Meet Us at the Barre: A Series of SAB Oneshots

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Katherine stood in the middle of the studios, hands on her waist. She exhaled loudly, bending over at her waist.

It had been not even 24 hours since the choreography for the newest SAB Workshop dance was set. Katherine, in the dance, had a small section of fouettè turns. Turns that she'd usually be able to hit, but ever since she was thrown into this other side role for another Workshop piece, she hadn't been able to hit them.

"Y'know..." The sound of a familiar Sweedish accent filled the studio. "I've seen you hit those turns before."

Katherine turned to face the boy who now stood in the doorway. "Is there something you want, Isaac?"

"Well--" He started, but she cut him off.

"Well, I don't have the time. I have to learn this." Katherine crouched back down and rewound the video so she could learn more of the dance.

"Katherine." Isaac paused the video, picking up her phone from the ground.

"Hey!" Katherine called, reaching for her phone, though he held it above his head to where she couldn't reach.

"Kath, I've seen you stick those turns." He repeated.

"That's been established." Katherine crossed her arms. Her voice was flat.

Isaac grabbed both of her hands and sat her down. He followed suit. "I heard you got cast in that second role."

"That's what I'm trying to learn." She sighed.

Isaac nodded. "I know, and that's exciting and special that you get to be on stage twice in this evening, but listen...our piece is significantly more technically demanding than this one." He pointed to her now idle phone screen.

"What's your point?" Katherine pulled her knees to her chest and frowned.

"My point is that it is okay to give ninety nine percent of yourself rather than one hundred and fifty percent of yourself every single rehearsal." He explained.

She looked down at her hands as he started to rub his thumbs across her knuckles.

"You're not hitting those turns because you put all one hundred and fifty percent into this other piece. Now you've run yourself down. I'm not saying don't try your hardest, but you don't have to give every ounce of yourself into something so simple, okay?" His accent was smooth, something she'd found calming since they'd met.

"Okay." She frowned. "Is that all you want?"

"That's all." Isaac stood up and left the room in silence, leaving Katherine there, drained of all of her energy because she had in fact ran herself down.

~~~~~

HEY FROM BBT! Sorry I've been so M.I.A., but I'm having the best time. I have been running myself down (like yesterday when I slept in my full ballet attire rip), but take care of yourselves x