Donkeyskin - ON HOLD

Of Old Friends and New

*Of Old Friends and New*

 After the failed performance, the dancers worked twice as hard. Every winter, according to the other dancers, they performed The Toy Soldier, and this year, Elodie took the lead in the role of the girl. Noah was her prince, the toy soldier of the title. Xavier had been demoted to the role of the rat king, after the debacle of The Change of the Seasons when he had dropped Elodie.

Ever since their conversation, Manon had taken Elodie under her wing. Now, the only person in the company who seemed to shun her was Xavier. He was sulky, and M. Beaufort threatened to fire him more than once.

Manon had been officially promoted to M. Beaufort's assistant, and, since she had played the role Elodie now had for years, the two of them worked together for hours on end. There was a smaller studio, Elodie learned, and it was to there that they went. The room was less stuffy than the main studio, and had no space for an audience, just the piano in a corner and the bar and mirrors along one wall. Manon would sit at the piano, plunking out the tune of the dance, yelling corrections at Elodie.

They worked late into the night, most days, without pausing for dinner. Of all the dancers, Manon was the only one who seemed to understand Elodie's drive for perfection, and her need to work at every step until it felt right.

This ballet was easier than the last one, a traditional performance, familiar to each and every one of them, even Elodie. She had never seen the ballet, but M. Beaufort had taught her many of the dances, so she pretended to know it as well as the others, and her deception was easier than she'd expected.

Every night, when she tiptoed back into the room she and Fleur shared, she always found her friend waiting up, though, every night, Elodie asked her not to. And, even though they were both weary from a hard day's work, they would stay up, gossiping about the other members of the ballet.

No matter what juicy secrets Fleur told her about the others, Elodie couldn't bring herself to tell Manon's secret, even when her pregnant belly began to be obvious as autumn wore on. She was about four months along when the others began to guess.

One night, after Elodie had returned from her session with Manon, Fleur lay sprawled over the side of her bed, her head hanging off the edge. It was later than usual, to the point where Elodie had snuck down to the kitchen and stolen some snacks for them.

When she returned, her arms laden with treats, Fleur sat up, folding her legs against her chest. "You know, we used to complain together about Manon, but for the last month, you've refused to say anything bad about her. Don't tell me you suddenly are in love with her or something."

Elodie set down the food she'd brought up and selected an apple. Leaning against the wall, she began to toss it up and down. "We have an understanding," she said dismissively.

Fleur gave her a look that said something like, Really? She flopped back down on the bed, rolling her eyes. "Lune, I'm not an idiot, and Manon's pregnant, isn't she?"

Elodie took a deep breath. "Not that it's my place to tell you, but yes." Because Fleur still looked at her with wide, hurt eyes, Elodie tossed the apple at her.

Fleur yelped, caught it, and scrambled upright. "Lune!" she cried, giggling. "You're right, I guess. It wasn't your place. But thank you for telling me."

Elodie shrugged. "We're friends, aren't we?"

Fleur smiled, dimpling prettily. "Yes, we are. Which is why, tomorrow, we're going to the market, and you're not locking yourself in that studio like you did last week on your day off. You need new point shoes, and some new clothes."