Off Pointe

Lies and Subtitles

On Point BREAKING NEWS!

By Rena Rouge

Breaking News from the USA! Yesterday's performance of Swan Lake by the New York City Ballet was missing one vital ingredient – Zoé Lee (20). There's no news as to why the Prima Ballerina wasn't dancing her role, but we will keep you updated as soon as we find out more.

*****

Adrien looked around the studio, nerves on edge as he waited for his guest to arrive and join him. This was not what he wanted to do, but he had no choice. After reading the latest blogs on 'On Point' Adrien knew he had to correct a few things and for that to happen he had to attack it head on.

He moved to the piano in the corner. No one ever came to use this studio anymore, not since his mother died. This was her territory and no one else's. She'd spend hour after hour rehearsing here with either Plagg or his father criticising and improving her routines.

With every step he took, the studio echoed memories, rhythmical beats triggering vivid recollections as his mother moved gracefully across the floor. He used to sit in the corner, clapping and cheering her on as she asked him for his thoughts, making them seem like the most important opinion of the lot.

He'd always tell her she was beautiful, that she danced like an angel without wings – an ironic thought now she had grown them.

God, he missed her so much. His heart yearned for memories that had vanished. Birthday parties, dance recitals, days out in the park – each and everyone being overtaken by his mother laying helpless in bed, losing her energy, her sparkle...just her.

Over the past few months he felt lost, one of the reasons he agreed to coming back to the company. When he was here, he could still pretend she was too – that as he danced she'd be spying in the window and taking photographs and videos to show him later. When he danced he was closer to her. He was sharing the one thing they both adored to do, but it just didn't work the way he wanted it to, needed it to.

He hadn't been able to stop thinking about Marinette. It was eerie how similar she was to his mother, and it both comforted him and freaked him out. She made him want to watch her, but also turn away at the same time, the arms and hands a heart wrenching replica.

"I wondered when we would have some alone time again."

Adrien closed his eyes, controlling his breathing as he considered how to phrase what he was about to.

"Why did you make that statement?" He didn't want to look at her, opting to wipe a hand over the dust which had settled on the piano top instead. His finger began to craft intricate patterns in the covered lid, lazily etching letters into the dust before he wiped them away.

"I don't know what you mean?"

Of course she would play this innocently. That's what she was good at — manipulating situations to get what she wanted, for everyone to seem like the bad guy apart from herself. Poor Lila Rossi.

"Don't bullshit me, Lila." His voice remained monotone considering what the little voice in his head was saying. It wasn't pleasant at all.

They stood in a silent stare off, Adrien refusing to blink first. Suddenly, she huffed, pushing her hair over her shoulder and crossing her arms. She was wearing the outfit she wore on their first date, one Adrien had commented made her look beautiful, but now...it barely classified as more than a handkerchief. It was amazing how his wants and needs had changed, along with his desire for a relationship with someone so fake.