'No' Odette begged 'Please, no'
The carriage was already far away. She heard Felicie's scream for help. She felt wetness on her head. It was raining but she didn't really care. She felt a huge weight on her chest which took her to the ground. She sat on the stairs, covering her face with her hands.
'It's all your fault' her mind told her. She should do something. Stop Felicie from going out. She should forced her to train. Forced her to stay. Look for her. Whatever. But do something. She failed. 'Get up, Odette' her mind was talking again 'You have work to do'
But her heart hurt. Hurt so much. Almost that much as after the accident. She didn't know how long she was sitting here. She was totally wet because of rain. She cursed herself mentally. The last thing she needed was illnes. But even if she knew she should get up, she couldn't. The pain was too intense. Unbearable. She felt physically and mentally ill.
'Get yourself together, Pull yourself together' she repeated like a mantra as she got up from the cold wet stairs. She opened the huge doors and entered the opera. Unfortunately, she bumped into someone. The coffee spilled, staining her clothes.
'Wonderful' she thought.
'I'm so sorry' the familiar voice said.
'It's fine' she mumbled annoyed, trying to pass that person, whoever it was.
'Odette?' Merante touched her arm.
'I have to go' she said quickly.
'Odette' he stopped her 'Let me help, that's my fault'
Maybe it was the pain, cold or fatigue, but that day she decided to accept his help.
'Okay' she sighned.
She didn't care about anything actually. She was tired, lonely, homeless and she lost her second job so whatever will happen it can't be worse.
'We'll go to my office' he said.
'I need to take my stuff…' Odette objected.
'You need to dry yourself. You're freezing' he noticed. Odette was greatful that he didn't ask any other questions.
He put his arms around her and took her to his room in opera. It was pretty big. There was a desk, wardrobe and window. There was a coat hanger in the corner. He had a lot of papers on the table.
'I have towels and blancket' he explained. 'And white shirt. I know it's mine so it's bigger but I hope...'
'I can't take it'
'You will. Odette, we're still friends. Friends help each other'
'Thank you' she finally gave up and took those things. She went to his private bathroom in the office. Thank god, she's cleaning here every day so she knows exactly where it was. She doesn't want to talk to him more than it was needed.
'Tea?' Merante asked when she came back.
'I have to work. Thank you again for the shirt. It's not that bad, I guess. I will return it as soon as it's possible'
'You can keep it'
'Merante'
'I have lots of these. Keep it. Really'
She sighned but stopped arguing. She was about to leave when he stopped her.
'We need to talk'
'About what?'
'You know, don't act like you're not. Why didn't she training? Why didn't you wake her up to come to the right time? I know you were watching. What happened? Tell me. I need to know'
She was silent.
'Odette' he begged.
'She left'
'What?'
'She wanted to go out with Rudy'
'And you let her go?'
'I'm not her mother, Louis'
She haven't said that name for ten years. That was weird to hear that sound after such a long time. But it was also pleasant. Merante didn't realize how much he missed it.
'You're more than a mother to her' he said.
She sighned.
'I know it's all my fault. Can you stop telling me this?'
'I didn't say that'
'But you thought. I should stop her. I should forced her to stay, To train. I should look for her when she didn't come back late at night. She's just a kid. I'm the reason they took her'
'What?'
'Regine Le Haut sent her to the orphanage' she explained.
'How could she?'
'She can do everything she wants. She's rich. She has a power'
Odette hid her face in her hands. Tears were welling up in her eyes, but she didn't want to show them.
'She'll come back' Louis touched her hand without thinking and squeezed it. It seemed like a natural gesture, but after so many years it was strange to feel the touch of each other's hands again. Odette looked into his eyes deeply. His brown eyes always gave her comfort. When cocoa brown meets the turquoise ocean everything hits diffrent.
'I will bring you tea' he said suddenly when it started to feel awkward.
'Mer…'
'Louis. You can still call me Louis'
And he left. She looked around. There was a withered flower on the windowsill. It was dark outside and it was still raining. She heard a thunder. It was a storm. Odette's attention was caught by a photograph on the desk. An old photo of the ballerina. Old photo of her.
'That's for you' Merante came back to the office with a mug of hot tea. He noticed her.
'I found it lately' he lied. He've been keeping that picture for ten years. He've been looking at it every day.
'Why do you help me?' she asked suddenly, still looking at the photo'
'You know why. We're friends'
'We were'
'We are, Odette'
'Louis, I'm not the same person. Look at me. You made it to the top and I stayed at the bottom. And I will stay here forever'
'Odette, don't talk like that'
'Louis, I'm just a cleaner and you're one of the greatest dancers. That couldn't work'
'It could. If I earned enough money…'
'I've never asked for money! I needed you, not money. But you left'
'I just wanted…'
'I know what you wanted. But didn't you think what I wanted? Anyway, it doesn't really matter right now. I should go'
'Odette, stop…'
Before she could get up, she felt a sharp pain in her ankle. Treacherous thing. Why now?
Merante was there in the blink of an eye, he grabbed her by the waist.
'You okay?' he asked worried.
'Yes, it's nothing. I really need to go now. I have to pack my things and find another house so can you please…'
'She fired you?'
'It's not importnat…'
'Yes, it is. I told her…'
'That's not Camille's fault! Don't trow her away because of me. Please'
He sighed in resignation, but didn't take his hands off her hips. Suddenly there was a loud rumbling in the stomach.
'I'm sorry, I should ask' he took baguette out of his bag.
'No, I can't take it. You've aready done enough'
'You're starving. I won't let you go if you don't eat'
Although it sounded like blackmail, the intentions were good. She gave up.
'Okay, but you'll eat with me. I can't stand eating your food alone'
That's how they end up eating together in silent. They didn't need words. She haven't eat for a day and he was satisfied to see her finally eating. She needed that more than anything.
'You can take one of the rooms in the attic' he suggested 'I'm sure that Auguste doesn't mind it. I know it's not the most comfortable…'
'It's better than anyting I could imagine. Thank you' she just said and he saw a real gratitude in her eyes. It was worth waking up this morning for that look.
When they had finished eating it was already dark.
'I can show you that room and help you clean there' he offered.
'That would be great'
So they climbed millions of stairs. Merante cursed the height of the opera in his mind. He knew how hard it was for Odette to get in with his help, and now she had to do it every day without him. Even though she didn't complain, he knew her ankle hurt. He saw it in her eyes.
When they finally reached the top she was exhusted but didn't show it. She straightened up and went to the pile of old props to sort them out. He decided to do the same. Cleaning didn't take much time. They used some of the props like beds and blanckets. It was old but still able to use. There were also a little kitchen. He hoped that it works. They prepared a bed for Felicie too.
'She'll come back' he repeated. She really wanted to believe but how? She did that once. They know her tricks right now. When Odette and Louis finally finished it was dark and late.
‚Do you want to watch starts with me?'he asked. And the question sounds unreal. Because he hasn't asked her that question for ten years. Since the accident happened. After that, she couldn't see at the night sky. It reminded her of them. But right know, they were together. 'The sky is really clean today. I don't see any clouds'
She didin't know why she agreed. It was late. She had a job the next day. He had too. But this a seemingly stupid idea were probably the best he had for such a long time.
'It's so beautiful today' she whispered looking at the sky full of stars. 'I don't really remekber when I watched stars the last time'
'Really?' he surprised. 'You loved that'
'I didn't have much time. I always work, sometimes day and night. Regine loved to give me night works'
'She should give you time to rest'
'You don't know her' she laughted 'She loves to take it out on people. The way she treated Camille… I wanted to do something about that. So I objected. I've never seen her such mad'
'Did she hit you?'
'It wasn't that bad. She used to do it only in special situations like this'
'Such a b…'
'Louis' Odette calmed him down 'It doesn't matter right now'
'It matters' he raised his voice.
'Don't mess with her. She's dangerous'
'You could tell me'
'I didn't want your help. I hate pity'
'Why are you so stubborn?' he asked resignedly. She didn't answer, just began to singing.
'All the shine of a thousand spotlights, all the stars we steal from the night sky will never be enough. Never be enough'
Her voice was beautiful, As a good dancer she used to sing and play a piano too. Musical hearing is essential in dance. In the current situation, singing and playing the piano were the only things she had left. That was all she had in common with dancing now. He sometimes watched her playing a piano on the scene of the opera. It was probably illegal and he couldn't watched her without permission but her voice. It was angelic. And her fingers were like made for piano. Like she was born for this. Because she was born for this. She was born to be an artist.
'Towers of gold are still too little, these hands could hold the world but it'll…' he was contining.
'Never be enough, never be enough' they ended together.
That was their song. They used to sing that every night when they were young. Sitting on the opera's roof, looking for falling stars.
'Odette, you're shaking!' he suddenly notice 'Why didn't you tell me you're freezing?'
'I-It's fine'
'We're coming back. Right now' he ordered.
She rolled her eyes but went inside the building. He was holding her all the time, made sure that she won't fall. Suddenly she sneezed and hugged to his chest tighter.
‚I think you're sick, Odette'
'I'm not'
He touched her forehead which was warmer than usual.
'Yes, you are. You should go to bed'
'Stop treating me like that'
'Like what? You're sick, Odette, I'm worried'
'I'm not talking about it. I talk about everything. You always treat me different than you use to do. I know my fucking ankle is broken but you made me feel worse about that! You treat me like disabled person and you look at me with that eyes. Merante, please. I don't want your pity'
‚That's not a pity, Odette. That's friendship'
Love, he wanted to say but he stopped himself. He still loved her but does she?
'I admire you, Odette. You're the strongest person I've ever met. You're so emotional and sensitive but also confident and strong'
‚I'm not…'
‚Yes, you are. You were an amazing dancer but also amazing woman. And you still are. You handled that all. Most of people would give up in situation like this. But you didn't'
‚I lived for dance. I keep wondering what should I live for if I can't dance anymore?' she whispered.
‚You found your new goal. Felicie'
‚The day she left she told me that I'm not her mother' Odette mumbled.
‚I'm sure she say that because of emotions. I saw how she looks at you. She admires you, Odette, like all of us'
‚You're too nice for me' ex dancer smiled but suddenly lost her balance.
‚Whoa, I think it's time for you to go to bed' he lifted her like she doesn't weight anything and took her to bed.
'You can go, Louis. It's late. You have to sleep too. I'll be fine' she made him sure.
'Are you sure you can stay alone?'
'Yes, I am. Louis, I'm an adult woman. I can take care of myself'
'But it's my fault…'
'I was outside when it was raining. Don't blame…'
At this point she coughed loudly. Louis rubbed their backs soothingly.
'Lie down' he ordered when she had finished.
'Louis…'
'Lie down'
With the expression of a dissatisfied five-year-old, Odette fell exhausted onto the bed. The man put a blanket on her. He was worried about getting cold. The attic wasn't the warmest place. He should have taken her to his house. He knew that in real life she would never agree. It was not moral for a man to take a woman into his home unless they were married.
'Stop watching me' she mumbled half slepping.
He smiled. She was really cute at that point. He was sitting there long after she fell asleep. Actually long after the sunrise.