Later that night a sleep deprived Claire stood in front of the mirror in her dressing room trying to calm her nerves. She knew that Ben was currently sitting with their mother, most likely telling her about how they won't be moving back to Seattle and breaking her heart. She also knew that Emily along with the whole group of men and women that were with her yesterday at the funeral would also be here, a gift from her late father. She could only hope though they didn't cross paths, she was sure a huge fight would break out. Her mother always blamed Emily for the real reason behind everything that went down. Claire could never believe that though because she only remembered Emily as a kind and gentle person, the opposite of her mother. Claire shook her head and tried not to focus on anything but her breathing. She knew her time alone was running out and soon she'd have to go and preform her heart out to prove to her mother that she's worth something. One, inhale, two, exhale, three- a knock on the door interrupted her making anger starch it's way to the surface. She marched over to the door and flung it open, she was about to say some choice words when she was taken back by what she saw.
Emily, Sam and Quil all standing with bouquets of daisies. Like the ones her father use to send her. Emily grinned and brushed by her into the room, the men following suit.
"We just wanted to drop these off, your father would have lost his mind if you didn't get your flowers tonight," Emily took the others from the men before turning to smile at Claire.
"You're going to do great," Sam nodded his head as he adjusted his tie. Claire could tell that he hated wearing the thing. It almost made her laugh, she had a distant memory of him only in cut off jean shorts all the time. Like it was normal.
"You look beautiful," Quil finally said something to remind everyone of his presence. Claire chuckled as she looked down at her long white night gone. Her face had the works on it to make her seem doll like, child like, innocent like. Foundation, blush, highlighter, gloss, etc. Her hair was pulled halfway up with curls going through it all. The hair dresser also added in glitter strands.
"I look like a doll but thank you. I really appreciate this," Claire gave a smile before following them out of the room and into the hallway.
"We'll see you after the show?" Emily asked while laying a hand on her nieces shoulder. Claire flinched the slightest, still not use to a kind touch.
"Would you mind if I came in the morning? I didn't really sleep well," Claire snuck a peek at Quil who had an amused look playing on his face. When Claire got home from cliff diving with Quil she threw herself into practice again and before she knew it it was actually time to practice with the rest of the show one last time.
"Not at all sweetheart. Just text me to let me know you made it home safe," Emily kissed her cheek before letting the girl go. Sam reached to ruffle Claire's hair but got smacked by Quil.
"Dude," Quil looked at her uncle like he was stupid for even thinking about touching her done hair. Claire stifled a laugh as she slowly backed away and faded into the crowd of dancers anxiously awaiting to go on. Claire found her place on stage and started on her breathes again while blocking out all the noise, waiting for the music to que.
One, inhale, two, exhale, three, inhale, four, exhale.
"Mom, this isn't up for discussion. We are not moving back to Seattle. My art is able to breathe out here," Ben rolled his eyes as he checked his watch. Ten minutes until curtain and it could not come fast enough.
"What about Claire? Dance is out in the city. Not a small dumpy town. She needs to be where she can shine," Mary asked with venom lacing her words. She was furious that she just found out about them getting rid of their apartment and permently taking residence in that town. With him.
"She won't tell you this mom but Claire needs a break. She's killing herself trying to be good enough for you and you're too blind to see it. She is tired and starving herself and her feet look like they've been run over by a car! She needs a break!" Ben was trying once again to tell his mother how much his twin needed time to heal but she was not having it. Mary wanted Claire to stick beside her even if it meant killing her slowly.
"What she needs to work harder and dance better. This is just one step. After this weekend then what? She goes back to her lessons like a child would? No. She needs me to keep pushing her," Mary crossed her arms ending the discussion. Ben sighed and run his fingers through his hair, feeling the metal of his rings touch his scalp. He could not wait for Claire and him to get home tonight so they could just get trashed and relax. He could not wait until Sunday night when it was the last performance and he wouldn't have to see his mother until Christmas in two weeks. Suddenly the lights went off and the orchestra started playing and the curtains went up. The show had started. Everyone prepared to be stunned.
Two hours later everyone was standing and applauding. Tears filled the groups eyes, Quils heart was filled with such pride seeing his imprint move so gracefully. Ben has been crying through most of it. Mary was only clapping to show the others around her that she also 'enjoyed' it. Unfortunately though Mary had a list of things that Claire could improve on starting tonight when she got home so that tomorrow's performance was better. Once all the dancers retreated back to their dressing rooms Claire quickly fell to the floor once the door was shut. She undid her pointe shoes and unwrap her feet to see some blisters had busted open and were bleeding. Luckily they hadn't touched her shoes. She quickly grabbed her first aid kit from her duffle bag and started cleaning the wounds up. She point ointment on top of them before placing bandaids on them and slipping into slippers to give her feet a break. She had two more shows this weekend and she had to make it through. She started undressing when a knock sounded on the door. Claire thought it might be Quil again but she was out of luck. Mary and an anxious looking Ben stood in front of her.
"Claire, dear, that was quite a performance," Mary walked in while Ben gave his sister an extra hard hug.
"I'm sorry, I tried to tell her you were busy," Ben whispered in her ear, pity flowing through his voice. She knew what to expect though. Her mother did this after every show she's ever been apart of.
"I thought it turned out great mom," Claire went on to finish changing. Hanging her costume up with the others for tomorrow night before digging through her duffel bag for comfy clothes.
"Great is not perfect. It's not extraordinary. I taught you better then that Claire," Mary tsked her daughter as she turned to the mirror to fix her eye makeup. She froze when she saw the flowers lined up.
"I thought you did fantastic," Ben told Claire with a smile upon his face. He always thought his sister did her best. Even when she was 13 and fell in the middle of her leaps because she was so dizzy, he still thought she did her best. The judges thought so too because she placed 3rd.
"Who gave you these?" Mary turned around stopping Claire from responding to Ben. She glared at her mother, she knew this was how she was going to react if she saw them. She believe flowers were for winners, which in her eyes she was not.
"Aunt Emily and Uncle Sam," Claire answered before pulling on a hoodie and sweatpants. She was ready to go collapse in bed for night. Stay in that bed until it was time for rehearsal again tomorrow night. But a part of her brain wanted to cliff dive when the sun was rising again so Quil would join her. A part of her knew for a fact he would be there just in case, whether she showed or not. A part of her was wondering why her brain was thinking of him, trying to break the wall she had built when she was a child.
"And was that boy with you?" Mary grinded her teeth while searching for cards in the flowers. She found none though.
"What boy? They seem to have a whole flock with them," Ben tried to be the buffer. She could see anger flashing in her sisters eyes. He knew though if she lashed out against their mother then their mother would lash out harder. They had the same temper and their mother had been around longer to perfect her skills.
"They always had a group of boys with them! It seems that hasn't changed! I wonder if it's the same crowd though or if they switch them out every few years. But, Claire, you know who I'm talking about. That curly hair boy, that...that...monster," Mary shuddered remembering how Quil would watch Claire. How he acted all high and mighty around her when it came to Claire, when it came to the well being of her. Emily and Sam told Mary about the legends being real, Maxwell understood and accepted what would ultimately happen mostly because he understood that Quil would never cause Claire harm. Mary on the other hand would not stand for it. She was rising a star, not a love sick puppy.
"You mean Quil? Jesus, mother. Yes, he was with them. They stayed a total of five minutes before I went out on stage. I'm an adult mother! I can see and talk to who I want to now!" Claire waved her hands in the air trying to prove how serious she was. She was tired of her mother butting into her life. Claire could never have friends let alone a boyfriend because of her mother.
"Yes, that's the monster. I remember his name being silly but you were always fond of it. You might be an adult but I still pay for your lessons, your costumes, your shoes!" Mary stomped her foot like a child. Ben slid in between the two women scared of what was to come next.
"Then don't worry about it anymore mother. After this weekend, I quit!" Claire yelled before grabbing her duffel bag and the flowers she could carry. She waited for Ben to grab the last bouquet and her purse before following. Their mother stood in silence for once in her life.