On Point

Dance Stars Championships!

By Rena Rouge

As most dancers within the world begin to slow down and prepare for their break over Christmas, young dancers everywhere are preparing for the 'Paris Dance Stars Championships'. The event is to be held at the Grand Palais with the best of the best coming to compete.

The semi-finals were held over a month ago with all finalists having to choreograph a new routine to perform in the final. These young stars are definitely giving the pros a run for their money, and we're looking to see what comes out on centre stage.

*****

To Adrien, dance had always seemed just a selection of movements. A well rehearsed transition from one gesture to the next. The brush of a hand, a closeness of bodies, a well-timed duet between two people to entertain. His mother had encouraged him to dance from his heart and love his music — a metaphor he never understood, until they stopped. The pregnant pause in the combination of fluidity, finally making everything clear.

It wasn't the quality of the choreography or the characters they were playing, it was the girl twirling effortlessly around in his arms. For, now he'd finally found the right partner, and the music truly had begun.

Adrien loved the freedom which came from a good dance, especially one which allowed him to be loose and move through the music. He loved floor work, he loved exciting partner work and, if he was being honest with himself, he was falling in love with dancing with Marinette. Their partnership was effortless, a glide from one move to the next, combining a rhythm together like one beating heart. They were coordinated and in sync and he couldn't stop thinking about how they could read each other so well. His mother had told him when he found the right person magic would be made... and right now, it truly was.

Artwork by the amazing Art_the_f_up on Instagram

He'd enjoyed dancing with her in the studio a couple of weeks back, the trust and flow helping to adapt and improve his father's choreography. She hadn't trusted Luka, but she'd thrown her trust into him – even though his father's glare was burning down on them. Maybe that was the reason for the well defined partnership? Maybe it was a factor in their performance? But one thing was for certain, they looked good together.

Dancing with Marinette was organic.

Over his years of dancing with Lila or Chloé, it had become obvious that their bodies just didn't fit right: they either got too close, or they were too tense, striving for an unreachable level of perfection. And everyone knew perfection doesn't exist... or at least he thought that, until Marinette was in his arms.

It was right. It was two bodies moving to the same chord. It was two bodies made for each other. This was how dancing should be.

He twirled Marinette in his arms, bringing her in front of his body as instructed by Tikki and wrapping an arm around her waist and holding her close. Marinette's arm moved to stretch around his neck, her other hand on his around her stomach, and her eyes planted firmly on his. A hillside meeting a river. A horizon of hope and pleasure.

Time froze.

The music stopped.

But his heart continued to beat rapidly against his chest.

His face was flustered and he wasn't sure if it was from the routine, or from the close proximity of the girl in his arms. His thoughts spiralled and his world became bright again.

He was stepping on dangerous territory. Dancers' relationships, though full of unique desire, were usually explosive and bad for pas de deux. The last thing you wanted was to dance a love story with someone you'd grown to hate. When Lila had pressured him time and time again to dance with her, he'd conceded, dropping Chloé and forming a new partnership with Lila. One he regretted almost everyday. Chloé wasn't exactly the friendliest of people, but she was his friend and purely there for the dancing. Lila however, had other ideas, ones only he could fulfil.

A loud sound of a crowd's applause had them jumping apart, Marinette messing with her top, as Adrien reached to rub a hand against the nape of his neck.

Tikki stood at the front of the studio with her eyes questioning them both. If he only had the answer.

"Well, that was intense." Plagg entered the studio, homing straight for his wife's side and his arm wrapping around her waist.

Adrien looked around the studio, it seemed everyone agreed as they stood staring at the two — Adrien unable to look at Marinette as his heart battled to return to normal. He'd never been so overcome with a routine before, it was as though it was just the two of them. No one else around them as they moved so effortlessly around the studio floor.

"Did you see how they looked at each other?" Tikki addressed the class. "That's how you create pure, intense emotions in the dance: eye contact and close positioning."

Adrien felt his face heat, he'd completely gotten swept away in the moment and now he was embarrassed for her, he should have controlled himself instead of making a spectacle of her, it was bad enough she was dancing with Adrien Agreste, let alone performing 'like that'. He was quite sure they were about to go back to his place and make the most of each other.

"Some looks should be kept in the bedroom," joked Plagg, Tikki digging her elbow into his ribs. Yep, exactly as Adrien had thought. They'd taken it too far.

"Everyone, let's try it again."

The other dancers nodded, and walked back onto the floor with their partner, giving Adrien and Marinette a look over as they moved. Adrien turned shyly to her, almost apologetic.

"I —" he coughed, unsure what to say or do. "I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to call it a night. We can just call it quits right now, if you want?"

She smiled at him, which realised the butterfly farm into his stomach. He'd been doing so well to hold them in through the class. The dancer's curse was starting to fully kick in, his heart pulling to the woman beside him as she grabbed his hand and led him into the dance. This curse had gotten him into trouble before and he'd be best off remembering that. It was the dance giving him a flip in his stomach, the performance, the heart. It had nothing to do with what he felt for Marinette — he'd just found a decent partner, a partner he didn't want to lose.

His head was onboard, but as she slotted herself into his arms once again, he knew his heart would need a little more convincing.

*****

Marinette couldn't understand why duets terrified her so much. Dancing with Adrien, this way, was as natural as breathing. Out of the studio, and away from the judgemental gaze of Gabriel Agreste and the other dancers, Marinette felt alive!

Adrien was the same as her, a misunderstood dancer who was made for more than barre work and foot positions, and getting to see him in such a natural way was unnerving, because she was seeing him in a completely different light.

She'd heard about the 'dancers curse' a number of times, the curse which had you falling so into character you became the dance. The substance was shallow and unnatural, but everything here was natural, and the way Adrien was looking at her sent her mind spiralling in the wrong directions.

She'd heard about it, she'd attempted to convince herself that it couldn't happen, but it was too little, too late. Tonight they weren't playing characters, they were dancing and feeling. This was them playing themselves – a thought which rattled her to the core.

As the class came to a close, she considered the different secrets she was keeping at the moment. The fact Alya was only at the studio because of Adrien, how Plagg had defended her against Gabriel's cut, how Adrien was living this double life and, she supposed, as she was coming here, she was too. She could just imagine the anger on Gabriel's face if he found out.

The class gave a round of applause thanking Tikki as they departed the studio floor. Marinette headed over to her bag and found her joggers and hoodie to place over her leotard and tights. She waved a couple of goodbyes as people left, yet she found herself hovering in the corner waiting. Waiting for Adrien to be more precise. She couldn't allow what was happening with Adrien to get in the way of her relationship with Luka — though it still wasn't labelled yet, it was what she wanted, who she wanted, wasn't he? Adrien was her dance partner, nothing more.

Adrien was grumpy and harsh, and...

She saw him talking to Plagg and Tikki, all three smiling and relaxed. He was misunderstood.

Adrien caught her reflection in the mirror, her hand coming up to wave goodbye, only for Adrien to gesture, asking her to wait a moment.

Grabbing her coat, she placed it on before wrapping her scarf around her neck, awkwardly standing around and waiting for Adrien to come and join her.

A moment later, he was in front of her smiling, his own jacket and scarf bundled in his arms. "May I walk you back to the dorms?"

He was almost breathless as he asked, almost unsure of himself and her answer. "Sure."

She watched him as he struggled to put his scarf on. The material fell from around his neck as he used one hand to do it, his one handed attempt ridiculous by anyone's standards. Unable to watch him struggling anymore, she grabbed the scarf and fixed it for him herself, positioning it properly and freeing his hands to place on his coat.

"Here. I can't have my partner catching a cold now, can I?" Smiling, she patted the knot on his chest before leading them out of the studio, a quick farewell being thrown to an overly smiling Tikki and Plagg.

Adrien pushed open the door to the street and allowed Marinette to step out first, her arms instinctively wrapping around her.

They began to walk in the direction of the dorms, only the noise of traffic and breaths of condensated air between them. She turned her head to look at him, the lights of the lampposts illuminated him like a shrine, his blond hair flowing like a halo above his head and his skin looking flawless like marble. He really did look as good out of the stage makeup as in it — her posters in her old room looking nothing like the real deal.

He turned to look at her, a slight dimple taking hostage of his cheek as he smiled.

"Usually I hate people staring, but for you I'll make an exception."

She smiled back, her cheeks heating a little from being caught. "I was just thinking how strange it is to see you smile."

He placed a hand to his chest and gasped. "I smile a lot I'll have you know."

"You must be looking in a mirror upside down."

He bumped into her hip, causing her to stumble more than what a usual person would — thank you clumsiness. Stepping forward, he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back in front of him, supporting her and stabilising her. Their eyes caught, freezing the moment in time. A car passed and made his eyes glisten in the cold night air.

His emerald hues shimmered, casting a mesmerising spell as they caught the reflection of the ambient lights which passed, weaving a tale of mystery and allure.

"I'm sorry for everything," he whispered. "I just get so frustrated at the school, all the expectations and that, and can't help but feel angry when I'm there."

Her chest heaved from their close proximity, Adrien's hand around her waist like a warm, secure blanket in the barely lit street. She felt oddly safe with Adrien, a feeling she hadn't had in so long.

"And I swear, when I said you don't belong at Agreste , what I actually meant was at the party. It had nothing to do with your talent. The opposite in fact. You deserve more than what my father can offer you, than any ballet school. They're for pretentious assholes... and I've just realised I've probably insulted you and all your friends. I really need to learn how to stop talking."

She placed a hand over her mouth restricting the laugh, wanting to escape. He might be the most popular boy at school but he was a complete idiot when it came to social interactions with other adults – and it was rather endearing.

"I was actually persuaded to audition, it wasn't ever on my radar really, and I never thought for a moment I'd actually get in." Marinette admitted out loud something she'd kept tightly hidden since the auditions, she just prayed he wouldn't use it against her.

"What?" he gasped. "You're the best dancer there."

"As sweet as that is to hear, I'm nowhere near the standard of ballet like Chloé and Lila. I'm barely keeping up."

They started walking again, Marinette feeling the cold from where Adrien had just held her. They headed down the street and avoided the crazy shopping crowds ladened with bags.

"I know as well as you do, you're better than both of them. I saw you the last time you competed against them... and kicked their butts."

She smirked thinking of her wins to the Mean Girls' losses always made her smile. "You were there?"

He nodded. "I came with Zoé Lee, her..." Adrien trailed off, his hand coming to the back of his neck, a signal he didn't want to continue this story.

"Her?" Marinette questioned.

Not only did she want to know what Adrien meant, she also wanted to know why he was there? And if she was being honest, she wanted to know what he thought. She'd come out as the highest scorer of the day, and the judges' favourite, finally putting her small dance studio on the map.

Adrien sighed, removing his hand from his neck and grabbing hold of his crossbody bag. "I went with her to watch her boyfriend."

"Boyfriend? There weren't many boys there that day, if I remember rightly. Just Tate Donovan and..."

"Luka Couffaine."

Luka's ex-girlfriend was Zoé Lee. The confirmation that had been lacking finally revealed for her to move forward. It was Zoé Lee. The same Zoé Lee who he was dancing with at the Christmas gala.

Marinette would be lying if she'd tried to ignore the way their relationship had changed since the ballerina's transfer to the company, his time spent training with his partner rather than with her. A reason why she was regularly here at the studio with Tikki. But why hadn't he mentioned it?

Marinette must have stopped walking, Adrien circling back to come and see her, to check she was okay.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his eyes full of concern.

"Yeah," she said, not believing it herself. "I just didn't know for certain. I mean, I had my thoughts."

"There isn't a lot to know. They broke up over a year ago, and from what I can see Luka is happy with you. I mean who wouldn't be." He smiled at her, yet it didn't meet his eyes. He was trying, she had to give him that.

"It's... never mind. It doesn't matter. Let's carry on."

They continued walking in silence, her mind once again taking on its own creative theories. Luka wouldn't cheat on her, like she wouldn't cheat on him – but they weren't actually together so if things did happen would it be cheating?

As they reached the dorms, Adrien buzzed them in and opened the door, allowing Marinette through first.

"I'm sorry," he whispered as they stood and waited for the elevator. "I shouldn't have said anything, I swear I wouldn't have mentioned it if I knew you didn't know."

She smiled, reaching out to take his hand and leading him into the elevator. It wasn't his fault, it was no one's fault – apart from Luka's. She scolded herself for thinking it.

"Don't worry, I suppose I had to find out sometime, right?"

Adrien gave her a sad, pitying smile which turned her insides, she really didn't want him to see her that way. She didn't want anyone to see her that way.

Getting off at her floor, she continued forward and down the corridor to her and Alya's room. It was Friday night so she was quite sure her friend wouldn't be in, instead she'd be spending the time with Nino.

"So, it's the girls' competition on Sunday. Would you like to come? I know they would appreciate having you there."

She went to respond with a grateful yes, she loved spending the time with the girls, and having the opportunity to support them after the rather drastic change that evening filled her with joy... until she realised she'd already promised Luka she'd go out with him.

"Sunday? Oh, Adrien, I'm sorry but I can't. I already promised Luka I'd go with him to his dad's concert."

Adrien smiled and shook his head. "It's fine, don't worry about it."

"Will you keep in contact with me though? Let me know how they're getting on? Here..." She took her phone from her bag and thrust it out to him. "Put your number in there, that way I can message you all day."

He took the phone from her hands with a small chuckle and input his number into it, adding his name and a black cat emoji. She looked at it and giggled.

"Really?" she questioned. "A black cat?"

Adrien shrugged. "So you know it's me. I'm going to put a ladybug as your contact."

Taking her phone back from him, she replaced it in her bag. "I think after seeing what we did tonight we're going to steal the gala show."

"Once I have the choreography sorted, hopefully."

"Have faith in yourself, Adrien, you're amazing." Taking the opportunity, she stretched up on her toes and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you. For everything."

"You're welcome. I'll speak to you soon." Repeating the action, Adrien bent down and pressed a kiss to her cheek, a warm tingle spreading through as her fingers graced the area.

"Goodnight, Marinette."

"Uh... see you to... mo.. tomo... Haha! Whoa. Why am I stammering?"

Adrien made his way out of the corridor leaving Marinette watching him go, a lightness in her heart and a smile on her face. She turned, ready to enter her bedroom, noticing Rose's door closing to the right.

Marinette's stomach churned, what had she just seen? And would she tell Luka?