"Dance for yourself, if someone understands good. If
not then no matter, go right on doing what you love."
Lois Hurst
The two weeks of rehearsals was everything Justin could ever dream for in preparing for a performance and the night of the show had finally arrived. The backstage area was a mix of excitement and nerves and Justin was somewhere in-between. He ran a palm down his side, smoothing away non-existent wrinkles in his costume before sitting in one of the make-up chairs, sliding the ballet shoes on his feet; just like that, the electricity trickled into his body and shot through him. A quick look in the mirror told him that his make-up was as close to perfect as it could be so he stood, stretching out the fabric of the shoes, moving en pointe from one foot to the other a few times before pulling himself up completely, feeling incredibly powerful. There was a half-hour warning and Justin made his way to an empty corner and pulled his arms over his head in a stretch before spreading his arms to the music that was already filling his mind. Every move he made loosened him up and by the time ten minutes and places was called, he was ready to take on whatever the audience threw at him.
The first row of the front center mezzanine was always given to ABT directors and principals, no matter what the performance was, so JC walked to his seat with the other principals in hopes of seeing their future company members. Louis was already sitting there, suit pressed perfectly and he stood up to greet JC as if they didn't live with each other.
"Well aren't you just looking beautiful tonight, Mr. Chasez," Louis said teasingly when he drank in JC's fitted gray slacks and black silk button-down. Despite the heat, the company refused to wear anything less than business casual to a performance.
"I know, thanks," JC answered wryly, sitting down and crossing an ankle over his knee. "Did you just get here?" He asked the question as he turned the pages of the slim program that held the Studio Company biographies as well as the information about ABT that was always there. He skimmed the information, trying to find out if there was anything he didn't already know about the dancers. "Hmm?"
"Yeah and not a moment too soon," Louis' voice dropped down to a whisper as the lights dimmed and they both faced forward as the music started and the curtains parted to reveal the eleven dancers.
They moved as one entity in the bright lights of the stage and Justin knew without looking at his fellow dancers that they were together, they were on the beat, they were flowing. He pushed himself to the brink of existence, giving every kick and leap the extra pull from his muscles. He embraced the sounds of the orchestra and let the strings pick him up and lead him across the stage in a tour jeté. The brass section lowered him to the ground as he lifted one of the girls up high, his hands holding her firmly but lightly before he stood and dropped her into a dip. Before Justin knew it, they were all making their way into the wings and he took a deep breath, letting the sound of violins spring him forward back onto the stage for his solo.
JC's blue eyes watched the body move across the stage that was stretching, jumping, soaring above the stage like he was born to fly. He leaned forward slightly in his seat and paid attention to the details of Justin's finger positions, the tilt of his head, the position of his foot while he leaped. While not perfect, Justin made every part of the dance look easy and at that thought, the corner of JC's lips curved upwards.
He scrutinized the three other soloists, but the image of Justin's dance was forever burned into his mind the way the look on his face was. His eyes were drawn back to Justin's moving form when the entire company came back to finish the performance, once again moving neatly with each other as if they were born to be a unit. When the music ended, the curtains dropped and the applause began. As the red fabric was lifted to reveal two lines of costumed dancers, the applause grew and as the soloists stepped forward together, JC stood gracefully from his seat, showing his appreciation as some of his company members did the same.
"Wow, that was amazing," someone said as they walked out of the theatre after the small reception was over that took place after the performance. They had each received a rose for a well-executed performance and the adrenaline still had not left them.
"Seriously," Justin agreed and others nodded. "I feel like I could be dancing forever. It was different from my other performances."
"It's this place," Jasmine commented. "Seriously, it's this place and this training and this company. Nothing has ever felt this great."
"Justin."
Justin stopped when he heard his name and turned his head to where the voice had come from. His heart pounded a bit harder when he noticed JC standing by one of the set of steps leading to the street below. "JC, hi." He was aware that the entire group had stopped with him and was waiting, so he stepped away from them and towards JC. "You're here."
"Of course," he said smoothly. "I never miss a performance unless I'm out of town." He held a rose out to Justin. "It's customary to give a rose to a well-performed show."
"I got one," Justin said flimsily, but he reached for the red flower JC held out anyway. "Thank you."
"You did well," JC tilted his head. "I couldn't stop watching you."
"Oh, well, thanks. That means a lot, it does." He smiled and turned away to walk back towards his friends.
"It flows out of you." JC's voice and words stopped him and he faced JC again, questions dancing in his eyes. "The music, I mean. The music and the dance," his voice lowered as he blinked slowly, "the passion." He took a step towards Justin and placed a hand on his shoulder feeling the warm skin from where his shirt ended. He noticed Justin's stare towards him and his lips parted into a sly smile. He leaned into Justin the way he did at the club, his lips grazing Justin's ear, "Will you let me see the passion elsewhere?" He drew away and the look in his eyes told Justin he was serious and Justin's breath hitched before he let out a shaky puff of air.
"I –"
"I want to celebrate your debut performance with the company," JC slid in, his voice wrapping around Justin. "If you're free right now, so am I."
"Yes." His throat threw out the word before Justin's brain could even comprehend JC's request. But it had been said and JC's smile was bright, so Justin walked over to his friends and met Jordan halfway, telling him that he wouldn't be going back to the apartments with them yet. He ignored his roommate's wink and walked back to JC, clearing his throat and with a quick glance back at his friends, he walked down the steps side by side with the famed dancer.
*