Pas de Trois

Chapter 19: "I wanted to see you smile."

"Danny, your hand," Chloe tried to balance but she knew she was going to fall. She prepared herself for the hard landing, her ass hitting the mat first.

"Sorry, I'm so sorry," Danny dropped, looking at her. "I don't know what happened."

"I do," Chloe sighed, standing up. Their teacher was on his way over. "You were watching Slade."

"No, I-" Danny shut up when their teacher motioned for one of the dancers from NYCB to come over.

"Bryan, will you please show Danny the proper way to do this lift?" their teacher asked. Chloe expected him to stay and watch but he just waited to see that Bryan was coming to help and turned back to keep working with another pair.

"Hey," Bryan didn't smile at them. "Just pay attention, you almost had it."

"I know, I've done it before," Danny insisted. "I can show you."

"Watch first," Bryan stood next to Chloe. He went to put his hands on her waist but Chloe dodged.

"Hi," she stepped away from him. "My name is Chloe."

"Bryan," he said. "Are we at a dinner party or do you want to learn something?"

"I'd like to know I can trust you, asshole," Chloe snorted. Danny made a strange choking sound.

"Unlike your partner, I know what I'm doing," Bryan said. "Can we get on with this, princess?"

"I'll pass," Chloe crossed her arms. Bryan sighed.

"You realize you're about the size of a teaspoon. I can do it without your help," Bryan raised his eyebrows.

"She's heavier than she looks," Danny mumbled.

"Maybe for you," Bryan barely glanced at him. "If you don't want to do this, go home. There are a million other girls dying to be here."

"If I wanted to get pushed around by pricks like you I wouldn't be spending a million dollars on a ballet program," Chloe rolled her eyes. "I'd just go for a walk."

"Chloe," Danny gasped.

"Bryan?" their teacher called from across the room. "How's it going?"

"Well?" Bryan looked at Chloe.

"Okay," Chloe sighed. "If you drop me, you'll regret it."

"Then do it right," Bryan said.

Chloe sighed and stepped back into place to prepare for the lift. Bryan talked through the steps for Danny, counting out loud for Chloe. He lifted her easily and Chloe perched on his shoulder, not sure what to do when she wasn't fighting so hard to stay up.

"That's what I did," Danny huffed.

"No, you were too busy staring at your boyfriend to realize you weren't supporting her at all," Bryan said. "You're not even a year out from company auditions, you should be able to do this in your sleep."

"He's my boyfriend," Chloe corrected. "And Danny can do this just fine."

"Do you ever shut up?" Bryan asked. "I've been watching for a week. He struggles every time."

"I'm getting there," Danny said. "Let me show you."

"Alright," Bryan let Chloe down. She took her place by Danny. "On my count," Bryan said.

Danny pulled it off this time but Chloe could feel him shaking. She looked at his reflection in the mirror. He wasn't so confident anymore.

"Watch your wrists," Bryan coached. "Chloe, if you hold your core the whole time it will help him."