Chapter 01: The Good Life

Natalie turned on the overhead speaker system in Branson Hall’s performing arts center. She had to rehearse for the upcoming Ballet and wanted to perfect her moves before she took center stage. It was her favorite piece by far and she was eager to perform whenever it came up in the rotation. Popping on Tchaikovsky’s opus #20, she placed herself beneath the spotlight and waited for the music to begin.

Blake sat in the quiet solace of his bedroom trying to get his thoughts together. He’d been struggling over the same piece for a while now and the constant buzzing from the outside world kept his mind muddled with insignificant clatter. Turning off the lamp in his semblance of a living quarters, he started towards the small door that opened towards the art department of Overton Academy. Instantly Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux bounced off the empty walls of the dark tunnels and he recognized it as Act I No. 5 of Swan Lake.

A slight smile parted his lips and he stepped into the canal to get a better listen. The sound pulled him forward and very soon he found himself climbing the steps to the empty theater and perching himself on the balcony overlooking the stage. In that moment his eyes fell on a sight he’d never before encountered and he found himself glued to the dancer on the stage and her every graceful movement. And in that moment he cussed himself for leaving his camera at home for she was the perfect subject.

Like a moth to a flame he seemed drawn to her. The expressions on her face as she spun center stage were far beyond beauty, far beyond elegance. She was an Angel personified. He leaned closer over the ledge causing the railing to squeak and quickly pushed away.

Natalie stopped suddenly and looked towards the empty sitting area of the large theater. “Hello?” she turned off the music and grabbed her jacket to cover herself. “Is anyone there?” She glanced up at the balcony and noticed a dark figure move towards the stairs and out the utility door. 

Natalie checked her watch and gathered her belongings. She was meeting Jessica and Roxanne for a bit and didn’t want to be late. Quickly crossing the path through the quad she again glanced towards the utility area and came to a stop. Someone was there, watching; and now she was almost sure of it. Taking small steps she closed the gap between herself and the tall oak near the edge of campus, her eyes affixed on the large shadow just behind the tree. “Nat!”

She turned at the sound of her name and saw Jessica and Roxanne hurrying in her direction. “Hey! Let’s get a move on ok? As tight as your schedule is, it’s hard enough sneaking in some girl time!” She smiled and waved at her friends, giving one last look towards the oak and jumped into the passenger side of Jessica’s Porsche. 

Today I did something stupid; I almost got too close. I allowed my curiosity to get the better of me and sought out the source of the melody; she was playing my music. This girl she appeared weightless, floating across the stage as if pulled on a cloud. I’ve never seen anything like it before. I want to know her name but fear it’s opening a can of worms. I’ll use my better judgment and keep my distance. She must be one of them anyway. No one attends this school unless they are rich and powerful.

-BF

“So are you excited about next semester?” Roxanne asked as the girls took seats on the outside terrace, each of them nursing a sundae of some kind.

“Me? No of course not,” Natalie sighed. “I’m still not permitted to live on campus and I already know all of the courses that I’ll be assigned to take. I’d perhaps feel more excited if I had a say in what went on in my life.” She shrugged and stabbed her spoon into her pistachio sundae.

“You should feel lucky to have parents who are attentive at least. I told my dad I was taking up law next semester and he simply shrugged and said ‘that’s nice dear’. I don’t even think he really heard me.”

They finished their midday snacks and each went their separate ways. Natalie was cutting it close getting home just two minutes before her scheduled music lessons. It was another hobby selected by her parents to groom her into the best possible lifestyle. They had high hopes for their daughter and did not intend on watching her talent go to waste. Estelle met her in the foyer, a disapproving scowl on her lips as Natalie slinked into the door.

“Where have you been young lady? You know you have an appointment with Mrs. Feingold this afternoon! I hate that you’ve kept her waiting.” 

Motioning towards Winston, her personal butler, she had him remove the bags in Natalie’s possession. “Well don’t just stand there with your mouth agape dear! She is in the living room waiting!”

“Yes Mother.” Natalie fiddled with her hands as she took long strides into the living room to meet with her violin instructor.

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A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts and she turned to greet her butler. “What’s this?” Natalie asked watching Winston place a bouquet of roses on her desk beside a box of chocolates.

“They are from your gentleman friend, Mr. Dupree. He sends a card with his gifts.” He sat the card on the table and exited her room.

Natalie didn’t budge from her spot beside the window. Instead she turned her gaze once more to the gardens below and watched the moonlight drawing shapes on the rose bushes beneath her window. She noticed motion beside the small fountain and squinted to try and get a better look. The door to her bedroom opened once more and Caesar came strutting inside and hopped into her lap. 

She smiled and stroked his hair back behind his ears before turning to face her mother who was standing in the doorway. “These are beautiful Natalie. Are they from Riley? That boy has exquisite tastes.” Without asking permission, she pulled the small note from its envelope and began reading. “‘My sincerest apologies.’ And what may I ask is he apologizing for? You two aren’t…?”

“Mom! I’m 21 years old.”

“And what exactly does that mean, Dear?”

“It means you weren’t a saint when you were my age, you can’t expect that I am either. You were 25 when I was born!”

“Yes and your father was the only man I’d ever been with.” Natalie rolled her eyes at her mother’s blatant lies and returned her gaze out the window. She wasn’t in the mood to explain her actions to her mother or listen to her scold her about being “loose”. Riley had been her first and it was something she learned to regret a year later when she found him cheating on her with her best friend. He could keep the apologies, she wasn’t accepting anymore of his lies either. “Anyway, I came to say goodnight dear, it’s nearly 10. You should get yourself ready for bed. You have a busy schedule in the morning.”

Estelle waited for Natalie to tuck herself into her bed before shutting off the light and exiting her room. Caesar remained near the window watching the backyard. His ears perked up and he jumped up to all fours and began growling at something outside. Natalie called for him but he refused to join her in bed. 

He barked a loud, shrilly bark and clawed at the glass. “Come on Caesar! If you don’t stop you know Mom’s going to come and lock you in your room.” The dog turned with a whimper and charged for the bed, tucking himself into the other side. Natalie laughed and wrapped an arm over his tiny body. “Yeah I know I feel the same way.”

She’s a Silverman. I haven’t quite decided how to feel about that but I know one thing for certain, she’s not the person they think she is. There’s a melancholy to her looks that is ignored by the people around her. Having been in her presence for only a few minutes it was something I noticed immediately. I can only wonder what tugs at her heartstrings. At least I answered the question I wanted to know most. And now I must keep my distance.

-BF

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