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Hannibal shimmied through the school's extra belongings before reaching his perch for the night to enjoy the performance. While the two drama students in charge of the lights were busy keeping the spotlight on his little bird, they would unknowingly be mere yards from a previous top ten most wanted spot holder. Among the desks and old technology that someone was too sentimental to throw away, he was perched in an old leather office chair that was probably just tossed in here as an extra. The chair no longer adjusted, but it was at a height Hannibal was pleased with. Even if the need to stretch became unbearable, his legs propped up comfortably in a half wall bookshelf pushed up against the solid rail overlooking the auditorium.

With only a few hours until the curtains were pulled, Coach Pellagrim was moving frantically between the stereo with the music, his piano, and the stage to give the finishing touches to the performance. Unlike other practices he'd witnessed, Hannibal was pleased to see that Pellagrim didn't pay any special attention to Bella that would warrant concern. He was being as professional as he could be given her threat to essentially ruin his reputation and life by telling others what he'd been proposing to her.

And in all her glory, his little bird moved about the stage in a golden Sleeping Beauty costume with her long brown hair smoothed back into a low ballet bun. With white tights and golden slippers as well, the light caught her every movement against the dark blue curtains behind her. Again, he watched her swing into the arms of the boy playing Prince Charming. His arm wound around her waist and anchored her against him as she kicked her legs out and up behind her. They both reached out towards the ground in front of them, his leg balancing her body and giving her stability to keep her legs nearly vertical in the air.

While his eyes remained on her, his mind put her in the backdrops of Venice or Paris, even wandering to Rome. In the streets of those fantastic cities, he imagined holding hands with Clarice and leisurely strolling around the blocks surrounding their residence. In her excitement, Bella would bound from one store front to the next, experiencing life outside of DC for the first time.

The music stopped, and Bella received a double high-five from her dance partner before his arms wrapped around her in a side hug. That attention was welcomed by her as she snuggled up into his side, tucking her head into the crook of his neck. He'd have to ask about this young boy the next time he had the chance to speak to her.

He had seen her emerge from the office earlier with his gifts and had chuckled to himself seeing he was caught using the school cameras to spy on her when she had smirked up at one herself. She enjoyed the gifts and safely tucked them into her locker under his watchful eyes. He may have been all the way across the city, but he would've left his rooftop position if the young Krendler or the killer made an appearance to corner her. With the threat on her and Clarice's doorstep, his impulse to protect was stronger than ever before, and he knew doubt would only lead to tragedy going forward.


Clarice rolled her eyes when her agent escort tried to bargain a seat next to her when the seats for this performance had been sold for nearly a month already. She rested a hand on his shoulder. "I assure you that I'll be fine to sit by myself. If there is a problem, you know where to find me." She didn't allow him to refuse again before she sat down in her reserved seat next to a couple of the other dance moms she had come to know over the years. The last thing they all needed was for the rumors to start flying around the school that she and Bella were in a witness protection type of program.

"Yes, and I've had this seat reserved for three months. I'm not giving it up." Another voice from behind her agent stated proudly.

Clarice's eyes widened recognizing the voice. When the agent stepped aside, the stranger's identity was confirmed. "Joe!"

"Hey, Miss Starling." Joe grinned before leaning down and kissing her cheek. He slipped by her before sitting down. "Long time, no see."

"You've got that right." Clarice chuckled before glancing back at her agent. "He's a good boy. He'll watch me just fine." She waited until the watchdog left before turning back to Joe. "What on Earth are you doing here? I thought you'd be celebrating the holidays up in New York with your folks."

Joe shrugged. "I bought the ticket from Bella back before school started. I told my parents not to bother coming up, because I had a show to go see." He glanced up at the stage. "I don't think she knows I'm here."

Clarice shook her head. "I don't think she does either, or she would've told me. I'm sure you could go back and see her. You always knew how to calm her nerves before a show. Besides, I think she might like seeing you. I don't know what will happen after the show with these agents snooping around us."

Joe pursed his lips together. "I don't know how happy she'll be."

"Sweetie," Clarice sighed, rubbing his shoulder, "I promise you that she will be happy. I know that she's missed you. She'd kill me for telling you, but she's missed you."

"I've missed her." Joe nodded before glancing up and down the isle. "I guess there's time to say a quick hello. Save my seat?"

Clarice gestured for him to slip by her again. "I'd rather sit by you than another parent." She noticed the nervous tick bubble to the surface as he rubbed the back of his neck, something he did every time Bella would come up with an idea that wasn't always what he had in mind. "Just relax. It's not like you're her long lost father or anything."

"Thank God for that. I don't think I could take her busting my balls like that." Joe smirked before standing and hurrying towards the side door that led backstage.

Clarice chuckled softly to herself, trying to hide her smirk with her hand discretely. "Not many people could."


Bella placed both her hands on her torso, breathing in and out just to feel the movement under the puffed embroidered fabric of her ballerina costume. The pre-performance jitters were starting to set in, and she welcomed it despite the nausea that had taken over her stomach. She needed the nerves to keep herself alert on stage. Her eyes wandered for a distraction from the desire to vomit though, and she found herself staring at the old stage curtains that were laying in a heap of material that was taken to be washed and then most likely put into storage.

The old curtains were orange with red fridge at the bottom. Whoever bought them would've been eaten if they had ever met Hannibal just for their taste in material. When they were taken down, she remembered seeing the cloud of dust that erupted up from them. It had been years since they had been touched by water, and the stains on the fabric showed it.

A large stain near the seam was from Coach Pellagrim spilling his coffee on it years ago when she was first taking ballet in elementary. There were two feet with faded spots where it would've touched the floor. Someone had thrown up backstage and didn't tell the janitor about it. By the time they discovered the mess, the stomach acids had already reacted with the orange. Most of the stains were from wet set pieces brushing up against it.

Bella didn't know the story behind most of those. The curtains had been hanging here for as long as she could remember, and they were old when she first saw them. But, there wasn't a mark from her. No evidence to show that she had touched those curtains, performed when they were pulled back, or even had been in the same building.

And, that would be her life when she left. Moving from place to place and never really leaving a mark.

"Bella?"

Bella froze in that moment. The curtains were no longer her concern, and a new wave of nerves hit her in her chest. She slowly turned to see black hair, blue eyes, and freshly grown facial hair. "Joe!" Her lungs finally filled back with air saying his name, and she quickly picked up the remains of her composure before hugging him. "Oh my God! What are you doing here?"

Joe met her eyes once she pulled back, and he smiled in relief that she hadn't let the situation be awkward like it did every time he imagined it in his head. "Well, I did buy a ticket. I've been waiting on pins and needles since then to get my money's worth."

Bella laughed and shook her head. "I completely forgot. You could've just asked for your money back when things ended. It's not like I was expecting you to come just for me." She bit her lip, hoping to shut herself up before she babbled any further about his showing up.

"Well, that's another reason why I came." Joe rubbed the back of his neck, and they both let out nervous laughs. "I know that you wanted me to have the entire college experience, and I get why you did it. I just. . .I can't seem to picture it without you."

Bella felt like a weight had just dropped into the pit of her stomach, and she prayed to God that this wasn't leading where she thought it was. "What?"

"I saw your application. I work in the admissions office to help pay for my own tuition. Bella, you're in. We can be in the same school next fall." Joe explained, his excitement showing in every way possible. "I know long distance is hard, but it's only for a semester until I come home for the summer. Then, we can drive up together when the school year starts. You, me, and New York. Just like we always talked about."

Bella grabbed his hand into hers to stop his plans. She played with his fingers, smiling sadly. "I can't do that."

Joe's face fell. "Oh, you're seeing someone else. I guess I'm not really surprised."

"No," Bella shook her head, "I'm not going to New York. A lot has happened, and everything is going to happen quickly. It's a lot to explain, and I really can't talk about it all. But, I'm graduating high school early. I'm not sure where I'll end up, but my plans have changed."

"The girl who always has a plan finally has no plan." Joe breathed, a smile gracing his features. The disappointment was there, but there was happiness swimming in his eyes as well. "Do you think I could steal you away after the show so we can talk about what you can actually talk about?"

Bella chuckled. "We'll have to bypass the agents. My mom and I are under supervision. She might want me to go home after the show anyway considering what all has been going on." She squeezed his hand a little harder. "There's a lot we have to catch up on."

"Apparently." Joe whispered. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "I'll go talk to your mom. If anything, I can come by your place to catch up. There is an afterparty for your performance though I hear."

"I've heard. I'll only go if you do." Bella smirked. She looked up when the lights started going down and pushed on his chest gently. "Go sit back down. You better cheer for me. I wanna hear you."

Joe laughed. "Only for you, Starling."

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