thank you for driving me," before storming out of the car.

"Henry!" Helen shouted as the rain begun soaked her, "get your butt back inside the house before you catch cold!"

"I'm collecting water for my science project!" He shouted back, "go away!"

"Henry!" She warned, "I will go into your room, with a red Sharpie, open up your mint condition comic books, and draw smiley faces all over them, if you do not get your butt into the house in the next five seconds! One!..."

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Two!..."

"Liar!"

"Three!..."

"Still not buying it!"

"Four!..."

"OKAY!OKAY!OKAY!" Henry ran back inside with bucket with Helen in tow behind him.


"Why are you so mean!" Henry yelled while Helen tried to wrap a towel around him, "and don't touch me!"

"You just embaressed me so badly outside!" Helen yelled back, "I'm probably going to lose my patron, because my brother made me look like a maniac!"

"Helen," Henry said snidely, "I don't have to be around you for someone to see you as a maniac."

"You are such a brat!" Helen shouted while Henry tracked mud on the floor near the stairs, "and give me your shoes! I SAID GIVE ME YOUR SHOES!"

"FINE!" He screeched back, took off his sneakers and threw them at Helen, "you're the worst sister ever, I hate you!"


Helen angrily picked up Henry's shoes and set them down on the kitchen counter. She picked up her bags and marched up the stairs into her room, Helen angrily slammed the door and sat down on her bed.

Moments later, tears streaked down her face and she laid face down on the bed. She sobbed for what seemed like hours into her pillows, wanting to forget what happened between her and Henry.

"I'm a horrible sister!" She screamed in between sobs, after an hour or so, she heard a knock on the door, "WHAT?!" She shouted. Henry opened the door and walked in to her room.

"Got something else to get off your chest?!" She half-screamed, half-sobbed.

Henry sat down on her bed next to her and hugged her, "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"I don't hate you, Helen," he told her, "I don't hate you."

"I don't hate you too," Helen replied while begging to dry her tears.

"Then why do we act like we hate each other?" Henry asked.

"We're siblings," Helen sniffled, "we're supposed to fight sometimes."

"I don't think of you as my sister all the time, sometimes I think your my mom," Henry said while hugging her tighter.

"Henry," Helen smiled somberly, "I'm not Mom, and I was a mom, I'd be pretty crappy at it."

"I miss mom," Henry replied while tears streaked his eyes, "you look just like her!"

"I miss her sometimes too," Helen assured him, "but she can't take care of us, you know how she gets."

"It's not fair!"

"I know kiddo," Helen said soothingly, "I know."


Well it's almost three a.m. So I'm gonna head to bed...

R&R