A/N: I leave you to this next chapter...
Title: The Red Shoes
Chapter 4- The audition
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Francoise could feel her heart beating against her chest; she was surprised it didn't burst out. Her ballerina shoes which had been tied with golden colored thread were on her feet, ready to dance, to show her talent. What Françoise did not expect was that she wasn't the only ballerina who was going to dance there. Three other girls were chatting away, their frantic nerves visible.
Francoise hugged her arms to herself; she was still wet despite her change of
clothes. She looked around and spotted whom she had admired for all her life;
the worldwide famous ballerina, Beatrice. Beatrice was sitting in a bench
chatting amicably with Lermontov himself; she was smiling and everyone who
cared to read the newspaper knew why. She was getting married. It suddenly hit
Francoise that, that was why those others ballerina's were auditioning, to take
her place. Francoise felt dread in her stomach as she imagined her audition
going terribly wrong. What if she tripped? Or did a triple spin instead of a
double? Francoise took a deep breath and tried to concentrate on the decoration
around her so that her heart would not begin to race again.
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Joe looked at the screaming man before him, the person who kept everything organized he assumed. "Mr. Shimamura, you're late! You haven't brought any music with you! I will not stand for this! Give me one good reason that I shouldn't fire you!"
"Because I don't work here?" Joe said peevishly, with a nervous grin. The man either didn't hear Joe through all his rambling, or didn't want to hear Joe. He walked away still ranting about not getting any respect and how actors behaved during his youthful years.
Joe's first few minutes in the Grand Theaters were full of either being pointed at by the ballerina's that were auditioning and being giggled at, or being screamed at by the man who he did not know the name of--and didn't want to know. An elderly man approached him, this one with a kind face. "Excuse him, Mr. Shimamura; I am Mr. Gilmore, Lermontov right hand." Joe realized who he was talking to and shook hands with him vigorously. "Nice to meet you sir, I am Joe Shimamura." Joe suddenly felt like sinking into the ground, of course he knew his name; he had addressed him by it.
Gilmore ignored the look of embarrassment that crossed Joe's face and said; "Lermontov will be with you in a second to tell you what to do, here is the sheet of music that he wishes you to play." Joe took the black inked noted and whispered a thank you. He sat down and looked at the paper; it read 'Cadenza 1- Play for auditioning ballerinas'. Joe sighed and prepared his conducting staff, this would not be an easy job.
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Francoise was waiting in line, and so far two ballerinas had danced, both magnificent. "This is going to be humiliating..." Francoise whispered to herself. The girl before her heard her comment and said gently; "Don't worry I'll do worse then you, which should make you feel better." Francoise laughed softly as not to be heard. "My name is Natalie, and I'm here to make a fool of myself, although you'll see that in the next minute. What about you?"
"My name is Francoise, and I am the niece of Clarice Neston. I came here because Lermontov invited me to dance. And yes Natalie, you will get to see a humiliating dance--just that it will be coming from me." They both laughed and then the man who had yelled in Joe's face, called up Natalie. "Wish me good luck, Francoise?" Natalie asked earnestly. Francoise saw that she was too serious and nervous to dance to her full capacity and so decided to lighten up the mood before she left. "Good luck, you'll need it." Natalie smiled and pushed Francoise playfully as she left for the stage.
Francoise watched in awe as she saw Natalie dance, she was a great dancer. She danced to the cadenza that being played lightly and gracefully. At the end, Francoise applaud, earning a smile from Natalie. "You were Great Natalie, really!"
"Thanks Francoise, now it's your turn to be in the pit of doom." Francoise smiled and her dread returned. "Get ready Franny." Natalie said in a teasing manner. "I never liked that nickname, so please don't tease me I tend to turn quite upset if it's used." Natalie shrugged and nodded. The man whose face was now as red as a tomato bellowed; "Francoise Arnoul to the stage." Francoise turned to look at Natalie who winked. As she was pushed into the blinding lights she heard Natalie say;
"You'll do fine, Franny."
Francoise sighed and whispered to herself; "If I survive this, I'll kill her."