The Prince is my Guardian

A few moments after the mistress of the girl's dormitory left, Henry snuck out through my bed room window and went on his way. It surprised me at first that he knows how to get past the girls coming in and out of the dormitory. He probably has done this so many times that he has already mastered how to sneak in and sneak out. When I think about the things he said a while ago and the possibility that it was probably the same with the other girls in his life before, it only makes my skin crawl. Do I hate Henry? No, I don't but I just don't think that it will be a good idea to get entangled with Henry when he is this popular, influential and rich. Nana has instructed me not to go anywhere near people who I think could just use me and who I am to their advantage and as I can see it for now Henry is approaching me out of his so called "infatuation" over me but he or his father could still end up using me if they knew who I really am.

Oh, Nana, why'd you have to send me here and tell me we could meet each other again after a year when there you go missing at the beginning of my Academic Term. I would've been perfectly content with you even if it meant denying the identity I was born into, for me I was always Christie Miller your daughter and not someone else I don't even know.

With a heavy heart and a drifting mind, it felt like I was on autopilot as my classes for today went on. Nobody even noticed the mood I was in, inside the class hall, nobody gave a damn about me that's for sure. It was a welcomed solitude and peace to be left alone to my thoughts and my heart aches.

I was walking along when someone snapped a finger in front of me. It was Chase. He said I looked spaced out and he was worried so he carefully approached me and called my name at least three times thats when he snapped his finger in front of my face as if to snap me of my trance.

"Hey Christie! You okay babe?"

"Uhm Chase, its you. . . "

"I said, are you okay? You were walking alone all spaced out. Does your ankle still hurt? Is that why you were walking slowly?"

"Uh, No. My ankle is fine, Dr. Decker gave me medicine for the pain and an ice pack for the swelling so last night the swelling went down and the pain eventually disipated by morning."

"Well, aint that good to know. You sure you okay babe?"

Chase was rather really concerned and he was probing be too much so I gave him a fake smile and gathered myself saying I can't let this good person be affected by how I am feeling right now. But I didn't notice that Henry was just right behind him and he had put on his "Prince's smile" as I glanced at him.

"Boy, Henry, you did well last night. You took care of Christie, way to go bro.!"

"Come along Chase, we must not pry too much into Ms. Miller's daily affairs. We have to hurry or Amelia will have you on a stick again for coming in much later than her."

"Yeah you're right! We should get going." He grabs my hand and runs with me in tow leaving Henry dumfounded where we all stood a moment ago.

"Hahahahaha! I have her now bro!" Chase yelled at Henry but Henry seemed unfazed and only laughed (his fake laugh).

Chase and I eventually reached the Studio near the Private Theater which the Graceland Ballet Company uses for daily rehearsals, trainings and what not.

"I'm headed this way babe, the girls' changing room is on that side. See you on the dance floor later." Chase winks and then takes his leave.

I was the only one inside the changing room and so I was able to change quickly into my leotards and shorts. The leotards I have now are much more lovely than the ones I was used to own, it really is incredible what money can buy but money is a dangerous sword to wield. I know you might think it is such a strange combination to be wearing skin tight leotards and then put on top some loose short shorts. It is strange but it is a habit I have become accustomed to. Nana refused to let me participate in any ballet if I did not concede to wearing either a skirt or a short on top of my leotards. She was adamant that a young lady must no show all her goods. When I was done, I went out of the changing room and bumped into someone, it was Henry standing in front of me with his arms folded in front of him.

"The academy's leotards look good on you. . ." He took a slow walk around me, as if inspecting me if I had carried in a deadly weapon inside the studio. Then he stopped behind me and lowered his head just enough so that he could whisper to me (I thought it was the only thing he that he was about to do).

"The skin exposed in your back, looks rather tempting. . . By the way I don't appreciate Chase calling you 'babe'. . . When I hear him it makes me crazy jealous. I just might tell him that I'm your legal Guardian already and that gives me permission over you. . . (Henry strokes the skin exposed at the back, Christie shudders.) Do be careful and don't let anyone touch you. (He then kisses Christie's neck.)"

"Are you for real right now? You have no right to do those things to me even if you were my legal guardian. Those things are only for those who love each other."

"Oh have you forgotten? I just confessed how much I love you. I told you this morning and I am certain about how I feel about you Christie."

"Whatever! Just get inside already."

"Soon, I will make you fall for me and then you will be begging for my affection and I'll make sure to give you all that I have."

"Okay. . . Well best of luck to you" I sarcastically replied.

I opened the door to the studio and everyone was already stretching and Amelia who was in front holding a stick is keeping the pace of the count by banging the stick against a table. She saw me standing in front of the door and Henry just behind me and she smiled then glared when she uttered;

"You are late mon cheri. . . Our practice starts at 4:30 sharp."

"I apologize mademoiselle Amelia."

Henry grazed my lower back with his hand and proceeded to walk towards Amelia, he smiles at her and then kissed her cheek then whispers something to her. The stern look Amelia had melted away as blushed and hit Henry's chest playfully and then she goes back to look at me.

"Okay mon cheri you can stretch in the corner and watch what we are doing then you can follow afterwards."

"Yes, thank you."

I was doing my stretches by the corner and everyone was doing basic ballet movements on the bars when I noticed that the Ballet Company members were generally female there was 2:1 ratio, I mean that is a bit more than other companies have, there really is sometimes a shortage of 'danseur'. Everyone was elegant with their movements and graceful from posture to points to extensions. I also noted the exquisite way Henry moves even though he was just doing basic ballet steps I could tell that he is a great danseur.

I finished stretching and did all my basic ballet movements on the bars just as everyone had finished and have gathered in front of the mirrors to follow and await the next instructions from mademoiselle Amelia. You know when people put of a certain aura around them, some exude friendly and approachable auras and some are just creepy ones. Mademoiselle Amelia truly exuded the grace of a Principal Dancer. She knows that she is to carry the Company on her toes I might add and that can be a lot of pressure but she seems to relish in having this responsibility. Before the choreography mademoiselle Amelia talked about when the next performance of the Company would be, I listened attentively even if I was on the bars doing something else.

"Listen mon cheris, the next performance of the Graceland Ballet Company would be on the night of the Lantern Festival here in the Academy which will be in a month from now. We shall be performing a version of Swan Lake that Henry and I have choreographed in front of the scrutinizing eyes of the Sponsors. All the second and third year members will automatically perform unless they have a valid reason not to. Like Henry here, who in spite of being my successor and the male Principal danseur of our Ballet Company, shall not be dancing that night for personal reasons, I am not obliged to announce."

All the newbies started murmuring when they heard that Henry will not be dancing Swan Lake, I bet they think he would fit perfectly the role of the prince. A prince playing another prince might be on their mind hence the murmurs when mademoiselle Amelia announced that Chase will be dancing this one.

"Now, the newbies, you mon cheris will still learn all the steps for the 'corps de ballet' (the group of dancers in a ballet company providing backdrop and or support to the Principal dancers and Soloists of the company). I would also like to inform you all that from the newbies and the existing members we will be selecting two 'understudies' for the Leads in this Swan Lake (understudies are members tasked of learning the same steps as that of the leads to be able to step in, in case of emergencies). So work hard in practicing and polishing your steps even as 'Corps De Ballet' and we might just notice you and put you on as an understudy. This is the first opportunity to earn your keep mon cheris."

After the announcement we went to our respective positions and watch carefully as our choreographers teach us the steps for the corps de ballet while Chase, Henry and Amelia along with other senior members work on their special choreography for the principal dancers. I can't help but envy them, mademoiselle Amelia most of all. What I would give to be able to dance like her, so freely and not be afraid of being noticed and shipped off somewhere else or used for personal gains.