I cannot say what I truly feel. As I'm on my way to the auditorium, it's like a hundred various thoughts and sparks have seized my being. I'm preparing myself, but not really knowing how. It's just natural. I'm a performer, I own the stage and I just tell myself that repeatedly. Today isn't about how I'm in love with Arjun or how he makes my world spin off its axis. It's about Cinderella, the ballet I'm leading and the plain fact that I must do my best. The feelings of nervousness and anxiety havent had time to sink in yet and hopefully by the time I need to spin on stage, the adrenaline would have kicked in.
Upon reaching Chowdiah Memorial Hall, I pick up my bag and start walking inside. Arjun intercepts me at the steps, his step falters and I suck in a breath. His honey brown eyes taking me in slowly.
"You look beautiful Cinderella."
Those words. Those exact same words penetrate straight into my heart and claim residence there until my dying breath. But I'm not even dressed. I exhale honestly, somewhere between hope and excitement.
He smiles and walks away. I stand on the penultimate step, watching him go someplace. A smile creeps onto my lips and I shake my legs awake.
"But I'm not even dressed!" I whisper to myself. "Yet." I add, swallowing.
*********
After the warmup and brief run through of the last couple acts my makeup starts. Since I'm playing the lead, I don't have to do my makeup myself like the other students. A few makeup artists help every year for the senior batch, Miss Shona and this year, me. Half an hour later my face is done up most beautifully. Lavender and electric blue glitter shadow coats my eyelids, sure to reflect the stage lights wonderfully, winged liner and fake lashes to accent it with mascara. On a layer of foundation, rose pink blush fans across my cheeks and cherry red lipstick lines my lips. I can't take my eyes off myself. I stare at my brown eyes in the mirror and trace my highlighted cheekbone and jawline with my finger.
Thanking DK, the guy who does my makeup, yes, his name is DK, I slide off the chair and process to get dressed when Rita barges in and yells out my name.
"What happened?" I ask panicking slightly.
She takes twenty seconds to catch her breath. "There is a mess up with the music. You need to add 16 more counts of dance to the couple dance."
"Right now?" I confirm perceptive as always.
"Yeah." She nods sheepishly. How old is she?
"Okay. Can I listen to it once?"
Rita fishes out her phone and finds the track. "Here."
The song starts and I mentally go through the dance until the extended 16 seconds.
"Can you figure it out?"
"Yeah sure. Have you seen Arjun?"
"He's on his way." She points somewhere behind her.
"Right."
She goes inside to speak to Shona, and I gather my things so that Arjun and I can practice in the other green room.
"Alia wait!" Shona calls me.
"Yeah?" I turn.
"Your dress, doll. It's here, take it and try it on please."
"Oh!" My heart starts running nineteen to a dozen in my chest. I completely forgot.
She hands me a blue costume case with Cinderella embroidered in silver thread. Wear the maid costume over this after showing it to me once.
YOU ARE READING
Finding Him and Me
Teen Fiction"If you were a boy, I'd ask you to take off your t-shirt for spoiling mine." He retorts "If this wasn't a restaurant I'd slap you across your arrogant face". I spit with anger. Alia plays the role of Cinderella in her Ballet Academy. One fine night...
