Eli rotated his desk chair to the left and the right as he impatiently waited for the computer screen to load. He was listening to his mother talk on the phone downstairs to her sister. Eli only saw his aunt during Christmas then Easter. She'd stop by, drop off a present then leave. She wasn't necessarily loving as any other aunt but it was mostly because she didn't have kids of her own.

When the homepage came up he looked up "Star Kirov" and found their website. The first thing that came up was an advertisement for their show.

The Star Kirov Presents:

The Nutcracker!

January 21-23 8:30 P.M. - 10:00 P.M.

Tickets now selling!

He scrolled through the page and found the cast list. He found Clare, a sugar plum fairy and a Danish Marzipan Shepherdess? Seemed like a lot to handle. When he was twelve he was forced into seeing his middle school Christmas play. He remembered the songs too well. He felt proud of her though. Putting the effort into something she had hardly any experience in to…

To….

He still had no idea. Maybe it was to get out of the house like he thought. Then he kept asking himself: Clare's parents are divorcing, so she goes out and dances merrily on a stage? He was wracking his own brain trying to think of the possibilities why she would do this. Maybe her mom was making her…maybe her dad was making her…maybe they both wanted her to do it…

Maybe she's doing this to please her parents.

That had to be it!

That's when it hit him. He'd tell Clare he knows what's going on, and support her! Every step of the way, he'll be there. Whether he has to do lights, microphones, sound, ANYTHING he'll do to make sure Clare knows how much he still cares about her.

Now then…to find the freaking address.

Clare's mother arrived home late from work that day. The realtor forgot the combination to the lock box on her apartment and had to call her landlord.

"Clare? Honey you home?" she locked the door behind her. Only the bottom lock so her husband would be able to come in.

Clare was in the kitchen, putting small packages into the snack cabinets underneath the silverware drawers.

"Yeah mom! In here."

"Did you see that snow? Oh my god, it was beau-"

She saw the grocery bags in the trash.

"What's all this?"

"Oh, uh, I ran to the market on the way home."

"Really? What did you get?"

Clare paused, her eyes rushing to every corner in the room, "O-oh, just some snacks for the house." she stood up, crumbling up the last plastic bag and tossing it out. Her mother walked over to the counter, kneeling down to look at what she bought.

"Wait-mom!"

She saw some Slim Fast snack bars and 150 calorie meal bars. Nearly 3 packs of each. She looked at Clare, confused.

"Before you say anything…they're for me." she blushed a little.

"Honey, your perfect though."

"I know but…how much did you weigh when you took ballet?"

"Well 92 pounds about but it wasn't a very healthy life style."

"You see," she interrupted, "That's the thing…" she wanted to cry all over again, but she got over it, "My teacher said…if I don't lose the weight, I'm out of the show."

Suddenly, she saw flames in her mother's eyes, "WHAT?"

She was angry. And when Clare's mom was angry, she was ANGRY.

"Mom! Don't get upset!"

She walked over into the living room, "The nerve, she talks to my child like that!" she mumbled to herself. She grabbed the phone, Clare rushed over and grabbed it from her, "Mom! Please don't cause drama!"

"She has no right to say things like that to you! It's completely disrespectful!"

"It's ok-"

"AND INAPPROPRIATE!"

"MOM! It's ok!"

Her mother was taking a few breaths, when Clare saw her calming down, she started to talk again, "I don't want you to raise hell over this kind of thing. I'm willing to lose the weight, as long as I'm able to be in the show."

"Honey," she put a hand on Clare's shoulder, "think of what it will do to your body,"

"It's fine." Clare responded weakly.

"You could get health problems."

"Well…" Clare's plan was going so well, she wasn't going to give up now, "It's worth a shot."

Her mother looked at her, the look meant both support and, you may regret this.

Clare started walking to the stairs, "I'm gonna go take a shower, I'm really cold and I want hot water." she said, using her usual humor with her mom.

She chuckled, "Alright, I'll make you hot chocolate."

"Thanks." it didn't exactly go as Clare planned, but at least she was going to hopefully lose the weight before show.

She walked into her room grabbing warm night clothes, she looked at her calendar, the first night of show was the 21st. It was currently the 10th. She only had 11 days to lose 25 pounds?

25?

She wasn't a miracle worker, but she decided instead of math club, she'd go to the gym after school, maybe run a little. Hell, walking to school and back would cost her a few pounds a day. But it was snowing, how the hell was she supposed to sweat in this weather? Finally she put it off, and stepped into her shower, relieved by the warm water.

-X-

Clare did as she told herself she would and walked to school the next day. She got up 15 minutes earlier than she normally would however. She ate one of her before she left. Half-a breakfast she thought but it would be worth it when she sees her parents kiss. She was wrapped up in a warm, thick maroon colored jacket with jeans. Come now, she thought, Principal Simpson wouldn't let the kids freeze to death with their uniforms. Of course when she showed up, everyone was bundled up in jackets and jeans etc. so she wouldn't be the only one who gets in trouble if there was still a rule. She bumped into Jake at the entrance, the two shared a delightful "hey." afterward.

"How did first rehearsal go?"

"It went pretty good, Mrs. Alvaraz loved my dance routine."

"That's good." he commented smiling, towering over her as usual. He was starting to become comfortable with his height. Looking down to talk to people was becoming normal to him.

"Yup, next rehearsal's Wednesday afternoon, I have to choreograph my Dance of the Reeds." she said, trying to sound excited. She told herself, she'd loose ten pounds by next weekend rehearsal. "My partner's a guy though. Pretty much the only guy in the company." The two laughed walking to Clare's locker.

"Well, ballet's a hard thing and," Clare listened as she marked the dates of her locker calendar, "if you did that dancing off the spot and she loved it, just imagine what you can do in your next dance."

Clare bit her lip in nervousness, "I'd rather not…" Jake snickered thinking she was joking but she really didn't want to think her next dancing was going to be like…especially with a strange guy she didn't know. The first bell rang.

"I'll see you next period." Jake started to walk off.

"See ya'." she called.

Eli was just waking up. He bundled himself in his sheets the night before and found his arms tangled in them as he tried to sit up. When he finally did, he realized how unusually bright it was. Then he looked at his clock.

9:20 A.M.

Shit!

He quickly, showered, brushed his teeth and rushed on a shirt, jacket and jeans before grabbing his bag and running down the stairs. He was about to bolt out of the house when he saw someone aside from his mom and dad in the house.

His aunt.

He let go of the door knob and walked into the kitchen where they were all talking. Each had a coffee cup in their hand. They were mainly discussing things about work however, which confused Eli. He then noticed how much his mom looked like her sister. Both had long, blond hair, green eyes, slim figures. Eli started to wonder if they looked like his grandma. He had never seen her natural hair color before it went gray however, but he assumed it to be blond, then she always wore glasses. Her eyes were hazel. Now he knew where he got his hazel eyes from. In contrast to getting his father's dark hair and facial structure.

Then he started to wonder, when the hell did she get there? Surely the doorbell or telephone would've woken him up. Maybe that's what his mother was talking about the night before…

"Now look, Cece,"

"Linda!"

"I'm sorry, but I can't stay long you know dad's been-" she sighed, putting her face into her palm,

"Now honey, give her a break she's been driving since two in the morning just to see us."

Eli was wondering when his grandfather would get involved. He hadn't heard a word about him since his grandma's passing. He wanted to stay and chat with them but then he also wanted to skip school to sit in the park again. Then he remembered the picnic table would be covered with snow.

He sighed and got himself out of the house. It was full of nothing but misery now, and his only escape needless to say was school. He started walking to his usual way to school, passed the freshly fallen show outside his door step but then he stopped. He didn't know what the hell he wanted to do. He found himself turning and walking to the park. He could use the work anyway of brushing off the snow…

xXx

At the lunch table later that day, the three tenners sat at their usual table leisurely. Dave was struggling to open yet another juice bottle.

"Man, how are you failing all of these tests." Connor asked, he and Wes helped grade papers again that day. "They really aren't that hard."

"Sorry guys," he let out a small grunt as he tried to turn the cap. "Busy."

"Let me guess." Wesley said taking out a lunch pale, "You had things going on?" he said air quoting on 'things'.

"Yeah yeah, something like that."

"Hey."

They looked up. Adam finally arrived he set his bag down and slumped down into his chair. The three observed him carefully, his eyes were exhausted and blood shot. His face reddened a little.

"You doing ok?"

Adam sniffled a little, "Yeah." he quickly wiped his eye with the sleeve of his jacket "What makes you say that?"

"You look like you've been crying."

Adam felt himself caught a little, but he knew how to cover it up, "Science class, this idiot mixed up the wrong chemicals…smoke everywhere."

"Ok.." Wes nodded, they seemed to buy it.

"Oh, that happened to me before. Stings your eyes like hell!" Connor joined in.

Adam nodded. He saw Dave struggling again he went to take it from him, "Here-"

"No, no! I…got…it." he said twisting and turning his wrist, his hand in pain. He finally gave up, "Here, I'll let the pro handle it."

Adam chuckled, opening it without any trouble.

Wesley felt like a little mockery, "It could just be that the bottle likes Adam more than you."

Connor joined in, "Considering all year last year you couldn't open that soda bottle…"

Wes joined in once more, "And I could without even trying."

Dave smirked after taking a sip, "That's nice guys…real nice. I loosened it for him!"

Adam lightened up a bit, "Hey. Why don't you ask Tasha to 'loosen it' for you before you leave for school?"

Wes and Connor broke out into laughter, Dave couldn't help but laugh himself, "Ok. That's just cruel." he pointed at him.

Adam playfully rolled his eyes smiling to himself as the others laughed.

Clare was sitting with Alli and Jake. "So after I was finished with the Sugar Plum Fairy, she said 'see me after class' and I was so scared I mean, what if she was gonna say I was horrible," she was talking a mile a minute, Jake and Alli were barely keeping up. "and stuff like that, but anyways…," she took a breath, "she loved it."

The two smiled. Jake felt free to sip his milk, "Well that's good."

"Thanks but here's the thing," she went back to mushing her words together, "She says….if I don't weigh 90 pounds by night of show I'm off the play."

Alli's eyes widened, "WHAT?" Jake nearly chocked on his milk.

Clare nodded.

"Ok. Woah, woah, WOAH! 90...pounds?"

Clare nodded once more,

"Like…a 9...and a 0?" she said air writing the nine and zero.

"Alli this isn't 20 questions."

"I know but Clare! That's not right! You shouldn't weigh 90 pounds at 15!"

Jake finally swallowed, "You look fine!"

"I know! I know. But I'll be able to stand on my toes easier and people can lift me easier-"

"You see why I quit Clare?"

Clare paused. She hated being interrupted.

"I'd rather quit than break my bones just so some guy can pick me up by the hips for two seconds."

"But Alli!…my parents…"

Alli simmered down a bit, Jake then remembered as well.

"They're so proud of me!"

Alli felt guilty then…making her feel bad for doing something she practically had to do.

"So…what did you do to keep 90 pounds?"

Alli slouched down, "Well…"

"No I mean, how did you stay in shape?"

"Well, first off, I had a very high metabolism to begin with so…I burned off food easily. But, I suggest lots of veggies, running," Clare nodded with each word. Then Alli paused, looking at Jake who was just awkwardly sitting there.

"Feel free to join in anytime buddy."

"I would but…I'm not sure what to say."

Clare giggled.

"Anyways, I'll help you. Don't worry."

Jake leaned forward, "And…if you need me for anything…which I kind of doubt but…you know where to find me."

Clare smiled. At least she had two people she knew she could count on. Then she started to think…she started to stare at the table.

Alli waved her hand in front of her eyes, "Hey, you ok?"

"Yeah…I'm fine."

Just…perfect.