Thread: Dancer's Delight [one | one]

Cecilia Carreno glanced at her wrist watch before she continued working on the position of her arms and feet. It was a couple of minutes before three oclock in the afternoon, and while most students were getting ready to leave she was just warming up. She had been practicing in the private studio for over six hours and this was still considered to be her warm-up period, for she did not leave the academy until the cleaning staff appeared and by that point she was required to leave. If she could, she would have stayed even later. The long hours she put into practice was the least she could do to show her appreciation. The seventeen-year-old did not know the cost of tuition for Kirov Academy of Ballet, but she knew it was enough to prevent her parents from engaging in fun activities. She lifted her long arms over her head and stretched, hearing the occasional crack from her spine as she leaned from one side to the next. Cecilia had asked her parents how much it cost for her to attend the dance academy, but they would not say. She assumed it cost them a pretty penny, but they always told her it was well worth it. They always dreamed of their daughter pursuing something she truly enjoyed, and Cecilia took up a love for dancing ever since she could walk. It was remarkable, really, considering her parents were not the type who would appreciate fine artsthey were common middle-class workers, if middle-class was still the right word to use for them. Her height and level of flexibility were even more remarkable, as she had doubts her parents could even perform the splits, let alone lean over to reach their toes. Needless to say, these two gifts helped her greatly when her parents decided to send in an application to Kirov Academy of Ballet. Cecilia reached for a small towel to dab the sweat from her forehead. She could feel her calf muscles starting to ache from the long hours, but it was a good ache. She put the towel down on a bench and took a few mouthfuls of water, swallowing as quickly as possible as if to save as much time as possible. Instantaneously, she felt much better. She smiled and placed the bottle next to the towel, allowing herself a moment to catch her breath before she went back to practicing pirouettes and petit sauts. Before she could do that, however, she happened to glance at the window and noticed a man watching her. Her first instinct was to shrug it off and continue practicing, but it did not take long before Cecilia realized who this man wasAnthony Sandino. Now, Cecilia had never been in any of his classes, despite having attended the academy for a few years, but her closest friend in the academy constantly raved around Anthony. She only recognized him because that same friend once pointed him out to her. She adjusted the straps of her black, skin-tight leotard before she started to walk to the door. Admittedly, she could not conjure a reason as to why he would be watching herpositive reasons, at least. Perhaps he was waiting for the right time to tell her cleaning staff needed to get in there. It would not have been the first time. Finally, she reached the door and she opened it, albeit in a hesitating manner. Her green eyes looked practically sleep deprived. Her long black hair was pulled up into a sloppy bun perhaps her hair looked matted and sloppy due to her rigorous practice. Were you waiting for this room? she asked, brushing the backside of her hand across her forehead. If so, I apologize. I can get my things and be out in a matter of seconds.