Those Ocean Eyes

Chapter 4

Revelling in the knowledge that Miss July hasn't completely given up her humanity, Rachel sends a hesitant smile in her teacher's direction when she enters the dance studio on Monday morning.
After the events of last week, she's hoping that they might have forged a friendly connection, but Miss July immediately shatters that illusion by pursing her lips and turning away from her.

Rachel studies the smooth curves of her teacher's back; the regal set of her shoulders, and then realises that she's standing alone in the middle of the room. Shaking her head in a small attempt to shake away her not welcome thoughts, she rushes to join the others at the barre.

When Muffin top  offers her a welcoming nod, Rachel actually glances behind her to make sure that she's indeed the one he was nodding to, and her heart soars when a few more small smiles are thrown her way. Her classmates usually avoid her like the plague.

Rachel suspects it's because they don't want Miss July to see them being nice to someone she actively despises – but today, their cold behaviors seem to have loosened a little. Maybe she won't have to wait for Kurt to join their class in order to find a willing partner, after all.

They begin by performing a lyrical adagio, and when Miss July refrains from commenting on her technique for a whole fifteen minutes, Rachel takes it as a sign of good things to come.

There's a bounce in her step and a smile on her face as she launches herself into a pas de chat, and Nathan Ruscoe glances over his shoulder before giving her an encouraging thumbs-up.

"Nice work last week," he compliments her, in a barely audible whisper, "You sure gave Cruella a run for her money."

Rachel beams at him, silently showing her gratitude.

"I heard you killed it at the showcase, too. Jared said Miss Tibideaux was practically creaming her pants."

Rachel tries not to pull a face at his choice of words. "Well, she did seem to... enjoy my performance," she hesitantly replies.

"Jesus Christ, Schwimmer, your ego really is big enough to survive Armageddon."

Rachel can't stop herself from breaking form when she realises that Miss July has silently crept up behind them, and Nathan guiltily snaps back to attention, avoiding her gaze.

"Miss July! Hi!" Rachel says a little too enthusiastic , searching for the barest hint of affection in her teacher's stoic face.

"Hi!" Miss July mocks, doing a perfect imitation of a peppy cheerleader. Seeing Rachel's face fall to a sad expression, she snorts in amusement. "What? You thought I was going to go easy on you after your little meltdown the other night?"

"YES!" Rachel wants to scream, but she's given up trying to understand how this woman's mind works.

"You were there," Rachel reminds her teacher, "You saw how good I was; you heard the audience's reaction. You told me - "

"Oh, sweetie, I pay you one compliment and you suddenly think I'm invested in your future? That I'm your biggest fan?" Cassandra cuts her off, downgrading her with a condescending smile, "You might be able to hold a tune, Schwimmer, but your dancing still sucks, and there's a big difference between acting and chewing the scenery."

Rachel chokes back a sputter and then opens her mouth to protest, but Miss July holds up a finger to stop her objections.

"All I'm saying is that you have to be a triple threat to make it in this business and, at the moment, you're just a glorified chorus girl."

Miss July's tone is sharp enough – like her words are intended to be informative instead of soul-destroying – but Rachel knows she's trying to sew the seeds of doubt.