Days went by. I tried to distance myself from both Lily and Nina, though without success. They, along with David and all the other dancers, needed me. They needed my guidance. I could not let them down.
...
One afternoon, Nina was dancing her Black Swan routine. All the other swans were flowing in and out around her, rippling in time with her steps. All of them were in costume. The piano man played his part perfectly, encouraging everyone to do their best.
I sat in my chair by the bar, watching intently, my eyes wide and glowing with the sheer magnificence of it all.
Nina.
Her beauty outshined all the others. Though her steps were a bit too controlled and her arms flew out a bit stiff, I could still see in her the Black Swan yearning to be free.
Quite out of nowhere, Lily came in the room, dressed as the Black Swan as well. Without a word, she slipped into the dance routine with ease and began dancing as if she had been there the whole time. She glided effortlessly across the room, her long, flowing hair feathering out around her as she twirled.
Nina ignored her, continuing in her dance.
I found myself rather lost in my own world as I observed the two of them together. Never before had I thought of Nina's dancing as "poor," though, compared to Lily...
I stood up.
"Lily!" I interupted.
She turned towards me. "Huh?" She stopped short, causing Nina to run into her.
"Hey! Watch it, you bitch!" Lily snapped, shoving Nina off of her.
"S-sorry," Nina ducked her head and stepped away. The piano stopped playing, and the other swans stopped dancing. Everyone's eyes darted from me to Lily to Nina.
"Lily," I repeated, something stabbing in my stomach as I took a step towards her. "This is Nina's routine. I understand that you are her alternate, but you cannot dance with her like this. It is improper. You are a back-up for her. Not a replacement."
"It should be the other way around!" David put in. "Lily is just so much better than-"
"David!" I yelled. "Shut the fuck up!"
He didn't argue.
"Lily," I began again, my face feeling like it was on fire.
"Don't talk to David like that!" Lily retorted.
"Excuse me?" My eyes narrowed.
"David's a nice guy, unlike you, you prick!" Lily snarled, stepping up to me. "He's right, too. I am better than your whore over there. You're such an ass, giving Nina the Swan Queen title just because she won't sleep with you! You desperate son of a-"
Nina punched her in the jaw.
Lily's arms sprawled out in front of her, and she crashed heavily onto her side, her head knocking into the wooden floor.
My eyes locked onto Nina's face.
At last the Black Swan had found her evil, her jealously, her rage.
She lowered her shaking fist, clinching and unclinching her fingers at her side.
"All right, Nina!" A girl laughed, clapping her hands. No one else clapped, so the girl stopped and hid behind everyone else, blushing.
Lily raised her head, spitting blood at Nina's feet. "You bitch!" She hissed. "I'll kill you!" She pushed herself off the floor and stood, swaying on her feet. She raised her fists and stumbled at Nina, who backed away.
"Hey, hey," I stepped between them. "Enough." I stared at each of them in turn. "Lily, go change out of that costume."
Lily frowned, her eyes red and angry. She grumbled something about betrayal and began limping away.
"Oh, Lily, wait." I added.
She turned around. If she were a dog her ears would have been up and her tail would have been wagging.
"Don't forget this," I bent over and picked up the tiara, then tossed it to her.
She caught it, her face falling. She walked away, vanishing down the hallway.
I looked at Nina.
She hung her head in shame.
"I shouldn't have hit her. I'm sorry..." She whispered.
"No," I walked up to her. "Don't be. She deserved it." I smiled shyly. " Thank you."
She raised her eyes, confused.
"For defending me." I added, my eyes softening.
I took her hand in mine and raised it to my lips, kissing her already brusing knuckles.
"Now, my seductive Black beauty, shall we keep praticing?" I let her hand go and we both backed away from each other, her face lighting up.
I nodded towards the piano man, and he instantly began playing.
Soon everything was flowing wonderfully again, all the dancers moving as one like musicians in a grand orchestra.
Though I was able to keep the rehearsal running smoothly after that, I wasn't able to keep Lily from spreading rumors.