Hello!

How are you all? Good, I hope?

I am currently sitting in my half destroyed room in my half destroyed house. Not entirely safe, but the only place I can work in. It's absolutely freezing because neither of my doors close, making it rather difficult to keep warm air in, and I'm working on a chest of drawers because my desk snapped (and threw my poor laptop to the ground and smashed it's screen...). Despite all this, I am in tremendous spirits.

Why?

Because I'm posting agaaaain!

And also because I've posted a Teaser Trailer for Clair de Lune on YouTube. YouTube or Google search Clair de Lune: A Twilight Fanfiction Trailer

Please comment or like or dislike! I really want to know what you think (I know, I know, the actions differ slightly from the scenes).

Thank you so much to my amazing reviewers!

I can't tell you how happy I was to find out that you were still with me and that you wanted to kill Lauren and prove Bella's innocence!

Seriously, thank you if you sent me any sort of message, long or short, nice or...constructive criticismish...YOU'RE AMAZING!

Ugh, principal's offices...I have visited them several times now about uniform problems...I hate them...

Anywho,

Please Review

and Enjoy!

Exile by Enya - used this before and after the piece at the end...if that makes sense...

I forced myself down into the seat next to Lauren. She didn't look at me. What the hell had she done? What the hell had she told Master Carlisle? Why? Surely she knew that I had more on her than she had on me?

I stared at her red rimmed eyes. She didn't look like Lauren. She didn't look smug. She didn't look angry. Just scared. So she should be...

Master Carlisle sat in his large leather seat on the other side of the desk, weaving his fingers together. He looked calm. Calm and terrifying. "What happened this morning in your Pas de Deux class, Miss Swan?"

I gulped, pressing my hands into one tight ball. "We were packing up and Jasper and..." I glanced down. Emmett was Master Carlisle's son...what would he think of me dobbing his son in?

"And Emmett," he finished for me, his voice cool, "continue."

"And they went over to Lauren and put gum on her shoe," Why was I so nervous? What reason was there to be nervous? If I told the truth then I'd be fine. I wasn't the one in the wrong...

Master Carlisle nodded, "And did you ask Emmett and Jasper to do that?"

What? "No," I said incredulously. But it sounded almost fake to me.

"Sure," muttered Lauren, finally breaking her silence. She glared at me for a split second, looking much more like the Lauren I knew. "Why would they do it otherwise?" As soon as she said it, she sunk back down in my chair, looking like she regretted what she'd just said...

I stared at her, my eyes narrowing. So she did know that I would simply tell them what she'd done to me...oh well, she didn't deserve sympathy. Master Carlisle ought to know... "I dunno, maybe because you – "

"Jeez, maman!" Emmett suddenly burst into the room, closely followed by Esme and Jasper. "We haven't done anything wrong today! I swear..." he caught sight of Lauren's pointe shoe on the desk. "Oh."

"Apart from that," Jasper muttered, scratching the back of his neck. He saw me in one of the seats and gave me a wink. How could he be so relaxed?

"Yes, boys," Madam Esme hissed, her sharp stilettos striking the floor as she walked round the desk to stand at Carlisle's side. "That."

I was glad Jasper and Emmett were here. They'd back me up...and they'd have proof of what Lauren and my class had done this morning...my mind suddenly froze. Lauren and my class. Oh God...I thought back to the dining hall a few minutes ago. If I told Master Carlisle...if I told him what Lauren had done, I would also tell on my entire class...but how could I do that? How could I do that when they'd just apologized and after we'd just become a group again?

And, more importantly, could I really afford to split the class up just before the review? When tomorrow night we would have to go on stage and dance in absolute unison and convey the same idea? When we had to beat the other class? When we had to trust each other? But Lauren deserved to be reprimanded...she deserved to be shown that you couldn't be so damned horrible to someone and get away with it. She deserved to be in my position, getting grilled by the headmaster.

But if I wanted Lauren to be punished, then they would all have to be punished. Like Abigail had said earlier, "We were dorks for following her." They still did it. Even though they had the choice not to follow Lauren...my mind turned once again. Maybe they should be reprimanded? How did I know that they were being sincere when they'd said sorry? But I had to faith in them. Because they had seemed sincere. I had to take it at face value. Besides, even if they hadn't learnt their lesson, I would still be destroying the class just before the review...

"...it is outrageous," Madame Esme was saying, "it is unacceptable, to defile other people's property like this!"

"Defile other people's property!" Emmett exclaimed as Lauren's face paled, "Do you have any idea what Lauren and – "

"I told them to do it," I said quietly.

"What?" Said Jasper, scrunching his nose.

Emmett looked like he was about to launch off again. I tried to give him a stare which would tell him to be quiet, but it wasn't obvious enough. Crap. Words...excuses...something... "I told them that Lauren was being a bitch to me..." inspiration hit me, "after Thursday night, when she slapped me," I glanced at Madame Esme, making sure she remembered. She was staring at me with pursed lips...good... "I told Emmett and Jasper that she had been horrible to me since I'd gotten here, which is true," I added. Lauren was not going to get off without anything.

But what about Emmett and Jasper? They were still going to get caned for doing what I 'told' them to do... "I may not have told them the whole truth..." Lauren was staring at me, surprise on her face. Why wasn't I telling them about the footbaths?

"Yes," Madame Esme said mildly, "I do recall your little confrontation the other night not being 'one sided'."

Master Carlisle was gazing at me, his hands still clasped, but with one long finger touching his lips, "So you told Emmett and Jasper to do it?"

"Yes," I said.

"So you lied to me before?" The stark calmness of his words jabbed into me.

I looked down, nervous and guilty. No, I hadn't lied before...I was lying now... "Yes...sorry, sir."

He looked above me to the boys, dryly disregarding my apology. "And why did you two do what Miss Swan told you to do?"

"You have no idea what a bitch Lauren was!" Emmett exclaimed. I tilted my head a little, anxious to see him. He looked at me helplessly. I began to realise just how big a knot I might being tying myself in...

"Ne les insulte pas, Emmett!" Madame Esme snapped, then returned to English, "If you were having issues with Miss Mallory then one of you could have come to me or Carlisle! You do not take matters into your own hands! That is not your place!"

Edward...Esme sounded exactly like Edward had just a few hours ago, in class...oh, it felt like years ago. But it really was only a few hours ago that I'd thought of Edward as something...something more...God, I was just an idiot...

"Miss Swan," Master Carlisle's voice brought me back, "you will remember in future that you come to us when you have a problem, not your friends. It was not fair to put pressure on them to break the rules to help you."

Emmett went into an uproar, "It was our choice to do it! It was our idea to – "

"And Emmett and Jasper," Master Carlisle cut it, "You will remember that it is not your job to punish another student in favour of one of your friends. You should have come to us."

"You knew you should have," Madame Esme put in.

"But she – "

Master Carlisle put up a hand to stop him, "Regardless of the issues between these young ladies, we expected much better from the two of you."

That silenced the both of them. I knew everyone respected Master Carlisle. Even Jasper, who obviously had know him for a long time. Even Emmett, his own son. They wanted to live to his expectations. And when he'd said so blatantly that they hadn't...

"Sorry, sir," said Jasper, his Russian accent coming out more.

"Je suis désolé, papa," said Emmett.

"I believe an apology would be more fitted to Miss Mallory, gentlemen."

They both stiffly apologized to her. Emmett's face was slightly skewed as he got the words out. Master Carlisle he may have respected, but not Lauren. Lauren just nodded dully in return. Guilt was all over her face. I almost felt like kicking her to remind her to brighten up...

"The three of you will pay Miss Mallory back the cost of a new pair of pointe shoes. We will organise suitable punishments later," said Master Carlisle. "For now you're both excused."

They both nodded. Emmett stormed out. Jasper paused a moment, glancing at me. I gave him a small smile, trying to shove a dictionary's worth of words into it. That I was so thankful. That I would explain. That I was sorry. He gave me a tiny nod in return. I could see why he and Alice were a perfect match. They read people. And they cared about what they saw.

But then the door clicked shut, and it was just me, Lauren, Madame Esme and Master Carlisle.

Madame Esme pulled up a chair from the corner of the room, sitting next to Master Carlisle.

"There is very little time in the ballet world for little cat fights like you two are having," she said bluntly, "what is your problem with each other?"

I glanced at Lauren. She looked as though she felt just as awkward as I did. And just as likely to open up as I was...the question was interesting, though. I thought back. Right back...even before Edward...to when I'd first arrived. When I'd met her and Angela and Jessica and I'd told them that I was seventeen...I couldn't remember what she'd said, but it had made an impression...

Madame Esme sighed at our blank silence, "We cannot possibly resolve this without your cooperation."

I bit my lip. I almost did want to cooperate, but the truth was that I had no idea why we hated each other. It had just gotten worse and worse. I remembered her telling me I'd be stupid to have a 'crush' on Edward Masen. Perhaps I should have taken her damned advice...

Madame Esme leaned forward, "Is it about Jamie, Lauren?" I noticed how she always changed last name to first name when she was being compassionate...but why be compassionate now?

"She has much more right to be here than Bella does," Lauren replied quietly, looking down at her hands.

"We had our reasons, Miss Mallory," said Master Carlisle.

What were they talking about? Who was Jamie?

"I know," her voice cracked. I glanced at her. What was this about?

Madame Esme sighed again, "You know perfectly well that Bella had nothing to do with that decision."

"She did," Lauren said sharply, "The board said they were deliberating between two girls, one who had some sort of thing with age and Jamie. And they chose her," she swallowed, "But Jamie worked so hard for it...and she's the right age."

Master Carlisle took her insult to me calmly, "Whether or not those allegations are true, it was not Miss Swan's fault that Jamie didn't get in. You have no reason to attack Miss Swan for the Board's decision."

To my surprise, she nodded stiffly.

Master Carlisle fixed us both with a look, "I want this conflict between the two of you to stop. It is impossible to work in a corps de ballet or a company or, indeed, a ballet school when there are two people wishing to destroy each other. I won't hear of anymore fighting," he glanced at Lauren, "Or pranks, Miss Swan." I gulped as he gave me a hardy stare.

"Yes sir," we both said at the same time. It seemed we now had something in common; fear of the man sitting in front of us.

He sighed, "So what can we do to ingrain this message?"

"They already have conditioning class for the next week," Madame Esme informed him.

He nodded, "You'll both help in the kitchens each meal time until next Sunday."

Well that wasn't so bad...at least I wouldn't have to choose which table to sit at...if there even was a choice by next week. If Alice and Emmett and Jasper and Rosalie could bear me.

"Miss Mallory, you're excused," Master Carlisle said, pushing her pointe shoe across the desk towards her.

She held it delicately by the ribbon and stood up. "Thank you, sir."

Madame Esme also stood and put her chair back. Oh God...oh God they were going to leave me here...Master Carlisle had something more to say...

Lauren looked at me before she left. She seemed uncertain about whether to glare or look worried...but Madame Esme herded her out.

And then there were two.

I swallowed tightly as Master Carlisle straightened one of the pens on his desk. "Jamie is Miss Mallory's twin sister," he said conversationally. "They are very close to each other, which is why Jamie not getting in has been rather difficult for Miss Mallory. Jamie's a good dancer. Strong in character, much like her twin, and well educated in technique. What Miss Mallory said was quite right; it was a decision between you and her as to who would get the last place.

"You were both at the bottom of our lists. You because you were too old, Jamie simply because she wasn't quite as good as the others. It was a question of which one of you was most likely to take ballet to a professional level. Jamie had much more potential than you, Miss Swan," Master Carlisle pressed his fingertips together, staring at me over the top of them, "Ballet companies look for young, experienced dancers in their corps."

I nodded numbly, seeing my future crumbling in front of me. I had never allowed myself think so far ahead. To have it laid out so plainly... "Why was I chosen, then?"

"Because the Board saw something in you that they liked, Miss Swan," he said, "Indeed, they didn't think of you as corps de ballet material; you are too old, you are too inexperienced..." he leaned forward, planting his elbows on the desk, "But soloists and principals have a different material altogether. They need originality, and perseverance, and confidence. We believed you had all those things, Miss Swan. And, above those, we saw you had passion. You love to dance, do you not?"

"Yes sir."

He nodded, "It is a clichéd idea, passion, but not at all stupid. You can see it in a dancer. It stands out. And so that is why we offered you the last place here instead of Jamie Mallory. She would have been good. We could have worked with her and she would have reached a good level. A national corps de ballet certainly. But we decided that if we could bring you up to your age group's level, you could go further. We ignored the fact that you were two years older. We decided that you would work hard. We decided that you would be a good role model. Which is why your little conflict Lauren is so appalling.

"Even if Lauren's problem with you was ridiculous and no fault of your own, the way you reacted to her was appalling. I've observed your various arguments with her in the dining hall. You let her lead you on in front of the whole school. You took her bait."

"I..." I began, wanting to stand up for myself...but then maybe he was right; I had taken her bait every time and said equally nasty things back to her. But what else could I do? Let her push me round?

"It's a difficult situation indeed, Miss Swan," said Master Carlisle, as if reading my mind, "but there are more subtle ways of taking insults than hurling another one back at the person. And there are certainly more subtle ways than asking your friends to embarrass the person in front of their entire class. Agreed?"

"Yes sir..." I shouldn't have said I'd told them...but even then, Jasper and Emmett would still be in trouble, along with my class...

"Good, then, I hope to say nothing more about that."

I nodded. Let me go...let me leave...

"One more thing, Miss Swan," oh God, I just want to leave...I want to run...cry...scream... "You won't be dancing in the review tomorrow night."

My head snapped up. "What?" No, no, no! "Sir, please I'm sorry about the shoe thing...I'll do anything else but I have to dance in the review. I'll be letting my whole class down..."

Master Carlisle looked at me patiently, "This isn't just about your prank, Miss Swan. I was informed by a student that you were dancing when you'd been expressly told not to."

I frowned, "My concussion?" Who the hell had told him about that?

He nodded, "Yes, your concussion, Miss Swan. We have a policy at Force that dancers must do as our doctor tells them. Apparently you've been dancing every night, yes?"

"Yes, but..."

He shook his head, "It's unacceptable, Miss Swan. Once again you've decided to take things into your own hands."

"But I was fine. I didn't faint or anything. And I'm fine now...Doctor Hill said I could start dancing again today. I'll be fine for tomorrow."

But Master Carlisle just shook his head again, "You weren't meant to dance in the review, Miss Swan, not after you'd gotten a concussion. The only reason you kept your solo was because you broke the rules and rehearsed when you weren't meant to. It would be like we were saying your breaking the rules was acceptable if we allowed you to dance. That is not the message we want to get across."

"Please sir..." but I knew it was a lost cause. He had a point, however much I wanted to dance it...I knew that that particular rule was probably smart...

"You'll be able to take part in everything else tomorrow, Miss Swan, and I'm sure you'll class would like your support..." he caught my expression. His eyes glinted knowingly, "I'm sorry. You want to dance this piece very much..." he sighed, giving a small smile, "It is always the best dancers who give people the most grief, Miss Swan. Just learn to tame your passion...or be a little more subtle."

I couldn't help the tiny smile from appearing on my lips. Master Carlisle was headmaster...and he'd just stopped me from dancing...and he was angry at me for what I 'did' to Lauren...but he understood me. A bit.

Now he stood up and went round the desk to hold the door open for me.

"Goodnight, Miss Swan."

"Thank you, sir," I replied a little shakily.

As soon as the door shut I felt like collapsing. Dying. Vanishing into some place where no one would ever find me. But I couldn't.

I walked slowly along the corridor, along the side of the grand staircase. I let myself go numb. I let my mind sort through the facts. I'd lost the solo. I'd lost the solo and I'd saved Lauren's guilty butt. I'd found out that I had been extremely close to not getting into Force. I'd found out I had an enemy I didn't even know...

I had just reached the front of the stairs when I heard a muffled sniff from the girl's bathroom, which was by the theatre doors, opposite the dining hall. I frowned and went in.

Lauren stood at one of the basins. She wasn't crying, exactly, she was just having those god awful sniffles you get after you cry. The ones which are loud and obvious and uncontrollable. Her hands gripped the edges of the basin. "Why didn't you tell them?" She demanded, staring at the tap.

"Because I didn't want to get the whole class in trouble."

"Why not?"

"Because they apologized to me, and they paid me back..." I said, stepping further into the bathroom. "Between you and me, our class has been shred apart enough, don't you think?"

"You mean everyone taking my side?" She finally turned around, standing tall. The areas round her eyes were still red, though.

"Not exactly," I said.

She smirked, but it wasn't up to her normal nastiness, "I really don't like you."

"And I don't like you much, either..." I frowned. It was probably the first honest thing we'd said to each other since...well, ever. "I get why you're pissed at me about Jamie, even though it really wasn't my fault."

She rolled her eyes, "I know it's not your fault. But really? You just strolled in weeks late and took over the entire class, along with the solo, and along with Jessica's pas de deux partner. You're stuck up because you're older than us. You're better because you're older than us. I'm pissed because you've taken my sister's opportunity to become a dancer and you're not even using it properly. You've put the solo in and taken it out like it's nothing, not recognizing how important it is. You spend half your time in the library. You don't even join in with your class, you go hang out with the seniors. My sister would have done the spot more justice. And she wouldn't have been such a bitch about it all."

I stared at her. "Maybe..." I said, before thinking, "I do spend half my time in the library and I do hang out with Alice and stuff. Maybe I am stuck up because I do think you're immature, but I don't think I show it that much...and the solo..." I sighed. "The solo was out of my hands. I didn't choose to get concussed. I didn't choose for Edward Masen to drag me off to Doctor Hill...I didn't choose for someone to see me rehearsing and for Master Carlisle to ban me from the review..."

"What?" said Lauren. "You're not doing it?"

I nodded, "Someone saw me and told him...I'm not allowed to dance the solo tomorrow."

"Shit," she said. She seemed sincere...so she did care about the class's performance?

"Agreed," I muttered. "And it probably wouldn't have happened if none of this other crap had happened...why did you tell on me when you knew I'd tell on you?"

She shook her head, "I didn't tell on you. Madame Esme found me pulling off bubblegum when I should've been in the dining hall. I kind of had to tell. Besides, you did tell them to do it."

"I didn't," I said, "That was just because I needed to make sure Emmett and Jasper knew not to tell about this morning. And I had to give a reason for them to do it. They wouldn't have done that to you if you hadn't done something wrong. It was just that the thing you had done wrong would get everyone in trouble."

"I don't regret the footbath thing," she said warningly. "I just regret getting caught."

"I never counted on you regretting it...but don't do it again, Lauren."

She smiled grimly, "Not with the wrath of both Carlisle Cullen and Edward Masen coming down on top of me. I'll be more subtle next time."

I glanced at my phone. "Nine-thirty. Everyone'll be in bed," I looked her up and down, "Are you going to tell anyone about what's happened?"

"What, you amazing sacrifice and shit?"

"Yeah."

She shrugged, "I won't say anything. There's not much glory in there for me."

"Good, then," I muttered, "I'll say I just got called in Master Carlisle's office so he could tell me I'm not going to be able to dance in the review. You just spent the evening scraping gum off your shoe."

"Yup."

We stood at opposite ends of the bathroom, eyeing each other as I imagined two fighters would, seeing whether the other would strike. Where did I stand with Lauren now? She seemed to still be bitchy...but we seemed to have reached a level of honesty with each other. Pronounced enemies. It sounded good...

"A truce," I said, "Until the review's over."

She raised an eyebrow, "We better win the damn thing."

I nodded, and spun on my heel, pushing out the bathroom door.

The dorm was dark when I finally got there, and it seemed that everyone was asleep. Thank God. I didn't think I could deal with telling anyone that I'd let them down again...

Thoughts wouldn't stop spinning in my head as I blindly got dressed into my PJ's and got under the covers. Today...it had been such a whirlwind of...everything. Waking up and getting my stuff soiled in footbath gunk, and then Tech, when I'd finally shown my class my dance...the dance which won't ever see the stage lights...and then getting my costume, my beautiful costume which I'd never get to wear again...and then Emmett and Jasper's stunt...and then going to the ballet shop and meeting Mister Maier-Gim and seeing all his wonderful wares...and then seeing Angela...

God, Angela...I'd almost forgotten her news, the fact that she might not ever be able to dance again...maybe I wasn't allowed to dance for a night, but forever? Her pain would surely have been thousands of times worse than mine? But then I'd seen Edward...that pain...Don't think of it, Bella...and then the apology from my class, and hanging out with them and laughing and having fun...and then tonight, losing my solo...

I realized I didn't even feel even slightly tired. I couldn't let my thoughts get me like this...

Using the light of my phone, I got up and pulled my new pointes out of my bag and dug around in my trunk for my sewing box. It was covered in footbath water, but I shook it off and got out my needle and thread. I began to sew. In and out. In and out. In and out. In and out...

\*\*/*/

I woke early. The sky was just lightening. I felt different. I felt almost ethereal...calm and yet at the same time something was fluttering in me. I wasn't performing today...but it felt like something was going to happen. Today was the review. Today I was going to tell my class once again that I wasn't doing the solo.

Today was the day when Edward was leaving.

I took a long breath and slid my legs out from under the duvet. Silently, I changed into my tights and Alice's light purple leo. I left my hair loose. It just felt...better. Then I picked up my pointe shoes from the side of my bed. The ribbons still hadn't been burnt to stop the fraying, and I hadn't cut the toe box, but I didn't care. I put them on and tied them up, grabbed my iPod and slipped out the door.

The corridors were so quiet. I remembered Madame Esme leading me up here not so long ago. This building wasn't just a beautiful building anymore. It had memories. And it felt, at the moment, at least, that there were more bad memories than good. I let my hand rest lightly on the cool wood banister as I went down the staircase. So much had happened since the day I'd lugged my suitcase up these stairs. I had changed...but I wasn't sure whether was for better or for worse. I wasn't sure I wanted to know...

I went reached the second floor and walked down the central corridor, past the studios for my various classes. I hesitated at the end. There was Edward's studio. The last door on the left. Where I'd first seen him.

I shut my eyes for a moment, trying to erase the emotions stirring in me. The yearning...but it didn't work. I opened them again and went to the studio much closer to the staircase. At least this one had good memories. Of when I'd danced to All of Me. When I'd first shown Madame Cox my new choreography and she'd approved it. Yes, good memories...

I went in. Sunlight was just entering through the windows. The net curtains hadn't been shut, and so the rays of warm golden light delicately spread across the floor. I plugged in my iPod. There was no question of which piece to play. I needed it. I wanted it...and it would be the last time I ever heard it.

The first notes played. My eyes shut. I felt the warm sun on my face. My hands floated to my front, creating an oval. I breathed in and out. And as the music repeated again, I raised my arms. They glided up above my head. And then they parts, coming out to my sides and back down. I stepped forwards, and then up into an arabesque. My pointe shoe felt stiff and sore, but I didn't care.

All I saw were the colours of the music on the backs of my eyelids.

One hand reached forward, the other behind. And then I lowered, coming down in a plie. I rose back to the tip of my toes. As the notes began to run down the piano keys, I made the tiny tiptoeing steps.

And then it gained intensity, and I was lowering down one knee, surrendering myself...and then the fast notes came, tumbling down upon each other, and I was up again, spinning and twirling like the world was just me and the beautiful music. I twirled and twirled, feeling the air swish around me...oh...and the fast notes became louder, and I leapt, casting myself into the air and then as the notes calmed down once more, I was back on the tips of my toes, moving back and forth, my arms gliding around me...but the notes turned delicate again, repeating the beginning.

I felt warm tears at my eyelashes as I reached up into an arabesque again. Because the end was coming. Because I knew that the joy I'd just felt was silly...illogical...a single tear slid down my cheek. My fingers, which had been gently reaching for some unknown, beautiful thing, suddenly clenched into fists. My legs, one stretched out behind, and the other straight and long, as if balancing on a star too small for one to stand on, collapsed, both dropping down until I was standing normally again. And then my eyes opened. I was back in the real world. And Edward was standing at the door.

"Sorry," he said distantly, his eyes fixed on my cheek. Quickly, I dashed the tear away.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him. My voice was little more than a croak.

His eyes flicked to mine. They were suddenly alert. "I heard music..." he took a heavy breath, as if searching for something else to say. I knew he wanted to leave, "Good luck with the review tonight."

I narrowed my eyes, but it just made the tears pool. Oh God, I had to do something...I was a fool on display...I walked briskly to the CD player and began unplugging my iPod. "I'm not doing it anymore." Confidence, calmness...God, why couldn't I just sound normal?

"Why not?" I could picture him frowning, but I couldn't check.

"Someone told Master Carlisle I'd been dancing with injury."

My iPod was finished...what else could I do? I slid to the floor and began picking at the knots of my ribbons, sweeping my hair over my left shoulder like a curtain.

"Who told?"

"It doesn't matter," I muttered.

"How can it not matter?" He asked, his voice edging on something...incredulity?

"My class will be fine without me."

"But you? Watching them dance without you?"

My tears were unstoppable now. They spilt over, running down my cheeks. I didn't want to hear those words. I wanted to deny that today was going to be horrible. I didn't want to recognize it.

"Bella..." I heard him step towards me. Oh God...I leapt up, grabbing my pointe shoes and iPod in one hand and wiping the tears away with the other.

He was only a metre away from me, leaning back a little, surprised by my movement. But it had been a bad idea. Now he saw my face fully. His eyes turned pained.

"Bella..." he said again, stepping closer.

"No," I said sharply.

He stopped and frowned, "Bella, just because of what I said yesterday...it doesn't mean I don't care about you as a student..."

"Don't care about me, Edward," I told him, the words out before I could possibly think. "I can't take comfort from you when you...when I thought of you...but now..." I gulped and shut my eyes, praying for something I could say...

"I understand," he said softly.

I slowly opened my eyes again. "Good luck with your audition."

He nodded, "Thank you, Bella." And without another look at me, he turned and walked out.

I stared at the back of him, knowing instinctually that it was the last time I'd ever see him.

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