The White Swan

1.4

Zachary

Nick introduced himself and gestured towards Natalia to do the same, she stepped forward and offered Dave her hand in recognition, "Hi, so nice to meet you again." Dave returned her smile and took her hand giving it a squeeze.

"It's good to see you again too, Natalia. This is Zach, the new principal dancer that you've probably heard of." Dave was still holding her hand and the smile had developed a tinge of arrogance. But Natalia either didn't notice, or ignored it, her smile still intact.

She seemed uncomfortable with Dave and the touch of his hand, but didn't say anything. Instead she just slightly pulled her hand to get it free and offer it to me. "Just 'Nat' is fine, sorry if my hand's sweaty I just finished a rehearsal." She chuckled softly, I recognised her accent to be Russian and was impressed by her being such a young soloist in a country that wasn't familiar to her.

"Blake said he couldn't wait to see you in rehearsal, it's looking like Nikiya will be yours." Dave winks at her. But news that should've been delightful instead brought a slight frown to her face, and she was looking anywhere but in Dave's eyes. I briefly wondered at this, but decided it was none of my bussines. If she was really Blake's 'chosen' Nikiya I didn't want to meddle in whatever their affaires were, I couldn't risk a scandal with a young soloist and promised myself to keep some distance.

Natalia

The mention of Blake was unexpected, for once I thought I had made it on my own. I had never been embarrassed to use some charms to secure a role, no matter how much I didn't want it to be the case, the world of ballet was filled with politics too. How far you got into your career didn't just depend on talent, so I didn't pretend to be above a little flirting.

Blake was someone I'd rather not think about, we had used each other and while I felt I was done with him, Dave's statement just now made me realize he wasn't done with me. Nikiya was to be mine, and I was to be Blake's. It almost made me laugh, how fate had decided to throw us back together again, completely disregarding how it went the first time, nothing short of disastrous.

I willed the conflicted look of my face and returned Dave's smug smile, Blake wanted me and I should be grateful, it was basically written on his face.

The man introduced as Zach and Nick got swept up in a conversation about some details of the ballet's pas de deux, Dave pulled out his cellphone and I took the hint and quickly scurried away to get my things and leave.

~~~

"Nat, can you just open the door? I want to talk to you, I don't think we left things the right way." I heard the desperation in Blake's voice as he continued to knock on the door. I was exhausted, a long day behind me and I still had things to do. But he was right, in a way, we did leave things unfinished, it was still eating me up from the inside so maybe having a civilized conversation would be a good thing, right?

I opened the door just far enough so I could talk to him, but not far enought for him to think I was inviting him in.

"Oh thank God, Nat, I was worried about you, why didn't you answer any of my texts?"

I rolled my eyes at him, his gaze hardening at the movement but he was evidently still trying to remain composed, "I didn't feel like it, why would I answer any of your texts?"

He ignored the question and instead opted for pleading with me again, "It was a one time thing and you can't even imagine the guilt I have felt over it. I never meant to hurt you, I was just mad and I didn't know what I was doing. I promise."

"Don't you realize that that doesn't make it okay? How do I know you won't do it again?" I promised myself I wouldn't fall for his shit again, but I couldn't help but feel that his voice sounded sincere.

"You don't know, but I'm asking you to trust me. I have been taking anger management classes, and I've been going to therapy, and it's all just for you Natalia. So I could be with you again, help you again, please baby, don't you remember what nice times we had together?'' The tears nearly brim his eyes and I can't help but feel bad for him. Maybe I had been judging him too harshly, after all, it only happened once.

So when he asked, I opened the door for him.

flora says...
Okay so, I'm back, sorta? Idk I've been really busy with school and things but this book doesn't really have any reads so I don't think anyone really minds very slow (and kinda horrible, like this one) updates. I don't like this chapter but I feel like I need to get the story started in order for me to enjoy writing it, and i'm not there yet. Ily lots <33
(Also I switched the perspective to first person bc it's easier to write lmao)