Closed Solitary Moment

[October Alcott]

Finally this year, with no OWLs to worry about, and a much reduced class load, October had time to focus on what she really wanted to do with her life. With a whole afternoon free she had taken her pointe shoes down to the arts room, and intended to spend the entire rest of the day practicing. As she stretched and warmed up, October felt herself relax, idly wondering if this was what people felt while they meditated. While in the past she had felt anxious and tightly wound in everything she did, October felt like she was finally learning to relax, and nothing brought it out of her like dancing. As she flowed easily through the well rehearsed pathways, feeling her mind and body fully in sync with the music, she felt completely natural and at home, that this was where she was meant to be and what she was meant to do. Barely even conscious of the room around her October spun and leaped and swayed through a routine she had practiced dozens of time, enjoying the satisfaction of precision and control in her movement. This was how she always wanted to feel.

 

[Beaubelle Waldgrave]

Beaubelle realised her time was flying away. She felt more confident than ever but also sad about her and Teddy to end things. She didn't knew if people would actually like her for who she was. Beaubelle saw far more pretty girls around the school and she wasn't even good in classes. What could she actually do? Beaubelle had no idea what she would do after school and it made her sad. She was wondering if others from her age knew what they wanted to become. Beaubelle played the piano and she hadn't done it in a long time. Mostly when she did it calm her. So she went to the arts room to see if they had one there. She never really came here often. She didn't knew if they had one, because she never used it if it was. When she came inside she noticed a girl dancing and she wanted to leave, perhaps she was bothering the girl by walking in. But she went standing into the doorway. The girl could really dance well and Beaubelle smiled for a moment. When she noticed who it was she was a bit intimidated. It was someone from her year but also the prefect and seeker. Beaubelle reminded herself of how she was nothing of all that.

 

[October Alcott]

Other than the music October had playing the arts room was near silent, October's breath and the sound of her pointe shoes against the floor focusing her on her movements. She slid easily out of a coupe turn and stepped up easily to arabesque, focusing on her supporting leg and the detail in her hand and extended foot as she began to promenade, rotating slowly on the spot like a dancer in a music box. She was so focused on keeping the movement smooth that she almost didn't register the person watching her at first. When October realised though she quickly stepped down, surprised. She had shared a room with Beaubelle for years, but the two had never really spoken much. October lived in her own world too much of the time, and regretted not making friends properly. "Hi." She said softly, feet automatically shifting to third position as she greeted the other girl. "Did you come here to use the room?" In the past, October would have been annoyed by the interruption, but now she was a new person. She wanted to make friends, and not stress so much about always pushing herself to the limits, and there was nothing wrong with stopping a practice partway through to get to know someone.