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“My prince?”  Arabella stood, her chair tottering back wildly before thumping forward on the floor.  “What prince?”

“Why, the Nutcracker prince of course,” Gabriel bellowed wildly, cackling.  “If I was 10 years younger and 300 pounds lighter, I’d put on a wig and dance Clara myself just to be in his arms.”  The door swung open, punctuating Gabriel’s wistful sigh.

“You wanted to see me, sir?”  Arabella sucked in her breath as a pair of bright blue eyes swept over her before returning to Gabriel.  After being in dance for years around near-hysterical girls who declared any male in tights to be “unbelievably dreamy”, “hot” or her personal favorite, “so gorg”, always delivered in a gushing tone by a teenage girl fanning herself.  Most of the time, the dancers were cute, but no cuter than your average math nerd or high school jock.  Until Justin, Arabella had simply ignored the other boy dancers.

“Arabella,” Leonette always groaned after Arabella rejected advance after advance.  “How are you ever going to date, or kiss, or even flirt?  You turn down every boy that asks you out!”

Arabella simply would toss her head and shrug.  “If they want to flirt with me, they can flirt with me in rehearsal,” she’d claim.  “All I want is to dance.”

After looking at the prince, Arabella feared she might have to revise her position to Leonette.  The boy that stood before her was not just classically handsome, but almost beautiful.  His golden hair gently curled around a porcelain sculpted face with chiseled cheekbones and strong jaw.  His bright blue eyes were accompanied by a whisper of laugh lines, enough to know that he didn’t take himself seriously, but light enough to indicate a serious nature. Clad in a button down shirt and jeans, Arabella could make out flickers of his muscular form every time he shifted slightly.

If Gabriel hadn’t been openly drooling, she would have been ashamed of herself.

“Arabella, this is Alaric.  Hey, alliteration!” Gabriel cried, chuckling.  “You both landed the lead role of the Nutcracker this year.  My Nutcracker, that is.”  Gabriel puffed his chest out, preening in Alaric’s direction.  “You know, I could have been a dancer.  If my love for the opera hadn’t been so strong.  You’re familar with my work, aren’t you, Alaric?”

The crinkles deepened around the sky blue eyes.  “Of course, sir.  And even if I wasn’t, I’m sure you’d be more than happy to educate me.”  Grinning as Gabriel sputtered, Alaric held out his hand.  “I’m pleased to meet you.”

In what she hoped was a subtle swipe, Arabella grazed her hand over her leotard before pressing it in Alaric’s palm.  “Likewise.  Have you been dancing long?”

“Since two,” Gabriel interrupted, gazing at Alaric.  “His mother is simply obsessed with the ballet.  Thank goodness she recognized his talent at such a young age.”

“Whether or not I had talent, my mother was determined for me to dance,” Alaric laughed, the lines deepening.  “Fortunately for her, I loved to dance.”

“I feel the same way.”  Arabella smiled, all too aware Alaric’s fingers were still wrapped around hers.  Her heart pounded in her ears.  “I could dance for days.”

Alaric winked.  “I could dance all night.”

“And I could dance anytime, anyplace.”  Gabriel interjected, grabbing both of their hands and kissing one, then the other.  Clutching their palms to his chest, his chubby fingers wrapped around them tightly, he cried, “With such wonderful dancers, I know my Nutcracker will be the best production ever!  With you two in the lead role, nothing can go wrong!”

A knock on the door startled the three of them, with Gabriel’s shriek piercing the air.  The secretary’s disapproving face peered around the edge of the door.  “Sir, I have someone here for Arabella.”  Without waiting, Justin slipped through the door.  He raised his eyebrows, eying the director of the academy holding hands with his principal dancers, but simply said, “Sir, Arabella is needed in rehearsal.”

“Parting is such sweet sorrow,” Gabriel intoned, planting a loud smack on the back of Arabella’s hand.  “Remember what I said, my dear.  I shall see you soon.”

“And I’ll see you soon,” Alaric added, his eyes twinkling.  “A Nutcracker Prince is nothing without his Clara, after all.”

Most girls would have swooned.  Leonette would have issued a proposal.  Arabella flushed and gaped at him like a fish before managing a tiny squeak and nod.  Bolting from the office, she hurried past the frowning secretary and into the hall.

“Hey, slow down!” Justin protested, grabbing her arm and pulling her into a slower pace.  “What’s your rush?”

Arabella furrowed her brow.  “You said I was needed…”

Justin snorted.   “I just figured Gabriel was droning on and on and wanted to give you an option out.  I didn’t realize you were all buddy-buddy.  Tell me, do you always hold hands with men you don’t know?”

“Not intentionally.”  Arabella jumped as Justin threw back his head and laughed, his teeth gleaming in the florescant lights.

“You’re funny, you know that?”  He grinned, brushing a escaped strand back into her bun.

Arabella’s flaming cheeks turned scorching.  “No one’s ever told me that before.”

“Well, you are.”  They slowed, steps from the girls locker room.  “I guess I’ll see you at rehearsal tomorrow night.  Remember what I said about Jocelyn.  As soon as she finds out Alaric is your partner, she’ll go berzerk.  All the girls love him.”

“I can see why,” Arabella said automatically.  She flushed at Justin’s scowl.  “I mean, he seems really nice.”

Justin rolled his eyes.  “Don’t pretend with me.  I know exactly what girls think of Alaric.  My twin’s in love with him.  I have to hear all about it.”  Leaning forward, Arabella stepped back until she was pinned in the door frame, his body inches from hers.  She could feel the heat from his skin, his breath whisper across her cheek.  “But be careful, Arabella.  If Jocelyn is dangerous, Alaric is treacherous.  Be polite, but be wary.”

“Of Alaric?”  Arabella shook her head.  “Why?  What do you mean?”

“Just trust me.”  Glowering, Justin shook his head.  “See you later.”  Ignoring her protests, he strode down the hall, his back hard and straight as his feet stomped into the tile.

Biting her lip, Arabella stepped into the locker room.  Turning the corner, she reached for her locker and froze.

The lock had been ripped off, the door twisted and battered as it hung open.

But it was what inside the locker that made her gasp.

Stay tuned, Invisible Friends!  We have a new delicious recipe manana and more Butterfly Dress Friday!

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