Everybody Breaks A Glass

[Kalani Mauven]

Holidays had been a mess, a mess so large that Kalani Mauven couldn't help but want to abandon her family for another one, a more normal one. She had wanted to go back to the room that was now hers in her apartment with her friend and sister but she felt obligated to stick by her families side when it was the last thing she wanted to do. Both her mother and twin sister were sick constantly, they were constantly emotional, the food was bad and not part of her restricted diet and made her bloated, and Tamas seemed mad at the world. There was so much chaos and Kalani wanted some sort of normalcy so each night she would be thankful that the day was done and wish for a speedy one so she could return to work. This said a lot considering Kalani's constant frustration with her partner despite the talent she had begun to see in him. When they moved together something just felt right, it was comfortable and even if she hated the thought of it Edgar had taught her a lot. Although she would forever be the perfectionist who had a hard time surrendering herself she had found it a lot easier to ignore that there were people watching them and became consumed by the character she was playing. However, Kalani didn't have a practice with Edgar today. Technically she didn't have to be at the company today but she needed a sense of normalcy, she needed to go back to work.

As Kalani walked through the hallways everything felt very deserted and allowed the ballerina time to think - something she really would have preferred to avoid right now. Christmas had been emotional, more emotional than she would have liked so when she found an empty room she didn't even bother to change into her normal leggings and leotard. She kept the stripped blue shirt on and her black leggings on and put the pointe shoes on over the black material without a wince or a whimper when her toes felt the pressure of the wood and the cotton over top of it. There was a certain numbness in Kalani's feet because of the amount of practice and performance she had done in the past several months. It was more than she had done when she was at Beauxbatons and it was wonderful. With the aim to get everything out of her mind she began stretching breathing deeply and working her hardest to focus on that and only that but her anger at Riley for doing something so reckless only grew and her hurt that she would disappoint their family so much when she had experienced first hand what their mother had to give up for them. It had left her very quiet when she was around Riley and now, fully stretched, she stood up and glared into the mirror imagining that her own reflection was her twins. She glared at her own stomach, so clearly infuriated - more than she had ever been that it was a good thing she had left her wand at home because even now the plant that was resting a top the black piano was wiping itself around violently. Then it stopped when suddenly tears started to spill down her cheeks and she was overcome by the selfishness of hurt that Riley would abandon their pact that they would be better for their own family when they were older. This was when she was interrupted by another girl in the company, probably some insignificant girl who would never amount to anything spectacular in the ballet because when Kalani shouted, "Пошел вон!" she meekly retreated before complaining to the young, blond male that was passing by.​

 

[Edgar Kane]

Edgar Kane had spent much of his holidays with his family, he had caught up with each of his siblngs one by one, then all together and exchanged gifts just as they had when they were children. Though this time at the dinner table they spoke of their jobs, their partners, their children. Very different topics from what they spoke of when they had been growing up, like who got the bigger present or the bigger piece of christmas pie. Edgar Kane had done so much growing up over the years, he had matured in more ways than one. He was no longer the little boy who joined a beginner ballet class where he had learned to correctly turn out his feet, he was a man, a professional ballerino who knew nearly every step there was in ballet. He had grown into his owns skin, and was no longer worried by the taunts of classmates calling him gay or a girl. Edgar had never cried over such accusations, but they had gotten to him, made him feel upset. But with the constant support of his sisters he had followed his passion and for that he owed them everything. As he lay on the couch and mindlessly flipped through a book his muscles twitched. It was as though his body ached for ballet, a kind of ache that no amount of christmas pie or presents could satisfy. It seemed that the only thing he wanted to do was to be back in the studio, even if he wasn't required to be there. He threw on a pair of loose grey trackpants and a blue v-neck and felt for his wand in his back pocket, with one crack he was standing outside of the studio, a stupid grin on his face. He wandered through the hall and wondered whether many others would be getting some rehearsals in during their off time, but he didn't hear much but the padding of his bare but bound feet along the polished wooden floors.

Something made him jump just that minute, a voice, a harsh one that seemed so familiar to him. Kalani Mauven. He thought to himself as he translated what she had said as "Get out!" the same Russian words he often heard yelled from the apartment next to him, separated by only one thin wall it seemed as though he was intruding as the couple broke up and got back together again night after night. Kalani was certainly the only one that could send a timid ballerina running from a room crying her eyes out, but it was not Edgar's first instinct to run after her, instead he ventured into the room, being met with a reg filled and tear covered ballerina who he had once become to excited over, causing much embarrassment between the pair. But they were Siegfried and Odette, and they had real chemistry and had continued to dance wonderfully together, and had learned things from eachother, even if they were still bickering and egging eachother on. The eighteen year old had two sisters, so he was all too familiar with weeping girls, so he sat, leant up against the floor to ceiling mirror and motioned for the sad swan to join him. "What's wrong sweet cheeks?" he said, teasing her , but genuinly feeling worried about why she was so upset. He wiped the tears from her blushed cheeks with the pad of his thumb and smiled sweetly at her, "You sure sent her packing didn't you?" he joked, referring to the girl she had sent running off in tears. "Now tell me what's wrong." he said seriously, there was no denying that Edgar had a crush on Lani, and he wanted to be kind to her, let her know how much he cared for her and this seemed like the perfect way. ​

 

[Kalani Mauven]

Kalani thought not of the girl she had shouted at, if she was so sensitive that she couldn't stand two simple words than that was her fault. Perhaps in the future when she wasn't so angry and sad and generally confused for her family she would feel differently and maybe even apologize to the ballerina but not now. She wanted to be alone but as soon as she shuddered relief that she could cry on her own she felt the presence of another. This one was different though, she felt comfortable around them and when she heard the voice she knew why. They had experienced so much together already, they had an understanding and even though they seemed to hate each other Kalani felt comfortable around him. Well as comfortable you can be when you are crying your eyes out. It was Edgar Kane, she knew it from the rude name before the voice and through her hands she saw him sit down in front of the mirror and faced her. He was as stubborn as she was so after she gave him a quick glare for calling her sweet cheeks she sat down beside him, still unable to stop herself from crying. All this pent up emotion from being so dreadfully lonely nearly all the time to being rejected by Edgar to her sister's pregnancy, and everything in between, had caused Kalani to finally crack. It happened before and likely would again because she took on everything on her own and told everyone as little about any problems as she could. She looked at Edgar through glossy eyes and was shocked when he wiped her tears away but contained herself and the shiver that was slowly crawling up her spine from the simple touch. She looked down at her own hands as they twisted together on her lap, suddenly feeling guilty for upsetting the girl which only brought more tears spilling down her face.

Kalani normally prided herself on being a very balanced girl instead of one who was dramatic and had ups and downs like a rollercoaster but now she felt anything but this. So when Edgar asked her what was wrong she said breathlessly, "What isn't?" She looked up at him before doing something that even surprised herself - she leaned her body into his and cried onto his shoulder. Sure they may antagonize each other but she needed comforting now and it looked like Edgar was the only person to do this right now... he was the closest person in her life. It may have been required for their career but this did not keep it from being any less truthful so she put a hand on his chest as she cried onto him, staining his shirt all the while. Then she spluttered two words to answer his question, uncertain if they were actually understandable or not but she said them anyway before more tears flooded down and faster, "My family." She had never felt like such a waste even if it was not she who had made the mistake. She knew their mother would always have some regret for having them because of her youth and now with Riley's pregnancy and the feral look on her face when she had slapped the pregnant twin's face had shown it quite clearly. She inhaled deeply, taking in Edgar's scent and leaned in closer to him, only wanting to be held tightly by his strong arms which normally was the last thing she wanted. Kalani wasn't sure if he would want her to elaborate more on what she said, she wasn't even sure if she wanted to, so she just closed her eyes and tried not to cry anymore than she already had.​

 

[Edgar Kane]

Despite the fact that Edgar and Kalani annoyed eachother so, he knew that they truly did care about oneanother, though what he hadn't expected was for his dance partner to trust him enough to cry on his shoulder. But there she was, sitting down next to him, their backs against the full mirror, reflecting their forms onto themselves. It seemed Kalani had a bad case of the downers when she implied that everything was wrong, he hoped she would narrow it down for him, because he wasn't exactly a fabulous counsellor like his sister Josie and he didn't fancy trying to be either. Although Edgar had experience with girls from growing up with his sisters, what people didn't know was that it was usually him who wept into his sisters chests, staining their blouses, not the other way around. The eighteen year old didn't flinch as Kalani's tears dripped onto his shirt, though his chest grew hot where her hand rested, he still felt a little flustered when she got so close to him. Freeing one of his arms he put it around Lani's shoulders and traced a pattern on the top of her bare arm with the pad of his thumb. He was able to make out the blubbering words that fell from the crying girl's mouth and he replied with a small nod. He could understand that family problems could be huge at times, and he was also aware that Kalani had spent some of her holidays withher family, so he gathered that it hadn't gone the way that she had wanted it to. "Hey, its alright," he whispered, letting her know it was okay to cry on his shoulder, she didn't seem like the kind of person who usually let such raw emotions show, so he didn't want to embarrass her. "Tell me all about it." he suggested, stroking her short blonde hair gently.

He certainly hoped that Josephine didn't hear about how poorly he was doing at consoling the crying girl in his arms, she probably thought he would have picked up at least a few phrases after her studies of psychology. At least Kalani didn't want to talk about boys, that was one thing he had grown tired of hearing about growing up in his family home with two sisters. Even after growing up Bailey had had troubles going through her divorce. But talking about family was something Edgar thought he could manage. "Sisters can be a royal pain can't they?" he suggested, assuming that at least part of the reason Kalani was so broken up was her twin sister Riley. Edgars's strong arms held Kalani tighter than they ever had, he squeesed her thin form, he had always believed that hugs were the best medecine, he only hoped that this situation applied, but deep down he knew that a hug couldn't fix everything, especially not the way that Kalani was shaking as she wept, he wanted to know what had gotten her so worked up, whoever it was he wanted to speak to because he hated to see the blonde so upset. Like a fallen swan she lay in his arms and he burried his head in her hair gently kissing the top of head, only trying to comfort her, but somehow wanting to kiss her again, but he shook those thoughts from his mind, she was in a fragile state and if he kissed her now it would be no better than when she had thrown herself at him in her drunken state and he had had to turn her down for he didn't ever want to take advantage of Kalani Mauven. "You're alright." he whispered into her hair as he rubbed her back, doing all he could to make her feel better. ​

 

[Kalani Mauven]

Kalani didn't like being this weak, it made her feel uncomfortable but there was nothing she could do about this. She had never been so angry and genuinely sad in her life and now she was crying into his arms which was something she had never done before... sparing the family that were causing her tears to fall right now. If Kalani cried it was in secret and it was for good reason but it was also something she dealt with alone. Sufficed to say, this was genuinely strange for her or it would have if she wasn't so distracted by her feelings and the comfort she got from being in Edgar's arms. She opened her mouth to try to tell him what had happened by her throat was dry and she found herself blubbering again, to the point where words wouldn't have been able to come out of her mouth. She heard Edgar guess that it was something to do with Riley and wondered how that would have been his first guess but they were close and he knew that so she let her hand that rested on his chest sink further down his chest over the thin material of his shirt. Kalani shuddered as she exhaled a deep breath when she felt Edgar's arms tighten around her strong yet small form which was a little peculiar but it could be that he was just trying to get her to stop crying instead of actually having any meaning to the hug, not that she really noticed. It wasn't until she felt him kiss the top of her had that she realized that something was strange with this picture of the two people who vexed eachother more than anyone in the world. She opened her eyes and leaned back but still staying in his arms as she looked at him, not noticing - nor caring - how her eyeliner and mascara were a mess under her eyes. She sniffled to try to stiffle herself and without noticing it her hand had sunk onto his lap as she looked into his eyes through her glazed eyes.

The young ballerina closed her eyes for only a second but only saw her mother slap Riley's face before she cringed and said, "Riley's pregnant." For anyone who didn't know much about Kalani, which was a lot of people, including Edgar, they would be confused how this warranted so many tears but to the blonde it was very clear in her mind. How could her sister put a baby through what they had gone through with their mother? Did Riley not remember the crappy apartment that they had to live in for their whole lives and how their mother had to give up so much and how she would now have to do the same? Kalani loved Riley with all her heart - they were best friends and sisters - but she couldn't support her and a baby and neither could Jenn. "My Mom," she explained lifting the hand that had been resting promiscuously on Edgar's lap to her face to wipe the newly shed tears away before putting it on his knee and continuing, "had us when she was a little younger than I am now. It wasn't easy and Riley promised me when we were little... we promised each other that we would make her proud and amount to so much more than just being a mother before we were even an adult." Kalani looked away from Edgar momentarily only to see their reflection everywhere before she looked back into his own eyes, unsure of what else to say or how to word it but it was all so much. "My Mom's pregnant too. I didn't even get a chance to be so happy for her and my Dad and for my new siblings," she admitted as a tear fell slowly down her cheek. "I had to avoid her. The way she looked at Riley made me scared that she would look at me the same." Suddenly Kalani fell back into Edgar's arms and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly to her body and resting herself on the crook of his neck fighting tears all the while.
​

 

[Edgar Kane]

With a weeping girl in his sturdy arms, Edgar felt as though he had a purpose, like somebody needed him. And Kalani certainly did need him right then and there, and he felt closer to her than he had to any other person, which seemed so odd to him and he was sure others would think it odd too. He and Kalani constantly bickered like an old married couple, teased oneanother and constantly voiced their opinions on eachothers shortcomings. But as his arms tightened around her and her hands moved suggestively down his chest it seemed as though they had never fought for a minute. The thin material of his tee shirt didn't do muchto create a barrier between their skin, Edgar hardly noticed as she continued to weep because all he could focus on was the way her fingers sent shivers through his body. He immediately felt terrible for thinking less than reputable thoughts of Kalani Mauven at a time like this, he had only ever danced with his partners, never gotten close to them, let alone be attracted to them. Just as she looked up at him with her panda eyes her hand fell into his lap and he could have sworn he saw her pupils grow larger, the black standing out with the run of her mascara against her pale cheeks. Edgar grew nervous with her touch, he wanted to wipe the fresh hot tears from her cheeks but he was scared to move his arms even an inch. "Pregnant? Like, with a baby?" Edgar responded stupidly, as if Kalani's twin sister could be pregnant with anything else. His shock and nerves were warranted, Riley was only eighteen like himself and although he knew that teenage pregnancies existed he hardly believed he was hearing about one, and that it was happening to somebody he knew.

Edgar sat up a little more straight, and blinked rapidly, trying to take his mind off the girl who had her hand right on his 'no no spot'. But just as he could take it no more, her hand lifted and the blood rushed back from the eighteen year old's head and he listened to the words spilling from Lani's mouth, it was a story he had never heard, but more magnificent than that was the fact that the angry and snappy dance partner was opening up to him, trusting him with everything she had. "Slow down, Lani," he began, taking her chin in his hand and tilting her face towards him, even with her makeup running she looked so beautiful to him, "you have made her proud, look at you," he said, smiling a little, though realising she didn't look her best at the moment "okay, maybe not right now, but you are amazing, and successful. Don't worry about Riley, because look at what you have amounted to." The words poured from his mouth and he hoped they made sense and at least part of what he was saying would make her feel better. But before he could continue the plot seemed to thicken, as though they were in a soap opera. Her mother and sister were pregnant, at the same time, he had to admit it was a little messed up. Then it came back to him, Riley's boyfriend Will had come into the hall looking so pleased with himself, and he had helped Edgar get drunk Lani to her bedroom safely, right before he had denied her. It made the eighteen year old realise that it could have been them, if he hadn't been the gentleman he was and pushed the flirty girl off of him he could have been in Will's position. Though the thought as shocking it didn't put him off the girl in his arms. His hand was still on her chin, tilting her face up towards his own and without thinking he wanted to comfort her more, he leant in and put his lips on hers, moving his hands to cup her cheeks, his eyes shut so tightly, but the image of the beautiful blonde still imprinted on his eyelids. ​

 

[Kalani Mauven]

Kalani was well aware of how frightened Riley must be but she could not rid herself of the disappointment, abandonment and frustration she felt from and towards her twin. When they were young the girls may not have been indistinguishable b from one another but they sure were determined and it had only grown as they did. When they were at Beauxbatons no one knew who had wanted the future they had visualized for themselves more but now it was clearer than ever. Or to Kalani in her anger it was. It might have been too late to rid herself of this unnamed, unbirthed but already overwhelmingly large problem but the ballerina was certain that if Riley had known herself, known her body and known what was truly important in life any athlete must she would have realized that Will Connors in all his trout-faced glory was only going to hinder her future for he was competition and a distraction. But now what was Riley other than a statistic and her twin sister? She might as well have been that girl that Kalani sent running for the hills with just two harshly yet precisely placed words. Whatever Will had done or said to get Riley to bed with him it might not have sounded the same but here they were and Kalani could see no difference between her twin and that scared ballerina. However harsh it may seem, the blonde knew that this was only the truth because no matter the potential they both had they had made fatal errors in personality or in judgement. Kalani was not self-righteous at all but this was what she saw and no one was listening to her when she told them that love was nothing but a way to get hurt or a distraction. It had happened before and would probably happen again for everyone but Lani knew all too well what it could do so she did not allow herself to love any man. If her father had proven to her that they were scum why not listen to him? It would prevent any trauma that Kalani could now see in her sister and she was a smart girl so she knew that it was clearly better to do away with any feelings towards anyone outside of friendship. She admitted this all to Edgar with two words, a heavy sigh and a nod when her Siegfried tried to clarify those words.

For a reason Kalani did not catch onto she felt Edgar's heart beat increase when her muscles had relaxed into him but didn't mention that she could feel it through her sobs and shudders. When she had divulged the reason for her tears with the last person she would have expected herself to she felt skin-on-skin and it guiding her to stare into his eyes. They widened for a flash of a second when he had called her 'Lani' because she had been strictly Kalani to him before today but when her gaze had softened she realized that there were somethings that, when you went through them with other people they could call you by your nickname used by pretty much everyone else. Then she noticed the look on his face and in his eyes and wondered why his gaze was so soft and he had a smile so pure. If Edgar was gay - like most ballerinos - wouldn't he only look at her with friendship in his eyes? This... whatever this was... was not the look one gave to their friend. It was one you gave to a lover or a lover you wannabe with. The words that tumbled from Edgar's lips brought a gentle smile to her lips before it was gone once more. She opened her mouth to question Edgar how could she not worry about her sister for Kalani was nervous for her even when she wasn't pregnant and out of a job but they were cut off with Edgar's lips pressed to hers. For a moment her eyes had stayed open in shock and her lips were stiff but soon the lids had slid over her hazel eyes and she returned his affections and brought an arm around his shoulders as she leaned in even closer to him before she realized that this was a bad idea. She pulled away and touched a hand to her lips, her fingertips just barely touching her bottom lips before she said, "I should go."​

 

[Edgar Kane]

Immediately after uttering her name as 'Lani' Edgar wished he could take it back. The beautiful girl that he cradled in his arms made his heart race and gave him nerves that he had never experienced before. She had always been Kalani to him, or even Miss Mauven when he was being cheeky, but he had never felt comfortable enough to call her by her nickname, yet again he had become caught up in the moment and felt like an embarrassed little boy hoping that she wouldn't notice. It seemed Edgar wasn't doing too badly at cheering Kalani up as he noticed a slight smile curling at her lips after he had performed his little spontanious speech for her. He knew that his words weren't going to make it all better, because a situation like this would take the Mauvens quite a bit of time to work through, and most likely the family would never be the same again. But saying that would not do much to cheer the sobbing girl up, so his speech seemed to have been the fitting thing to say. Despite how close the eighteen year olds had become in those last few minutes, Edgar Kane had whole heartedly expected Kalani to slap him as his lips were pressed against hers, but she was never predictable to him, that much was very clear as she returned the affections, the muscles in his arms tensing with the touch of her fingertips. He had not kissed many girls in his life, only two others if he wasn't counting his mother or his sisters, which he had to assume did not count. This seemed to have added to the rumours that Edgar Kane was in fact gay, though he did know that the root of it was his love of dance. He had never flattered his bullies enough to tell them they were wrong, and that he had more muscles and strength than any straight man who had called him 'gay' or 'girly'. What outsiders didn't understand was how much muscle it took to be a ballerino, much more than it took to be a soccer player or lifting weights at the gym.

With his strong muscles, he tightened his grip on Kalani, kissing her back so passionately, determined not to make a fool of himself this time. He wanted everything to be perfect. with his face in such a close vicinity to hers he could feel the hot tears against his own cheeks, reminding him that he was probably taking advantage of the current frame of mind that Lani was in. But before he managed to gather his senses and pull away from her, she had become the adult and made the decision for him. As she pulled away his eyelids stayed closed as if he was frozen in the dream and idea that he had just kissed Kalani Mauven, and that he refused to wake up from it. But like every morning, he woke up, Lani's words jolting him back into reality. She was backing out, and he sat up, no longer leaning against the mirror, but instead kneeling and facing her. He looked like a wounded puppy, and that was exactly how he felt. More than anything he was still worried for Kalani, where would she go? He was almost certain that Riley would be at the twins' apartment, and her mother at their home in Europe. So it seemed that neither place was going to be a good one to be at with her current state. If anything, he had to offer to take her home, just to make sure that she was going to be okay. "Would you like me to take you home?" he offered, holding out his hand and taking hers in it before standing and pulling her off of the polished wooden floor with him, so that they were standing eye to eye. With her warm hand in his he was ready to apparate her to wherever she wanted to go, he wanted to cheer him up so at that very moment her wish was his command. ​

 

[Kalani Mauven]

Odette and Seigfried's relationship always had the tragic beauty that, as a child, Kalani had adored. Seeing Swan Lake with her classmates had inspired her to take her dancing further, she had yearned for nothing more than to wear the tutu and have the grace and beauty that the Odette she saw all those years ago and wanted to inspire this feeling in another child but what she hadn't known because of the innocence and naivity of children as that it was all just an act. The romance was make up, lighting and a few longing looks that were practiced in mirrors and there was a lot of self-manipulation, like the shock of a woman who had planned her own surprise party. And despite all of this, as Kalani's slender hand had touched to Edgar's cheek and returned his affections that were four months late. Convincing and manipulating herself that she was talented enough to play this part and the audience was quite the lie but as Kalani and Edgar's lips touched for too brief of a moment she realized that the biggest lie of all was that her Seigfried was gay and that she was not attracted to him in the least. But reason kicked in and her emotions, however strong or weak they were, had been overwritten and their lips parted. The blonde ballerina felt the tingle of the absence of Edgar's lips and touched her hand to them, both wondering what had come over to feed this urge he had and what had come over her to stop it. It was a lot to take in at one moment so she did the only thing that had worked for her in the past: flee. When it came to love Kalani not once had fought, choosing flight instead because of various fears and now she was doing it again to the one person she may have wanted more than anyone else.

Kalani's stomach lurched as she looked into Edgar's eyes and saw the disappointment and hurt in his eyes but if he had enough of a conscience to know not to sleep with her when she had been drunk he would know not to do this, whatever this was, when she was so vulnerable. She had to fight her temptation to put a hand on his cheek and assure him that this had nothing to do with him and all to do with her own fears and mistrust of most males. But he caught on quickly that she was speaking with a sound, enough, mind except it struck her that she had nowhere to go. She remembered seeing this said in movies and television shows but you only saw the person close the door behind them and not where they went and Kalani could do with this information right about now. Edgar seemed to have the same train of thought because as their hands held onto each other's he voiced this question. She looked down at her feet in thought, pointing one so the wood was pressing on her curled toes, as she shrugged and thought aloud, "I'll probably just go find a hotel." Realizing that all her money was wizarding she chewed down on her bottom lip and asked, "You don't happen to know the wizarding parts of Russia, do you?" Kalani paused momentarily when she had caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and cringing slightly before looking back into Edgar's eyes and continuing, "I've only really been to the company and to the restuarant at the end of the block with everyone else..." Normally, Kalani was either being prodded by the director who wished to show her off as their jewel or working so hard that at night her body had to be covered in ice so she could start her day over again but it was normal in her home. Jenna and Riley both played quidditch - or they did before Riley got pregnant - so all three of them were exhausted and aching once the day was over so they would always have a limitless supply of ice packs in the freezer because there was only so much that stretching could do.​

 

[Edgar Kane]

Edgar could not help but imagine Kalani out in Russia on her own in the state that she was in, and it was a thought that as a gentleman he simply could not bear. He cared for Lani so deeply and didn't want to cause her to feels any more pain than she was already in, so his mind ticked over as he listened to her worried words, where could she stay? He knew all too well that she would not want to return to her apartment to face Riley, or her home to face Frances, and Edgar imagined he knew as little of places in Russia as his dance partner did, the fresh faces had not yet had a tour of the city the dance quarters were in as they had gotten stright into work. "I haven't the foggiest idea where anything is around here," he began, gesturing his free arm around the air of the dance studio, it was then that it came to him, although his apartment was no mansion and he shared it with two others he knew that it would be the most homely place for the girl. Edgar had no other motives, he only wanted to see Kalani safe and warm, and not roaming the streets of Russia, especially as it was getting late and already darkness had set in outside. "I won't send you off into the night." he said sternly, almost the way that a father would to his daughter, Edgar felt that at this moment it was hisduty to protect this girl, and he would do so greatly as he could. "Come stay the night at my apartment, I'll take the couch" he said, it wasn't a suggestion, though he wanted to make sure that Lani knew he did not expect anything to happen between them. "I won't take no for an answer." he added, squeezing her petite hand in his, making it clear that no amount of protesting on her behalf would make him blind enough to send her out on her own in a place she wasn't familiar with.

Without giving her time to respnd, Edgar Kane kidnapped the blonde girl with a crack! His hand has still been clenched to hers as he apparated to the humblr apartment in New Zealand. The building was nothing much, the twelve floors did not exactly look magnificent, but it had to do until he began to be paid enough money from the ballet company to afford anything better. From an eighteen year old's perspective though, it was a good start to his freedom away from his parents. Leading her in the walkway he paused by the elevator that had been broken since before he moved in, each day he had taken the stairs and as a ballerino he had to admit that it had done wonders for his leg muscles, which were important to his dancing career. Taking the various flights of stairs, he hoped that Kalani didn't mind, though he still kept her hand in his grasp and turned to flash her a smile. It did not take the fit teenagers long to reach his door, which had been left unlocked by one of his roommates, a sigh and an eyeroll came from Edgar as he pushed inside onto the bare wooden floors which weren't a patch on the polished ones at the ballet studio. "Its not much" he admitted, turning his head around the corner before admitting his roommates were probably still out, despite the door being left carelessly unlocked. The blank space on the floor was soon filled as Edgar began to pull on a compartment in the wall, his large muscles doing nothing to help him un stick it from its place. Eventually, with a crash and spring the bed fell out from the wall and all Edgar could think was how glad he was he had changed the sheets that morning. ​

 

[Kalani Mauven]

Kalani thought Edgar was a sweet guy and more recently an amazing kisser but the way he was treating her was frustrating. She understood that he didn't know where anything was in this city but when he treated her like a helpless child she might have to remind him that she was a witch and could take care of any muggle that tried to give her any trouble. She had to think back into what she could remember of the party and what had happened between them and remembered being tucked in almost like a child and knew this wasn't the first time he had treated her as if she was incapacitated. Why he thought that she needed to be spoken to like this she wasn't sure but she didn't have the chance to remind him that she was fully capable of helping herself because he was being too kind again. She went to raise a hand to touch his cheek but before she could he apparated them away. Kalani gasped for air and raised her hand to her head when they arrived outside of Edgar's apartment building. She may apparate a lot but she had to mentally prepare herself and be careful about it so the affects that she had, which were greater than many other's, would be lessened. "Dammit," she muttered clutching her stomach trying to make sure she didn't get sick and hoping that the fact that Edgar was here would be enough for her to not get sick. He had already seen too much of her than she would have liked, this would be excessive. After the pounding and the sick feeling had subsided she walked with Edgar into his apartment, making it clear she was grateful for him but wished that he would have warned her with a squeeze of their hands and giving him a look although by her initial reaction she probably didn't need to, it should have been clear as day just like the fact that she had said she should have left it was not from the studio... it was from him.

As they walked Kalani turned her face from Edgar's and put her free hand, palm open, over her face and whispered a spell to rid herself of any any all make up she had been wearing so that the only signs that she been crying was on Edgar's shirt and the glazed look in her eyes and the red that it was rimmed with. She looked back at him and although she was frustrated with him, as she always was, she wouldn't have minded kissing him more but it was inappropriate, confusing and probably a bad idea so she chewed on her bottom lip and listened to the sounds of her steps as her ballet shoes touched the staircase before they were outside of his apartment. This wasn't exactly the way she had envisioned staying over at a guy's house for the first time. Kalani had thought it would be a lot more passionate and romantic and with someone she loved and loved her back but they both knew that their relationship was toxic. They way they spoke to one another was a way that no one who had feelings for someone should ever address that person but the confusing part that, when it mattered, Edgar was there for her in a way that she had only ever been able to count on herself for. So far Kalani had been the selfish one out of all of this and as she looked at the pull out couch that would probably harm his back she felt a pang of guilt. "Edgar, are you sure?" she asked taking a seat on the edge of that bed, that was already making her uncomfortable just from sitting on it, and looking into his eyes. The short haired blonde offered before her Siegfried had a chance to answer her first question, "I could take the pull out. You're already doing so much for me."​

 

[Edgar Kane]

Edgar could not help but feel like a little bit of a fool as he stood with Kalani, knowing full well that the reason she had wanted to go was to escape him, and not just her surroundings. Not only had he ignored this wish, he had not given her a chance to make a choice before he had apparated her to his apartment, but the truth was that Edgar Kane did not give up. He wanted to be with Kalani Mauven, but even more than that he wanted to know how she felt about him and after sharing a kiss he thought he deserved more than her running from him. As serious as his mindset seemed to be, he laughed at himself, though not out loud, because he realised that as he was standing in his apartment with Lani that she was the first girl he had ever taken home. This wasn't to say that his intentions weren't honorable, because all he wanted was for her to have a safe place to sleep, but he knew how his room mates (one being his brother) had teased him so about the fact that even Elvira had had more girls home than he had. He watched this mysterious female perch on the end of his bed and he smiled, as she spoke it seemed to him it was the first time she had shown him such a kindness, the pair of them were usually hurling insults at oneanother or at best Kalani would shoot glares his way. "You take my bed." he said sternly, still surprised that Kalani Mauven was currently gracing his bed with her presence. She needed the sleep, she had probably used all of her energy soaking his shoulder, besides he knew that where she was now, she would be safe.

"Go on, I don't mind. I changed the sheets thismorning." he added, assuming that from his small experience with females, those females being his sisters, that they all worried about cleanliness or something like that. He didn't want Lani to be uncomfortable, so he turned his back to her, just in case getting in bed required her doing something undignified. Edgar was constantly yelled at as his sister grew up and began to slam bathroom doors shut and scream on the off chance they were confronted by him wearing only a towel. As he heard the woman slump into his bed he turne around slowly, taking hishands away from his eyes at the last minute, to see her covered mostly by the sheets. Eddie did not know what to do with himself at that point, his arms reached around to scratch his head as he looked her in her panda eyes, before he acted on instinct again, something he would have to learn to stop doing. Approaching his bed he pulled the blankets up over her more tightly, but so lovingly, as if he were tucking in his own small child, the image finished off as he tucked a piece of her short blonde hair behind her ear. As he stood over her, it seemed a parallel to the first time they had met and he ad stood over her after tucking her drunken body into her own bed. But this time it was different, for one she wasn't trying to drunkenly seduce her, and on the other hand he felt as though somehow he had gained her trust. "I should, ah, go find somewhere to sleep" he said awkwardly, he wasn't sure where else there was, perhaps he could find a blanket and spend the night on the couch. ​

 

[Kalani Mauven]

Normally Kalani would have put up more of a fight but the truth was she had no where else to go, all of her school friends had dispersed, she couldn't find a hotel in New York or St. Petersburg because she didn't know the area well enough and well the rest went unsaid. It was times like these that she wished she was an only child from a normal family instead of the small family that was growing too quickly. What she didn't understand was what had prompted Edgar to kiss her, why had they shared that moment after thinking that he was gay for so long. Now she knew that he had not meant to use her level of alcohol intake as a means to get too close to her because he was a good person but she had just balled her eyes out and he had traded one vulnerability for another. It was strange and she wasn't sure she really liked it but she went with it anyway, making small objections that were shut down with a tone of voice that had usually been used by her towards him.

Edgar Kane happened to be the most stubborn person she knew, aside from herself, so it really shouldn't have surprised her when he said that she was to sleep there but she was. The way that the ballerina had treated Edgar had been quite horrible so how he was showing her such kindness and patience was beyond her. For it was no secret that she held grudges. Kalani watched as Edgar turned his back to her, for a moment she let her gaze follow the lines of his muscles on his back doing their own dance before she shook her head and looked down to her pointe shoes. Slowly and carefully she slid the ribbons off of her black pants and loosened the shoe so she could slip her raw feet out of the casing. She winced as she saw the shape of her feet and for a moment she wished that she could have a pedicure but until she was done dancing it would be a waste so she shook the thought of having nice feet off of her mind and took the other one off before whispering a quick healing spell and walking around to the side of the bed and lifted the covers, looking at Edgar uncertainly but she knew that he was as stubborn as an ox and if he insisted that she take the bed, she would. The blonde found her way in his bed, something she had once thought about but had quickly caught and reprimanded herself. As she lay on the bed she rested her head on the pillow and inhaled before exhaling a deep sigh, to make it seem as if she had not just been taking in his scent. Not that she even noticed that was what she had just done. But something about this felt very right, that was until he treated her like a child and tucked her in. For a moment there she thought he was about to tell her a bed time story, she couldn't quite remember if this was what had happened at the party but she knew that this was the second time he was putting her to bed and she was feeling more like a child than a woman. Perhaps she put out an aura of frailty that only he noticed because until Edgar everyone had been unaware to how out of control she really felt and how he saw the truth she hid from even herself. As Edgar stood straight, about to leave she sat up and said in a soft voice, "Stay." Suddenly she just wanted to sleep with Edgar, not have sex or make love, just sleep together in the most innocent sense. "You can sleep beside me. If you want?" she offered as she looked into his eyes and chewed down on her bottom lip. Kalani had never done this, not with a boy, so she didn't really know what she should say here so she just looked at him and waited for him to make the call.​

 

[Edgar Kane]

Just as Edgar turned his back to Kalani once more to find some blankets to lay down on the couch her heard a wimper from her. The word was spoken quietly, but with just those four letters that she had pronounced so beautifully his stomach fluttered. She asked him to stay, at least that was what he had heard, but his mind could very well have been putting words into her mouth because this all seemed so unreal. "What?" he asked of her, he wanted her to say it again, confirm that it was what she really wanted. Edgar did not want to have sex with Kalani, but as she confirmed her request he knew that he wanted to sleep in the same bed as her, like an old married couple. Which was what they were quickly becoming, they certainly bickered like one, and they were both as stubborn as eachother. Now they were going to share a bed and probably not even touch oneanother. Kalani looked right into his eyes just then, and Edgar saw a frailty that he had never seen in her before. There was no doubt about it, Lani was one of the strongest women he knew, she possibly even trumped his eldest sister Bailey, seeing her like this was so different, he hoped that she felt she could open up to him now that he had seen her cry. Edgar had always found it sexy how in control Lani was, but as he slipped into his bed beside her and noticed her cheeks were still red from her tears it seemed he had found something new to admire in her, broken down like this she seemed more beautiful than ever, it was exactly the emotions she would need to portray in Swan Lake, and now he had faith in her ability to do so.

"Uh, thank you." he said, feeling his choice of words was rather formal considering he was sitting up in his bed with a beautiful blonde woman next to him. Both Edgar and Lani were fully clothed beneath the covers, something that seemed to out of place considering what they had been through together. Edgar could not think of a single thing to say to Lani, the situation was more than a little awkward for him, so he shimmied down onto his back, and looked into his friend's eyes, "Goodnight Miss Mauven." he said seriously, a smile following his words as this was what he had called her when they had first met and had not gotten along at all. He meant no harm by it this time, and hoped it would only make her smile, the way her lips curved and a dimple appeared seemed so beautiful to him. The eighteen year old rolled over and faced away from Kalani, pulling the blankets up around him as his eyes shut tightly and he tried to steady his breathing. He was certain he was not going to fall asleep immediately, he was far too scared Lani would need him in the night, or that he hadn't shown her where the bathroom was, and then there was the mystery of when his roommates would return to the apartment. Edgar inhaled deeply and tried to relax, but as he faced the wall his Anna Pavlova poster stared back at him, the way it had for many years now, the young man sent a smile the ballerina's way before shutting his eyes for good now and listening intently to his friend's breaths as her chest rose and fell. ​

 

[Kalani Mauven]

Edgar's questioning of her quiet request made her stomach flip and wish that she had just said goodnight without doing anything because he seemed to be disturbed by the four letter word that had slipped out of her mouth without her control or better judgement. But as she explained what she had meant and his face lightened, she breathed a small - yet audible - sigh of relief that she had not been rejected by Edgar again. Kalani just want to feel that there was someone who she could count on even if she felt the world had abandoned her and right now that meant Edgar laying in his bed beside her, not even touching, just laying there and hearing the sounds of each other's breaths and the presence of each other, It was all she wanted and needed which brought her to close her eyes and shake her head as he thanked her.

Kalani watched Edgar, equally as uncomfortable as he, slide into his bed beside her and for a moment she averted his gaze trying to think of something to say but when she found herself speachless she turned her head to the side and looked into his eyes and mirrored his smile as he doted on their first sober meeting. "Goodnight Edgar," she beathed, deciding not to do the same because hers was far more insulting than 'Miss Mauven'. She continued to watch him as he turned his back to her which made her feel a little more comfortable, if she was being honest, her gaze following the lighter shades that she could see through the darkness as if she was preserving this night in her memory before she, too, turned in the opposite direction of Edgar on glancing back when she felt his side shift and saw him smiling at her though the shade of night. As she turned back she looked ahead, feeling tired but not yet drowsy but as the night went on that changed and it seemed so did the strange pair's sleeping positions. This, of course, was only noticed when Kalani woke up and felt a pair of strong arms circling her waist as they only had when they were dancing but this was different and the blonde felt it, just as she felt his breath on the nape of her neck. She wasn't quite sure what this feeling was but it wasn't good so she slowly peeled Edgar's arms off of her and looked back at him, making her belated escape to God-knows-where. It was all just a little much, it was too serious, there was too much emotional attachment forming and she could feel it in the pit of her stomach. The blonde rubbed her brown eyes and frowned as she hoped he would know how thankful she was for him offering a place in his bed for her but she couldn't do this any longer. With this in mind, Kalani stood up, wincing as the bed creaked and as she dared to look behind her Edgar still lay on the bed unaware of the war waging within her as most were. Last night he had seen only a glimpse of it all but she hardly knew the complete affects that abandonment had on her. If only Kalani and Riley Mauven had been told the truth all those years ago. Perhaps the blonde wouldn't have to tip toe out of the bedroom with her pointe shoes under her arm and shame written all over her, normally, strong features.​

 

[Elvira Cruz]

Morning was Elvira's favourite time of day for several reasons, one being that you got to see Oliver at his finest. She found it particularly funny to see him stumble about and although she knew that he had serious issues she also thought that he could pick himself up by his boot straps when the time came so she was not really all that concerned. She was more concerned with Edgar's current state, he didn't seem to be bringing home any guys and Elvira wanted him to be happy and with her suspicions about his sexuality firmly placed in her mind she had automatically assumed that the blonde girl emerging from the general bedroom section was coming from Oliver's. Normally Elvira had to enchant her bedroom so she didn't hear any sounds from Oliver's bedroom but as she thought of how easily she had gone to sleep and how she hadn't even known there was a person there it made her realize that she hadn't actually done that and arch a brow up at the girl, silently questioning her. This was before Elvira asked, "Do you want a cup of coffee? Ollie won't be up for a bit." It was clear that she did not appreciate someone sneaking out on her friends before they had woken up because it was just rude and as far as Elvira was concerned when you slept with a person you owed them at least a goodbye, however awkward it may be, because however casual it was claimed to be there was nothing casual about it. Of course she had brought back her fair share of women but she had always at least been forward with what everything was and not tiptoed her way out of a situation for fear she might hurt someone's feelings or ego.

The young professor chuckled to herself as she realized that if anyone happened to be peering into her mind at this particular time they would find her unfit to teach at Hogwarts but she felt relieved that even if this girl did happen to tell anyone she would be too shamed to do so, as shown by her tail between her legs. Elvie took a sip of her coffee as she looked back at the girl before noticing something in her hands that was all too familiar in this house thanks to Edgar - ballerina shoes. She snickered inwardly as she congratulated Oliver silently, imagining him sleeping through one of Edgar's shows only to go in the back to find one of fifty pretty girls but the girl looked pretty confused when she had mentioned Oliver. As Elvira turned her back to get another cup from a cupboard and pour a cup of coffee for the stranger she said, "I'm Elvira." As she turned back she offered her a smile and that same cup before saying, "Did you meet Ollie through Eddie? Only way, I guess?" She nudged her head in the direction of the girl's shoes still in her hands as if they were a child of her's.​

 

[Edgar Kane]

After Kalani whispered her good night to Edgar the night seemed to pass by all to quickly. The young man barely had the time to savour the night he spent next to Kalani, the woman that he believed he could be falling for. It seemed unreal, just weeks ago they were hurling insults at oneanother, Lani was the most beautiful woman he had laid eyes on but he had almost made himself believe that the clashing of their personalities would hold them back. But tonight he had seen her in a different light, seen her vulnerable right before his eyes and never before had he wanted to be with somebody so badly than that night. Amidst his dreams he felt her arms and waist move in closer to him, and though still deep in slumber he curled into her as though it was the most natural movement he had made in here life. And just as he did when they danced together, his arms encircled her waist and he pulled her in closer to him, feeling her warm stomach against his. The night passed on and Edgar held Lani in his arms, though it seemed to mean much more to him than when he held her as they danced. This was by choice, it felt natural and real. But as he began to stir that morning, Edgar felt Lani's petite frame slip out from under his arms, he noticed it by the chill he felt along his stomach which led him to begin to wake, rubbing his eyes to try and get a clear look at the morning and his surroundings.

"Lani?" he whispered too quietly for her to hear, but it was not her voice that he heard as he emerged from the bed and pulled his shirt off and over his head. It seemed as though his room mate had made it home and caught Kalani in the act of trying to sneak out on him. He stood behind Kalani and rubbed his eyes once more, as if he did it enough maybe the situation might make some kind of sense to him. With the sun shining through the window onto his bare back he rubbed it in an awkward fashion and looked quizzically at Elvira. "She doesn't know Ollie" he muttered, wondering why his brother had been brought into the conversation in the first place. Though it did seem as though Elvira would assume a girl in the apartment was with his brother, he had never had anyone back to the apartment, she probably thought he was gay too. It seemed to be a label that he would never quite manage to escape. He noticed her notion towards the ballet shoes but the morning had him far too confused to get at what was going on. So he sunk his hands into his pockets and shrugged, "She's with me Elvie," he began, before he realised that Kalani had her belongings together, and it was as though she was trying to leave and she hadn't counted on him waking up before her getaway. He blinked and looked at Kalani's waist, that had had his arms around it only minutes ago. "Are you leaving already?" he questioned her. ​

 

[Kalani Mauven]

Kalani nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard someone speak to her. Despite knowing that Edgar had roommates she was just a little caught up in her get away to notice what her surroundings were. The blonde felt instantly shamed that someone had just been witness to one of the more hurtful things she had ever attempted to do. And doing it was one thing but it was a whole different set of shame when you failed so she shook her head at the offer of the coffee but as the girl said that 'Ollie' wouldn't be up for a while she couldn't help but want to figure out what this girl was talking about. She opened her mouth slowly, about to inquire about this Ollie person when she watched the olive skinned woman introduce herself as Elvira and question her about meeting this Ollie. She wondered briefly if Edgar was not who he said he was when he spoke to Elvira. Immediately the ballerina's cheeks burned with shame and embarrassment. Not only had this strange woman know what she was attempting to do but now Edgar knew it too. She wouldn't be able to pass it off as an important phone call or a prior engagement. She was stuck here or stuck telling him that she was terrified of what her feelings were molding into and neither of these things was what she wanted. But Kalani's curiousity got the better of her and she thought aloud, "Who is Ollie?"

This was quickly brushed away when Edgar said that she was with him. Lani's stomach flipped, although she didn't quite understand the complete meaning of his words. Yes, she had spent the night sleeping beside him but what did 'with' him mean? Did Edgar see this as more than just him being too kind to a person who would never deserve it? She certainly hoped so because the next few minutes was going to get uncomfortable. But Elvira broke the silence by chuckling and Kalani looked at her oddly and then back at Edgar, not hearing his question because of Elvira's laughter but knowing it anyway. She tried to make light of the situation by saying, "I thought so too." She laughed awkwardly before walking to the front door and leaning on it waiting so she could talk to Edgar without Elvira there watching even if she had a feeling that Edgar would tell her anyways. The girl didn't seem like the type to take no for an answer. The blonde looked down at her feet as she waited for Edgar to approach her and when he had she didn't look up and only spoke, quiet enough so only he could hear her, "I appreciate this but I can't do this anymore. You have to stop dancing around the idea that something might happen, you'll only get hurt and hate me. I don't want either so can we please just make things professional at work?" Kalani didn't want to explain why she had to stay out of relationships that lasted more than a month and she could already feel the want for more in the pit of her stomach so to keep from being hurt again she was going to protect herself from love in all it's many forms.​