Meet Us at the Barre: A Series of SAB Oneshots

ambition

Light language warning

Mark sat beside Abby on the bed, the rest of their little squad sitting around them.

"So, let's lay this out." Kath started, shifting her glances between all the friends. "We open Nutcracker, when? The 29th?"

"Yep." Emmie nodded.

Ever since Mark had gotten it in his head that he may or may not get an NYCB contract at the end of this year, the rest of his friends had ganged up and become Mark's managers, in a sense.

Making sure he didn't kill himself by running to audition and audition, and promising that he got an official leave from the Head of SAB for the auditions, still without missing his mandatory SAB rehearsals, had kind of become their job.

"Right, so that means, PNB has you scheduled for--" James began, but halted when he noticed Mark slumping down onto Abby's shoulder. "Mark, you're falling asleep." James stated, sighing. "Maybe this is too much."

"No, no..." Mark's voice was heavy, slurring almost. "I'm jus' resting my eyes."

James sighed, gladly accepting the gentle kiss Kath placed on his cheek.

"Okay, well PNB has you scheduled for Monday at seven, which Emmie has you cleared with Rosemary. Therefore--"

"And we lost him." Abby whispered, looking down at Mark, who was now snoring softly, though his inhales sounded stuffy.

Abby quietly shooed the rest of the cast away, letting them go home and get some dinner. She'd stay back and deal with Mark.

"What are going to do with you, Baby?" Abby whispered to herself, delicately running a few fingers through Mark's uncharacteristically messy hair. He needed another haircut, for sure.

He'd always been ambitious. Dreaming way too big for anyone around him to grasp onto.

It was only until recently that he became this ambitious.

He always wanted to be the best, not in a conceited way, but he just always wanted to be the best version of himself he could be. The whole "be better than you were yesterday" kind of a mantra was what his heart beat to.

Abby slowly lifted Mark off of her shoulder, letting him lay against the more comfortable pillows.

She blew him a kiss before tiptoeing around the apartment. She returned moments later, setting the glass of water on the bedside table.

She sharply turned around at the sound of groaning from where Mark was sleeping.

"I didn't mean to wake you, Lovie." Abby frowned.

"I didn't mean to fall asleep." Mark sat up, rubbing his face. "Shit, did everyone go home?"

"Watch your mouth and drink that water." Abby joked, pointing to the glass. "And yes, I sent them home."

"No!" He whined. "I don't know what the hell I'm doing anymore."

"Mark, exactly." Abby sat at his feet, watching as he fell back onto his back. "You're doing too much. I think you need to start panicking when you for sure don't get a contract. You still have nine months to win everyone over, okay? And who says you don't already have a contract? Peter loved you when he watched over class."

Mark sighed a dramatic sigh, but let Abby win this one. "Fine, I guess you're right."

"I always am." She joked, kissing his forehead. "Now, go back to sleep. Though you do need to drink more water."

"Screw it." Mark mumbled, obviously falling back asleep, though Abby knew that was still his ambition talking.

He'd have to work on that.

~~~~~

abbydancesx, my voice of reason is saving my life