"I know you have it in you. I've seen it,"
I held her up against my chest, her breathing matching my own. Her arms wound around my back, her hands slipping into my hair.
"That's it," I whispered, leaning my head into the soft curve of her neck.
She moaned softly as my lips pressed into her warm skin, her hands gripping into the back of my shirt.
I moved my hands slowly down her sides, feeling her fraility in every curve. Her hips stuck out of her body like knives. My hands found her bottom, and I squeezed it lightly, pulling her hips into mine.
"Let it go," I cooed.
She gasped and tried to push away from me, but I threw my arms around her back, and, forcing her even closer, I crushed my lips against hers.
She struggled for only a moment before giving in to my efforts. Her hands slipped back around me, feeling me, holding me.
Our lips explored each other, hot and wet and full of passion. Her lips parted, inviting me in. I slid my tongue her mouth, tasting, enjoying her sweetness. Both of us panting, sweating, lost in our fiery surge of desire. Her fingers flexed around wads of my hair as my hands rubbed up and down her spine.
"Holy shit!" Someone exclaimed.
Nina shoved violently away from me and whirled around, panic written all over her face.
"Lily," I wiped my mouth, feeling the stickiness of Nina's lipstick, my heart racing.
Lily stood in the hallway of the rehearsal room, her eyes narrow, a smirk twitching at the corners of her mouth.
"I didn't see anything," she chuckled, turning around.
I looked at Nina. She was paler than ever before.
"I'm...I'm finished. I'm never going to be able to dance ever again..." She muttered helplessly, her eyes wide as coffee mugs.
"Nina," I stepped towards her. "Don't-"
"Oh, and you guys might want to wrap it up!" Lily called back. "It's almost time for rehearsal. But I guess you two won't need to warm up, will you?"
Her laughter echoed back to us, filling the room. A warm, tingling feeling came over me when I heard Lily's laugh. I shuddered involentarily and shook my head.
"Nina," I began again.
"I'm sorry, Thomas. I've ruined everything. I'm just a whore, just like Beth said..."
"Hey!" I clapped to get her attention, stepping in front of her. "Look at me!"
She raised her swollen, red-rimmed eyes to my clear blue ones.
"Do not say that," I cupped her face in my hands gently. "Forget Beth. You are not a whore. You are a beautiful, amazing, perfect swan. You are my little princess."
She turned her head away, so I dropped my hands.
"Nothing is going to change because of Lily," I said firmly. "I will make sure nothing gets out. Okay?"
Nina wouldn't look at me. She nodded quietly before going over to the bar, grabbing her bag, and walking away down the hallway.
I sighed and went and stood before the mirror. Violent streaks of red were smudged all over my face. I wiped it off of my cheek with my thumb, then stared at my thumb. Though I knew it was only lipstick, I couldn't help but picture it as blood.
...
Sometimes things happen that you cannot control. The only way to get past it is to let it all go.
...
Nina seemed much colder to me than ever before. No longer was she the eagar, willing student. She had become like Beth. Cold, resolute, unfeeling. I knew she just wanted to seem like she was not interested in me so no one would suspect anything, but I still found myself deeply troubled.
Just watching her dance with David, seeing her studied indifference, the way she just flowed into every step with grace and ease... she was beautiful.
My stomach would clinch into knots whenever she looked at me, but she never once misstepped or asked how she was doing. She just... danced.
It was almost like she was teasing me. Seducing me. And I, instead of damanding her to do better, sat quietly, and let her.
...
Lily noticed Nina's change, and therefore she tried to take advantage of the situation by involving herself more and more in the Swan Queen's dance routine.
While Nina danced with David to the endless song of the piano, Lily, who had made a habit of sitting next to me whenever I sat down, would jump up and dance the same routine.
Nina ignored her completely, even as Lily bounced and laughed and brought the Black Swan the passion and excitement had always been searching for in Nina. Lily danced so effortlessly, so freely, while Nina remained... frigid. Robotic. Lifeless.
I began to doubt my choice in the Swan Queen.
...
As the days went by, Nina's eyes grew redder and redder, and the dark circles under her eyes took more and more makeup to cover up. Her dancing began to dwindle, her legs moved and jerked like wet noodles. Uncoordinated and reckless. So unlike her.
Lily's smirk gradually grew into a smile. Her eyes slowly narrowed into slits. She watched Nina's change and relished every second of it.
...
I took Lily aside one afternoon while Nina follwed my orders and warmed up in the rehearsal room.
"What's up?" Lily asked, her hands on her hips.
"You have told others about what you saw?" I asked.
"What are you talking about?" She scoffed. "I haven't seen a thing."
"Damn it, be serious for once," I hissed, slapping my palm into the wall beside her.
The smile dropped from her lips, turning them into a scowl. She crossed her arms.
"Are you threatening Nina? Telling her you will tell others she kissed me?" I demanded.
"No," she answered shortly. "I'm not doing anything, okay?" She looked over her shoulder, back towards the rehearsal room, as music began to play.
She turned to me. "I should get back now, don't you think?" Lily tossed her long brown hair in my face, and walked away.
I shook my head, sighing. Suddenly an idea came over me.
"Lily!" I called.
She poked her head back down the hallway.
"You tell anyone about this and you are out of Swan Lake, do you understand?"
She hesitated for only an instant.
"Whaaaatever." She vanished around the corner.
I stood alone in the hallway for awhile, listening to the heart-beat of ballet shoes on the wood floor, feeling the piano notes rise and fall, like waves in the ocean.
...
I stood there until I could bear it no longer, then I went and watched my Nina dance. Watched my little princess.