XFurubaX: Hey everyone! Sorry for the short chapter but I promise its got quality! Just read! STOP WASTING YOUR TIME READING THIS RANDOM MESSAGE AND READ!…XD
"Come on now! Focus! This is the finale!"
Clare was in the background for the final song. In her regular leotard and stockings, her teacher gave her a simple nod of the head after seeing the weight loss. No praise, no compliments, just a nod.
Clare hated her, then she hated herself.
She should've seen that coming.
Clare had to give her credit though, she was right about staying on her toes easier, and she didn't even hear Victor grunt like he did last time when he lifted her.
The king and queen were in front stage center, Clare was on mid stage right, she'd still be a Danish Shepherdess in this act, as her partner was on the complete opposite side of her. The stage was packed with the entire cast with the exception of the rats, mother and father. Clare began to wonder if her parents would see her on this scene. She figured they'd obviously see her in Sugar Plum Fairy and her Dance of the Reeds. She'd like to know where'd they be sitting.
The song came to an end.
"Curtains close! Then everyone exits, then time for your bows!"
It was the 19th, two days until show…
Clare kept worrying if she'd choke once she got on stage. When she was in 1st grade, she had to sing Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid for her elementary school pageant.
How she remembered it, (how everyone remembered it), face bright red, couldn't stop smiling, choked near the end…literally, a cough.
Of course being 6 at the time everyone thought she was adorable. Her parents and Darcy saying how proud they were of her.
Of course this didn't include singing, or speaking. Just tippy toes, and smiling. Clare kept feeling unusually hot although it was almost as cold as it was outside. Probably due to the movements and her heart pumping.
The song for bows started, Clare had to walk out from the opposite wing of her partner, even though people would recognize her more for being the sugar plum fairy.
Oh Well
"Arabs!" she heard Alvaraz call from offstage.
The four Arabian Dancers walked out, bowed, Clare stood in the small crowd of dancers.
"Russians!"
A girl although not on purpose, shoved her out of the way dashing out onto the stage.
"Sheepherders!"
That was her, she smiled, walking out next to her partner with 'high energy' as Alvaraz required, and bowed, trotting to the crowd at the back of the stage.
"Chinese!"
Clare looked out at the seats, their was a huge downstairs section, then an upstairs section for dinner tables. Clare hated crowds, hopefully she wouldn't be looking at the crowd much with all the twirling and focusing she'd have to do. Her mother was squealing with joy that morning, holding the tickets in her hand. She, being good friends with her mother, invited Alli and her parents to come see, they said they weren't sure due to how expensive the tickets were but they thought of maybe just sending Alli with them.
Clare never went to Alli's shows, either she didn't have enough to buy the tickets, or forgot the dates.
Alli never seemed to mind, at times she'd say she was too embarrassed for Clare to see. Alli was never part of a company as big as The Star Kirov. The plays her company put on were….well, cheap.
"Now upstage!"
The entire cast, with the king and queen in front stepped to the upper stage,
"Take hands, and bow!"
They did as told, the song after about 3 seconds came to an end.
"Very good!" she nodded with a smile of satisfaction, "Now, go into the dressing rooms, you'll be measured for your costumes!"
Clare was being measured for her Sugar Plum Fairy, she didn't see what is looked like yet, but she couldn't wait. The girls who helped sew it said she had probably the most gorgeous outfit of them.
The girl was measuring around her waist, "Good lord your tiny."
Clare just gave a side smile, the only thing she could do at the moment. She hated being measured around those spots.
"Ok now lift your arms."
Especially this spot.
She measured around and underneath her breasts, trying to make sure she'd still look 15 in her costume.
Because Clare really wanted to give her dad a heart attack in her costume…
"Thank you." she saw her write down numbers in this little chart she had on a clipboard.
The woman looked at her, she was a homely, 48 year old woman who had been working there for years, she was once the play director but was replaced for unknown reasons, Clare wished she was still the director, Clare had talked with her a few times at rehearsals, she was so kind and sweet. Maybe too kind and sweet to be a ballet director.
She gave Clare a look of sympathy, "How hard was it to loose all that weight?"
Clare raised her eyebrows, she really didn't want anyone to know her…skills she used to get it all off.
"Incredibly." Clare felt more comfortable around the woman than with Alvaraz. MUCH more comfortable.
She measured from Clare's ankle to her waist, "You were perfect when you first started, all of these girls were."
Clare pursed her lips, the woman wrote down more numbers, "Julie; Mrs. Alvaraz, has gotten so strict ever since she got divorced."
Clare flinched, "Divorced?"
She nodded, measuring around Clare's neck, "She was quite kind when she first immigrated here from Italy with her husband…he was just so, controlling…and abusive."
Clare's eyes widened, "Abusive?"
"Yes…she'd come here with bruises, black eyes, but she'd insist she was fine. I kept telling her, 'divorce that man!' but she just wouldn't."
That could NOT be true, Mrs. Alvaraz herself seemed like the reason she'd be a divorced woman.
She wrote down more numbers, "Yes…but you want to know what I think, Julie-well, you know who I mean just wants to make sure you grow into proper, strong women, so you don't let anything manipulate or control you. You know, harden up just a bit." She said shaking a fist for emphasis.
Clare still couldn't believe what she was hearing, all this time…it was a lot to take in. But one good things was NOW she knew who she was dealing with.
"Ok, now time to try on your costumes and I'll show you how to do the make up."
"Ok."
-X-
Clare's costume was gorgeous, now she knew why the other girls were jealous.
The Sugar Plum Fairy had a purple top with a built in tutu that puffed out, with somewhat brighter purple or really hot pink sparkles at the V neck, the edges of the sleeves and the edges of the tutu where it also had white fluffs underneath. She'd have her hair pulled back in her usual bun, then she'd have blue, sparkly eye shadow, heavy hot pink lip stick, (which would look natural once she was underneath the blinding stage lights) and of course glitter all over her face which she was sure she was going to enjoy washing off…
She'd then wear her traditional pink stockings (which would change to white when she was in Dance of the Reeds) and pink ballet shoes.
Of course once Dance of the Sugar Plum fairy was over, it was time to rush back stage, take it off as not to rip it, then her Shepherdess costume would be made up of a white leotard underneath a see-through, long sleeved glitter covered green-blue over shirt. Her tutu would be turquoise with white stockings and turquoise ballet shoes. She was sure Victor would look similar to her…hopefully not with a skirt.
Clare laughed inside thinking about that.
She saw the old woman was smiling, "What are you smiling at?"
"Oh no, I was just thinking about something."
The woman was putting pins on the shoulder puffs of her Sugar Plum Fairy costume. Clare was narrow around the shoulders, that's why some of shirts tended to slide down so her bra strap could say hello to the world.
"What's that?"
Clare had a strange sense of humor…but with her she didn't seem to mind it, "If my partner for Dance of the Reeds had to wear a tutu like me."
She laughed, "I don't think he'd be to happy."
Clare smiled. Why she felt so comfortable around her she didn't know. She reminded her of her grandmother. So sensible and quiet. She felt other peoples feelings. It was weird.
Alvaraz walked in clapping her hands to get everyone's attention, "Alright! Once these few people are done I need to see a few peoples dances one last time, the Arabs and the Shepherdesses! Meet me out on stage once you are done." She exited the room.
"Should I put on my costume?"
"No, I think you'll be fine in your leotard and stockings."
By the time Clare was backstage with Victor, the Arabs were finished. Alvaraz stepped on stage to give them a few tips she had in mind. Clare couldn't look at her the same way, someone like her was abused by someone she loved?
That had to be painful, not physically, but emotionally. To put all your time and effort to get someone you love to love you back, to feel the sensation of over joy when they propose to you, to then have your heart crushed once their true side comes out.
The pain on the outside is never anything compared to the pain inside.
She saw Alvaraz nod as the Arabs walked off, she gestured the two to walk out on stage.
"I just need to see your techniques once again, literally dance as if its rehearsal."
Victor nodded, "Got it."
As did Clare, "Yes Ma'am." she said oh so politely. Surprising both Alvaraz and Clare. She walked off stage and instructed the orchestra to play. They were in position.
They began their dance, same style as they did before. Same techniques. It was going quite well, and Clare didn't know why she'd need to see it again.
They were in the transition from the first verse into the second when suddenly Clare felt dizzy.
"Wait." she told Victor, he didn't hear her as they continued to dance.
"Stop!" he let go, she wobbled around on stage, "just, stop-" she held her head, overwhelmed with nausea, she slumped onto the floor.
Alvaraz walked up, "Is everything alright?"
"No." she was going to throw up, "Does anyone have any cold water?"
Victor walked off, "I'll get some."
Clare kneeled down holding her head, trying not to look at the lights. Mrs. Alvaraz didn't say anything. She just crossed her arms, Clare was unaware of the concerned look she had on her face, she walked off stage.
Victor ran back with an un-opened bottle of water, "Here."
Clare sipped it, she felt immediate relief in her stomach as she had Victor help her up.
"Can you dance?" Alvaraz called.
She took another gulp, "Yeah. Just, go easy on the twirls ok?"
Victor nodded concerned, "Ok."
The orchestra started up again as they continued her dance, Clare suddenly got an uneasy feeling in her stomach…especially with things happening like this two days before show.