Page 72 of Juliet & Her Romeos

I’m trembling with stage fright.

It’s finally Friday night — Christmas Eve.

It’s the evening of the R & J Choosing of the Principals contest.

I’m standing backstage in the legendary Prima Ballet Theater. I can hardly believe that I’m finally back here.

This is the renowned theater, which the two packs in Sanctum, the Romeos and the Cinders, battle each other to hold control over.

This is where Nova danced.

I spent my childhood playing in the stalls and here, backstage. I watched as spectacular dancers blazed across the stage, hoping that one day, I could do the same.

Tonight, I will.

The theater is luxurious.

The boards gleam. The purple velvet curtains are closed. The stage is bare (so that the audience can better concentrate on the performances), apart from a backlit background of glowing stars.

I clench my hands, caught in the twinkling of the fake stars against the black backdrop.

Are my parents looking down at me from the stars right now?Are they proud of me?

Would my mom, Nova, be just as proud to see me dancing in the theater where she shone so brightly?

Has Olivia told Mom about tonight, wherever she’s keeping her?

Does Mom know what’s been happening in my life or is she being kept in the dark like I am about her?

I wish that she was in the audience.

I close my eyes tightly, allowing myself to make a single Christmas wish that I know won’t come true: that Mom would be out in the audience and could know that her little Omega daughter has finally grown up and is now a dancer like her.

That I had a shot at becoming the first ever Omega prima ballerina.

I sigh, opening my eyes again.

The orchestra are discordantly tuning up. I love the sound though. I always have. It means that the performance is about to begin.

I scrunch up my nose at the unique smell of the theater, which throws me more firmly back to my childhood than anything else: dust burning in the footlights, the musty scent of velvet seats, and greasepaint.

I take deep breaths.

I refuse to vomit all down my gorgeous costume. I’ve spent too long sewing it to ruin everything now.

Most of the other dancers are dressed in gold as normal or have slight modifications like the tiara that Ariana is wearing.

As this is a contest, we were allowed to adapt our costumes.

I wanted to make sure that I’d stand out, as well as Swan.

So, I made us white, flowing outfits that would emphasize our fluid style, but which were embroidered lovingly by me with the Romeo’s emblem of purple roses.

The thorns, however, just like the statue in the courtyard, wind around our bodies to our throats like they’re trying to strangle us.

It represents the sense of foreboding and danger, while our love blossoms.

Pale, I hurriedly turn my head to Swan’s neck and take deep breaths of his scent.

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