the moon is down

“I have absolutely no idea, if I’m honest with you.” Juliet was lucky enough to be a favourite of the instructors at the Ballet, but even they refused to give her a hint as to the chosen show for the new season. “I’d love it if we could do Swan Lake, though. Wouldn’t that be just beautiful? You’d make a lovely Odette, you know, or even better, Odile! You’d be able to pull off evil so well, you’re so talented, Felicity.”

“I would literally die to be Odile,” she said, and the thought alone made her chest feel tight.  “I don’t know if they’d consider Juniors for the role, though.  I feel like it’d be you or one of your girls -- I mean, only two other Juniors are even allowed to perform in pointe shoes right now, so I doubt the instructors would consider us.  God, that’d be divine though.  Would you audition for Odette?”

Patrick immediately felt his heart drop in his stomach as he took in what the girl was telling him. He immediately reached out and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close beside her. “I can’t imagine how difficult that must be, I’m so sorry.” He stroked the side of her arm, adding, “You know I’m here, right? If you need anything. A place to stay, someone to hang out with here, a shoulder to cry on. Anything at all.” Patrick pressed his lips to the top of her head briefly, hoping to comfort her, before sighing and pulling back to speak again. “She…erm, Dina got hit. She was in a car accident. That’s all I know right now.”

“Seriously.  It’s not a big deal.  Thanks, but I can take care of myself.”  She leaned against his shoulder nonetheless.  “It’s hard.  Like, it really sucks, but you learn to deal with it.  Soldier on, something like that.  I don’t know Dina, but I’ve seen my share of car accidents.  That could be fine or really bad, so I’m sorry.”  Mom and Dad had both, respectively, been killed or otherwise lost via car.

    “No problem. It helps that we have the same features. What are you sneaking in to watch anyway?”

“Ah, the Witch.  I heard it’s a horror flick that’s actually good.  Which is like seeing a unicorn.”

An over-exaggerated smile, and she looped her arm with the other girl’s. “Yep! That’s us.” For his part, the usher looked convinced, or maybe he just didn’t care much. Either way, Anne didn’t much like horror movies when she was younger (Or now, for that matter), but if she had, she would’ve appreciated somebody to have her back like this. 

“Thank you very much, sister-mine.  Ah, the name’s Felicity.  And you’re basically the best ever, helping me out like that,” she said as soon as they had sat inside.  “I seriously appreciate it.  I’ve been looking forward to this movie for a while.”

The thought of Felicity using a fake ID only caused Juliet to giggle even more, shaking her head. What was she going to do with this girl, who was years younger but had so much more confidence than she did? “Don’t worry about it, I needed someone to see it with. And I’ve missed you, so I’m more than happy to assist you in your illegal ways, just this once.”

“Aye-aye.  Just this once.”  She gave her a nod, tried to regain an air of cool, as if she’d had one in the first place.  “It’s gonna be so cool, watching it with you.  Is it true that the new show is being announced soon?  The junior girls have been placing bets about what it is.  Swan Lake and Giselle are our biggest guesses.  Have you heard any news?”  

On the scale of one to ten mental yikes! this was around the eleven zone. But hey, if she had been stood up (That girl from her dance class had either had the times mixed up or had just flat stood her up. Anne wasn’t sure which was wose.) she could always use the time to help out a kid in need. ‘Oh yeah,” she said, nodding at the usher. “Yep. With me. Hi.” Legendary acting skills indeed.

“Yep!  This is my . . . Sister.  I’m adopted.  Clearly.”  She tucked her hands under her arms and gave the other girl a gracious smile.  “We’re totally sisters.”

Turning to see Felicity standing there, he immediately felt bad about how angry he had let himself become. Shame washed over him; he must have looked like some sort of monster, no better than the creatures who walked the streets of Verona. Somehow, seeing her innocent wide eyes looking at him, her hesitant little smile as she gestured for him to sit by her, seemed to stop him from exploding. Sighing, Patrick nodded, walking over to her. “I’m sorry, you shouldn’t have had to see me like that. I…I apologise.” Frowning, he asked, “What are you doing here? You should be at home. This isn’t the place for you.”

“It actually is the place for me, sorta-kinda.  I’m visiting my dad.  He’s, ah, he’s in the room two doors down from that girl everyone’s here for.  You don’t gotta apologize.  I’ve been there, so I get it.  It seriously sucks.”  Patrick looked so damn deflated.  Last time she’d seen him, he’d been so bright, so enthusiastic about everything.  She awkwardly clapped a hand on his shoulder.  “So, what happened?  With that girl.”

Juliet had watched in amusement as the girl she had taken such a liking to had tried to argue her case as to why she should be allowed into the movie, trying to attach herself onto a group of people. Giggling to herself, the brunette decided to take pity on her, and walked over to grab her hand. “Come on, Felicity, don’t keep me waiting here. I might have to eat all your popcorn.” Smiling at the man guarding the door to the screen, Juliet didn’t feel the least bit guilty about using her Capulet advantage, if it meant treating Felicity. Turning back to her, she gave her a wink as she pulled her inside.