A/N Thank you for being patient.

Enjoy!

Chapter 25

"Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world." (Marilyn Monroe)

~ B ~

I was flying...

...soaring higher and higher through a vast mass of nothingness. I could see nothing, but felt the wind on my face, the fluttering sensation of breakneck speed in my stomach. It was the best thing I'd ever experienced; so liberating, incredibly empowering. Up, up, I went towards what I desired. I didn't know what it was and I did not see it, but I could feel it. I knew it was there; so, so close. Just reaching for it would've sufficed.

My hand moved, driven by instinct. It was mine. I could have it.

Suddenly, it all stopped. I ceased my ascending as everything became eerily quiet.

Light music playing in low muted tones reached my ears, and I listened, recognizing the introductory score for Swan Lake. The familiar music filled my senses as it grew louder with each note dispersing into the empty void surrounding me. For a while I felt nothing but the music, changing pace, twisting and pulling, seeping into my veins as if it were a part of me.

A sharp jolt pierced my arm, and I startled, looking down at myself. All I could see was pale skin and a black leotard clinging to a frail body. Another bout of sharp pain hitting my shoulder, then my stomach. The pain was becoming excruciating. The music grew darker.

I was afraid. I opened my mouth to let out a scream, but nothing came out. Terrified, I started thrashing, fighting whatever unseen evil was trying to hurt me.

"Isabella..." a voice called, luring me towards it. "Isabella!"

I sat up in bed, frightened and wide-eyed, my heart pounding so hard it made me dizzy.

"It was a dream," Edward murmured, kissing the shell of my ear. "Just a bad dream, baby." His strong arms wrapped around my waist, pulling my back to his chest in a comforting embrace.

His soothing nearness calmed me. Closing my eyes, I let my head roll back, trying to catch my breath, feeling as though I'd ran a marathon.

"Are you alright?" he whispered, nuzzling my neck.

"I'm fine," I replied softly. "I need you to... just hold me, please."

After some time, Edward shifted behind me, cupping my cheek so I would look at him. "Is there something you need? Water, tea? A warm bath?"

I wasn't hungry, nor was I thirsty, but somehow I found myself craving something sweet. I turned, climbing into his lap. Gently kissing his lips, I gave him a shy smile. "Chocolate. I think I'd like some chocolate."

Edward laughed; part in astonishment, but mostly with relief. It was such a wonderful sound, one I hadn't heard for far too long. "How about hot chocolate? I know you like it creamy and sweet."

"Can you get that?"

"I'm sure I could find something, although..." He paused, his brow furrowing as he seemed to be realizing something. "On second thought, I'm not sure rich hot chocolate is the right choice for your sensitive stomach."

I sighed, touching the tip of my nose to his. "How about just regular chocolate?"

"I'll see what I can find." He kissed me swiftly, waiting for me to get off him before climbing out of bed and starting to look for clothes. He put on a random pair of jeans and a t-shirt, smiling as he made his way to the front door. "I'll be right back."

Lying on my back in bed, I stared at the white ceiling, breathing in and out, doing my best to get over the strange nightmare I'd had. The stress of the past few weeks were getting to me, I realized. If I let it, it was going to eat at me until there was nothing left of my former self, and then, everything I'd worked hard for would've been in vain. Letting my eyes close, I did a few breathing exercises my therapist had taught me that always seemed to work.

I was starting to doze off when the door opened and Edward stepped in, tossing the keycard on the flower table. He held up a bar of Snickers triumphantly. "It's all they had at this hour."

They, the reception desk, I assumed.

"Good enough." I grinned, sitting up and accepting the treat from him. "I can't believe I'm having cravings after everything my stomach has been through."

"It's a good sign." He stripped down, replacing his jeans with his pajama bottoms.

I shrugged, tearing up the wrapping. "I suppose."

"Do you want to talk about your dream?" He sat down beside me, running his fingers through my loose hair. He was regarding me with such love and genuine concern, that for a brief moment, I thought I was going to cry.

How lucky was I to have found him?

I took a small bite of the chocolate treat, looking down at my lap. "There's nothing to talk about, really. It was just a strange nightmare. I'm okay now."

Edward exhaled a long breath. "Your mind is too busy worrying about the premiere."

I nodded, letting the chocolate melt on my tongue before answering. "Probably." I held the bar to him. "Want some?"

He shook his head no.

I ate the rest of my Snickers in relative silence, my eyes fixed on the window. Large snowflakes were falling down from the gray sky, giving the night a peaceful feeling. Despite how restless my mind was, being with Edward always made me feel a lot calmer.

He stared at me intently, and from my peripheral I could see a slow smile stretching his lips.

"What?" I asked, smiling back, gazing into his green eyes.

Too soon, his smile dissolved into a thoughtful sigh. "You're beautiful, you know that? I really am in love with you."

I chuckled, blushing, still not used to him saying such things to me. "You always know what to say to make me feel better."

He leaned over, kissing the tip of my nose then my lips. "It would appear so."

I kissed him back, whispering against his mouth as a wave of warmth engulfed my entire being. "I love you too. Very much."

"Since that's settled..." He grinned, mischievous, letting his palm rest on my breast, his thumb circling my nipple. "Let's lie down before I try something you're not up for."

"Who says I'm not up for it?" I mumbled, distracted by both the sweetness of his lips and his ministrations.

"Me." He pecked my cheek all too briefly, pulling back.

"You're such a spoil sport," I complained.

He laughed, leaning against the headboard, opening his arms in invitation. "I am an old fart, after all."

Rolling my eyes at his insipid joke, I conceded, snuggling with my back against his chest and pulling the duvet over us. We lay there talking until late into the night.

~ B ~

Early the next morning, I was jolted awake by a loud knock on the door. I sat up, tired and confused, trying to locate the noise. A moment later, Edward's head peeked from behind the bathroom door, his wet hair plastered to his forehead. My eyes traveled south, taking in his naked body, and found I couldn't look away.

"Izzy, can you get that, please?" He smiled, seeing how I couldn't pry my eyes off him.

We hadn't been intimate for a few days, but in that moment it felt as if it had been an eternity. The sudden urge to ignore the persistent knocking and get him back in the shower nearly overwhelmed me. My eyes met his, and he gave me an amused look that told me he knew exactly what I was thinking.

With a sigh, I nodded, shaking off those thoughts. "Sure." Getting out of bed, my legs felt weak, although thankfully, my body seemed to recover quickly. My stomach wasn't feeling as if some invisible fist was holding it into a vice grip anymore, and the nausea was completely gone. Who knew, maybe my late-night sweet treat had done me some good, after all.

To my utter shock, standing on the other side of the door was my BFF Jessica.

"What the hell do you want?" I asked sharply, the anger in my voice leaving no room for interpretation.

"I need to speak with Mr. Masen," she said with urgency. I noticed she looked as if she hadn't slept at all the night before.

Edward stepped out of the bathroom wearing jeans and a t-shirt; his feet bare and his hair still damp. "Jessica, what are you doing here?"

"Mr. Masen, I have something I need to talk to you about. It's important," she pleaded. She took him in and averted her eyes at obviously having caught him at such a bad moment.

Edward nodded his head in the direction of the sofa. "Come on in. Take a seat."

I stepped aside, letting her in. Self-conscious about wearing only a pair of flimsy pajamas, I rushed to put on a robe, joining them in the living area.

Jessica didn't sit on the sofa, but remained standing, wringing her hands nervously in front of her.

"What is it?" Edward inquired calmly.

"It was Rosalie," she blurted out as he finished his sentence.

Edward frowned, crossing his arms in front of him, making himself even more intimidating than usual. "Do you have something to confess?"

All of a sudden, Jessica started crying, big fat tears rolling down her pale cheeks. "I'm sorry. Please don't fire me."

"What did you do?" Edward asked quietly, although I could see the way his eyes flashed.

"She—she told me what she was planning to do."

"Did you help her?" His voice took a menacing tone.

Her now bloodshot eyes went wide. "No. I just… I kept her secret. Please, you have to believe me."

"Why?" I found myself speaking, taking a step towards her. "Why the hell would you do that?"

She glanced at me, and for the first time, instead of arrogance, I saw guilt. "I hated you from the moment you started in the company. I saw the talent in you and knew you were going places. I wanted to be you so bad." Her voice cracked as she said the last words, and despite my usual animosity towards her, I could only feel pity.

Edward stared at her in disbelief. "Your dislike of Isabella isn't reason enough to help someone hurt her. Do you have any idea what it did to her?"

Jessica was already shaking her head. "It was never my intention to really hurt her." She sighed. "And I-I didn't think Rosalie would go so far. I just wanted Isabella's debut to not be a success."

"Are you willing to testify against Rosalie?" I asked, fighting to get a grip on myself.

With her head down, she looked up through her lashes, searching for confirmation from Edward. "Will I get to keep my job?"

"I don't think you're in any position to set conditions," he snapped harshly in response.

"Please!" She sobbed, her face contorting into a grimace. "I can't afford to lose my career to this thing. It was stupid of me, I know. Please, give me a chance to prove I'm not a bad person."

Edward turned to me. "Isabella, what do you think?"

I gaped at him, stupefied that he was practically putting Jessica's fate into my hands. I mean, yes, I pretty much hated her, but I didn't want to make such a decision; although I did understand why Edward felt it necessary to ask me. "I... uh ... I don't know."

Jessica looked desperate, her eyes bouncing from me to Edward and back. "I promise I'll be on my best behavior. Please. I'll do anything."

Seeing it wasn't what I wanted, Edward took a moment to mull over her asking for forgiveness. "Alright," he finally said. "But first, you'll apologize to Isabella. Apologize, and mean it."

Jessica turned to me, wearing the most sincere expression I'd ever seen on her face, which was in fact shocking, coming from her. It seemed that unlike her partner in crime, Rosalie, she actually realized the gravity of her actions and the consequences they could trigger. "I'm really sorry for everything, Bella. I swear to God I'll never again try to hurt you in any way, shape or form. Can you bring yourself to forgive me for all the pain I've caused you?"

If I knew one thing, it was that Rosalie was a truly evil person, while Jessica had simply mingled with the wrong people. She could be nasty, I'd have to give her that, but deep down, I didn't think she was essentially bad.

I stared at her, trying to decide whether her apology was enough; although I did feel a deep sense of satisfaction at hearing her utter those words. "I don't know if I can forgive you, but I will accept your apology."

"I hope this experience has made you reflect on the person you are now," Edward continued, addressing her. "Is Rosalie the woman you one day aspire to become?"

Jessica shook her head, adamant. "No, sir. I'm not like that."

"Good. Then work on the person you want to be, not the one others expect you to be. I know our world is a harsh one, but that doesn't mean it has to make you bitter. Work hard, treat others with respect, and one day you may have what Isabella and Rosalie achieved for themselves. The big difference between the two of them is that unlike Isabella, Rosalie is so full of hatred, she ruined herself. Don't make the same mistake."

"I understand," she mumbled, looking abashed.

"Get ready and I'll meet you in the main lobby in ten minutes," Edward said with a heavy sigh. "We'll go speak to the polizia."

She nodded dutifully. "Yes, sir."

When she was gone, Edward turned to me with a soft smile. "See? I told you everything was going to sort out eventually."

"Yeah," I breathed with relief. "You want me to go with you?"

"There's no need." He made quick work of putting on socks, shoes and a light sweater, finally grabbing his coat from the closet. "I hope I won't be long. Please make sure you eat something."

I nodded in agreement, and with a hurried kiss, he was out the door, leaving me with my thoughts.

~ B ~

Three days before my debut, Rosalie was deported and sent to trial in the US, mainly thanks to Jessica's unexpected testimony. There had been a huge scandal in the hotel lobby, with Rosalie yelling and threatening to destroy Jessica for her "lies." She stuck to her claim that she was innocent, kicking, screaming and vowing to sue us all, including the policemen escorting her to the airport.

Everyone was in a state of utter shock, but to be honest, I couldn't have expected any less from her.

Both the company and I pressed charges, and we were assured Rosalie was going to get the maximum punishment for her malicious stunt. The Italian attorney we'd spoken to couldn't give us an exact answer as to what her sentence would entail, but he was almost certain it was going to involve a few weeks of custody and a low level of community service.

I felt it was nowhere near enough for what she'd put me through in the months I'd come to work for ABT, but Edward's reassurance that her career was essentially over, made me feel a bit better about the whole ordeal. I wished I never had to see her again, which wasn't that probable given as soon as I arrived back in New York, Edward, Jessica and I had to testify against her all over again. Even the assistant, the attorney had said, was going to be called in front of the prosecutor. In short, we'd been told the process was going to last longer than usual because the Italian polizia were also involved.

Eventually, as long as she got hers, I was willing to be patient. After that, she was going to be out of my life for good, and to me it was enough consolation.

When it became clear that Rosalie wasn't going to be Giselle that year, panic began to arise between the ranks. Everyone was concerned that Rosalie's understudy, Leah, wasn't going to be able to step up to the plate, and the whole performance would be ruined by her vague experience as a soloist. Edward, however, trusted her implicitly, which gave me hope.

As for me, I started training again a couple of days after being released from the hospital. Under Edward's careful surveillance and trying my best not to put too much strain on my body, I practiced on a strict schedule imposed by my very concerned boyfriend. Some days I felt weaker than others, but a fierce desire not to miss my own debut kept me going. Katrina Denali, who Edward had decided was going to replace me in case I was unable to perform, was rehearsing by my side every single day. It felt weird and a little intimidating having her there instead of my regular understudy, especially since she was an experienced principal, and an exceptionally good one at that.

This year, both Giselle and Swan Lake were going to be big surprises for regular ballet goers. One was missing its principal and the other was debuting a young dancer who'd never set foot on a big stage, let alone an international one. The thought alone was enough to send me into a full-blown panic attack. Thankfully, Edward's confidence that both performances were going to be good gave me some comfort.

Ultimately, all I could do was to continue with my practice and wait to see how it would unfold.

"Isabella," Edward's voice pulled me out of my reverie. I looked away from the window, meeting his eyes. He was standing in the doorway to the bedroom, still wearing the clothes he'd had on during our two hour practice. "They're here."

I hopped down from the windowsill, excited my parents and Seth had arrived. "Which rooms?"

"They're in twenty-four, twenty-five and twenty-eight. Second floor."

Rushing past him, I grabbed my hoodie from the back of a chair, hurrying out of our suite and towards the stairs. The closest room to the flight of stairs was number twenty-eight. I knocked impatiently, barely restraining myself from bursting right in. My father opened the door, looking somewhat annoyed.

"Dad!" I exclaimed happily, throwing myself at him and wrapping my arms around his neck. Despite our past differences, I was incredibly glad to see him.

"Hey, Bells," he greeted softly, hugging me back. "Oh, I've missed you."

"I've missed you, too," I replied, wiping an errant tear with the back of my sleeve. A throat cleared behind us, and I turned my head to see Edward standing at the foot of the stairs, smiling at our display of affection.

"Mr. Swan." He nodded in acknowledgement.

"Charlie, son," Dad corrected a bit gruffly, letting go of me. "I'm Charlie to you." He ran his palm over his cheek; a nervous habit. "We're still on for that dinner, aren't we?"

"Of course," Edward answered smoothly. "We have reservations at eight. Izzy, baby, I know you're excited, but how about you let your parents get settled in and we'll see them in..." He glanced at his watch. "...just under an hour?"

"You're right." I gave my dad a sheepish grin. "Sorry I almost barged in."

Dad chuckled. "It's fine, sweetie. I don't mind at all. I'll see you two at eight."

Grabbing Edward's hand, I let him lead me back to our suite, deciding not to disturb anyone else. "I feel like a chastised kid," I admitted with a laugh.

Edward smiled, kissing the side of my head. "I'll chastise you if you want."

The blatant innuendo in his voice made me elbow him in the ribs. "I'm sure you will."

~ B ~

On the day of my debut, I was a wreck. My stomach was churning, my limbs were tingling and I felt dizzy. I took a deep breath, then another, willing myself not to pass out before it even began.

Giselle had been a success, which put Leah on the fast path to becoming ABT's newest principal. Praised by critics and dancers alike, she'd given an admirable performance full of emotion and sensuality that managed to overshadow Rosalie's big absence. There was no contesting that Rosalie had flawless technique and a unique sense of confidence that Leah didn't possess, but what Leah did have was soul, and in the end, the change had proved as beneficial as a breath of fresh air to an already overplayed ballet.

I was happy for Leah, and knew it hadn't been easy for her either, but somehow I felt that Swan Lake was an entirely different thing. Everyone had huge expectations. Everyone knew that Edward had taken me under his wing, offering me his precious time and talent so very few had been privileged to. For me, there was no room for failing.

Speaking of my protector, he was nowhere in sight, busy with last minute arrangements. Behind me, Alice was sewing on a couple beads that fell off when I put on my costume.

"You look beautiful," Emmett observed from the table where he'd perched himself. He was eating an apple, looking as nonchalant and carefree as ever. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm a mess," I admitted breathless. "God, I feel as if I can barely breathe."

"The dress is not too tight, is it?" Alice asked with concern.

I shook my head. "It's fine."

"You'll do great, Bells," Emmett said calmly. "Remember, I'm there for you. I won't let you slip up. All you need to do is trust me, okay?"

I gave him a weak smile. "How about you? Are you okay? You know, given what happened with Rosalie and all?"

He shrugged. "I'm fine. Honestly, I don't feel like bringing Rosalie up. She's a closed subject to me."

"Sorry," I mumbled. "I shouldn't have..." I trailed off, quickly deciding to change the subject. "You look handsome, by the way."

"Don't I always?" He gave me a cocky smile.

"All done," Alice announced, stepping aside to take a good look at me. "This has to be my best Odette yet."

"Yeah?" I smiled, uncertain.

"Yep," she responded confidently. "You are so lovely."

The door opened, revealing an agitated-looking Edward. "Is everyone ready?" he asked hastily. "The play is about to start in…" He stopped talking abruptly as his eyes landed on me. "Wow. You look… absolutely ravishing."

I blushed at the blatant appreciation in his eyes. "Thank you."

"On another note, my lovely Swan." He grinned, giving my lips a brief kiss. "Aro and Sulpicia are here."

"Oh God…" I groaned, holding my stomach, thinking of all the important people attending.

"Hey." He lifted my chin so I would look at him. "You're going to be magnificent."

Everything after that was a blur. People were moving around me, fretting about this and that, and I felt paralyzed with fear. Katrina Denali came into the room, her eyes finding me immediately, and I realized she looked like a blonde version of me—from her hairdo to the last sequin on her ballet shoes.

"I know the feeling," she spoke softly, reaching for a bottle of water on the table beside me. "We've all been there."

I gave her a smile I was sure came out stiff. "Do you still feel… like this?"

"Every single time."

"I can only hope for the best," I mumbled, gazing at her, marveling at how calm she looked. Of course, she was just the backup, but still, there was something about her that oozed confidence.

She smiled. "Emmett is a good partner. He won't let you screw up."

My curiosity spiked. "Did you two ever dance together?"

"Two years ago for the same ballet," Emmett answered, having overheard our conversation. "So, I'll repeat myself: you're safe with me."

"Sorry." I bit my lip, feeling admonished. "I trust you, Em. It seems I just can't help it."

"We understand," Alice chimed in. "I've never been in your place per se, but I've had a lot of first-timers on my hands. Actually, I think you're holding up pretty good. I can't keep count how many times I've seen people throw up before going on stage."

Edward showed up again, leaving the door wide open. Behind him, I could see camera men and the sound crew going about their business. The restless murmurs of the audience carried over to us, making my legs nearly give out on me. Edward stretched out his hand to me. "It's time."

Nervously, I grabbed his fingers, feeling his warmth. My entire body felt as if it were made of lead.

He gave me a gentle squeeze, leaning over so his lips were touching the shell of my ear. "It's your time to shine, Izzy," he whispered. "Remember, I'll always be there for you, no matter what."

With that, he pulled me out of the dressing room and towards the dimming lights on stage.

A/N Just one more chapter left.

Thank you for reading!

xx ~Andreea~