Disclaimer: I found it pointless to put a disclaimer here. We all know Himaruya made Hetalia. (This is redundant).
A/N: I thought this chapter failed butts. But then again, I am my own worst critic so I'd like the reader's opinion. Thank you for all reviews, faves, and alerts. It means so much!
Everyone at Taiyo was anxious when Monday arrived. Monday was the day that the results of the Giselle auditions would be announced. After the announcement, cast members were to rehearse for the next few months until the debut of the ballet in December.
As Mei walked along side Xiang and Yong Soo in the corridors of the building, she was reminded of her entrance audition. People grinning and some crying and some with blasé expressions; it was all so familiar. The most vivid scene was Mei walking to that paper hanging on the wall. Last time, she went through it alone, but now she was in the company of her two best friends.
"Da-ze! I got the part!" Yong Soo cheered upon looking at the paper. The other two shot the Korean a congratulatory smile. After a while, Mei's smiled dissolved and she looked at the ground.
"Do I really wanna see the results?" A sad smile appeared on her face and she squeezed her boyfriend's hand. Xiang squeezed right back with a grin. "I think you really do."
Mei turned to Xiang, confused but looked up at the paper and her mouth gaped open. Yong Soo grinned and gave the Taiwanese girl a pat on the back. "Congrats, Meimei."
"Wow…" Mei gasped. "I…I made it. I got the role."
"You deserve it, dear."
"It's so hard to imagine. And wow," Mei began, looking closer at the list. "Natalia is my understudy. I can't believe I beat her."
"Well it's obvious who the best dancer in the company is~" Yong Soo commented.
"Best dancer? More like easiest!" a female voice said from behind them. The trio turned around to see a girl in the company named Joy and a small group of other girls. Joy was a young woman who'd been in the company for years. She was a few years older than Mei and had lightly tanned skin, hazel eyes, and light brown hair she wore in a chignon. Mei didn't talk to the girl much because Joy was catty and quite unpleasant to everyone. So why would that girl even mention Mei?
"What does that mean, Joe?" Yong Soo called out to the antagonist, causing Joy to wrinkle her nose.
She scoffed. "I'm sure you and Yoyo Ma over there know exactly what talking about. You are really close to her. Am I right?"
"You're right," Mei shot back. "But that doesn't mean anything! And anyway, who my friends are is none of your business so why don't you and your enchanted trees go and throw up or something."
The mean girl seemed appalled and opened her mouth to speak but Mei cut her off. "Actually…don't throw up. Go eat a sandwich, grow some boobs, and then talk to me, Joy."
Xiang, Yong Soo, and a few passer byers snickered. Joy, unable to make a comeback, stomped away angrily with her crew. Mei folded her arms with a triumphant smirk.
"WOW! You are so cool!" Yong Soo cried out happily.
"Yeah," Xiang chuckled. "You're badass. But what was that girl even talking about?"
Mei shrugged. "No clue. But, hey. Let's not let her get us down. How about we go out and celebrate!"
The two boys grinned at their friend's happiness. They linked arms with the girl and trotted out of the building to the nearest restaurant with big grins.
The trio found their way to the deli that was right by the company. As Mei sat down with the two guys, she was once again reminded of the beginning. When she first started out at the company, she and Xiang went to this deli. Actually, it was the day of the auditions and when she first met Xiang. Looking back, she never would have guessed that she would love that boy this much.
After the group made their orders, the three of them engaged in private conversations that involved Mei yelling at Yong Soo and the lovely couple complimenting each other immensely. They didn't notice when a female approached the table.
"Hey," the girl said. Everyone looked up and there stood Lauren, another girl from the company. "Congrats on the part, Mei."
Mei beamed. "Ah, thanks. I tried."
"For a first year, you were pretty good."
"Yeah, again thanks," Mei looked away, slightly embarrassed. "Didn't you audition for the lead?"
"Yeah…oh, well…" Lauren sighed and ran a hand through her curly blonde locks. "May the best woman win, right?" Mei nodded.
"Maybe next time I'll get the lead," the girl smiled. "Anyway, I wanted to ask you some questions."
"Sure."
"What did you do? To, y'know, get the part?"
"Practice hard as hell," Mei laughed and the lean blonde laughed as well. "That's not what I meant. I mean, with Kiku."
"Eh?"
"You did sleep with him right?" Mei looked beyond confused. Where on earth would Lauren hear that type of stuff? True, she was forced into a situation with Kiku but nothing happened and if something went down, who would even know about it?
"N-No!" Mei reassured the other dancer, who shot the Taiwanese teen a strange look.
"Okay, then," Lauren said. "There is a rumor going around…I guess I shouldn't believe those things. Well, bye you guys."
Mei and the other's bid the dancer farewell and Mei turned back to the table only to lay eyes on Xiang's hurt face. God, just when things were getting better.
"Mei. Is it true?"
"No!" she cried back. "It's not. I don't even know where this mess came from!"
"Yeah," Yong Soo added. "They're just starting stuff because Mei got the part."
Xiang looked down and tried to register everything he had just witnessed. Two girls had come up to him and his friends saying something that Emil said about Mei. Maybe it was just some sick coincidence. Or maybe wasn't who Xiang thought she was.
"I don't know what to believe anymore…"
"Believe me, Xiang!"
He looked up at Mei with pained eyes. "You hurt me before. Why should I believe you?"
"I love you," Mei sobbed. "Why would you believe some random girls than your own girlfriend?"
She had a point. Joy and Lauren were just some chicks who had little credibility and Yong Soo was right, they could have been jealous. But why would Emil accuse Mei of sleeping with Kiku? Xiang believed his ex-best friend way more than the other two dancers. And Mei had let him down once before. Xiang's heart wasn't in the condition to endure this much pain this soon.
"I have to go," Xiang said darkly. He got up and left the deli without hesitation, leaving Mei and Yong Soo shocked.
"Mei…" Yong Soo exhaled. Yong looked over at the girl who was steady wiping tears from her eyes.
"I don't know who started this mess. I don't know why. But I plan on getting Xiang back. I swear!"
As Arthur sat in the posh living room of a certain Frenchman's home, he quietly sipped a cup of tea until said Frenchman returned from the kitchen. With a sigh, the Brit sat the cup on the table in front of him and looked around in the room. It brought so many memories of a failed relationship but strong friendship. As much as Arthur didn't want to break it off, he felt he had to.
Suddenly, Francis entered the room with a platter of pastries and took a seat in the chair across from Arthur.
"I have returned. Sorry for keeping you waiting!" Francis apologized.
"It's fine," Arthur mumbled, reaching for Francis' world famous sweets.
"Is something the matter, ma chère? You know you can tell me anything."
"It's just…" the spiky haired blonde sighed. "I think we should see other people."
Francis was not bothered at all by Arthur's declaration. "Why do you think this?"
"Why?" Arthur scoffed joylessly. "You're dating the whole damn town!"
An amused chuckle escaped the Frenchman's throat. "People are like clothes, Angleterre."
Arthur wrinkled his nose in annoyance at the nickname Francis had given him but he was more confused at the simile the Frenchman had spoken. The Brit had no choice but to allow Francis to finish his thought.
"Like clothes, people are different and beautiful in their own way." He smirked and flipped his wavy blond hair behind his shoulders. "But clothes cannot fit everyone, no? So the shopper must keep searching until they find the perfect ensemble."
Arthur sighed, frustrated. "May I ask what your point may be?"
"I was getting there, ma chère~" Francis chuckled. "I can never find the perfect fit in a partner, so I try on everyone. Honhonhon~"
"You disgust me, you frog."
Francis continued to laugh but stopped at took a thoughtful look at Arthur. "Tell me something: have you completed that perfect ensemble?"
"Yes…I have."
Francis grinned. "Be with them, then."
Could Yao be that "missing article of clothing" Francis was blabbing on about? The man was crazy but the story seemed wise. Francis was obviously not a perfect fit for the Brit but Yao definitely was. As soon as Arthur left this place, he was going over to Yao's home and hopefully start something with the man. He needed the Chinese man like he needed air. And Arthur was not going to keep his feelings under wraps.