Precise and en Pointe (Corrine)

[Rachel Kells]

Rachel had wandered into one of the few training rooms that included a mirror wall and the bar across them. She couldn't make it to the studio tonight, as the last bus had left right after her class, and if she had tried to go, she would have missed dinner. Rachel was many things, but she ate very little, so the little she did eat, she made sure to.

She had felt a little silly walking around in her leotard, but it was her practice gear. Years of Ballet had taught her it was better to be prepared, rather than to practice in baggy clothes and pull something. She had had trouble getting her hair correct, but instead she decided to braid it before bunning it. This allowed for the bun to be formed easier. It would make much more sense for her hair to be than loose. If it was loose than it held the chance of getting in her eyes and she really didn't want that.

Slowly she began her stretches, working out all of the tension she had been feeling lately. Her dad still hadn't responded to her messages on social media, letters, or calls. In fact her mom had told her that if she didn't stop trying to call him he might come after her. How in the heck had this happened? Before he was always there, now though? He thought she was a monster. God she wished he would come back, that her stupid power was hers. She wished he still loved her. She wished she could be better. That's where ballet came in.

Slowly the music came on and she bagan her performance. She was trying to perform the part of Giselle. It was one of her favorite ballets, and over the years she had always flocked to the roll. She knew the steps, and knew what was right in the motions. She knew that she was good at this.

Rachel knew she was on point.

[Corrine Moliere]

Cori had a habit of wandering - or exploring as she preferred to think of it. Really for her it was about meeting people. There were just so many new people here and the more she could meet the more friends she would have, or so she thought at least.

As was always the case of late it seemed, the sound of music caught her ear. This music though was quite familiar to her. It was classical and from a ballet no less. Cori had danced this solo the year before herself. All the hours of practicing had the music nearly engraved into her mind. Her curiosity got the better of her and so she ended up following it.

It didn't take long to find the training room the music came from and Cori leaned against the doorframe, watching the last half or so of the solo. Thankfully, the dancer didn't seem to notice her presence - she would have hated for her to stop dancing after all.

Only when the music stop did she make herself known, applauding the dance. "You danced beautifully, and that is not an easy solo to do clean," she said with a warm smile. She faltered for a moment, considering offering some advice, but decided against it. After all, she didn't know this girl at all and she didn't want to accidentally offend her. "You're obviously a very talented dancer," she concluded, her smile brightening as she gave a small nod."

"I am a ballerina myself... or, well, I was..." She fidgeted slightly. Cori had thought that was all behind her now, but it seemed it was still a part of her, more than she admitted. She just wasn't sure how she felt about that yet. "I guess I don't really know anymore," she said with a nervous chuckle, trying to laugh it off.

[Rachel Kells]

Of the many training rooms, this one was one of Rachel's favorites. She was always looking for places to practice, and this one was a good place given the circumstances. With the mirrors and the stand, it was perfect for ballet. This was why she liked it.

The music of the solo played as Rachel danced the steps her teacher had given her. She wasn't supposed to have this solo, but she knew that it was what she had loved. She knew that the one who had gotten the role was doing it wrong. Rachel was sure she could do better.

It was true that Rachel didn't notice the person enter. Instead she was more focused on the dance itself. It was coming up to the second half where she knew that she had to be on time with her jumps. Rising onto her toes she let her hands rise above her head and tried to keep her balance as she followed the music's choreography.

It was when the music and part ended that Rachel noticed the older girl who had appeared to watch her. She had thought she had shut the door, but it must not have closed all the way if she had gathered a spectator. When the girl started to applaud her Rachel smiled. She knew she had done well. "Thank you, I've been watching it for years and memorizing the steps." Dropping off of her toes Rachel wandered over to where her stuff was and pulled a towel to mop up the sweat from her neck. "I've been dancing for as long as I can remember. May dad started me at age six." Rachel frowned thinking of her dad.

Then there was something that caught Rachel's attention. "You danced?" Rachel gave the girl a once over before nodding. The legs and the weight, yes this was a dancer who stood in front her her. "Nonsense. A dancer is always a dancer. Let me guess. You still watch what you eat, you still do the stretches, you still hold your posture above all else. No, dancing is in your blood." Rachel smiled at the older girl. "Once you start you won't be able to quit. Even if you say you do, or will, I gaurentee you will want to go back." Rachel grinned before she tilted her head and looked over the other girl. "What made you stop?"

[Corrine Moliere]

It was a relief that the other girl didn't seem to mind her presence. That could have been really awkward after all. Cori had never particularly minded others watching her dance - something that came with her outgoing personality and a side effect of spending most her time in her mother's studio - but other girls were very uncomfortable with it she had learned. They didn't want anyone to see anything but the perfect final performance, even though every dancer knew it was a rocky road of mistakes that led to that end result.

"You taught yourself the Giselle solo?" she asked, a note of surprise in her voice. Dancing as long as she apparently had, she would be familiar with all the steps, but nonetheless, it was impressive to perfect a sequence without outside corrections. "You must be really dedicated," she added with a smile.

She nodded as the other girl asked if she had danced. Though she was surprised as she went on to insist she'd always be a dancer. Of course, she couldn't help but think there was truth to what she said. She didn't follow the diet as strictly, but she still had the thought process and for the most part did eat properly. Stretching was just second nature. She had been doing the stretches as a part of her daily schedule for as long as she could remember - another side effect of the amount of time spent in her mother's studio growing up. She didn't really think about her posture, but she never really had. Maybe this girl had a point.

"Are you sure we've never met before? Somehow you seem to know me really well," she teased with a laugh as she stepped further in the room. Hovering by the door felt a bit too much like lurking. "Technically speaking, I stopped because I came to Hammel and just never found a new studio..." She hesitated a moment before sighing. "But that's not the real reason. The real reason is my mom."

Her gaze turned downward for a moment, before looking at the other girl. "She ran her own studio, so I was surrounded by dance basically since I was born. She always wanted to be a professional, but an injury ruined her chance. So when I started dancing, well, I guess she transferred that dream on to me." Cori gave a small shrug. Truth was, sometimes she wondered if dancing had been her idea in the first place at all. It had just always been in her life. Had that been her mom's influence, or her own choice?

"Anyway. When I was a kid, I didn't really care, you know? I just loved dancing more than anything. But then... I dunno. I think I still love it but... I stopped enjoying it. It became all work. Just more and more pressure to get it perfect... When I found out I had to move here to Vermont... I was relieved. It was an escape. It was freedom..."

Cori suddenly broke into nervous laughter. The truth was that was the first time she had been so honest about why she had stopped dancing. Bits and pieces of the reason, but never the full story. "Oh wow, I doubt you wanted to hear my entire life story when you asked that question. I am so sorry, you are probably bored out of your mind and I made this awkward, didn't I?"

Sometimes she just didn't know when to stop talking.

[Rachel Kells]

Rachel nodded at the question with a small smile. "Kinda. I've been watching the older girls do it, but I was never formally trained no. It is one of my favorite pieces though." Rachel gave a genuine smile to the other girl, before tilting her head. "Not so much dedicated, more driven. I don't really know anything else other than Dance and my instruments." She didn't and right now she was focusing on choosing the things that would allow her to become better. To be better. To prove to her dad she was better

Rachel smiled as the other girl contemplated what she was saying. She could see it in the other girl.She could see the dancer. Rachel knew that look, the one the girl had. It was the one which she often held herself while she was contemplating her own existence in the dance world. She knew she would never make it, not as a meta, but she at least had to latch onto something she knew. Rachel knew Dance.

"I'm sure, unless you've visited the studio in town before?" Rachel hadn't recognized the other girl, but she knew most of the dancers. She smiled lightly, before shaking her head. "I think that if you start dancing you won't be able to stop." She smirked before looking over at the other girl. "Admit it, the music haunts you. It's what you think about as you walk, its what you know." She giggled a bit before looking at her. "Mother or not, Dancing is in your blood."

The next choice of words left Rachel a little puzzled. " I think that you will do what you want. Simple. Here you get a second chance, do you want to start over? Or do you want to continue? Or maybe you want to just quit." She outright laughed at that though. "I highly doubt you want to quit, but what do I know? I'm just a random dancer you found." She smiled at the girl whose mood seemed to plummet a bit. "Look, you get to choose your own dreams. No one can tell you what to do here, well except for teachers and stuff." Rachel wanted to make sure that this girl danced for herself, not for anyone else. Rachel thought about what a sham she was, here she was dancing for her dad...She frowned before shaking her head a bit at the thought. The other girl didn't need to know that.

Rachel listened carefully at the girl's next words. She knew the feeling of dancing as the work to perfection. That was a part of the reason why she practiced so much. She needed to be perfect, to get it right. No matter what. Offering up a sad smile Rachel tilted her head. "Why don't you try it here? Now." Rachel smiled at the thought. "Dance anything, to anything. My ipod has classical and instrumental covers of most music. Just try it. No one really bothers to show up here anyway." Rachel grinned over at the other girl. This would be the test to see if she wanted to continue.

Rachel's eyebrow rose as the other girl broke out in a nervous laugh. She wasn't sure what to say, but she knew that the girl wanted to dance. She could feel it. "If you don't want to dance, why don't you come watch me practice at least? I practice at five am here, seven-thirty at the studio in town, and right before bed at nine-thirty." The very least she could do was invite the girl to come watch. Rachel had to laugh though. "Trust me, it could be much more awkward."

Living with your own demons could be super awkward. "I'm Rachel by the way. Rachel Kells."

[Corrine Moliere]

The other girl's words confirmed what Cori already suspected and only made her respect for this dancer grow. "What drew you to it?" she asked, curious if she was enticed by the story or the technical challenge. "Well, either way, it's pretty impressive." Part of her wanted to insist that she was more than just a dancer obviously, but she hesitated. She didn't know anything really about her life and it was be rude to assume she did. "What instruments do you play?" she asked after a moment's pause.

Cori shook her head in reply to the question about the studio in town. She had never been. Her mother had thrown a fit about her even considering to dance at another studio and it had been the final straw for Cori. So she had just quit dancing altogether. "You're not wrong," she conceded with a laugh. "Sometimes I think maybe I quit more to punish her than anything but... It's what I've been doing my whole life, you know? Is it what I really want or is it just what I was expected to do?" She gave a small helpless shrug.

"Either way though. It's nice to have time for things other than dance." It was the first time in her life that had really been the case after all.

Still, she listened to what the other girl was saying, carefully absorbing her words. "I guess that's just it really. I don't want to chose. It's always been a choice between dance and everything else. I don't really want to give up dance, but I want to have a life outside of it too." She nodded along as the dancer continued speaking. "I guess that's still what I'm figuring out. Why I dance. It seems like it should be an easy question, but it's actually pretty hard."

Her mood was lighter though as they continued talking. "I'm Cori... Corrine Moliere," she said with a smile, responding the the introduction before either suggestion.

She couldn't say she was surprised how often the girl practiced. She remembered the amount of work that went into dance after all. "I could definitely watch you rehearse if you wanted another set of eyes though." It seemed like a good use of her time after all. Besides, maybe they could even be friends. "I still usually wake up pretty early outta habit," she admitted with a laugh.

Cori chewed her bottom lip absently as she debated if she wanted to dance. "Well, I'm really out of practice..." she started to say, but her words fell short as she shook her head. "I suppose it's only fair since I watched you dance." Hopefully she wasn't too bad. She set about kicking off her flip flops. Her tank top and shorts would work fine for dancing. Of course she didn't have her pointe shoes which limited her options. Her mind turned through her choices as she did a couple quick stretches.

"Go easy on me," she said with a soft giggle as she selected a song from Rachel's iPod. "I'm rusty." With a deep breath she closed her eyes and threw herself into her solo. It was a contemporary ballet piece - one of her favorite dances to perform in fact. She just hoped the other girl liked it and that she didn't end up embarrassing herself. Her technique certainly wasn't perfect - small mistakes that came with being out of practice for so long - but overall it went rather well. Most importantly though was the way her mind fell into the dance, the world around her fading away as she danced.

When the song ended, her eyes finally looked to Rachel, finding she was rather nervous to hear the other dancer's thoughts.

[Rachel Kells]

Rachel smiled over at the other girl, and tilted her head in thought. “I think it was the beauty. I once watched the San Francisco Ballet perform it when I was little, six, seven maybe?” She smiled fondly at the thought, her father holding her and her mother smiling at her as they had sat through the performance. “I became entranced by it. The lights, the production, and most importantly, the ballet.” Rachel smiled and shrugged at the girl. “I started and never looked back.”

Rachel smiled lightly as the other girl complimented her and nodded. “Thanks.” She wasn’t going to elaborate further, and instead was surprised when the girl actually seemed to care. “I play Piano, and Violin.” She smiled lightly before chuckling. “My parents made sure to enroll me in a variety of activities when I was young.” She smiled as she thought about them now. Now they were a form of control. Control she desperately craved.

Rachel watched as the girl contemplated the questions she asked. She really should head to the studio, where she could work on her dancing. It provided an excellent outlet and setting. Plus it was a place where she could get out all of her stress. She liked the studio in town. At the girl’s admittance of her not being wrong Rachel smiled, “If you quit because of someone else you didn’t really quit.” She was a firm believer in having a good reason to quit. To punish someone else just wasn’t good enough. “You are only going to truly quit if you really hate it until the bottom of your soul. That doing the stretches and forms makes you cringe, that they make you hate yourself with every single step and pas.” Rachel smiled as the girl shrugged. “When you can’t pick yourself up and dance, that is when you will quit.”

When the girl mentioned having things other than dance, she smiled. She used those other things for control. “Dance is just apart of the daily regiment.”

As the girl listed her reasons for not choosing dance Rachel’s good mood plummeted a bit. She tilted her head and looked towards the other girl. “I applaud you for going serious thought to the matter.” She could respect the effort that the other girl was putting in and smiled at her. “I’m sure you will figure it out.”

She smiled at the other girl, “Well it is nice to meet you Cori.”

The girl--now identified as Cori-- offered to watch her practice and rehearse. She kind of blushed at the thought of a second pair of eyes, namely because she mostly danced for control. She didn’t have any performances, just... practices. “I would appreciate it. Most of the time I end up dancing by myself, and it would be nice to have another set of eyes.” She smiled. “Videos can only go so far.” She waited to see if Cori would take her up on the offer to dance.

Rachel smirked as Cori started to protest but began stretching anyway. She knew this girl was a dancer. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist.” She smiled and waited while the girl warmed up.

“I’ll only comment on what I see,” Rachel assured the other girl. She smiled as the girl choose one of her favorite instrumental pieces. Rachel watched the older girl perform, and couldn’t keep a smile off of her face. She knew this girl was a dancer. The way she lost herself in the performance, she was destined to dance. She did notice some shaky legs, and a few jumps that could be improved, but she smiled. Only small mistakes.

As such, at the end of the performance Rachel began to clap. “Beautiful. Timeless.” She smiled at the girl and played with necklace hanging off of her neck. “It was very graceful. There were points where I almost lost myself in your performance.” She felt that the girl did very well. On the other hand she could tell she was rusty. “There were only minor things that you could fix with some practice."