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Ophelia

Jade shot me something that appeared to be on the verge of a frown but caught herself.

“Have you done much with partners before?”

I shook my head, then changed my mind and nodded. I hadn’t done much but I had done something, and I supposed that’s what she was asking.

“I’ve been practicing a pas de deux recently,” I said, “But Malcolm is much better than I am and Abirami–”

I glanced toward him. It would be far harder if I was the experienced one. I didn’t want the spotlight, I was far more comfortable in a supporting role, where I could just follow someone else’s lead.

I realized I’d been looking too grim and smiled, no matter how fake it felt.

”I don’t think Abirami will cause any disasters,” said Jade. “Did you hear about what he did during the insect deluge? He’ll at least have his wits about him.”

Wits made no difference. No matter whether he didn’t intend to cause a disaster, he still very well might.

I bit back that remark. Anxiety was clawing at me, but what could I do about it?

Jade shot me a quick, fleeting smile as she sat down and called for Isaias and Abirami. At least she didn’t hate me anymore. It gave me a crawling sense of uneasiness when people didn’t like me.

I glanced at Cal, who was talking to two girls I didn’t recognize. For the first time since I’d met her, she didn’t look defiant. But she still couldn’t stand me. I bit my lip. What had I ever done to her?

I listened as Jade outlined her choreography. When I was sure she wasn’t watching, I frowned. It sounded complicated. I didn’t know if lifts were a good idea to include with two beginners, but I wasn’t going to argue.

I frowned, trying to remember the whole choreography. Apparently, I was dancing with Isaias.

Her terms were hasty, and I struggled to understand what she meant. It was such a flood of information, I was sure I wouldn’t remember half of it. My heart was beating too quickly, and I let out a deep breath. This would be fine. I could just imitate her, and I’d be fine.

”What is a parmesan?”

The word caught me off my guard and I bit my lip to keep from laughing. What did cheese have to do with this?

However, Jade didn’t correct him.

”Watch.” Jade stood, and completed a neat pas de chat.  “Go whatever direction you need to get to your partner, but keep facing Ku with your body while you do this. With your head look over at your partner, of course.”

Oh. She was the one who had gotten it wrong originally. I was going to laugh, and I shouldn’t. I would not laugh at her expense. It could have happened to anyone, it was easy to hear wrong, especially how close the pronunciations were. Perhaps she’d never seen it written out.

None of those thoughts helped. The somewhat hysterical giggle was inevitable. I turned away and tried to cover it with a cough. My face had probably gone an alarming shade of pink from trying to hold back the laugh.

Jade glared at me suspiciously and I smiled, nervously.

“There’s a lot of dust here,” I said, my words tripping over each other in an attempt to sound convincing.

Isaias laughed and shook his head, probably at what he saw as a joke on my part.

I hurried toward the back of the room, letting Jade take the front.

Isaias joined me, and I smiled at him.

“Have you ever danced with a partner?”

He shook his head.

“Is it alright if I give you some tips?”  I asked, uncertainly. I didn’t feel like I knew enough to explain, but I knew something more than he did, so maybe I could help.

“Sure!” He said, cheerily.

I smiled, I was going to like him.

I started explaining, gesturing in front of me, trying to explain as quickly as possible.

“For the lift, I think she means a shoulder lift, those are the easiest. I’ll jump, you lift me by my waist, so I’m basically sitting on your shoulder for a second before you let me down. Does that make sense?” I asked, anxiously.

He nodded and I kept going.

“I’ll do everything I can but you have to initiate, otherwise the timing will be wrong. You have to bend through your knees too, otherwise, you won’t be able to lift me.”

I smiled apologetically. I felt terrible about telling him what to do, but obviously Jade wasn’t going to, and I was worried one or both of us would fall over.

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@e-n-leonard

I’m not sure if that was what you meant by parmesan, I had to look it up to make sure that wasn’t just something I don’t know about XD

I really like how Jade is opening up and taking control of the dance as well! This is pushing Ophelia really far out of her comfort zone XD