The Prince has a Secret Girlfriend (part 5)

Day in and day out I don't see Henry anywhere. . .Not in the Archer Manor during breakfast. . . He's not there to bother me in my room. Only Mr. Reniel and the other servants of the Manor were my company. It shouldn't bother me at all but then there were unresolved issues and I kept seeing his face. The face he made when Anthony kissed me during practice. It somehow tugs at my heart. I know that I am attracted to him hence the unintentional confession before which eventually led to certain events and Henry and I ended up in a relationship. Yes that was only to save my reputation but have I grown more fonder of Henry than I let myself admit.

This is now the fourth day that I ate breakfast without him, since coming to Graceland I would always be on my own so now that I am on my own again I don't get why I feel so lonely this time. Is this how Henry felt when he stayed in this Manor last year on his own? Are all rich families like this, with their huge houses and so many rooms only filled with empty seats. You would say, aren't you rich as well? Well yes and no. I was rich when my family was still in power but we always had servants busy walking about in the house taking care of us as far as I could remember not even the evenings in our old house was there an empty feeling to the house. There was always someone standing by the door to talk to or play with as a child so it did not feel lonely. But for Henry this Manor must be so cold and lonely but I must say that it kind of suits his persona being that crude prince he is in this castle of his.

I went to class like all the days that have come before this but today the girls in my class were gossiping about something and I could not help my ears from perking up when I heard them mention Henry's name.

"I heard from someone that Henry is on several trips around Astoria helping his father with his campaign." Girl #1 mentioned

"Oh maybe that's the reason why he went and took a leave from his Academics this time. Last year it was the preparation for the turn over of their company to his big brother." Girl #2 chimes in.

"Ah yes, since Lord Archer wants to focus on being Astoria's next Prime Minister." Girl #1 continues.

"Wow! Our dear Prince will now become political royalty in real life. . . Hehehehe" Girl #2 giddily speaks out.

Well if he is out to help his father, Lord Archer then it cannot be helped since he is to follow in his footsteps after all, I recall thinking to myself. But with him being the political heir of his father Lord Archer, I wonder what it will mean for the two of us in a secret relationship. I still don't know if his father is a friend or an enemy of my family.

"Hey! Hey! I heard some juicy gossip from my father who is a big supporter of Lord Archer's campaign." Girl #3 came in running into the room.

"What?" Both girl #1 and girl #2 shouted at her.

"Our Prince is going to be engaged!" Girl #3 rather screamed at her friends' faces.

"Are you sure?" Girl #2 confirmed.

"Yeah, my father said that Henry's father is planning to announce his son's engagement soon." Girl #3 states matter of factly.

"Okay ladies please go back to your seats we are about to start class." Our Professor announces.

My heart sank down to the floor when I heard that Henry was about to be engaged to another girl and here I was holding him unto an engagement with me all because of my principles. Not that my principles don't matter. Principles maketh a man who he is after all, as my father said. If I think about it, we could compromise I guess, nothing even really happened between us I am still untainted in that aspect and if I asked nicely Henry might not talk about it in the future to anyone so as not to ruin my reputation. But why am I saddened by the news of his soon to be engagement. Why is my heart so heavy?

All day I felt like I was carrying a huge rock in my chest and at times I would just space out. I know I am strong. I have been alone with Nana for quite sometime and she has taught me well on how to hide my emotions saying that my real emotions are not supposed to show on my face. I must learn to play the part and never let anyone see who I really am or they would destroy me. That's what she says but I don't understand this urge to let it all out again like when I couldn't keep my cool when I realized that I was attracted to Henry. Wait a minute, back then I used dance to solve this heaviness in my heart so I'll just use dance again later during practice and ease this tension building up inside.

"Clap! Clap! Alright my dears, we will now practice the pas de duex of the black swan and the Prince." Mr. Michael stated while everyone was warming up.

I love the story of Swan Lake, I watched a movie about it before I even knew the ballet versions of it. And I must say I fell in love with the duality of the white swan and the black swan. I was drawn to how the white swan, Odette is so timid, shy and pure much like how her love slowly grows from out of her fear of Prince Siegfried. Odette's pas de duex with the prince was gentle and slowly allowing the audeince to fall in love with the two characters as their movements are that of pure and sweet attraction. Siegfried in his sweet fascination with Odette professes his love to her and woes her. This particular pas de duex requires both the female and male lead to exude purity and gentility in movements and in the expressions of their faces. Up until now I was fond of playing this gentle role but if you ask me I am ready for the challenge of that duality I also love the audacity of the black swan, Odile and Siegfried's pas de duex. Odette turns into a Swan because of a curse put on her by a villain named Baron von Rothbart and when he learns that Odette and Siegfried are in love and might break the curse for Odette, he intervenes by switching his own daughter Odile with Odette making his daughter look like Odette and attend the party where Siegfried was supposed to announce his love for Odette to the world. Here Odile who was adorned with the face of Odette dances with Siegfried in a differently charged pas de duex. Odile seduces Siegfried with her strong and charismatic moves, even her expressions are teasing and taunting Siegfried to his core. In the original version Siegfried succumbs to the teasings of Odile and professes his love for Odile which causes the demise of his real true love and with the heavy burden of his conscience and a broken heart Siegfried took his own life. The original stories of Swan Lake was a tragedy but there are controversial versions though where Siegfried and Odette defeat Baron von Rothbart and fullfill their love story. I wonder how Mr. Michael envisions GABC's version of Swan of Lake will be?

"Okay, in the following sequences, Amelia and you as well Christie, I want to see the fire and the zeal in your eyes, your emotions and most specially your dance. as usual you will be shadowing Amelia today Christie so try and pick up quickly." Mr. Michael stated.

First was the scene of the ball where Siegfried was busy chatting away with his guests when Odile disguised as Odette enters and in the far back so does Baron von Rothbart. Siegfried sees Odile and smiles as he sees the face of Odette not realizing it isn't really her. He takes her hand and is about to kiss it when Odile takes her hand away, leaving Siegfried confused. But the prince takes her hand again and she allows him to kiss her hand this time. They smile at each other as Siegfried leads her to the center of the dance floor and they start to dance with each other.

"2. . .3. . .4. . .and clap! Clap! Clap! Good Amelia. Chase look at her with wonder and delight. . Wonderful! Okay this time Amelia I need you to do an impromptu choreography dear you just need to show me allure, seduction and desire, naturally Chase you will only react to her movements as they come." Mr. Michael mentioned.

So this is how Mr. Michael plans on giving GABC a different version of Swan Lake, by totally breaking tradition and choreography. I love it!

"Great job Amelia, I can see a more mature side of you while being Odile versus playing Odette. Keep it up dear. Chase way to keep up with her. Did you get that on video?" Mr. Michael asks his assistant for the day. His assistant nods her head.

"Good! Good! Okay Chase and Amelia go take a five and review your impromptu performance from the video she took. The goal here Amelia is to capture the emotion with your movement so even if you feel like you want to do something different during the actual performance in the Gala night. I will allow it dear." Mr. Michael stated in a rather cool way. "Okay, Anthony and Christie come here let me see you two."

I mentally prepare myself to fulfill the brief on today's task as our turn comes up.

"Hey Anthony, I need you react normally to me no matter what I do but don't forget your promise okay?. I just want to try something here." I say to Anthony.

"Okay, I will." Anthony replies.

I opened my eyes and look at Anthony with a whole new set of emotions written all over my face, he comes to me and takes my hand and we start to dance. I play coy and tease him, inching close with my lips barely touching his cheeks and then I pull away. I do a turn around him and my hand slowly and softly touching his hair and then I run and jump far away from him. Anthony looks at me with his curiosity piqued and he seems genuinely drawn to me and I become bolder and more seductive. Every move I make I leave small touches on his skin, from his forearms to the tips of his ears. When he held my waist I put my hand on top of his. I can see the effect I have on him while I tease him as Odile and right as we are ending our pas de duex I have him on one knee while his other hand was holding my hand while I was in arabesque. I slowly, gently and steadily inch my face closer to his, propping my leg from a 90 degree extension to slowly reach a full vertical split or 180 degree angle. I look him dead in the eyes and I inch my face closer until my lips are just a few centimeters away from his. I hold position for just a few seconds and I hear gasps from the other members but just as they all thought I was about to kiss him, Anthony himself included. I bring my feet down, let go of his hand and do a little pirouette then end in fifth ballet position. I then brought the back of my left hand to my forehead as if to say, "Oh no!" This is the part where Siegfried then makes the mistake of professing his love for Odile instead of Odette.

It was quiet, I wasn't hearing any sound after the music ended. Then all of a sudden a thunderous roar of applause from the other members and Mr. Michael echoed in the room.

"Bravo! Bravo! Christie, you really captured the essence of the Black Swan's pas de duex and you Anthony the desire in your eyes and the longing in your steps are remarkable. It felt like I was watching you on stage right now my dear. Incredible! From Amelia's transformation to Chase's sincere performance up to you two understudies. I can truly say that in the GABC we have the best amateur dancers to date." Mr. Michael was so elated by my our impromptu dance.

While catching my breath from the impromptu performance I caught a glimpse at the back of the studio of someone very familiar, it was Henry. Henry was there watching all of us.

"Christie! Christie! What are you looking at? . . . .Oh! Henry's here guys!" Chase announces and everyone turns around to look at the man who has been gone for a while from the GABC studio.

"Henry my dear! How long have you been standing there?" Mr. Michael spoke.

"I was here when Christie and Anthony started to dance Mr. Michael." Henry answered as he came close to the front where Mr. Michael stood.

"Well then what do you think?" Mr. Michael added.

"Hmmm… It was a clever idea to let Amelia and Christie take charge of how to interpret the dance of the Black Swan. It truly will be one of a kind since none of us will know what they will do on stage at the Gala night which makes it exciting even for us who already know the story of Swan Lake."

"What do you think about their dances though?"

"Well, I would have to say the I prefer Amelia's version more no offense to Christie but I see the power and the control over her moves the pas de duex shown more as for Christie's was indeed intense but came off as a little too flirtatious for me instead of a performance."

"I see. You have a point there. Christie maybe we could tone it down a bit next time eh?" Mr. Michael looks at me as he said to tone it down a bit.

I was a bit embarrassed as my version, as Henry said was just flirtatious and everyone seemed to be on his side all of a sudden. He was gone for a few days and when he comes back he does this to me? When Mr. Michael sensed the pressure inside the studio he gave as a few minutes of a breather. I kept to myself and went outside the studio itself and sat on a bench there. Chase was concerned aboutme and followed me out.

"Hey! If its any consolation I thought you did a bang up job on your impromptu dance." Chase offers his words of consolation.

"Thanks. But I guess I am a little too "flirtatious" . . ." I exaggerate the word and end up making him and I laugh about it.

We were laughing on the bench catching a short break when Henry and Amelia came out from the studio.

"Chase, Christie, . . . Mr. Michael needs us back inside. ." Amelia softly spoke as if she was sad about something.

Henry just nodded his head to Chase and didn't spare me a glance and left.