Chap. 1
Out of breath and slightly shaky, I walk out of the room and take a deep breath. Then, I take the bottle of water that is in my bag and slowly take a cool sip. After such an effort, I deserve at least that. Then a young girl throws herself on me and almost knocks me over.
"So how did it go?"
I look at this tall blonde incredibly beautiful with green eyes that was my best friend.
"Well, I'd say," I reply.
"Yeah, I'm sure you blew them away and you'll get the part."
"We'll see, Alice, we'll see," I say.
"Oh, come on! You're the best dancer in the company," she scolds me.
"Caroline has also trained a lot for this role," I remind her.
"Yes, but this ballet means a lot to you."
"Yes, it does," I whisper.
"And then, there will be the handsome Noah Hemingway who will play the role of the prince," says Alice with a dreamy air.
"Don't imagine things, you. We don't know him."
"But the people know him."
"Don't believe everything they say," I warn her.
"Yes, well, the pictures don't lie and he's HANDSOME," she says, articulating the last word well.
"And what about you? How did it go?" I ask her in turn.
"Well, I can't wait to know what role I've been assigned," she says excitedly.
Me too, if she knew. I've worked my whole life to do this ballet one day. The Nutcracker. It means so much to me. A dream. A memory. A loved one. And I would so love to be Clara. But all I can do now is hope...
Chap. 2
"Come on, Nina, the results are in!" Alice almost shouts at me as she leads me down the hall to the bulletin board.
Around us, people are gathering near the board, looking for their names, forming a big crowd. It was hard for us to see, but after a while and a lot of elbow work from Alice, we finally arrived at the poster. Impatient, I look for my name and I find it quickly.
Nina Mount : Clara, the sugar plum fairy
When I read it, I have at first the impression to be in a dream, that it cannot be the reality. However, when the dancers congratulate me and Alice starts shouting that I am the new Clara, my heart races with joy. I have reached my dream. Finally, after all these years. I just have to not waste it.
Gradually coming to my senses and recovering from my emotions, I look up the name of my best friend.
Alice Reyes: Arab woman
"Oh, that's wonderful, you're going to do the Arabian dance," I say to her as we walk away. "Who is your partner?"
"Yes, I didn't expect to have such a big role. It's Josh Evans," she replies.
"Oh, it's okay, he's a very good dancer and he doesn't make a fuss," I laugh.
"Yes, he is perfect, but not like your prince."
"My prince? Oh, please stop!" I reply.
"What? You'll be able to dance with the best dancer in the world. The company brought him from Russia to do this ballet. And then, you'll be able to admire his abs."
"From Russia? And how do you know that?"
"Because, unlike you, I'm interested in something else than this ballet," she answers me with a little sarcastic smile. "Say, will you introduce me to him anyway?"
"Pfff, you are incorrigible!" I point out to her.
Then, I seize her hand and lead her towards the cafeteria.
Chap. 3
After getting up at dawn, I head to the main room for the start of rehearsals. When I open the door, I see that I am not alone in the room. A tall young man is practicing the most wonderful piece of music I have ever heard: the variation between the Prince and the Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker, also known as the Intrada. When he notices my presence, he stops, a little embarrassed.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't think anyone would be here," he says in a soft voice.
"Oh no, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt you," I say immediately.
When he turns to me, I discover prominent cheekbones, illuminated by splendid blue eyes, golden hair with red highlights depending on the lighting, and a body so muscular that my heart softens in front of his abs. This man is not charming, he is much more than that. And I can't describe him in words. However, he makes an impression on me.
"You must be the one who plays Clara, my partner?" he asks me.
"Yes, my name is Nina... "
"Nina Mount," he interrupts me. "Mrs. Bringers told me."
"Oh, I see," I say, hearing the director's name.
"By the way, I'm Noah Hemingway," he introduces himself.
"Yes, I guessed that," I smile.
Then the door opens to reveal Mr. Feggin and Ms. Larson, our teachers and choreographers for the show. They are two professional dancers who are so passionate about what they do that they dazzle everyone in their path.
"Well, you've met them," says Ms. Larson in her clear voice. "Now let's get down to business."
"Indeed, the most important thing to remember between partners is trust," continues Mr. Feggin. "For that to happen, you'll first need to get to know each other, of course outside of class, but also practice regularly with each other. So we'll start with some simple exercises based on trust, and then move on to practicing timing."
Then we start our exercises, with sympathetic yet knowing smiles.
Chap. 4
Two days later, after an important training session, Noah calls me out before I leave the room.
"Hey, would you like to go for a drink ?" he asks me, nicely.
"Uh... yeah, why not," I agree to his charming and touching smile.
"Cool! You can tell me about yourself, then," he says.
"I'm not someone who gives herself up easily, to tell the truth," I confide in him.
"It's okay, I'll do monologues if you want," he laughs.
"Ok," I answer him.
Once seated in a small chic restaurant, he orders us two coffees and takes in addition a fruit salad.
"So, who are you Nina Mount?" he asks me, looking into my eyes.
"Just an ordinary girl," I say.
"I don't believe that," he replies. "Otherwise, they wouldn't have chosen you for this role."
"Maybe... "
"Oh, but I'm sure!" he says. "What made you want to do this ballet?"
"Are you turning into a journalist now?"
"Yes! I have several trump cards up my sleeve," he jokes.
"Well, let's just say it's my favorite ballet..."
"And?" he pushes me.
"And it allows me to have a connection with my mother," I whisper.
"What kind of connection, if I may ask?"
There is a long silence, the words refusing to leave my mouth. Seeing my pain, he puts his hand on mine in a reassuring gesture.
"You don't have to tell me, you know," he says in his soft voice.
"Yes, it's just a little painful to talk about, that's all. And not many people know about it," I add hastily. "The Nutcracker means so much to me. It was the last ballet my mother did before she died. And she played Clara so..."
"So that's why you're so happy you got this part and you're following our teachers' advice to the letter," he continues for me.
"Yes, I would like to live up to my mother. She died of cancer," I say, preceding his question. "She was a really talented dancer."
"I don't doubt it," he says sincerely.
He doesn't say, "I'm sorry," or "Oh, you poor thing, that must have been so hard," he doesn't show pity or sorrow for me, and I'm grateful for that. He is not like others because he knows the obvious: yes, it was hard, but I survived and it made me stronger; yes, I don't need pity because people can only understand what you feel in those moments if you have lived it. And my heart melts at the very thought of it.
Chap. 5
Three hours later, I return to the company and am greeted by an Alice eager for details.
"You'd better tell me EVERYTHING," she shouts.
So I give her my little report: a more than charming conversation with an attractive man that gradually turned into a dinner between partners. Simple but exquisite.
"So, you think he's hot?" she asks me.
"You've seen him, right? How can I resist a guy like that?"
"You're not wrong!" she agrees. "And you're going out with him?"
"You see, the difference between you and me is that I wait to know the guy before going out with him," I say.
"Yes and then you wonder that you miss your life!" she laughs.
"It's not true!" I retort. "I'm just more careful, that's all."
"And more shy, too," she adds.
"Yeah, so what? It's part of my charm," I admit. "But it's true that I like him. And I haven't felt that way in a long time."
"So go for it! That's the only advice I can give you, right now anyway," says Alice with a nice smile.
"I'd rather wait and see how it goes, you know... "
"Love is a thing to be handled with care, yes I know," Alice interrupts me.
"Yes, I'm old-fashioned sometimes, so what?"
Alice doesn't answer but instead bursts out laughing. It is so communicative that I join her. I haven't laughed like that for a long time. And I must say it feels good.
Chap. 6
"Hi," I say as I enter the room.
"Hi," Noah replies with a bright smile.
"You are in a good mood," I guess.
"Yes, my mother is coming to see me from Russia," he tells me.
"From Russia?" I say, stunned.
"Yes, it's her home country. She went back there after the divorce," he explains.
"Oh, I didn't know your parents were divorced."
"Didn't you? It's all over the tabloids. Besides, it's only the third time," he says without being embarrassed in the least.
"Oh, I don't really look at that kind of thing," I confide in him.
" You're right, it's full of lies," he whispers to me with a conspiratorial air.
Then, the door opens under an elegant and resplendent woman with her long blond hair and her tailor-made dress.
"Mom, it's good to see you!" exclaims Noah as he walks over to her.
"здравствуйте," I say in Russian to greet her.
"Oh, you speak Russian, young lady," she says.
" Just the basics, ma'am," I replied.
"It's very kind of you to welcome me like this. But forgive my impudence, I didn't greet you. And call me Nathalie."
"Oh, but it's an honor, ma'am. And then, you can call me Nina."
" That if you do the same, Nina."
"Ladies, let's be a little serious, please," Noah interjects.
"You have a lovely partner, Noah," says Natalie.
"I couldn't agree with you more, Mom," he says. "My mother is here to supervise the show, so she's going to stay here at the Paris Opera for a week to set up everything and will come back at the end of the preparations to see if everything is going as it should," he adds to me.
"That's great! I am delighted that you are here, Nathalie," I said, not being able to stop myself from calling her "Nathalie".
"Well, let's start by seeing the choreography of the finale," she says, settling down against the mirror.
I join Noah in the middle of the room, then when the music rises, we start to dance. An hour and a half later, we finally finish working on this choreography and I leave Noah with his mother to go rehearse the first part with other dancers.
Chap. 7
"Hey, can I talk to you for a second," Noah tells me at the end of our rehearsal.
He catches me by the arm as I start to walk out. I turn to him and smile.
"Would you like to go out sometime? Like going to a restaurant?"
"Uh... yeah, why not," I say in a small voice.
I'm so taken by surprise by this request. I can't believe he's asking me this.
"Perfect! How about Saturday night?"
"Hum, hum," I nod.
Then, he leaves while I remain glued to my seat so surprised. Then, I take out my phone and call Alice. She picks up on the third ring.
"Alice, you'll never guess what just happened to me!"
"You accidentally stepped on Noah's foot?" she answers me.
"What? No. He gave me a date," I say, half screaming to express my joy.
"No! That' s great, I'll meet you right away so you can tell me everything."
Then she hangs up and five minutes later she comes into my room.
"How did you know I would be there?" I ask her.
"Because I know everything," she replies, laughing. "Go ahead, tell me".
So I tell her how Noah asked me out and I add that it's Saturday night.
"Wait, but it's in two days," she says.
"So what?"
"So you have to find an outfit, and do your hair and nails, the whole deal!"
"Well, I have some clothes that will do the trick, you know."
"You want to impress him? Then listen to me."
"All right," I give in.
"Good, because we're going shopping, baby!"
Chap. 8
Wearing the beautiful red dress that Alice has chosen for me, I go to the restaurant that Noah has chosen. He is already there, sitting at a table all alone, wearing a tuxedo that suits him perfectly.
"Hi," I say as I approach.
"H... Whoa, you look great Nina," he says, detailing me from head to toe.
"Thanks, you look good too," I answer.
I sit down and we start talking. The conversation is so simple with him. It only stops when we order and when we receive our food.
I learn a lot about Noah, like the fact that he has an older brother, who went to Switzerland to study medicine.
"But you must not see him often," I say.
"No, but we are close. We call each other often. And then, he made his life. I go to see him and his wife every summer."
"And your father?" I ask.
"I don't really know him, he died when I was five of lung cancer."
"I don't know if it's worse to know the person or not in those moments," I confess.
"I think it's worse. I grieved over an image of my father, not his real person. Not like you. What about you, your father?"
"He's a real gentleman. We had a hard time when Mom died, but he's trying to fill her shoes properly, and he's helped me chase my dancing dreams."
"I'd like to meet him," Noah said, taking me by surprise.
"Oh, he'll come to the show," I say.
"I would expect nothing less from him," he says, laughing.
Then we continue the discussion until the end of the meal and even beyond, since he decides to bring me back. Once I arrived, I don't know what to say.
"I had a great time tonight," Noah tells me.
"I had a great time too and thanks for the ride."
"No problem."
Then the silence falls. I don't know what to do: should I wait or should I go home?
It's a good thing I had that moment of hesitation because Noah leans in, takes my cheek in his hand and puts his lips on mine. That kiss sends shivers through my body. Then, a few seconds later, Noah breaks it.
"Good night," he says.
"Um, um," I do, unable to speak.
And I watch him leave while I stand in the doorway, one hand on my lips.
Chap. 9
"I still can't believe it," says Alice.
"There's no way I'm telling you again, Alice, I told you everything yesterday, twice, for an hour and a half," I reply.
"Yes, but it is about Noah," she retorts.
"You are incorrigible!"
"And that's why you love me."
Then, as we arrived in the room, we begin to warm up by small exercises. Then Noah arrives, and I see Alice smiling broadly.
The class starts. We start with warm-ups at the barre, then in the middle and finally take a little break and finish by rehearsing the ballet. Today we are working on the second act. At the end of the day, I am exhausted.
"Nina," says Noah, grabbing me at the door, "I was wondering if you wanted to go out again sometime?"
"Yes, when would you like it?"
"How about right before Christmas break?"
Christmas break, that is, the three days off we have right before the show to enjoy Christmas with our family.
"Yes, I agree. I guess you will go to Russia for the holidays."
"Yes, and then I'll come back with my mother."
"You come Nina," yells Alice to me from afar.
"Well, I have to go."
"Yes, we'll keep in touch."
Then I leave to join Alice. Being both tired, we had planned to drink a hot chocolate while watching a movie.
"What did Mister Handsome want," Alice asks me as soon as I arrive near her.
"To ask me out," I tell her.
"Oh, when?"
"In five days, before the Christmas break."
"Too romantic," says Alice. "Come on, it's cold and I want my hot chocolate."
"We would go faster if you stop asking questions."
"You wish!"
Chap. 10
After more and more intense rehearsals, we are all relieved when we are told that we can leave for the Christmas break. This week we started rehearsing in the theater, which changes a lot. The first day, we started by focusing on getting backstage so we wouldn't get in each other's way. And the next few days we focused on how we wanted the audience to feel and how to set up the lights. For Noah and me, the light was quite simple, we were almost all the time under the chase.
So I go back home, accompanied by Alice, who almost lived here so much time she spent in my room, and start to prepare me for my appointment with Noah.
Alice takes care of my make-up and my hair, while I relax and chat with her about everything.
I feel a little nervous, even though I know I shouldn't. But after all, Noah is so handsome and I have to admit that he makes my heart turn.
"That's it, finish," says Alice after about an hour.
"I love it, thank you."
"We move on to the dress."
I had chosen a white lace long sleeve dress that I had found in the closet where my father and I had put my mother's things.
"Wow, Nina, it's beautiful," says Alice. "He's going to fall for it, I'm sure."
Once I put it on, I'll admire the work in the mirror in my room.
"You are splendid, Nina," makes me Alice.
"I confirm," says my father, who is standing in the doorway. "You look so much like your mother in that dress."
"Thank you dad," I say while going to kiss him. "And thanks to you too, Alice."
"It is my duty as best friend," she answers me.
"Well, we'd better let her go," says my father.
"Have fun," Alice said.
"I will," I reply.
"And I want a report," she said in all seriousness.
"I would have been surprised if you hadn't," I say as I leave.
Chap. 11
When I arrive at the meeting point, Noah is already there. But, a few seconds later, I see that he is not alone. A young woman is there with him. They are in the middle of a conversation and I don't know what to do. Should I give them some privacy or should I approach and introduce myself?
I wait a little, being ahead of the appointment time, but I can't help but observe them.
The girl is tall, with long blond hair, and slender. I must admit that she is very beautiful. I see her laughing with Noah and I feel a twinge of sadness when I see him smile back at her. They look close, closer than I am with Noah. So I decide to approach but something stops me. I freeze in place when I see the girl kissing Noah, in a kiss that looks passionate. My heart breaks slightly at the sight, and I regain my motor skills. I leave the restaurant with tears in my eyes, feeling empty.
Once I get home, my tears have dried and I call Alice. She doesn't need to know if I'm okay or not, she can tell by my voice. While waiting for her to arrive, I get repeated calls from Noah that I don't answer. Instead, I turn off my phone and put it away in a drawer in my desk.
Then Alice arrives and I spill everything to her, tears rolling down my cheeks once again. And we fall asleep in each other's arms, my thoughts still directed to Noah.
Chap. 12
I spend the next three days avoiding thinking about Noah by focusing on celebrating Christmas with my dad. He invited his sister and kids over. It was a fun Christmas, even though my heart was not into celebrating and that it was eight days before the big day. We ate a delicious meal prepared by my father and received our gifts in advance.
One night, while I was watching a movie, my dad comes up to me.
"How are you doing, dear?"
"Fine and you? Thanks for the presents."
"I can see that you don't seem very well, you don't have to lie. What's going on? Does it have anything to do with the ballet?"
"No, no, I was just disappointed in someone, but it will get better, Dad, don't worry. The preparations for the ballet are going great, I can't wait for you to come and see it."
"Okay," he said. "I can't wait to be there, you know," he says to change the subject, and I'm grateful to him, "to see you in the same role as your mother. I'm so proud of you, Nina. I've always been proud of you."
"Thank you, Dad," I say as I go to hug him. "Thank you so much."
"You should get some rest, the next few days are going to be hard."
"Yes, I finish the film and I will. It's almost the end."
"Good night then."
"Good night."
Chap. 13
Back at rehearsals, I do my best to avoid Noah, even though this mission is nearly impossible. Correction, it is impossible, since he is my dance partner. Alice tries as much as she can to stay with me in this difficult moment. That's when I see him and I remember the moment in the restaurant. The sadness returns and I struggle not to cry, especially in front of him. I don't want him to know that he has hurt me.
"Nina," he begins.
"Ms. Larson, I'd like clarification on a step, please," I cut him off as I walk toward my dance teacher.
Even so, this diversion is short-lived, as we begin to rehearse. Fortunately, he doesn't have time to talk to me, and I take advantage of the situation.
"Nina," he says at the end of the day, trying to catch up with me, "wait."
But I turn a deaf ear and hurry to Alice.
"How did it go?" she asks me.
"It's okay, but I don't think I can do this every day until the show, it's too hard."
"Yes, that's normal."
The next day though, I do the same thing. But this time, the teachers realize it.
"Stop it, stop it!" says Mr. Feggin. "It's not right. What's going on between you ? You don't dance like before. You don't have this complicity anymore, this trust that allows you to dance together. Now you do everything wrong, you are not in sync. Fix your problems now," he adds before leaving, followed by Mrs. Larson.
"Nina, what's going on?" asks Noah. "I don't understand why you're avoiding me. You won't talk to me or answer the phone. Tell me what's wrong," he walks over and puts his hand in mine.
"Don't touch me," I reply. "You have no right to ask me that. Not after what you did with that girl."
And I leave in my turn, not listening to Noah, who behind me, persists in shouting my name.
Chap. 14
The next day, I am not so lucky. As soon as I arrive, after having passed the door of the theater, I feel a hand closing on my arm and taking me in a room.
"You saw me with Barbara, it is for that that you do not answer me," he says a little out of him.
"If it is indeed her name, then yes," I retort.
"I do not see in what to see a friend disturbs you," he replies.
"A friend? You were kissing her," I exclaim.
"Ah, you saw that too," he says, both sad and embarrassed.
"Yes, I saw that too," I say, smiling wickedly.
"But it's nothing, she and I have been over for a long time, but she is determined to get me back," he justifies himself.
"Yes, it's very convincing!"
"I assure you, I never really loved her, she and I got together for publicity, it was at a time when I did anything, but I changed, and I don't care about her."
"Yes, like you don't care about me!"
"Do you really believe that? Would I do all this if I didn't care about you?"
I see the sincerity in her eyes, so I decide not to answer. These revelations change my view of events a bit. But I don't know if I can trust him anymore.
"Look, I know it hurt you, I can see that," he says when he notices me shaking his head. "But the thing is... "
"Is what?" I ask when I see that he doesn't dare answer.
"It's that... I've never loved anyone as much as I love you," he admits.
At this moment, I lose my voice. I didn't expect this. I didn't think he was the type to fall in love so quickly and especially with me. He who can have any girl in the world. But I can see by the look on his face that he really means it. That he's telling the truth, that he's never lied to me since we've known each other. So I don't doubt him, and especially not his feelings for me.
To answer him in my way, I approach Noah and kiss him passionately. He responds by putting his arms around my waist and holding me close, as if to show me that he had missed me. And I feel all his love in this embrace.
We are interrupted by Alice, who comes storming into the room.
"Uh, sorry to bother you, but we're looking for you everywhere. The rehearsal started," she says, questioning me with her eyes.
'Everything is fine' I tell her with my eyes. And I mean it sincerely.
Chap. 15
"Oh my god, the room is almost full," I say to Noah, looking through the gap in the curtain.
"Relax!" he reassures me, putting his lips on mine. "Everything is going to be fine, we are together."
"Yes, yes, I know. I should be used to it by now," I gasp.
"But today is a special day for you, so you have the right to be. You're finally fulfilling your dream, it's okay to be stressed.
"I'm scared," I admit.
"You shouldn't be, you are wonderful, you dance beautifully. And then you know this ballet by heart," he tells me. "Don't worry and breathe."
And I do what he says. I breathe and I feel better all of a sudden. And the fact that I'm not alone makes me feel much better.
Then, when the performance starts, I just dance, step by step, listening to the music vibrating in my body. And I don't think about anything else. I feel like I am Clara, like I am her character, like I am seeing things from her point of view. I feel that this moment is magical and that it will stay in my heart forever.
At the end of the show, the dancers and I come to greet the audience. Noah and I, being the main characters, receive flowers. We look at each other and smile. In this smile, we tell each other everything. And to thank him, I place a kiss in the corner of his lips, a kiss filled with love and the magic of the moment.
The End.
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