May 4

[notfaking_it]

When their roles are posted, Lily smiles knowingly at Nina across the small crowd of mostly disappointed dancers, then crosses over to her and tells her they're going to have a party to celebrate. She tells Nina to invite whoever she wants, says she'll host it, it'll happen this weekend, then she disappears to make plans. She leaves Nina without time to protest on purpose.

On the night of the party, she has drinks and food set out in her kitchen. She's invited most of the people she knows and even a few she doesn't -- dancers, mostly, because she doesn't want to leave them out -- and there's already music playing even before anyone has arrived. The intention is to be casual, relaxed, but there are pills in Lily's pocket, for anyone who knows her well enough to ask, for anyone she thinks might need to relax a little.

Nina's doing better now, but Lily has no problem helping her come out of her shell if it comes to that. And she has no problem helping anyone else either.

Comments

[notfaking_it]

"Thank you," she says, tucking her hair behind her ear as she smiles. "It's going to be interesting with Nina as the Prince. I think... she's a beautiful dancer when she really lets herself go, I think this could be incredible."

And she's worried, a little. Proud and excited, but worried. She'll have to watch, she thinks, try to help Nina find a balance. She won't push, not like before.

[badtotheclone]

"I'm sure it will be," I say, meaning it. I have absolute confidence in Lily's dancing ability and if she says that her friend is also very good, I'm sure that she's very good.

"We look forward to watching."

[notfaking_it]

"So you and Cass will come, then?" she asks, smiling. Sometimes she's still surprised by how many people are willing to come to the ballet. In New York, they'd been struggling a little, trying to find not only investors, but people willing to come and watch, willing to pay the outrageous ticket prices.

[badtotheclone]

"Probably multiple times," I admit. Bringing Cass to the ballet is probably one of the best things I've ever done in terms of making her happy. I have no doubt we'll go see this performance several times.

[notfaking_it]

Lily laughs, but it pleases her that Cass seems to like it so much. For as much as she knows it isn't for everyone, there are always people who truly love it, people who used to come to every show they did, people who gave them standing ovations, brought them flowers. Sometimes she forgets about that. "I'm glad she enjoys it," she says honestly.

[badtotheclone]

"Me too," I say, giving a small smile. It's almost strange how nice it is to make someone so happy, even someone I really care about. It feels like I'm doing something wrong.

"But I'd better let you get back to your party. I think I might even try and mingle some. By which I mean I'm going to walk from this wall, over to the one across the room and hang out there."

[notfaking_it]

"Ooh, but maybe the other wall is the next step," she says with a laugh, laying her hand on Kaine's arm and giving a light squeeze. "It's just a little bit closer to mingling, I'm proud of you." She's teasing a little, but she is glad that he's come.

[badtotheclone]

"I'll head nod to someone along the way," I reassure here. "That way I can count it as a full mingle."

Which, honestly, is more than I would have even joked about before, so I guess I am becoming more social. Hell, I guess the fact that I'm here is proof of that.

[notfaking_it]

"Try that guy," she says, pointing to Alexander. "He's very friendly, I'm sure he'll nod back." He may also actually talk to Kaine, which is what she's hoping for. Anyone else might just let him sneak by without actually saying anything.

[badtotheclone]

"Okay, I'll consider giving it a shot," I say, although I'm pretty sure that I won't. Actually, thinking about it I feel like shit for basically lying to Lily, so now I'm going to. I hate my life.

[notfaking_it]

"Only if you want to," she says with a grin, patting his arm lightly. "I'm going to go grab another drink, do my hostess thing for a bit, but I'll come see you and Cass later, okay?"

[badtotheclone]

"Okay," I say with a nod. "She'd like that."

I'm sure Cass would love to ask Lily all sorts of questions about the upcoming performance and just generally enjoy talking about ballet with someone as knowledgeable and talented as Lily.