Rifiuto: Non Miriena

A/N: Written: 2010. Found: 2018.- Licia

Who do you think Manek is?

Do you think it was a dream, or a memory?

And do you think Elle is still Elphaba or someone else entirely? Why or why not?

She returned to Alphabet City not long after calling her father. He said that he would send the papers she needed tomorrow, which would work well, since Rain had said something about taking her to meet Partra, the choreographer, after breakfast the next day. Once behind the closed door of her bedroom, she collapsed on the bed, closing her eyes and letting herself absorb the last couple of days. Eventually, she drifted off to sleep...

He kissed her, holding her to him as she tangled her fingers in his hair. "Oh, God, I love you."

"Elphaba."

She bolted upright, struggling to catch her breath. A quick glance out the window told her that she'd slept most of the day, for it was dark out now. The few purchases she'd made sat on the floor beside the bed, and after a moment, she ran a hand through her hair before getting up and leaving the room. She padded softly down the small hallway into the tiny living area for the kitchen- really one room, separated by a small kitchen table and a couple chairs- to find Rain in the process of fixing dinner.

"I was wondering when you'd get up."

"What happened?" She asked, rubbing her forehead.

"You conked out is what happened. Came back, said you'd bought a few things that you needed, headed back to your room and that was the last I saw of you. I checked on you just to make sure you were still alive, and you were sound asleep." Rain replied, filling two plates with pasta. She held one out, and after a moment, she accepted it, moving to take a seat at the table.

"I'll do the dishes." The other girl nodded as she joined her, and the two ate in silence for several minutes. "How tough is Partra?" Rain lifted her head, thinking for a moment as she swallowed.

"As long as you show her what you can do and you're honest in what you do, she'll like you. Be honest about your abilities and there'll be no issue. She doesn't like liars, and won't tolerate them among her dancers."

She swallowed thickly. "Liars?"

"She's had to remove a few dancers because they said they could do certain dance moves and then couldn't. Yes, she teaches classes, but these were very basic moves that every dancer should know. She's the chief choreographer for the Emerald End. We get paid through her; she's been working the circuit for years, and she's trusted. It's not much, because it's by show and there's a lot of us, but it's enough that many of us don't have to look for other jobs to supplement, unless we want to."

"Oh."

"One of our neighbors is going to stop by tomorrow. He wants to meet you."

"He?"

Rain nodded. "His name's Manek, and he's an absolutely wonderful dancer. Really talented."

"Where's he from?"

"He's also from the Vinkus. We like to joke that he was once a prince, which is preposterous because he came from one of the villages like I did, but still. It's a running joke among those of us here. You'll like him. Once you get to know him, he's really sweet. He acts like a jerk half the time, but in reality he's a real sweetheart."

The next morning after breakfast, she put the dress she'd worn the day before on, and grabbed her bag, following Rain out of the apartment. The two girls headed out of Alphabet City and down the street to what appeared to be an abandoned building. She stopped, staring up at it as Rain turned back to her. "What?"

She shook her head. "What... what is this place?"

A smiled tugged at Rain's lips. "Come on. You'll see once we get inside."

Clutching her bag, she followed the other girl into the building; they trudged up four flights of stairs and then moved down a hallway before coming to a door at the end of a hall. Rain knocked sharply on the door, and after a moment, a voice bid her entrance. She pushed it open, slipping inside and pulling her in after before shutting the door behind them.

"Partra? This is Elle Thorne."

She found herself staring into an older woman's dark eyes as she got up from her position on the floor. Dressed in a black leotard and a skirt, she had her blonde hair pulled back in a bun and looked to be in her mid-thirties to early forties. The woman made her way towards them, holding out a hand, which she took. "So you're the girl from Nest Hardings that Rain told me about. I hear you can dance."

She nodded, suddenly nervous. "Yes, Ma'am."

"Partra is fine."

"Yes... Partra."

"Do you sing? Act?" Another nod. Partra nodded, thinking. "Where is your dance bag?"

She paled. "I... I don't have it. I must have left it back in Nest Hardings. I can have my dad send it-"

The older woman waved it away. "Later. Let's see how you can dance first off." And without another word, she made her way to a small stereo. She glanced at Rain, who held out a hand for her book bag. After a moment, she removed it, laying the strap in Rain's hand; the girl slung it over her shoulder and stepped back as she removed her boots and moved to the middle of the floor. Without a word, Partra started the music. A moment passed; she didn't move, but then she found the move she wanted and let the music carry her away. As Rain had told her the night before, she did only what she could do; her dancing was honest, to the point, if a little bold at times. Partra watched in silence, critiquing her silently, noting what she could do and what she didn't do-

The music stopped, and she turned to see Partra had turned it off. "I'm sorry, was I taking too long? I didn't mean-"

The older woman held up a hand. "You did fine. Better than fine, actually. You did very well in fact. You clearly have talent and training. You know what you can do and what you can't, and you're honest in your dancing. There are a few things that you need to work on, but I'm sure with time they'll come."

She glanced at Rain, who shook her head. "What... what are you saying, if you don't mind me asking?"

Partra glanced back at Rain, a tiny smile on her features before turning back to her. "I'm saying, to ask your father to send you your dance bag, and be ready in your warm-ups Tuesday night. We start at six."

She furrowed a brow. "Start what at six?"

Partra raised an eyebrow. "Class. And then we go straight in to choreography. You'll need to catch up but it shouldn't be too bad, since what we're starting is new. I'm sure Rain and the others will be willing to catch you up."

"Absolutely." Rain replied, handing her back her bag.

"Are... are you saying..."

Partra chuckled. "I'm saying that you have a job, Ms. Thorne. Welcome to the Emerald City Dance Company."

"Really?" The older woman nodded, and after a moment, she rushed to the woman, throwing her arms around her in a hug as Partra laughed.

"Dad said he'd send my dance things expedite tomorrow morning. I can't believe it. I actually have a job as a dancer!"

Rain laughed as they headed up the stairs to their apartment. They'd stopped at a payphone so she could call her father after the audition, and she'd told him the good news and asked him to send the bag and her dance things as well; the papers had arrived that morning. "The singing and acting will come. First you start as a dancer and then once you've been in the company a while, then you start working on acting and singing. Partra builds up one skill at a time."

"I don't care if it takes a thousand years before I starting singing and acting. I'm just happy I have a job." She replied as they entered the apartment and shut the door. Rain made her way to the kitchen to fix coffee, and she was in the process of removing her messenger bag when a knock sounded on the door. After a moment, she went to the door, pulling it open. "Yes?"

A quick smile met her, followed by a hand. "You must be Elle. I'm Manek."