XFurubaX: Ok…you may really want to listen to Dance of the Reeds before or after reading. Highly recommended! =)

After school, Clare had her gym schedule all ready, 5 sit ups, tread mill for 7 minutes then a few of her stretches…hopefully by then she'd at least break a sweat. She kept asking herself who she was kidding, 27 degrees outside, 48 inside?

Good luck…

Alli couldn't come that day, it was Monday and she had late afternoon chores, and no one bothered to go to the gym after school, rushing home to their heaters; Clare kept her jacket on. Better chance of her sweating in that then the long sleeved shirt she had on underneath.

She dropped her book bag onto the floor as she walked in. The school was empty, not counting the principal and a few other staff members having meetings. Power Squad was too cold to dance around in tank-tops and skirts, the football field and the bleachers were covered in snow, at least she wouldn't embarrass herself in front of anyone.

She laid down on her back, putting her hands behind her head. Slowly, she literally sat herself up. Letting out a small grunt as she was finally up on her bottom, she mumbled to herself,

"One."

Back down, on her back, she inhaled deeply through her nose. It was harder than she thought. Come on! It's for your parents! She kept thinking, Just four more! She lifted her upper body once again, it was slightly easier than the first time, but her stomach and chest hurt a bit, hopefully that meant she was doing it right. Once again, on her bottom,

"Two."

She laid down again, she felt a little hot, which was good she thought, hopefully she was doing something right. Grunting a little, she lifted herself a third time, but when she did, she noticed someone at the door.

"Clare?"

Principal Simpson.

She worked her way into a normal sitting position, "Oh hi…" how weird she felt, her principal just saw her working out, "I was just…toning up some muscle!" awkward….

"I thought no one was here, there's a possible snow storm on its way."

Your kidding…

She stood up, "Ok, I guess I'll be headed home." she grabbed her bag, but as she started to walk out, he grabbed her shoulder.

"What's wrong?"

He had a concerned look, "how are you doing?"

Clare was confused, but she wouldn't back sass her principal, two more years she was with him, "Fine…why?"

"I mean…since…"

Clare nodded, "I'm ok…I'm fine."

He nodded, "Ok…that's good."

She put her head down, licking her lips, "Yeah…" she mumbled to herself, she jerked her head up, to prove her point, "Thanks."

"Just making sure."

She slung her bag around her shoulder and walked past him before stopping, "Wait, why are you still here?"

"I was actually making sure other students were aware of the storm if they were still here…in which the case is…you're the only one."

Clare sighed, trying to cover her embarrassment, "Ok…thanks, see you tomorrow." and she left the building.

She walked home, hopefully costing her a few…ounces.

Another snowball hit the tree. Hitting the same spot the other seven did. Eli picked up another mound of snow he could get into his mittens that gave his hands little mobility. He had been keeping himself entertained by hitting 'bulls eyes' with snowballs. It was just getting fun. He tossed the little ball back and forth in hands before aiming steadily, and throwing.

Yup, same spot.

"Really Goldsworthy? This is what you call fun?"

He didn't even realize it but he, almost involuntarily, grabbed another mound of snow from the ground.

"Yup…I guess you do."

He aimed carefully, the tree was the batter, and he was the pitcher. He had never played baseball, but this sure was a hell of practice for pitching. He practically flung it towards the tree, as it splattered into bits of a white mess.

Strike one!

He then squeezed his hand into his pocket, making the best grab he could for his phone,

4:01 P.M.

"Just one more."

For his own entertainment, he made a huge one this time, smoothing it out in his hand, he looked at the tree now covered in what was once freshly fallen snow, now freezing water. He noticed how ugly the tree looked without leaves, let alone the branches were frozen in ice. For reasons unknown, he started to think of Fitz.

It was his fault.

He and Clare would never be the same because of him. If he had never come into his life, he would've been fine.

He hoped he was rotting miserably in jail….

He threw the ball, smashing completely into small ice crystals as it angrily met the tree. This one was a definite striker. He wished it was Fitz's head…so badly.

Later on in the afternoon, Clare had her heater on full blast as she continued her sit ups in her room. Her parents weren't home…hopefully they wouldn't kill her for the electric bill if they found out…

She was on her tenth, she felt quite proud. She felt a few sweat droplets forming in her hair as she grunted, working herself up one last time,

"Ten."

She exhaled, that was a good deal she had done that afternoon.

Now…stretches.

She began doing her typical ballet stretches she'd do before and after rehearsal. After about five minutes of stretches, she kept telling herself it wasn't enough as she was barely sweating.

Five more minutes.

No…

Two more minutes.

Maybe some more sit ups…

Right as she got down on her back again she heard the front door open and close.

"Clare?"

It was her mother.

"Honey I'm home!"

She sat up on her bottom, "I'll be there in a minute." she ran out into the hallway turning her heater off. 70 degrees she set it to.

"There." she whispered to herself. She trotted down the steps, her mother was in the kitchen putting a few minor things away in the cabinets. She jumped a little when she looked at Clare,

"What?"

"You look like you've been working yourself out."

"And you win a million dollars!"

"Long walk home."

"God, you look tired." she felt Clare's forehead.

She couldn't help but smirk, "Mom, what are you doing? I'm fine." she moved her hand away.

"I guess you've never walked so much in your life?"

Did 7 hours at Disney land for her 8th birthday not count? She made her parents and her sister stay up until 11 at night just so she could get a picture with Cinderella.

"Guess not." she took a step back, "Hey, do you think I could have a salad for dinner tonight?"

Her mother eyed her as she grabbed a water out from the fridge, "Um…ok, but is that all you want?"

Clare bit her lip, "Yeah, with tomatoes?" as long as she had something she liked with it.

Her mother looked at her confused, as if she forgot about the entire blow out she had the day before. "Alright." she opened her water walking into the office.

Clare stood there, worried and unsure about what was going to happen. She walked into the downstairs bathroom where the weight scale was. She took off her jacket and shoes, and stood on it. She gazed at the wall before looking down,

114.8

She smiled gleefully, doing a mini cheer inside her head. Maybe she could do this. She walked back upstairs cheerfully, going to do her homework.

When Eli got home, now chilled to the bone, his aunt was still there. He saw the three of them on the couch watching some more old videos. They were in a scattered chat, not really paying attention. Eli either really didn't give a fuck, or was just in one of his 'moods' and bypassed the couch,

"I'm home."

He walked upstairs. Opening his bedroom door, setting his bag to the side, he walked over to his desk opening the blinds of his window. He watched the snow fall from the dark sky. It was quite windy out as the snow seemed to be falling sideways rather than to the ground. It sighed to himself, he had forgotten how angry he was supposed to be at Fitz. But he simply let it go…for the time. Right now he had to figure out how he was going to help Clare.

Maybe he'd walk in himself and 'sign up' or whatever the hell he's supposed to do to help with the technical staff.

Elijah Goldsworthy was not an on stage person…or at least he didn't want to be.

But just the sheer thought of getting to hold Clare again…to kiss her made anything he'd have to do worth it. Anything to have what made his life perfect again was worth climbing to the top of Mt. Everest to him.

But god, he felt so helpless lately, the trio drifting apart, new kid in town taking his place even when he could do something about it. All he wanted was to know Clare still had those feelings he had for him. It was like he was dying of thirst and the ocean was right there, but he couldn't have it. He wasn't strong enough yet.

When the time is right. He thought.

When the time is right, we'll be together again.

-X-

School was closed for the next few days due to the snow. Clare was able to walk around on Tuesday, her parents had her run a few errands getting medications from the drug store. They specifically told her, unfortunately for her No Diet Pills. She checked the weight scale almost every hour.

Currently, she was at 114.3

Damn it! Only a few ounces she had lost and she had rehearsal in two hours.

She was sure Mrs. Alvaraz wasn't evil enough to have her lose five pounds by next rehearsal she thought. She stretched up in her room, she only did 3 sit ups that day, mostly out of laziness. The sun gleamed through her window, not for long however, they predicted more snow for the weekend.

Her mother walked in. "Hey, you want me to drive you to rehearsal or are you walking?"

Clare bent down, touching the floor, "I'll walk."

Her mother looked at Clare's clock. 2:50 P.M.

She leaned against the door crossing her arms, "Hey, what did you eat for breakfast?"

Clare worked her way up, "Eggs and sausage."

"And lunch?"

Clare stopped, her eyes scattered around the room, trying to think. "Uh-"

"Did you even eat breakfast?"

Clare was caught. Lying would only make it worse. "…no."

"Clare!" she walked in.

"I'm sorry. I'll eat a big dinner I promise."

She was about to start stretching again when her mother put a hand on he shoulder, "Clare, you know skipping meals is bad for you."

"I know."

"So, why would you do it?"

Clare was humiliated, her mother knew damn well why, she mumbled as she said it, tilting her head down a little, "Trying to loose weight."

Her mother took Clare as they both sat on her bed, "Clare, first of all, skipping meals, doesn't help. You know if you don't eat, your body thinks your starving yourself and it holds on to the fat."

Clare sighed, she knew…but she had to go through it, her plan was like a mine leading a perfect path straight to the gold. Her parents haven't fought in days. Rather, she heard them talking about her ballet, even bragging to some of their friends.

"Ok, I'm sorry. I've only done it once and I won't do it anymore I swear!"

Her mother looked at her, giving her a trusting look and rubbing her shoulder. "Ok. Let me know before you leave." she walked to the door.

"K…"

She was at the scale again, licking her lips as she anxiously watched the numbers slowly go up,

113.9

Two pounds?…Ok, not bad she kept saying. But it would take a miracle to lose 23 more in 9 days.

9 days…

She was almost late to rehearsal, as she ran into the studio in her leotard, stockings and ballet shoes, toes taped together, hair tied into the shortest bun possible. They were choreographing Arabian Dance.

"Clare, so nice of you to join us!"

Clare nodded, walking over to the group of ballerinas and setting her change of clothes down. She felt a finger tap her shoulder. It was a man, in nothing but a leotard and tights.

"Hey." she greeted, as if she knew him.

"Hey…your Clare Edwards right?"

"Yeah." she responded standing up right.

"My name's Victor," he held out a hand, "I'll be your partner for Dance of the Reeds."

They shook, Clare smiled brightly, "Nice to meet you." They watched as the song ended. The man and woman bowed as they walked opposite ways.

"Next cast, Dance of the Reeds!" she called, her thick Italian accent messed up "Reeds" a bit.

The two walked up, standing up straight, chins high and ready for whatever she had in store. Alvaraz walked up to Clare, whispering in her ear, "How much have you lost?"

Clare couldn't believe she'd bring this up in the middle of rehearsal, "Two." she whispered back. She backed up, shooting Clare a disappointed look with her eyes.

"What the Hell?" she screamed inside her head, on the outside, she was still in a straight position. "What do I have to do to get on this bitches good side?"

Mrs. Alvaraz circled the two slowly, observing their 'body posture'. Heat and anger were slowly rising in Clare's stomach, for now, she tried to let it go and enjoy her dance.

Alvaraz was finally in front of the two. "Victor!" she circled her hand.

"Oh, yes." he stood behind Clare, his right hand on her right shoulder, the his left hand holding her left hand.

Mrs. Alvaraz smiled, walking over to the piano. "Good."

Clare was confused, "What are you doing?" she whispered. He leaned towards her ear, "This is the position for the start of the song but, if your not comfortable, we can-"

"No, its fine." she whispered back. Despite how awkward it felt.

After a discussion with the pianist, she walked in front of the two once more, "Clare, move to your right a little more."

She did as told, his hand still on her shoulder and hand in hand. His arm was that was holding her shoulder was bent a little, as the one holding her hand was stretched out almost completely.

"Beautiful, now Clare, if you could do an arabesque."

Clare had no idea how she was supposed to do that, then she figured it out, she stretched out her left leg backward, underneath her and Victor's arm, and lifted her other arm, in which he had her shoulder.

"Perfect." she walked over to the pianist again, "And remember, you are happy, the rat king is dead. Smile!"

The two looked at each other before giving a natural grin.

It began, they let the first few notes in before marching in along with the beat. During the interlude into the next part of the first verse, he twirled Clare, in the mini arabesque position they were in. He transferred Clare over to his left hand, twirling her away from him, letting go of her shoulder. He held out his arms and bowed as if representing her.

She then realized it was her turn to dance, second part of the first verse, a literal copy of the first half. She held her arms out high on her toes, toe-skipping once around Victor and twirling the rest of the way, ending exactly where she was before, she then copied him, now representing him.

He toe walked toward her, gently grabbing her hand and twirling her to her right, leaving her to dance again. As he knelt down in a position as if admiring her, she looked at him, now into her role, with a face as if she saw his loneliness she trotted on her toes over and grabbed his hand, bringing him up on his toes to dance.

He stood proudly behind her, with bright smiles as it transversed into the second verse, Clare held her self in an arabesque, as he did, they hopped on one set of toes, two hops to their rights, presenting their own unique forms of twirls and leg lifts that balanced out in the song perfectly, she held out a hand, telling his character to show off what he's got.

He danced and hopped around the studio, twirling as Clare walked on her toes with a smile, her character now adoring him. He happily grabbed her hand and shoulder, twirled her to his left, then right, as the song transversed into the interlude.

Now then, Clare read the script about this dance, a man with a rat's helmet would come in, frightening the couple. Clare would back away from him as he followed her where ever she went on stage. The catch was, she had to be on her toes…for 20 seconds.

It was the interlude, the man had showed up. While Victor was on his feet backing away, Clare was on her toes her arms out in front of her and slightly crossed as she tried to build a wall between her and the rat. She rapidly moved her toes, a frightened expression on her face. The 'rat' followed her no matter where she went, it went to grab her, she ducked twirling, still on her toes and now on the other side of him, she continued to back up on her toes, ankles crossed. As Clare was now 'cornered' the rat was about to grab her, still on her toes she remained. Victor rushed to her rescue, however, it was only a commoner with a mask, the three laugh as Clare has a relieved expression on her face.

She and Victor then get back into their regular position. For the third and final verse, they remained in that position and hopped in place in a circle, both on one set of toes. He let her go, as she, with a cheerful smile, hopped to her right twirling in mid-air as she did so, he then jumped to his left twirling like she did. The two then trotted towards each other as he lifted her by the hips, she bent one of her legs inward as she stretched the other to the side, holding her arms up high as he twirled her.

After setting her down, they went back into regular position once more. Performing their circling hop in place for a second time. He let go of Clare, she stood on her toes, hopping in place twirling then holding out a hand to Victor as he did the same. Finally, the tag, he took her hand, twirling her to his left, then right.

It was over.

After a second of silence, he let go, they stood next to each other as Mrs. Alvaraz walked over to them. She had a pleased smirk, "Very good. Beautiful."

The two smiled, "However…I have a question for Victor."

"Yes?"

Clare's smile faded.

"How…hard was it to lift her?"

Victor's head flinched a little, a small smile. She saw his eyes look at her, "Ah-…" he did a little, scoff/laugh.

"Very hard right?" she crossed her arms.

Victor looked at Clare, he then looked at Mrs. Alvaraz, with an embarrassed expression.

"That'll be all."

Victor began to walk off, as he passed Clare, he head him whisper.

"I'm so sorry."

Now, it was her and the bitch.

"Before you say anything," Clare beat her to it, "I've been exercising, dieting…sort of, I'll do anything to stay in this production!" she beamed, hoping to sound more dedicated than desperate.

"I'm aware…" she still had her arms crossed.

"So…why do you keep torturing me with it?" she half yelled, catching the other girls attention. "You think I forgot after a few days. I know, 90 pounds! Not 91, not 89 but 90!" she said smacking her hand into her other with each number. "So enough with the reminders!"

What the hell did she just say?

Mrs. Alvaraz just stood there, arms still crossed, her emerald eyes burning into Clare's.

She opened her mouth, and one word came out, "Saturday."

"What?"

She began to walk away, "Weigh 90 pounds by Saturday or your off the show."

NO!

"Mrs. Alvaraz-"

"Next cast, Waltz of the Flowers!"

Clare stared at disbelief as three girls passed by, giving he a look of concern as they did.

They'd start rehearsing on the stage on Saturday, and Clare just made her problem ten times worse.