Cassandra couldn't sleep well that night. Whether it was some nagging thought in the back of her head, or the lopsided ache from the hundreds of times Skimbleshanks made her repeat that damned penche arabesque en pointe using the same leg every time, she didn't quite know. The cold air swirled in through her perpetually open window with a sudden gust from outside, arising a shiver out of the restless queen. Something didn't feel quite right. Eventually she dropped off, unable to stop pieces of the day's conversation spinning through her head like the breeze through her room... And don't forget the pink and green polka-dot tights. Oh but that's the best part. The boys and I need you...
Three more weeks of rehearsals and practices had seemed to wear the entire cast of Swan Lake down. Even Skimble looked a bit deflated, and had the obvious signs of a headache – that meant today's session, however it went, was not going to go down well. Apparently some of the toms had tried to organize an all cast party, but raised voices were heard from the other room and nothing more was said. It definitely wasn't going to go down well today.
"Queens please! How many times do I have to say it? I want you to dance together. You are all out of time this morning – it's called peripheral vision. Use it, and synchronize!" He ranted and clapped his hands together to emphasize his point. Cassandra couldn't help but pity the other non-main swans. Most of the time Skimble seemed to take it out on them when the stress of the show was weighing down on him. They only hand one week left until the opening performance it's self. Their first show. The one the critics would be judging their entire company by. No pressure.
Alonzo was off practicing his solo alone in one of the other studios, leaving Cassandra and Victoria to sit at the back and stretch in an awkward silence. A silence that was soon broken.
"I hate days like this. Couldn't you really punch Skimble in the nose?" Victoria grumbled from a peculiar position on the floor.
"Many times. He probably wouldn't even feel that – the heartless old ba-" Cassandra stopped herself and put a hand up to her mouth. "Sorry" profanities were simply unacceptable in the dance studio!
"It's fine. I agree with you completely." Victoria watched the tom in question, then rolled her eyes. "I don't think I'll come back next year"
"Where will you go?" Cassandra looked at the little white queen with small shock. Victoria was an excellent prima ballerina, and it seemed like such a waste to quit so soon.
"I don't know. Away from him and all these prissy toms..." Victoria wrinkled her nose slightly. Cassandra was about to point out how unreasonable that was, but a thought suddenly struck her. "Perhaps I should go into medical science..." Victoria said, but Cassandra wasn't paying attention.