It probably would have been a good idea to dance away all the stress and nerves in the Underground for at least an hour and then head home early, but she wanted to be as well-rested as possible. She did as much rehearsal as time allowed after helping her parents close the bakery. She tried to practice in her room while they made dinner, but her form ended up turning a little harsher...her hips popping to the side a little more...moves becoming less fluid and a tad more sharp. In the end, the music changed her stride and she gave in just a little to get some of this out. She ended up landing on her couch in frustration, mentally praying that she didn't do this tomorrow morning.

In attempt to get that desperately needed sleep for a clear head, she excused herself after helping clean up the table with an explanation that she had her spring audition bright and early and needed to be ready. She made sure to stay away from her computer and resisted temptation to call Alya or pace her room. She laid in bed long before the sun went down...but fell asleep long after it did.

The phone alarm that went off sounded at the edge of the mattress just as dusk was fighting with the shadows. She slapped it off before it could ring too many times, brain already on high alert, heart beating faster than it needed to for so early in the morning. She didn't even attempt to snooze once. Not today.

She was awake well before the time she appointed for herself and threw the comforter off with more force than necessary. She shivered against the chill, but ignored it and went for the ladder. She grabbed the white sweats outfit and pink gloves ensemble she had laid out the night before and went for a pair of sneakers (1). She threw her hair up in low pigtails and tried to hurry downstairs as quietly as possible. She headed straight for the main door and silently clicked the knob back to its resting position before hurrying down the stairs.

This wasn't the first time she was out at such an hour before her audition and it was right after year one that she created this training routine. It was more to find an outlet for all of this adrenaline running through her than anything. She had the audition piece memorized weeks ago and practicing it was easy. The hard part was to not forget herself in the music and let her emotions dance for her. She had to be calm, poised, graceful. She was going to play a swan today and she needed to be beautiful like a swan...the white one. Perhaps playing the black swan would have been more up her ally, but she wanted to shoot for the beauty of the pure, white color. She always played the black swan at night; she wanted to be the white one during the day.

With a deep inhale and quick exhale, taking in the crisp morning air, she did a few quick stretches before taking off across the nearly deserted street for the immense park. She did a few laps around the edge of the whole thing in nearly record time, but not meaning to. There was pretty much no one here aside herself, just as she wanted it. No one was out this early in the morning for a jog, save herself. She needed this solitude for her sanity to mindlessly run out her emotions and mentally play through the dance one last time before she got on stage.

She stopped at the fountain on the other side of the exit and hopped onto the narrow lip of the bottom level. Using the slick surface to help her practice balancing, she attempted a few one-legged drills and get herself into a full mindset of only ballet. She had to breathe ballet; live it, see it, be it. She had to be perfect and impress more than she had before so she could stop being so downtrodden after all these attempts that never helped her. She was tired of them and kept telling herself that today would be the last time she would ever see defeat.

Just as the wet concrete almost proved too much to handle, she quickly flipped and landed on her hands. Her legs twirled a few times on reflex for balance before she pushed off her hands and easily landed on her feet. She ended in a common dance pose that she used in the Underground and tsked, mentally berating herself for the change to her previous chants. It would have been better to just fall in the water and get wet!

She glared at the ground, fists clenched against the dew on her fingers. A small sense of despair hit her and she fought it with every breath entering her body. It was just a slip-up; it wouldn't happen again in a few hours!

She pivoted on her foot and hurried back home to change. The dawn had risen during her time outside and she could hear a few more cars past the wrought-iron fence. The jog helped to at least use up some of the adrenaline for now in order to allow her to get something in her stomach. She found her mother at the stove once she entered and bid the woman a nervous good morning.

"What time is it at this year?"

She didn't balk at the question. "Nine. I'm going to hurry and shower, then I'll be back for breakfast."

"I'm making you something light because I know you're nervous. I'll have it ready for when you're done."

She gave a relieved smile. "Thanks mama." She hurried upstairs for a change of clothes before coming back down for the bathroom. She took as hot a shower as her skin would allow in record time. She had plenty of time to get there, but she felt that even if she was one minute late, she would ruin everything.

She quickly dried off and changed. She threw her hair up in a towel and brought everything back up to her room. She packed her ballet outfit in a duffel bag before grabbing the shoulder strap and heading back to the main level. She put the towel away, tossed the bag near the door, and plopped in a chair.

Her mother set the plate in front of her with an encouraging smile. "Goodness, that was faster than I expected. I suppose you're more awake than usual." A kind hand patted her shoulder as she grabbed her utensils. "You'll do great. You have the years of experience behind you from your lessons to support you. I believe in you."

She smiled around her food, purposely taking a bite to keep any bad thoughts from escaping. Her mother and father had the bakery to run and thus had never seen any of her previous attempts, so they didn't know first-hand how everything went. She wanted to believe her mother's words and so said nothing to the positive sentences that fought against her immediate negativity.

She bid her mother goodbye as Sabine went for the bakery to open up shop. She cleaned everything up and went for a jacket before grabbing her bag. She stopped in the bakery real quick to give her father a quick kiss on the cheek. She informed him that she'd be back after the audition to help them out again. She smiled at his wishes of good luck and hurried outside for the bus stop. It wasn't so far to require a vehicle, but she didn't want anything to befall her on the way. The bus made a bunch of stops for the morning commuters, but it was still faster and it kept her less sweaty in the long run.

The massive, pristine, brick building of 'Agreste Dance Troupe' came into the area. The finger that had been tapping against an arm the entire ride sped up drastically. A foot joined as the bus slowed to the stop less than a block away. She inhaled a shaky breath for courage and got off.

The walk was a necessity to help get rid of the reoccurring nerves that were plaguing her with a vengeance. A hand gripped the bag strap in a vice as she tried to keep her pace normal and not rush the rest of the way.

She still arrived faster than she thought and paused under the main doors. She looked way up at the name in its beautiful scrawl, harshly swallowing. She was here. She was early. This was it. She was really going to do this again. She mentally kept her fingers crossed for success and looked to the few people walking in around her. Her eyes hardened as she watched them, wondering if they were auditioning like her, and followed them in.

The entryway was extensive and immaculate. It was both a school and theater rolled into one so the performances could be held in the same building and thus save on expenses. It was a good business move, but the sheer size of the area because of this fact made getting around a lengthy time venture.

She followed the others and the signs informing of where the spring auditions were to be held. The walk was long and not good on her stress levels. She just wanted to go onto that stage right now and get this over with! She would rather be pushed into the performance than have all the time in the world to prepare for it. Such an amount of time would only allow for defeat to enter before she even got started and just this once did she grasp hold of her Underground personae to keep her walking forward on shaky legs.

Thankfully, there were locker rooms a short distance away from the stage area. Despite being here over the years, she was only here for auditions because it was a closed school and thus she always forgot most of the layout. She feared getting lost in such a big place that she was unfamiliar with because she just knew it would be the one thing that would cause her to fail: being unable to find the stage.

She quietly entered the locker room and snagged the nearest empty spot. There were rows and rows, but most had locks for the students and crew that were here a lot. They had the right to claim that small space of metal and she stared at the empty interior, telling herself that she would too after today. She unzipped the duffel and grabbed her homemade outfit: gray tights, a white leotard, and a pink sweater with only one sleeve. A pair of leg warmers and discretely-colored ballet slippers finished everything off (2). She looked to herself, making sure everything was perfect before putting her bag inside and heading out.

The walk to the back stage was torture. Her heart wouldn't slow down no matter how many deep breaths she took! She tried to get the stress out of her body by stretching as the auditions started in front of the curtain she was behind. There was a quiet murmur of similar fears and anxiety running through everyone around her. She felt a sense of kinship to these unknown girls she was in line with, all of them fighting for the same spot. She mentally wished every one of them luck when one hurried around the curtain to the front. She listened as the ballet music floated to the back, wanting to watch the others, but holding herself back.

She was somewhere near the front due to her last name and was glad. Fewer girls in front and the closer she was to being the one to walk onto that stage. That thought kept running through her at the start of every other audition and it scared her witless.

She tried to keep calm. She was going to be a beautiful, graceful swan today. She had to find poise! She kept taking deep breaths and went through her routine to occupy herself. She wanted a harder piece than normal this time to try and move the owner, who was out in the front rows right now. If she were able to show him that she had mastered such moves, he would think easier moves would be nothing to her.

"Next. Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Please head to the stage."

She jumped and clenched shaking hands. This was it! Her eyes hardened, repeatedly telling herself all would be well. She squared her shoulders and tried to walk to the front with more confidence than she felt.

The stage was huge, the seating area even bigger. She felt like an ant amidst the glaring lights from above and she could feel their heat all the way below. She found four judges, two female and two male, looking down at their own papers for a while; probably with her application info written down. She knew them all; they were the same ones from last year, and two of them she had gone to junior high with.

She mentally cringed, but kept a poker face on the outside. Oh god, why was Chloe on the jury again?! She hoped that Chloe had matured more than physically since the school years they had spent together and kept her fingers crossed for that.

Her heart beat a little harder when she met Adrien's eyes across the way. She stared at him for only a second before looking to the others. He returned to his paperwork, mouth forming words she couldn't really hear due to the hushed voices they were using. He had grown up to be quite handsome, but she forced such things out of her head for what she was about to do. He was going to judge her on her moves, not their short history together. Such things were a moot point anyway.

She closed off anything else and focused on the one who would or would not accept her: Gabriel Agreste.

Said person finally looked up and sat back in his seat. "Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Doing Swan Lake, act two. Please begin once the music starts."

His voice was to-the-point and businesslike. He had others to grade after her and a school to run instead of this. She crisply nodded, eyes serious. She would be good, she would be efficient, she would be graceful. She wouldn't waste his time with trying to consider her for the position. She would make this easy for him to decide on.

Instinct kicked in the second the track started. The violins cued her limbs to move and she pranced forward a few steps as if coming onto the stage at Odette's cue. She curved her back and limbs in time with the slow oboe that played. When the strings played again, she feigned fear and pretended to fly away from the prince whose sudden entrance frightened her. She tried to mimic a bird in flight as the prince kept trying to reach her, flapping around in uncertainty as he neared, finally winning her over little by little. She tried to pretend that the prince was there to every movement that involved another person(3).

"No...no...stop! Stop the audition."

She froze as she attempted to flutter away from the prince and his crossbow just before Odette disappeared off stage. Those were never words she had heard before, but they created a sense of foreboding that almost made her come from her stance. She held it for a moment longer, hoping it had nothing to do with her, and met the eyes of the man who would decide her fate.

Then the music died.

When he kept staring staring at her in expectation, she quickly stood in normal stance and stared at him, trying not to show how her hands were shaking.

"Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng...what was that?"

His empty hand jutted out to her as if trying to demand more than answers from her. He took her confidence in a second with such a move and words failed her. She stuttered syllables, heart racing away as her fingers finally won out the need to fidget with themselves. "Uh...um...S – Swan...Lake...Monsieur Agreste...Act two...O – Odette's entrance..."

Gabriel's head shook. "I know very well what scene you were attempting to describe. I'm asking for an explanation for those moves of yours."

The fumbling for words increased. "I – I...I'm not sure I u – understand...w – what you mean..."

Chloe snorted and sat back in her seat. "I think he's referring to that atrocious display of an injured swan." Her smile grew.

She blinked at Chloe. What? She hadn't exactly been able to see her own dance steps, but they felt fine to her. "I still don't understand..."

Gabriel sighed and shook his head again. "This scene is crucial to show who Odette is: a graceful individual who was cursed. This is the scene where the prince falls in love with her at first sight and they dance together. What you just showed us had none of the fluidity of Odette. Your footwork near the end was choppy and your arm swings were much too fast to resemble a bird flapping its wings in flight. Those kind of moves will never accurately portray Odette!"

Chloe bit back a giggle when Gabriel sat back down. "Maybe she can try out for the court jester. She sure made me laugh a lot!"

"Chloe! That's really harsh! She wasn't that bad; I thought she did fine."

Her vision swam and she grit her teeth against it. She had never been this humiliated in two years. Her jaw clenched, feeling despair crush every good word that she tried to keep hold of into a million little pieces. She stood there, hands clutched in a vice grip around themselves as she willed tears not to fall. She wanted to escape this, but Gabriel was still standing and looking at her; a testament that he wasn't done denying her entrance to his school.

"Adrien is correct Chloe. Her dancing had obvious ballet training, but it's not pure ballet. You apparently know other dance styles Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng and that's fine for you, but I'm only interested in ballet. That is what makes up this company; nothing else. That is what my students learn and my crew performs. I've no interest in tainting ballet with anything else after however many hundreds of years since it began. I don't plan on having someone like you changing it now."

Gabriel sat back down and that was her cue. With a harsh swallow to keep the lump of emotion down, she gave a stiff bow and tried to keep her feet from flying her off the stage. She tried to keep her head up as much as possible and see properly as she walked past the next person in line who she refused to look at. She didn't wish anyone else luck as she made a beeline for the exit door.

Once the door clicked shut and her solitary presence was the only thing in the hallways, she sprinted from the area to the safety of the locker room that she hoped would be abandoned. Tears fell in waves as she ran, jostled from their resting spots.

Her brow furrowed as a sense of anger and frustration like none before washed over her. The nerve! Of course this was a ballet school, but she thought she had done fine! How many months had she practiced that one, stupid, difficult dance sequence by herself in front of the mirrors of her school until late into the evening?! She knew who Odette was, she knew what that scene represented, and she knew how hard the swan was to portray!

She loved that part of Swan Lake more than any other act because it was the first time Odette saw the prince and the prince fell in love with Odette. She was a sucker for such romantic scenes of the troubled heroine who had evil to defeat. When she took ballet years ago, she fell in love with it and tried so hard to get it down, but lacked the dexterity and ability. She now had both and felt she could finally play Odette.

The door swung open and nearly slammed against the wall from her abrupt entrance. She let it close behind her as she hurried to her locker and collapsed on the wood bench. Palms dug into her eyes as if to dam up the tears, but they didn't stop. She felt crushed...utterly defeated. So many times she tried so hard and always failed! What was she missing?! What did she lack that Gabriel needed?! She would give anything to ask him that question and then attain it so she could become one of his crew!

It didn't help that Chloe was one of the judges. She hadn't changed since junior high, when that ego attempted to humiliate her at every opportunity. She had never done anything to Chloe and yet she had to suffer her presence over the years, whether she wanted it or not! Of course Chloe followed Adrien into his father's school after junior high; she had the money and the connections to make it happen.

As much as she hated to admit it, Chloe was talented in ballet and a real natural. She knew this from past events she went to when a students performance. Her own skills recognized Chloe's, even if it made the annoyance burn hotter in her chest because of it.

She thought to Gabriel's comments as she sat there in the quiet, running his words through her head to dissect. He had never been so outwardly mean in any past performances and she wondered at that. All she could fear was that the Underground had cursed her despite its ability to cure her of such emotions.

Like what she was feeling now.

Her extended time there over the years had proved to be its downfall by helping her other dance skills show up in her ballet.

She heaved a sigh, wanting to curse her own complicated fate and the ways that life kept turning things around on her. She glared at the ground below, hot tears trailing down her face. There was almost no point in attempting the fall auditions, but she told her parents she wanted to try for one more year...which included that.

Her hands clenched to fists. She felt so conflicted right now in her desire to continue and the sudden wish to scrap everything which she had been trying so hard for over the last two years.

She looked to the locker door, knowing that such a decision shouldn't be made now. She was too sad and didn't want to be needlessly brash. She would probably regret it later, just as she had all those other times in the past when she felt this way. She stood and grabbed her duffel out of the metal confinements to change back to her street clothes.

There was no point in being in her ballet outfit anymore today.

She grabbed her phone and turned the screen on to check the clock, lips pressing together in thought to the rest of her day. She told her parents that she would help them in the bakery, but all she wanted to do was aimlessly walk her bad emotions out until she got home and then sleep for the rest of the afternoon. But, she didn't want to tell them she would help, have them count on her, and then go back on her word. Her head drooped forward for a second until her phone started vibrating. Her vision shot up, finding Alya's face on her screen. She let it ring and ring, too at odds with wanting to answer it and vent or not out of fear of rehashing all the bad emotions which had just started slinking away. Her thumb finally moved on its own after another ring and decided for her.

"Finally! So? How did it go Miss Star?"

Her jaw clenched at the happiness on the other side. She looked to the ground, mouth slowly opening to say anything and finally heaving a sigh. Her eyes burned again, chin trembling a little.

"That bad huh? Want to talk about it?"

She gave what little details that didn't have her instantly breaking out into tears again. She recanted the short version of the Underground having affected her ballet and Gabriel having noticed. She listened to Alya's consoling words, feeling a little better as her friend bashed the owner for her.

The barest traces of a smile tried to form as she grabbed her bag and finally exited the locker room. She pushed the door open and found a few more people in the area, wondering to the time. She tried to hang out near the edge of the hallway for a bit of privacy. "Thanks for the ear, Alya. I can always count on you to be there to help me."

"You know what's also there for times like these? The Underground. If you're still this mad at midnight, you can turn into hip hop Cinderella and dance it out on the floor."

She gave a full smile at that picture of her in Cinderella's dress, doing handstands to some kind of funky beat. The wisp of a giggle escaped. Her free hand grasped the bag, feeling ready to head out and greet the rest of the world. "Thanks Alya. What would I do without you?"

"Have worse taste in music?"

She snickered a little. "By the way, I'm going to Bluetooth a song onto Nino's equipment and see what he thinks."

Alya heaved a sigh. "Must you? I don't want to listen to him complain again until he gets used to it! It's so annoying because he ends up liking everything you make him play, but his musical reach isn't as broad as yours."

"I can't help if I like to bring in music that allows me to dance freely. That's the best kind; to move with the rhythm and melody as it makes you feel. Sometimes words just get in the way. To Nino's irritation, that's some strange, but interesting stuff." She quieted down as a small group of people exited the stage doors nearby. No one in this place needed to hear of the Underground. "But that's enough of that. I'll meet you tonight. I gotta get home and help out with the bakery."

She pushed off the wall she had been leaning against and looked down to make sure her phone was safely nestled in the side pouch. She was just done zipping it closed and looking up when a door suddenly swung in her way. She shrieked as a hand quickly pushed her off the wall. She twirled out of the way, much in the same manner she had done in the Underground, and deftly landed on her feet out of harm's way.

"Are you okay?! I didn't see you! I'm so sorry!"

She was too stunned to find Adrien Agreste looking her over for possible injuries to be able to speak. She watched his concern change to one of relief to know he hadn't banged her head on the door. Her mouth dropped open as she watched him settle a small stack of papers in his arms and take a step back. She eventually shook herself and pasted on a smile. "That's okay. I have quick reflexes." She looked around at the others coming out behind him. "What are you doing out here? Are auditions done?"

"We're just on a quick, fifteen minute break right now." He eyed her, seeing the fake smile slip a little and noticing the redness to her eyes. "Marinette, right? I'm sorry about Chloe; she was cruel to say such things. I thought you did fine in your audition...although...father was kind of right. You had something extra in your step for it to be only ballet. I still don't think it was bad though."

Her jaw clenched for a second before she called upon the Underground personae she tried to keep away from in this place. The part which didn't care if people said such comments about her abilities being worse than she knew they were.

Her chin tilted a little as it washed over her and she grasped hold of the sense of pride she had in her dancing. "That's okay. It's not the first time your father has denied my entrance into his school."

He nodded and suddenly looked to the stack as if hers were on top. "Yea...I remembered your name... You've tried out before, right? Why do you keep coming back if father keeps telling you no? I admit, it's pretty admirable."

She looked away, a real smile peeking through her melancholy. "I've wanted to be apart of your father's troupe for a while now. I took ballet years ago in elementary and I liked it. Your father's school is good and it's famous, and I would like to be a professional ballerina...if I can ever get in. I've been trying to keep my skills up so I can get accepted, but apparently I'm not doing enough." She snorted and gave a wry smile. "Guess I'll have one last time in the fall to try again..."

"What happens in the fall?"

"If I can't get in after this year is done, I promised mama and papa that I'd quit applying and go to fashion school."

He blinked. It seemed kind of unrelated, but he knew there was a history which didn't involve him. He didn't try to pry for the connection and bypassed it for her really sad story. He took a step forward before he could think, a hand going to her shoulder. "I know it's hard, but don't give up. You're right in that father's school is a good one and anyone that goes through it is the best of the best."

The whole time he spoke, she watched his face and noticed how he didn't seem fully convinced of his own words. She openly stared after he finished, searching his features as something struck her. An inkling in the back of her head started walking forward to be recognized over everything else that had happened since this morning. She knew this feeling and she studied him in a new light, the audition almost entirely forgotten for what she was suddenly thinking.

"You don't sound all that happy despite being a core member of the Troupe." She commented, suspiciously watching him. "Pardon me for saying so, but...your eyes look a little hollow."

He gave a look that showed he was caught and stepped back. A hand scratched the back of his head as he gave a forced laugh. "Is it that obvious? Ah haha...well...the schedule is pretty tight and practice does go all day except Sunday. It can get a little overwhelming after a while when you don't get a break. Just be prepared if you get in; that'll be your schedule too. Even if the performances aren't that much, you have to practice all the time. Class starts at eight sharp and you have The Beast for a teacher. That's what everyone calls her by the way. She's good, but she's not the most understanding educator for teenagers. You have to eat before class starts or you have to wait till the noon lunch break. Then you have a few more hours after lunch to practice before you get to go home."

The whole time she watched him describe his life at school, her brain was whirling. Stark intuition overtook her as she felt him out. That previous inkling turned to a raging flood which seized her from her morning and turned her to the Underground. She watched his body language, his eyes, his smile and noticed how they all seemed to droop or disappear.

It was a big chance. This was Adrien Agreste here; future owner of Agreste Dance Troupe. The place of 'pure, untainted ballet'. She didn't know what would happen if she decided upon this sudden thought in her head. She tried to feel him out to know him and the possible, hidden need he had. She had seen those eyes on herself when she stared at herself in the mirror back in the beginning. She had been there, and it seemed like he was there now. She knew what it was like quite well; she was there minutes ago. She barely listened to him go on about his father's school as she mentally debated with herself for what felt like a while, finally giving a decisive nod.

Before she could think, she clapped a hand on his shoulder with a smile. "I know it sounds kind of sudden and a little weird but...if you had the chance to do any other kind of dance style, would you take the opportunity to do so if it was presented to you?"

His brow rose, head tilting. It was such an odd question and didn't fit any part of their conversation. The previous look on her face seemed to have altered to more confidence and ease. The hand on his shoulder was firm and resolute. Her query was strange, but she was serious. He blinked at it and honestly considered her words. "I...guess...it'd be fun... Any other kind of style, huh?" His lips tilted a bit as other styles came to mind. "Yea...I guess it would."

She felt like her face was already painted; her clothes a little more revealing. Her chin tilted up a little more, smile becoming greater. "Well then...that's good to know. I just know that your days will get a little brighter someday soon."

Leaving him with those cryptic words, the morning entirely forgotten, she reached down and grabbed the bag she had dropped when she spun out of the way. She gave him a wave and half turned for the main entrance. "See you around Adrien." She didn't even wait for him to respond to her words or bid her goodbye before she briskly walked down the hallway with the pep back in her step.

Her fingers itched the entire walk for her phone and she only moved for it once she was safely outside. She immediately went for Alya's line and connected the call, heading away from the school on foot.

"You still feeling down? I have some more time to chat if you need an ear."

She smiled at the thoughtfulness, but shook her head. The smile turned a little evil. "I've got another one for you research and slip an invite to."

"Oh gawd! Again? Who is the lucky newb this time?"

Her face heated up a little despite herself and she couldn't keep that dumb smile off her face. "Adrien Agreste."

"Are you serious?! You've got to be kidding me! Why? If you wanted to get with Adrien after all this time, there are less complicated ways to go about it, you know! Like a date for one."

She scoffed and stopped at a corner, darting one final glance to the school as if someone were listening. "That crush went out the window when we started high school; you know that. I got over Adrien after he was pulled from junior high and stuck in his father's dance troupe. And before you say so, my auditions are NOT an excuse to go to school with him!"

She paused and quickly crossed the street. "You'll be able to do this; this is totally below your skill level. You don't even have to investigate him at all. He already told me he has class most of the day. Just go in one of these next mornings after his eight o'clock starts and slip an invite into slits of his locker. I'll have it ready by tonight and give it to you."

Alya heaved a sigh, hand over her forehead. "Alright. Fine. But, if you keep this up, we're not going to have enough room on the dance floor soon!"

(1) Marinette's morning outfit inspiration: http starrycove tumblr comimage140900144770

(2) Marinette's ballet outfit inspiration: http delkas tumblr compost141428982269starrycove-au

(3)Marinette's dance audition inspiration: https youtube com/watch?v=DXG2TiAQwvg about 30:00 in