Over the next two months I watched Harriet closely trying to complete the image of her in my head. I learnt that she was quieter around her family than her friends. I learnt that she loved the colour purple. I learnt that she always gave her spare change to charity. I learnt that the reason she was so thin is that she barely ate – she felt pressure from the other ballerinas to stay thin. I learnt that she was afraid of disappointing people. I learnt that she loved her little brother Luca. I learnt she hated her mother for never believing in her. I learnt that she hated being tall. I learnt that she didn't have a boyfriend – this pleased me very much. I learnt that she loved storms. I learnt that she hated the way her hair always refused to do what she wanted. Everything I learnt made me fall for her even more. I learnt that I loved her.
I was sick of learning about her and I wanted to know her. She practiced Pointe ballet everyday after class because she didn't think she was as good as the other girls. I would need to teach her self confidence, so I decided that would be how we would meet. Looking through the familiar glass panel I saw her practicing leaps. When she becomes immortal she will no longer have to struggle with leaping in the air a part of my brain mused as I tried to make my self feel better for what I was going to do.
The door handle moaned as I entered the room. If I still had a heartbeat it would have been sky rocketing. She stopped and turned her ice blue eyes hitting me for the first time "Can I help you?" she asked curiously "Are you Harriet Sabine Ashlyn?" I said like I didn't already know. She winced when I said Sabine. "Just Harriet Ashlyn." She mumbled obviously ashamed of her middle name. I had her full attention "I am here to help you with your lifts, Mr Darvik sent me." It was a well thought out lie, I had seen her in class and the way she sat out when they did lifts – she said this was because she was taller that most of the male ballerinas on her course but mainly I think it was because she was afraid. I was taller than her but not by as much as she wanted. I saw her look at my arms doubtfully, she nervously shuffled towards me, I scoped her up at the waist and held her above my shoulder. She gasped with shock, staying ridged in the fear of falling.
After a few seconds I gently let her slip down to the floor. Strength was one of my preferred perks about being undead. "You ok?" I asked, she looked bewildered "I fine" she announced "I just never really get lifted that's all being… my size" her face flushed red. I was smug with her shock, but then the questions started "who are you? Where are you from? Are you being moved to the course? How old are...""Whoa, slow down there" I laughed interrupting her question frenzy, her cheeks were still glowing red. Secretly I was ecstatic she was even interested in me.
"Are you a teacher?" she asked raising her eyebrows. I hadn't really prepared for so many questions, so I decided to lie "Sort of, I'm a student teacher" she moved closer to me, her breath almost reaching my face "What's your name?" the said. I felt like she could pick up on my lying, it made me nervous. "Theo" I said "Theo" she muttered under her breath "Tell me Theo" she said suspiciously "Why did Mr Darvik send you to help me and not one of the better girls?" the answer to this was simple "Because he believes in you" I stated. Yet again she under estimated her talent "And also Harriet, some day you are going to be the most amazing ballerina" The look in her eyes as I said that told me she'd waited her whole life for someone to say that.