Odette

"We should talk about this."

"THANK YOU!" I throw my hands up in the air. "That is what I want to hear." We sit across each other in his mini kitchen.

"I think it's best if you ask."

"Thank you, Merante. Why didn't you tell me you were in Russia? Why haven't you said anything in the letters? You know how I've been waiting for you to appear in each of my performances. Hell! I was expecting you to appear in my first solo! What happened? Lora and Maurice liked you, you know. Yeah, liked. Until they thought you were a jerk because you just wanted to get in my pants."

"Can we not be mad at each other? It's difficult when you're mad with me."

"I am mad with you, Merante."

"Can we set these emotions aside? Please. I will explain."

Silence then I nod.

"Thank you. Why didn't I tell you I was in Russia? I thought I didn't need to. But yes, I should have, but it seemed like it didn't matter."

"Right, maybe at the time, it didn't but I was upset because all the reason I got from you, why you didn't attend my solos, is… well… nothing, just that you would attend next time. Those were nine 'next times' you know."

"I'm sorry I kept your hopes up."

"Next. When did you decide you wanted to spend the rest of your life here and why drag me in the picture?"

"It's-"

"Other than it is beautiful."

"It would suit you more. The ballet here is advancing. There aren't much ballet masters to teach me back home. And Lucien, well I've been under his brother's tutelage since childhood, and I needed more. I wanted more. I didn't want to stop."

"What made you change your mind?"

"You."

"Cut the crap, Merante."

"No cut crapping. I'm honest here."

"You just like to whisper pretty things in my ear."

"Flowers need to be taken care of."

"I'm not a flower, Merante."

"You are to me and we shall argue about this another time. Let us address the current concern. What else do you have?"

"Why didn't you attend my first solo performance if I was that important to you?"

"First of all, you are important to me."

"That first solo was important to me. It was like my big break. A whole new recognition of what I love doing. I wanted you, of all people, to be there with me. But you weren't."

"I'm sorry. It was hard. Earning money, I mentioned that in my letters. I didn't have enough."

"You also left Michelle out of it."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"What do you mean why?"

"Why did you leave Michelle out of it?"

"She didn't seem important at the time. I mean, she wasn't worth mentioning."

"It seems important now. Are you still writing to her?"

"No."

And I believe him.

"How would you feel if I kept a boy from you and you never found out?"

"I would feel inadequate."

We were supposed to meet Lucien by the corner before the opera house. They had matters they needed to discuss. I wanted out but Merante wanted me at proximity.

"I could stay here."

"Nonsense, I would never leave you."

"You two need catching up."

"It hasn't been long since then."

"It makes me feel out of place."

"Nonsense. I'd prefer you beside me."

There was no way to say no with his choice of words and the tone of his voice. That's how it was with Merante—he was careful with everything. Here we are, walking towards Lucien, wherever shall we be heading.

"Good morning, Madam Odette."

"Good morning, Lucien."

"Merante."

"Lucien." A little nod there.

"There are some matters to discuss, I believe? Would a café suffice?"

"Absolutely."

"Please stay."

WHOA. What in the world? I clearly couldn't contain my emotions, I clearly did not hide it either. We've just got settled down a few minutes and this old man throws us in the eye of the hurricane.

"I'm not sure if that's your decision to make, Lucien." I cut in before Merante says something nice.

"I beg your pardon?" Lucien, who also did not hide his shock, gawks at me.

"Yes. We're just here on vacation and Merante, here, tells me of a piece you've been meaning to give to us—as a gift."

"Ah. Vacation. Is that how it is, Merante?"

"I gave some thought about it."

"Would you like more time?"

Now it's my turn to gawk at Lucien. I cannot believe this persistent, old prune. I turn to Merante and find him nodding. I look back Lucien who is, obviously, smirking.

"HE IS AN OLD FART. I do not believe this. Why didn't you say anything?"

I didn't want to have lunch, dinner, or breakfast with Lucien. So rude. So straightforward. Only I could be straightforward with Merante. We left the café after the biscuits and tea and I asked Merante if I could see bookstores—you all know how that went.

"The bookstore is-"

"I didn't want to go to a bookstore. I wanted to get away from him. I could have smacked him with my flats."

"A bit rude, don't you think?"

"Don't dare talk to me about being rude when he was clearly being a prick back there. And don't dare say that it was rude, when you, in the first place, hid this from me for 10 years. Don't think I dropped this Russia topic because I will never drop it until I have answers."

"You're getting upset easily ever since we landed here."

"Oh trust me, Merante. I have been keeping it in for quite a while. Just keep adding oil to the flame, would you?"

"But I gave you answers. Please be at least considerate and think before hurting others. In fact, you're hurting me."

Silence.

Ugh, crap.

"Okay. I'm sorry, Merante. No more sudden burst of anger. I should have just been a trophy back there. Smile and ignore. I'm sorry. I haven't made a good impression, have I? Did I ruin your career?"

He does that thing again, where he reaches to kiss my hand.

"You are my career. First impressions don't last you know. You could still get to know him."

First Month: Week 2

You know what, I did get to know Lucien. I learned that he chews loudly. That he, too, is strict—just like Merante. That his students are also afraid of him but respect him. He, kindly enough, allowed me to use one of the spare ballrooms to get on track with my ballet. He also asked if I could give his students a few words of advice regarding technique and precision. Obviously, I said yes. It was the polite thing to do—a payment.

With what was supposed to be alone time for ballet turned to a session. The usual group of ballerinas joined me and watched. They had a few questions about how I became to be a prima and I told them, practice and dedication.

They asked if I ever quit because it may not provide me with what I need, I told them never because I was lucky enough to be under the comfort of family.

While doing one of my routines with three ballerinas, a fourth busts in and, "MICHELLE! SHE'S HERE!"

And right then and there, as the door was ajar, I see a fifth ballerina pulling Merante to, what must be, the direction of where Michelle is. I didn't know what I was feeling.

Then I remembered what Merante said when I asked him how he would feel, "Inadequate."

Yes, that's what I was feeling.

I don't like it.

Merante

"There is something I would like to address."

"What is it?"

"I don't think you should be treating Odette that way—up-pup-pup let me finish, I'll hear your complaints after. Yes, I would highly appreciate it if you respected Odette the way you, may, respect your superiors. And by a far margin, because of your rude treatment, you are the most inferior on the food chain."

"Such heavy words, Merante, I think you're threatening the wrong person, this has nothing to do with your affair with the maid."

"It is not an affair, I have you know I have been in love with her since your sorry bottom stepped foot back inside this opera."

"At least I could walk fine on my two legs. How about Odette's by the way? Can she still dance? Can she still pirouette? What was that thing she loved to do? Ballet? How's that going for her?"

I never hated a woman so badly in my life.