ballet shoes

.vii quatrieme devant

. v i i
q u a t r i e m e  d e v a n t

the weather was getting colder and colder as carter anticipated for the arrival of the day where the whole of new york would finally be witnessing the most magical ballet recital of the year. the same day where he planned to show his face to the only girl that had been messing with his mind for so long.

carter didn't exactly know what to say in front of her. some days, he swore he would make it spontaneous and just speak whatever his mind was telling him. most days, his trash can would get overwhelmed by the number of papers thrown with scribbles of his planned speech.

"being the daughter of annalisa cleland doesn't exactly mean you have the privelege to slack off during practices, ms. chen!"

carter shifted his eyes to the stage, searching what the little commotion was about. only then he noticed that morgana was sitting down on the floor, massaging her ankle while few of the ballerinas surrounded her. their instructor was a few steps away, facing a ballerina who wore a pink tutu. carter was suddenly reminded of the girl that approached him the day before.

"i-i'm sorry, i didn't mean to do it! i got lost in the middle of the piece and i didn't know morgana was behind me!"

his brows furrowed. indeed it was the girl that talked to him, with the pink tutu and shrill voice -- it was undeniable. without a sense of apprehension, carter stood up with only one thing on his mind. morgana was hurt and he needed to get near her to make sure that she was fine. she didn't look fine.

"it's alright, mr. rasuk. it was an honest mistake," morgana spoke.

just as quickly as carter stood up, he stopped in his tracks. she spoke. morgana spoke. after almost a year of not hearing her voice, carter finally heard it again.

just like what was etched on his mind, and in the deepest of his heart, morgana's voice was just as soft and just as sweet. like springs of honey bubbling from the ground, mixed with roses and stardust and a spell that would render anyone who'd heard it enthralled. like a bird's song, like a piano's missing key, like something you'd never think you've been dying to hear until you heard it.

his knees weakened. his lips parted.

"may i excuse myself for a minute, please?" morgana smiled softly.

and once again, carter found himself spellbound.