One evening the dancers were packing their things to leave, and I asked Nina to stay behind.
The look she gave me was that of a rabbit caught in a snare.
Terrified.
Yet, she stayed. And once everyone else had gone, I went up to her and took her by the shoulders.
"Look at me, Nina," I ordered when she averted my gaze. Slowly, she raised her eyes to mine. I slid my hands down her shoulders and held her gently by the arms. "Why do you fear me?" I asked softly, pain lacing my voice.
"I am not afraid of you," she whispered.
I could not understand her.
"I'm sorry, what?" I strained my ears, leaning a bit closer to her.
"I said I'm not afraid of you!" She yelled suddenly, slapping my hands away and backing up quickly. The anger burning in her eyes shattered into panic as she backed up into the mirror. She grasped onto the bar, pressing her back into her cold reflection. Though she stood stiff as a statue, I could see her knees shaking.
"Nina," I held out my hand, stepping towards her.
"Stay! Back!" She raised her hands into fists, and they trembled by her face.
I felt my body slump as disbelief flooded into my mind.
"What is wrong, Nina?" I asked. I licked my lips, glancing around the studio. "Tell me, if it is not fear in your eyes, what is it? Because I do not recognize such an expression. Especially not on your face."
"Shut your fucking mouth!" She screamed, banging her fists into her knees.
She only stopped me for a second.
"Such anger, Nina, such hatred. Perhaps you are turning into the Black Swan a little too much?" I took a step forward, spreading out my arms. "But who is she jealous of? Who is she fooling?"
Her eyes darted back and forth, red, blood-shot, and full of tears. Her mouth hung open in her speechlessness.
I dropped my arms to my sides.
"Only herself," I decided.
She looked away.
"I do not understand why you are hurting yourself this way, Nina, but if you tell me, maybe we can work it out together, hm? Help you get back on track?" I offered lightly.
"I don't need anyone's help," she hissed darkly.
"Let me take you back to my place," I tried again. "We can have a drink or two, maybe some dinner. It may help you rela-"
"I'm not your bitch, so quit trying to fuck me!" She shouted venomously.
Suddenly was inches away from me, and I found myself gazing into those deeply lost eyes. My hands twitched at my sides, wanting to hold her, yet unable to move. Her face burned red, her eyes oozing with sorrow, and without warning she hit me across the cheek.
My head snapped to the side, burning and pulsing instantly where she'd struck me.
I blinked a couple times, disoriented, seeing my reflection standing so foolishly frozen. I snapped out of it and looked around. Nina was gone.
...
She did not come to rehearsal the next day, or even the day after.
Lily showed up earlier every day, praticing and dancing the Swan Queen's routine until she had all but perfected it.
I had to tell myself to stop being so judgemental. To stop thinking of Nina as a lover. She was just another student. And I was just her teacher. Same with Lily. Same with Beth.
As opening night drew closer, I had no choice but to announce Lily as Nina's alternate.
...
I became less attracted to the rehearsal room as Nina continued to be absent. I let David and Lily have at it alone, knowing that by now they must have had the routine memorized.
I stayed in my office most of the days. Though my office was rather boring and cold, it also brought back warm memories... Memories of when a young girl came and asked, ever so politely, to be the Swan Queen.
I sat in my office chair and stared at my phone. My phone hardly ever rang. And I knew with almost 100% certainty that Nina did not have my office number, yet... I could not keep myself from waiting. Hoping.
...
One afternoon a knock on my office door startled me into awareness. As I raised my head from my desk, I realized I had been alseep. Vaguely, as I stood up to answer the door, I wondered how long I had been alseep.
"Yes?" I said as I opened the door.
"Sorry to bother you, Mr Leroy."
I stared at the face in front of me for a few dead-silent seconds, seeing Nina, yet hearing a different voice.
"Hello?" She waved her hand in my face.
I blinked and frowned as the scales dropped from my eyes. "Lily." I said without much enthusiasm. "What do you what?"
"Boy, you're cheerful," she snorted.
I narrowed my eyes at her.
"Ooookay, well, I was just stopping by to see if you needed anything..." As she ran her fingertips down her sides, I became aware of how she was dressed.
She stood before me in a black, lacy, sleeveless dress barely long enough to cover her ass, and see-thru enough for me to notice her bright red bra and panties. I glanced down and saw her shiny leather boots, black as midnight and as high as her knees.
Her face was smooth and flawlessly covered in makeup, her red lips thick and desirable. Her light, whispy hair cascaded freely over her thin shoulders.
The breath caught in my throat as she batted her long, black eyelashed as me.
"No." I said at last. "thankyou," I started to shut the door.
"Oh, come on, Mr Leroy!" She whined, stopping the door with her boot. "You've been shut up in your office for days." She pushed the door back open and stood in the doorway, leaning sensually up against the frame. "Aren't you lonely?" She smiled sinfully, licking her lips with the very tip of her wet, pink tongue.
I swallowed dryly and turned away.
"I need a drink," I muttered.
"That's cool," Lily played along. "How about we go get some? My treat?"
I looked over my shoulder at her, and instantly went stiff. She had her hand down the front of her dress, feeling her breasts.
I looked into her eyes, but she had hers closed, moaning and twisting her body tauntingly as she pleasured herself.
I turned my head and stared at the clock. It was late. Rehearsals were over for the day. Everyone should be heading home by now... I stared motionlessly at the clock, watching the seconds tick away.
"One drink wouldn't hurt," I decided at last.
"Yes!" Lily grinned. She reached out and grabbed my hand and pulled me out the door.