The Black Swan | Reposted

Chapter 35 - Rough & Gentle (Mature)

The pressure was mounting and mounting. My twenty first birthday was spent dancing late into the morning hours, until I couldn't feel my limbs. I didn't care, I didn't care about anyone or anything. I needed to focus on this ballet.

"Faster, stronger, you don't mean it!" Harry screamed at me, walking around as I practice my fouettes. "Hit the mark, go, go, push yourself!' He cried out, his body dripping in sweat, spandex fitted tightly after his own practices. His hair was shinny, pulled back halfway; this time he had a black headband in it. You would think it'd make him appear less intimidating, but it did no such thing. "What are you thinking; you think this is even remotely good?" He ripped me apart, absolutely destroyed me. "Enough, get me your phone, I'll call your mother and have her do it." I ground my teeth together, feeling my calves scream. I felt the ache in my toes, I felt the bones in my feet feel as if they were about to snap. My neck hurt from holding it so tight, my arms were throbbing, back crying out. All this and I couldn't stop.

"Sloppy!" He pushed me, making me slam into the floor, gasping. I felt a shock-wave of pain rip through me. "What is that? You really believe that that's principle dancing?"

"I'm trying," I gasped. "My best."

"Your best?" He laughed. "Your best isn't good enough." I fell back onto the floor. "Don't fucking cry in here, don't you dare. You do not cry."

"Okay," I swallowed hard, trying to pull my tears back.

"Odette, one tear, I'm going to make you run five miles. I fucking mean it."

"All right, all right," I sat up, rubbing my legs, shaking.

I don't know why this was helping. I suppose hearing him scream out my worst fears, what people might think of me, may work. I just didn't want to fail. I guess I needed someone to crack the whip.

This had been where we were staring, we had covered aspects of the Black Swan's sexuality, and we also did the more daring things. Harry was really pushing my dancing as a whole.

"Did anything go well today?" I breathed out after hours of dancing together.

"You could have been much better."

I frowned and nodded. "Thanks," I pulled my bag over my shoulder.

"Ice your legs," he shouted as I walked out. I headed home, feeling real despair. I wanted more for myself. I was resting in a cool bath when there was a knock at my front door. I sighed and pulled on my robe.

"Mom?"

"Hi," she breathed out and came inside. Her perfume hit me like a wall of memories somehow.

"What are you doing here?"

She glared. "I'm angry with you."

"Why?"

"I haven't seen you. You wouldn't let me come around on your birthday. You are treating me like some criminal."

"Mom, I'm uncomfortable around you right now. Not only that but Swan Lake is very overwhelming, you understand that. I need to be focusing on my dancing and not this drama."

"What drama?" she laughed. "I have done nothing to you whatsoever." I stared. "Oh for heaven's sake, are you still on that whole thing about your father?"

"I want you to leave mom. I need space. I need to focus on trying to figure out how to dance. I really need to. If you want me to do well in the show, I need time."

She was flabbergasted, clearly by the way her mouth was held. She huffed out, the scarf of hers breezing back as she left. I locked the door, leaning my back against it. I was so upset, I was trying to block my mom out but that clearly wasn't working. I called... I called Harry, just crying.