M.E Is Not Me

Henry

In room forty five of the astounding Dance School Henry Lang-Rothchester had finished his attempt at lifting enormously heavy weights in order to prepare him for the days audition. He had made sure of course that all his roommates including Kristoff had left before preparation as he could barely even pick up the large weight without wincing in great pain. Nevertheless though he had finished and as tired as he felt he managed to take a shower and change into his ballet uniform before perfecting the quiff he knew the girls went wild for into is short dark hair. He stood back a second grinning at his own reflection as he tensed his large muscles which he had spent tireless hours getting to the size they were as well as his trim figure which had once been nothing but a fat school boy’s body for which he had been horribly teased for. He studied himself further flexing and practicing his trademark wink that he loved to flash at girls, he pulled a face though once he reached the white ballet tights that he had been forced to wear for his audition “Hmm at least the ladies can see the goods though” he smirked to himself. He sprayed an obscene amount of aftershave before exiting for class.

He trudged down the narrow corridors and grand black staircase as he felt no passion in him to attend today’s audition. To be honest he saw no point as he knew he had a great talent and he was most likely the best dancer out of all the boys in his class. Dance was something he had been pushed into as his mother thought sending him to his sisters dance class one day (as his sister was a student in grade 7) would do his health good, possibly helping loose a few pounds as well as taking his mind off of the tragic divorce that her and his father were going through. He remembers how Madame LeBlanc watched him, her beady eyes studying him over her half-moon glasses “Talent is something I see in you Henry, and it appears you are one of the lucky ones who will never need passion to go far in life” she was right too as he always got the lead in everything production without fail, he didn’t even have to try anymore as the exercise plus skipping meals meant he had gone far. He entered the dance studio in his usual way, sometimes a chorus of his male class mates cheered his name or high fived him but however today he was embraced by the arms of Camilla. “Henry!” she beamed “Or my Prince Siegfried should I say” she purred winking at him “Morning trouble” he grinned. Camilla sure did look different today, her makeup seemed heavier not that he took much notice but her body felt thinner in his arms which made him feel uneasy, nonetheless he was happy to flirt with her- Camilla was hot in his eyes with quite the reputation but then, suddenly he became distracted as the double doors swung open.

With Camilla still embracing him his head turned as Kristoff walked in with the new girl- Alissia. What was it that made him like her so? He’d always loved Russian accents, on woman they were to die for but something else made him drawn to her, was it her innocence? Mystery surrounded her as her aura made him drawn to her beauty as his eyes fixed and locked like a lion about to attack it’s pray. Camilla who was still rambling about Henry being her prince pursed her lips as she realised the attention wasn’t on her anymore as she followed his eyes to Alissia and glared “Gorgeous!” Henry shouted over to her about to go over and say hi when Camilla tightened her embrace pushing her chest against him so his eyes went back to her. Alissia walked over awkwardly, she didn’t want to interrupt anything but it was weird how Camilla was acting around him, he wasn’t hers after all. Camilla waited till Alissia was in ear shot and said loudly “So Henry your family are still coming over for Christmas dinner aren’t they? Oh hi Alissia, yes Henry, his mother and his sister Harriet always come over to ours at Christmas; it’s a little thing we do. We’re neighbours you see and we live in possibly the most exclusive area of Chelsea, a little different from where you’re from I imagine” she snorted as Henry managed to push her off him gently “So what are your plans for Christmas gorgeous?” Alissia still feeling ill felt like the situation wasn’t happening, it was like she was watching the ordeal happen before her eyes and her brain zoned in and out of it whenever it felt like, she only truly focused once Henry had asked her the question “Well I don’t really kno-““Alissia and I need to go” Camilla interrupted bluntly “Come on we need to warm up girl it’s dance time!!” she spoke overly excited dragging her away. Henry shook his head laughing, ever since Alissia had arrived Camilla sure was being clingy, he couldn’t complain though, he figured his slimmer figure had brought all the girls into his life as he lent against the dance studio wall checking out the girls who were warming up including Serena and Rosabelle ‘Yeah I’d probably fuck them’ he thought but his eyes continued to be drawn to Alissia more out of all of them, he noticed Kristoff a little distance away doing the same thing as he watched Alissia dance, she was good, very good. He strode over to him “Alright mate” he said smacking his hand down on his shoulder so he had his arm around him “Erm alright” Kristoff spoke averting his eyes away from the Russian girl “You do right looking away” Henry muttered in his ear “Floros-Rae seems more your type, or that guy over there if you take after mummy. Good luck for today” he spat strolling off feeling more confident.

At that point Ms Alexandrov sauntered in ready to start today’s audition, everyone immediately formed rows of students in front of her as she inspected them all judgingly with her eyes before commanding them to sit down “Swan Lake” she boomed “Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake” “Arguably the best ballet and if not the best and most beautiful dance production to ever be performed in the history of all dance” there was a paused as she paced up and down the studio, the mere presence of her made the students hold there breathe as even Camilla looked scared eager for her to go on “Now I don’t need to tell you all what part I got in this production in my final year of dancing before I retired to impart my wisdom on you all” “But for those of you spineless fools who perhaps lack passion in dance” she declared glaring at a few of the students “I was Odette, otherwise known as the white swan” she announced as if she’d perfected a cure for all world diseases  “Odette represents innocence, beauty, purity and was a princess who was transformed into a swan by day” “It is the art of dance that represents this bird like state as the fact no words, simply a single woman accompanied by beautiful music are all that it takes to make this production a success” she said pointing to herself “Or an embarrassing fail”

With that announcement auditions began as Arianna informed them she’d also be looking for a girl student for the part of Odile the black swan and a male student for the part of Von Rothbart (both evil parts). Henry didn’t care much for Rotbart (a name which Von Rothbart was sometimes referred to) he felt only bothered about Siegfried as that in his eyes was a much better part. First of all warm up exercises began in order for Ms Alexandrov to study their basic posture and movement as for Odette the dancer had to carry themselves with utter perfection and grace whereas Odile could have more personality and character shining through making the dance not as polished. The music began as Mrs Fisher an elderly woman played the classical songs on piano, Arianna walked around correcting them all “Serena when changing from first to second position please do not take your foot off the ground. Miss Benson do not look at the floor for god sake! Camilla, Alissia, very nice but remember the swan, the characteristics, Mr Karlsson please do not squat when doing a full plié in second position!!” “Yeah he looks like he’s having a shit!” Henry yelled as the entire class burst out laughing. Kristoff turned crimson, he felt angry at Henry and unknowingly expressed this through his dance, Arianna glared coldly at Henry before her eyes averted back to Kristoff intrigued by this “Better Mr Karlsson, much better”

After about an hour into the audition everyone was reaching maximum stress level because of much rivalry from Camilla with the other girls as she seemed to do anything to be dancing right in front of Arianna. Ms Alexandrov asked the old woman to stop the music “Thank you Mrs Fisher” she yelled sternly but the deaf old woman did not here her “MRS FISHER” she yelled again to the students amusement, but yet she still carried on playing “AGNES STOP PLAYING!!” she screamed the poor woman jumping out of her skin “Oooh sorry Mrs Alexandrov”  “It’s Ms” Arianna replied coldly, correcting her with no compassion “Now I know some of us are getting a little fed up with a few things or people” she mocked glaring at Camilla “But tonight is the school’s annual Christmas party as you know so let’s all not tear each other’s hair out and try to get through the next hour”. Alissia had no idea about the party, her roommates had been too lazy to inform her, plus Camilla had forbid them to let her know in order to have an evening with just Henry and no distractions. The blonde girl was now fuming at being both told off and the announcement and felt like another trip to the toilet was in order but had to wait another hour before she could. The audition process finished finally after the partner dance where Kristoff had been with Serena and Alissia with Henry- again to Miss Lupton’s disgust , Henry and Alissia however were far from in disgust as Alissia giggled as Henry picked up as she had to leap across the room “Very good chemistry, very convincing for the early acts” Arianna had said “But more grace Alissia, more swan like”. “Well I thought you were very graceful” Henry said as they excited the studio after Arianna had dismissed them “Thanks” she said shyly looking down “Maybe I’ll see you tonight then at this party?” she hoped even though she was exhausted “Maybe you will” he said kissing her cheek as he strolled back casually to room forty five.