Chapter 2
The Royal Family incident happened three weeks ago, and the Prince's number burned in her phone. She thought about their weird conversation, still thinking about it but she couldn't bring herself to call him. But she couldn't bring herself to delete the number either. He had left an impression on her that she couldn't shake, making her waste hours and days, trying to come to a decision.
Camille and Rosalie both wanted her to call the Prince. Perhaps it was something important but how in the world could anything he had to say be important? They didn't even know each other, and she didn't believe in love at first sight. So, it was always the reason that bothered her but never enough to call.
So, she pushed the curiosity into the corner of her mind and focused on her biggest dream: The International Ballet Competition.
Even though she was sad about being fired and humiliated, she went to sleep and woke up accordingly to get ready for Ballet practice.
Camille had stayed with her, sleeping on the couch even after Ember had tried to convince her otherwise.
"I will not get kicked in the face again," Camille huffed, grabbing blankets. "I rather had a kink in my neck, than dirty feet in my face."
"I don't sleep wildly anymore," Ember insisted.
"Hmph, see you in the morning, Turner."
They woke up early in the morning, to get Rosalie before heading over to Radiance. The car was silent, filled with anxious nerves, wondering what awaited them. All speculation that they had yesterday, went out the window and now they just wanted to get the morning over with.
For once, Camilla had driven the speed limit and they made it to the building in a reasonable time. Ember had been too anxious to joke about this, and together the three girls went to their classroom.
Ms. Houston was waiting inside with a man. He was a tall man with greying short hair, the swoop to the back in the middle. He wore a button white shirt with a black jacket and black pants completed with polished black shoes. His cuff-lets were folded and creased, a gold watch on his left wrist.
When the girls entered, Ms. Houston and the man's conversation came to an abrupt stop as they turned to look at them. Ember got a better look at the man's face, he had laughing wrinkles around his mouth and brown eyes. He had a shadow of a beard and a permanent smirk on his face. His eyes swept over each girl, lingering on Ember before turning back to Ms. Houston.
"So, these are the girls that you talk so highly about?" He asked.
"Yes, they are." Ms. Houston said, with a slight smile. "Rosalie Ross, Camille Newton, and Ember Turner."
She pointed out each girl and again the man's eyes swept over them. He nodded and took a step back.
"Well, I would like to see a performance, if it wouldn't be too much to ask."
"Of course not, girls?"
The three exchanged looks before setting their bags to the side and getting into formation. The moment, Ms. Houston started the count and the switch from girls to ballerina began. They didn't know who the man was or how important he was, so they gave it their all. Becoming one with the imaginary music as she executed every position as naturally as walking.
And when they had performed as phenomenal as Ms. Houston liked, she stopped them and let them rest as she walked over to the man and they began to whisper.
"God, she worked us harder than usual," Camille whispered, panting.
"Must be the important man," Rosalie answered.
Ember remained silent, her eyes on the two as she drank her water. Any other time she would not question the presence of a potential scout but last night still linger in her mind. How desperate the prince was for her to call, and how the paper laid on her table awaiting her. It just seemed to be a coincidence for this man to appear to watch them perform.
She doubted that he was a scout at all.
Still, she did not speak these accusations for fear of being wrong and instead sat as she listened to her friends talk.
When Ms. Houston and the man came back, their teacher was beaming and the man gave a genuine smile.
"Mr. Dennis will be donating generously for what he's seen. He will be here for the rest of the day, to survey the other classes."
"Yes, if they were even the slightest of greatness that I just witnessed," Mr. Dennis started. "Donations and recognition should be coming your way."
While Camille and Rosalie were verbally thankful, Ember hummed her thanks and looked at the man closer. She couldn't place why he looked familiar or where she would see his face but she tucked it away when it came to bother her too badly.
Mr. Dennis walked towards the girls, shaking each hand and lingering on Ember.
Once again, a sense of deja vu fell off Ember but she couldn't place why.
"Thank you for your generous donation," Ember said, with a slight bow of her head. "It's greatly appreciated."
"I'm happy to help, now if you don't excuse me, ladies, there are other classes I must attend to."
They watched him leave before turning to Ms. Houston.
"Is that why you wanted us here bright and early?" Ember asked. "For a donator?"
"No, actually he was a pleasant surprise," Ms. Houston said, "I've asked you three to come here early, to prepare you for a very important competition that would make you want to step closer for eligibility for this year's International Ballet Competition."
Ember perked at this, the man and the prince forgot from her mind. Her dream was closer than she realized, and her heart pounds with anticipation.
"It's the Northwest Ballet Competition. Each company can send off two ballerinas for this competition. As you know, there are only 10 advanced ballerinas, including the three of you. Eliminations will be narrowing down to the selected two. We will train for a week before the elimination. Do know, that as always, I will not be going easy on you three. I know how deeply you three want to compete for this intentional competition, and if I can get two of you in, I've done my job well."
Ember looked at her friends, who shared the same look, and it became very clear that this would be a very long week.
After their break, Ms. Houston had them up again with drills and practice and positions. She did not let up until three hours later with the girls panting and collapsing onto each other. The days blended together as Ms. Houson did not let up as she had promised. In the afternoons, Ember went job hunting with Camile and Rose as helpers.
Or they tried to be but their suggestions and offers drove Ember up the wall so most times, Ember ended the day jobless and with a headache.
And though, with rent looming over her head, Ember did not rush to find a job. Her thoughts and focus only on ballet which concerns Camille and Rosalie deeply.
To the point that they had ignored her wishes.
She had gone to her landlord, ready to plead for an extension when the woman said that it wasn't necessary, it had already been paid for.
She had been stumped on how that happened and started to seriously consider that the Prince had done it, and desperately wanted her to call him. But she immediately shot it down when she told Camille and Rosalie about her paid rent and they couldn't look her in the eye.
"You guys didn't!" Ember said.
"And so what if we did?" Camille said. "You're still jobless and was about to be homeless, so maybe you should be thankful that we stepped in at all."
"That wasn't your call."
"Oh, yes it was!"
Camille had jumped from her seat and got into Ember's face. Rosalie was quick to follow, putting herself in between them but that didn't stop the other from glaring at each other.
"I know that you wanted to be in this competition since your mom-"
"Don't." Ember hissed.
Camille paused, breathing sharply through her nose. "Since you found out that your mom was a ballerina but Ember, you were going to get thrown out! You still haven't found a job, and you've been a little too obsessive about becoming top 2. So there was no way you could juggle a job and this! Me and Rose only paid for this month so that your focus can be this competition. It's okay to ask for help sometimes, Em, just accept it this one time."
Ember stared hard at her friend before she deflated, looking angrily at the wall behind her.
"Fine. But next time, when I say I got this, respect my decision."
Camille and Rosalie both nodded and the trio let the situation go.
When the week of Elimination came, Ember a jitter of nerves and excitement. It had come down to this. After years of training and performing, she finally was going to get her shot at being in a competition that her mother had participated three times in. It was the only reason why she was obsessed with it.
Gabrielle Turner wasn't a famous ballerina but she was a recognizable one. Most of the older ballerinas talk fondly about her mom which only inspired and pushed her to do better. It was a legacy that she desperately wanted to carry and continue. And what better way to get it than getting on that stage and hearing the announcers mention that she was the daughter of The Gabrielle Turner? The ballerina was part of King Hugo's Selection.
It was really all that was remembered about her mother to Illea, that she was part of the King's Selection. Never her achievements have a ballerina but the fact that she made it to the Elite, hell, the top two, losing to Queen Isabella. In all of the articles that Ember had of her mother, it always started with Former Selected.
At the time she hadn't understood the dislike her mother had for the Royal Family but over time, she figured that it was one and two things. 1) that she was that close to becoming Queen, to becoming the One and lost to Isabella Acharya, a girl from Belcourt or 2) that after the Selection was done and over with, it still formed a shadow over her till her last days.
Ember, Camille, and Rosalie survived the first four days of elimination. On the fifth day, Rosalie was cut and the trio went to Camille and watched Rosalie's favorite movie and ate ice cream. They huddled together on the couch, Rosalie's head laying on Camille's shoulders and Ember petting her hair as she cried.
"My mom's going to kill me." Rosalie sobbed. "I shouldn't even be eating this. God, maybe I should've gone on that diet, practice more. . ."
"Shhh. . .it's okay, Rose." Camille said, rubbing her back. "There'll be other competitions and you'll do great in them and there's always next year."
"Tell that to her," Rose cried harder. "God, how did Tasha make it through but not me?"
"She probably sucked the guy's dick." Ember offered.
Rose snorted. "Em, that isn't nice."
"But it's possible," Camille said. "She was the last one to go through, and it would've definitely looked suspicious if she was the first to make it today."
Rose laughed at this and wiped her tears. "You guys are awful but I love you."
"We love you too," Camille said.
She helped Rose wipe away her tears, and they stared intently at the other.
"Really?"
"Yeah," Ember said, cutting into whatever moment they were having. "It's the three of us against the world, y'know."
Rosalie turned to her and laughed.
"You say it like the apocalypse."
"Uh, the fact that Tasha made cut-offs and you didn't, is the sign of the world ending," Ember said.
Rosalie smiled at this but it became clear to her friends that no matter how much they tried to lighten the mood, she would still be hurt over the cut. So they went back to the movie.
The next few days during try-outs felt weird without Rosalie but at the same time, it just pushed them to work harder and make it to the top two. They survived the sixth day but the seventh and final day was the most nerve-wracking one of them all.
That morning, Ember had woken up to her friends on either side of her. Rosalie was still asleep and Camille was on her phone scrolling through social media. Ember had squinted at the screen and saw that it was way too early in the morning for Camille to be up.
"Nervous?" Ember whispered.
Camille glanced over at her and shrugged.
"I don't know but I'm in the mood to watch cat videos."
Ember chuckled. "Oh, mood."
"Want to watch with me?" Camille asked.
Ember shook her head. That might be Camille's stress reliever but it wasn't hers.
"Nah, actually, I'll be right back."
Ember didn't bother to wait for a response as she got up.
She needed a moment alone anyway.
Her stress relief was a bit personal, and while she loved Camille and Rosalie, it wasn't something she was ready to share. She put on some clothes and headed to the kitchen to receive her mom's photo of the refrigerator. Then she was out the door.
She walked for about thirty minutes to the park that was completely empty. Despite the emptiness, and the sun barely rising in the horizon, Ember wasn't afraid. In fact, she felt right at home.
There was a slight breeze that went through her and she shivered as she zipped up her coat, and sat on a swing. She pulled out the picture of her mom and started to slowly push herself back and forth with her foot.
"It's been a while since I've done this mom," Ember started with a sigh. "Everything was fine until The Royal Family came and made me lose my job. . .and now this competition is literally in my grasp and. . .I wish you were here. It's not the same, the walk here, getting on the swings. . .It's hard to let go and jump, now. But I'm going to, I'm going to take this leap, and today, I'm going to work the hardest that I ever worked and damnit, I'm going to make it to the competition and I'm going to fucking win it."
As she spoke into the air, she pushed herself higher and higher til she was leveled to the bar. Her heart raced at the speed as she slid her mom's picture into her pocket and she leaped out of the swing. She landed on her feet, the impact vibrating through her body as she calmed her breathing. Ember wiped her brow and looked up at the sky and then back at the still swinging swing and nodded firmly.
Yes, today was hers for the taking and nobody was going to take that away from her.
When she had returned back to her apartment, her friends were up. Camille was making breakfast while Rosalie was sitting on the barstool, talking about something that was irrelevant. They looked really domestic and content, and Ember was ready to leave them be, to sneak off to her room but Camille had turned around, plate in her hand.
"Hey, loser, bring your ass over here and eat." She said, passing the plate to Rose.
Ember rolled her eyes and walked over to them, and sat in the other bar stool, while Camille fixed her plate.
"Today is the day, your fucking obssesser." Camille said. "All that you've worked for has come to this. I hope you get because bitch you deserve it but first eat and drink and get rid of all your jitters."
"I don't have jitters," Ember said, "they're all taken care of."
"That walk is what cured it?"
"Yeah, don't worry about it."
Ember shrugged and ate her food, ignoring the stares that her friends had.
"I hope you two do great," Rosalie said. "Do so well that they have to let go Tasha."
"Of course, babes, even if we don't make it which is well stupid because Ember is a fucking boss," Camille said. "We'll make sure Tasha can't get it either."
With that, once they were finished eating, they got ready for tryouts.
With Ember's promise stuck in her mind, she worked harder than she has ever worked, and she put everything on the line. This had been a dream since even before her mother's death, only amplified when she passed. She wasn't just doing it for herself but also for her mother who wouldn't be in a crowd to watch her perform.
And when the instructor told them to stop and Ember almost collapsed into Camille, sore and tired but eager to hear the results.
The judges converse with each other, for what felt like forever but were only 10 minutes before they went to the instructor with their turned and looked at the remaining five girls.
"I want to start off by saying, you have worked your asses off and all of you deserve to go to the competition. But sadly, there can only be two and it was such a hard decision. But the judges have decided, and the two ballerinas that's going to this year's International Ballet Competition. Camille Newton and Elizabeth Vixen congratulations."
And the world seemed to tilt on its axis as Ember registered who was going to the International Competition this year. Her eyes blurred with tears as her hearing dimmed to nothing.
This.
No.
This couldn't be right.
But she stood there, staring at the floor and realized with horror that she didn't get it. That her best wasn't enough and that her promise to her mother this morning was for nothing. Her chest felt tight as she looked over to her left and saw the look on Camille's face.
She had heard right. It went to Camille, and not her.
And before her friend could reach for her, to try to say sorry or something sympathetic, Ember turned and walked away. She grabbed her stuff and left.
She didn't bother waiting for Rosalie, who wanted to know what was wrong and who got it. She didn't wait as Camille and Rosalie grabbed her trying to get her to stop. In fact, she snapped on both of them before continuing home.
She walked home, which took her an hour and a half to do. But she was numb.
Even when she reached home, she didn't register it. She locked the door and walked to her room, where she shoved everything off the dresser and stared at her reflection. Her face was flush from crying, her face covered with tears, her hair disarray. Not at all the look, she thought she would have after tryouts. Ember sighed deeply and looked down at the mess she made. A photo of her and her mother laid on the ground along with her jewelry box and makeup. She squatted down and started to clean up.
Underneath the photo, was a piece of paper that was folded up. Ember frowned at this as she tried to recall what it was before unfolding it.
Written on it was a number, and just like that, the day she got fired came rushing back.
She bit her lip contemplating whether or not she should call the prince before she thought, why the hell not. She took out her phone and ignored the missed calls and texts from Camille and Rosalie and dialed the number instead.
As she placed the phone on her ear, her heart started to fast as the phone began to ring. What if it was too late to call the prince? Or for whatever reason in the last three, the prince changed his number? Or even, what if he didn't remember who she was and she would only appear like a stalker.
She swallowed hard and prayed that he wouldn't answer. That this was such a dumb idea and she should hang up the phone.
"Hello?"
Fuck.
Ember fell silent at the sound of the prince's voice, struggling to say words but none would come forth.
"Hello? Who is this? How did you get this number?"
Ember closed her eyes and tried to still the trembles in her hand. This was happening, the prince was on the other end and she couldn't even get herself to say hello. To even introduce herself.
"Is this a joke? Because I don't think pranking the Prince of Illea is very funny-
"It's me," Ember said, forcing the words out. "Ember Turner. The girl from the party. . .the one that spilled the drink all over you."
That it was the prince's turn to be silent.
This caused a twist in Ember's stomach and she couldn't help but babble on.
"I, uh, sorry that I didn't call earlier. I was busy, y'know finding a new job, umm, doing my ballerina classes. Did, I uh um, um mention that when we talk? I dunno, it's been a couple of weeks and I can completely understand if-"
"Ember Turner? You said your name is Ember Turner?"
Ember blinked at the interruption, and she was surprised by the excitement in his voice.
"Uh, yes, why?"
"Thank God you decided to call me! I thought you threw away my number or something. Or wasn't interested in calling me." Prince Alexandre said. "I have something to tell you, it's going to be a little hard to believe but God, listen, we'll figure it out okay?"
Ember frowned at this. "Figure what out?"
"Okay, alright, I didn't plan this all the way out but, the reason why I even decided to come to Belcourt. Was to find you. Listen, Ember-"
The prince was cut off by something in the background. Ember couldn't hear it but the tone of everything seemed off. She sat down on her bed as her mind began to race. What in the world did the Prince of Illea want to tell her and why on earth was it something that they could figure out together?
"Um, I have to go." Prince Alexandre mumbled. "I got to get ready for the Report. I really just wanted to-okay, how about this? I'll call you back okay? This is seriously really important and well, I would like this to come from my dad but it's got to come from me. But I tell you right after the Report. In fact, as soon as I announce my Selection officially, I'll call you and tell you everything. This is really going to change your world Ember, and not just yours but me and my family. But it'll be fine cause we'll go through this together."
"What? What are you talking about? You can't just say all of this and not tell me." Ember said.
Her face grew hot as irritation grew inside her.
"What the hell man, just tell me before you go!"
"I'm sorry, I really am but I have to go now but I promise I'll explain everything."
"Wait-"
Click.
The phone went dead and Ember dropped it to her bed, in disbelief.
What the actual fuck.