On Point

From Centre Stage to the Cat Walk

By Rena Rouge

As if Gabriel Agreste (50) wasn't amazing enough, the dance connoisseur has released another hit on the world of dance. This time in the form of fashion. Who knew beneath the exterior of perfect poise and pointed feet, Gabriel Agreste was a dancewear genius. His first line will be revealed at the Agreste Company Christmas Gala, where the dancers will all be wearing outfits designed and created by the dance master himself.

In line with this news, we have heard Principal dancers will now only be allowed to wear 'Gabriel' clothing within the studios and also to any additional events. Bad news for Lila Rossi's (20) new sponsorship with 'Bloch'.

Audrey Bourgeois (46), mother of Agreste's Principal dancer Chloé Bourgeois (20), and influential fashion designer, has said that Monsieur Agreste has always shown talent in the creative design side of fashion. She told 'On Point' how Gabriel had designed all of Chloé's festival costumes, along with Chloé's on again/off again rival, Lila Rossi (20). We are yet to hear the official release date of normal studio wear, however, our sources have told us Gabriel will be implementing his dress code within the next month and that Lila Rossi and Adrien Agreste (22) will be teaming up to model selected items. We can't wait to see the dynamic duo back together!

Here at 'On Point' we are also wondering if this is a hint of the future pas de deux stars, and whether these two will, again, be joining together to set a glow centre stage. The last time the couple were seen dancing together was on the eve of Emilie Agreste's death. Rumours had it Agreste jr was going to be taking their relationship to the next level by proposing that Christmas. Though, we're not 100% certain a 20-year-old would commit to one woman at such a young age, we can only imagine how it was for Lila when such unfortunate events ripped them apart.

We hope that maybe the dance curse will once again take effect and these two exquisite dancers can rekindle their love just in time for the holidays.

*****

Marinette had been pacing her room most of the night, only finally falling asleep once Alya threatened to knock her out. She hoped it was a joke, yet the fire in her friend's eyes told her that maybe there was a partial truth to the statement.

Today was the first pas de deux class, and even though she'd had two weeks of preparation before they started this intense side of training, she couldn't help but be completely pessimistic about what was to come. Yes things could go great, but there was an equal, and more likely chance that everything would go horribly wrong — starting with who her partner would be.

She couldn't help but replay time and time again how Adrien had stormed out the room, and the look he gave her. It was two weeks ago, yet she still wanted to shrivel up and disappear. If it wasn't for Luka, she was almost certain that was what would happen. He'd taken on the role of looking after her and reassuring her everything was fine, and maybe it was – he was very believable.

She'd never met anyone like Luka before, to be honest she had zero interest in boys, boyfriends, or anything as such. Her life had been devoted to dance, and unless you could move like Jagger you weren't getting a second glance. But boy could that guy move.

Before accepting the place here she danced with Madame Bustier. The studio was a small one, Marinette being the oldest student there with a massive age gap to the next. She was loyal, and although other studios attempted to poach her with promises of greater success, she stayed with the woman who'd taught her not just about dance, but about life, making her into the person she was today. There were no males in the studio, something she realised she'd certainly missed out on.

"A cent for your thoughts?" Luka came and sat on the bar stool in front of her, Marinette busy preparing breakfast in the small kitchenette.

"I'm just a little nervous about today."

"You worry too much. You've been amazing so far, Marinette."

She couldn't help the warm blush which spread across her cheeks. "Thank you," she whispered. "But it's not that. I've never done a pas de deux before, I've always danced in a corp de ballet or as a soloist. I'm going to be so awkward!" She covered her eyes, embarrassed by the truth, especially to the guy she was quite obviously crushing on.

"I've done a few, the last didn't go quite to plan" he coughed, before looking back up at her, a sorrowful smile on his lips. She couldn't help but wonder what had gone on there, but from the look on Luka's face now was not the time to be questioning it.

"I tell you what —" Luka stretched out and grabbed her hand. "If we get to choose our own partners, I'll be yours. What do you say?"

Marinette smiled, Luka's eyes suddenly brightening a little, he could do so much better than to dance with her. "That sounds amazing. Thank you."

Bar Adrien, Luka was the most talented male at the school. He'd already been the talk of all the girls, the guys and the teachers — and he was so chilled about it.

"What sounds amazing?" Alya wandered into the kitchenette adding a few more hair grips into her tight, perfectly formed bun. Marinette couldn't help but be jealous of how slick and perfectly formed Alya could style her hair. Marinette couldn't help but still feel mortified from the teaspoon incident. She wasn't entirely sure what had happened there, but she was quite sure Adrien had constantly checked her hair out for any kitchen cutlery.

"If we can choose partners, Luka's going to be with me."

"Well, isn't that cute! Tell me, when you tie the knot can I be a bridesmaid?"

Marinette grabbed one of the apples from the fruit bowl and threw it at Alya's head, only for her friend to react crazily quickly and catch it with a menacing smile on her face.

"We need to go on a date first, Als," Luka laughed, Alya hopping onto the stool beside him.

"And that is when exactly?" she enquired.

"Saturday," Luka responded, Marinette clattering around at his response.

Saturday?

"If she wants to go out with me that is?" Luka looked in her direction, a smooth and adoring smile on his face.

"I - um -"

"Of course she will! Look she's that excited, she's speechless." Alya answered for her, smiling brightly like this was the best news to ever be announced.

Speechless was definitely one way of putting it. She hadn't come here to date, and yes she most certainly did have a thing for Luka, most girls did, but she'd only known him for a couple of weeks. And she'd never been on a date before. She wouldn't know what to do or where to start.

"Marinette?" Luka questioned. She lifted her head slowly to look at him, keeping her smile in place. He looked so happy, so excited, she couldn't turn that down.

"Saturday, sounds great!" she said cheerfully. Alya gave her the thumbs up as Luka remained cool and calm.

"What sounds great?" Rose was next to join the group, walking over to the sink and filling the glass in her hand with water.

"Marinette and Luka are finally going on a date."

"Oh! It's about time, how exciting!"

About time?

Maybe she'd gotten this whole dating thing wrong and you didn't need to know the person for a long time before making a move. She glanced at Luka, his eyes sparkling as he smiled at her, a soft smile of gratefulness. He looked so happy. And he was an amazing guy.

She needed to stop being so cautious and take a risk. It was amazing Luka liked her enough to ask her out, and she needed to grab the opportunity with both hands.

Smiling back, she couldn't help but think with all this luck she was having, something bad must be on the horizon.

What had started out as a nice joyful, happy morning had suddenly turned sour as Marinette, for the tenth time, stumbled on her pirouette. Who would have thought it was easier without a partner supporting you?

She was ready to throw in the towel and gracefully leave the school because right now, this was impossible! She was trying, she really was, but as soon as Luka's hands grabbed hold of her hips she seemed to giggle like an adolescent girl. Marinette considered at first it was just because it was Luka she was dancing with, however, when Plagg stepped in and almost received a broken nose from her elbow, it seemed she had quite a large ticklish area.

The studio was abuzz with chatter as the couples practised around the space. The pairing selection had been interesting. Plagg had already pre chosen partners from the previous week's classes, and she thanked her lucky stars her pairing was with Luka. He had been amazing. Taking it at her speed and not pushing her into taking risks on some of the bigger, more complex lifts. She had never been lifted before and it most certainly showed. They stuck out like a sore thumb.

"Trust me, okay?" Luka took hold of her hand, stepping back in preparation. Marinette moved over to the side, preparing to chassé and for Luka to catch her. They hadn't completed this move right once yet.

Luka caught her every single time but she just couldn't relax into it enough to allow the transitions to be fluid. She was stiff on some takes and too flopping on others, she just couldn't get it right. Taking a deep breath, she prepared to go again.

Step-together-step... and she bottled it.

"I'm so sorry," she said for what seemed like the thousandth time.

Luka smiled back without an ounce of exasperation. "It's okay, we'll get there."

As she swept her gaze across the dance studio, she couldn't help but let a tinge of jealousy creep in. The other dancers were fuelled by effortless grace and precision. Their mastery of movement only casted a shadow over her own, sparking a silent yearning for the same level of skill.

Finally she landed on Alya. Her friend truly was a remarkable dancer, she was incredible.

She'd been partnered up with Adrien and the two of them just seemed to click straight away. She'd even managed to get a couple of small smiles out of him, something no one had seen since training had commenced.

Her eyes moved from Alya and landed on Adrien, performing with effortless beauty. He seemed to be everywhere, his hands always predicting where Alya would go next, fixing the lifts if they were slightly out with such professional ease she just wanted to stand here for the rest of the day and watch them. It all seemed so natural, an ability she could only wish to possess.

The sound of three sharp claps echoed in the room.

"From the top, Sass." Plagg pointed over to the pianist who began to play Coppelia, Act 1, No. 2: Waltz, the dancers moving instantly into their start positions.

Though not the slowest or most intimate of duets, Marinette couldn't help but enjoy the routine. It was fun, and apart from the lift, the music really encouraged her; each repetition of the routine became easier and easier as the movements settled into her muscle memory.

Luka gave her a reassuring smile as she pushed herself up onto pointe and moved towards him. He truly was a beautiful dancer, his hands soft and shoulders strong. He was textbook perfect.

Whilst looking at her lines in the mirror, her eyes were drawn to where Adrien and Alya were positioned at the back. He barely looked like he was putting in any effort, instead the whole routine looked half hearted and a walkthrough, yet he was still mesmerising. His face was inexpressive and his arms just about reaching the correct extension, but even at half power, he still made everyone else look pathetic in comparison.

How did he do it?

A squeeze of her hand brought her back to her own routine and partner. Her eyes caught him in the mirror before locking onto something else. The glowing silver hair of the company's owner; Gabriel Agreste had just entered the studio.

*****

Why was his father here?

Adrien stumbled a little as he noticed his father and Nathalie enter. Thank God he wasn't about to perform the lift or Alya would have most likely 'fish dived' into a face plant on the floor. Alya caught his eye and he couldn't help but wince a little. This was not going to end well for any of them, Adrien was already preparing himself for his next trip to the office and whatever complaint his father would have next.

Quickly, he picked up the beats that he'd lost, flowing easily back into the routine but with a little more effort and energy. This was the same routine he'd performed for the past few years that he'd been in the company. First pas de deux class just had to be this routine. He was bored of the same. It was too safe, too predictable.

"Stop!" Gabriel held up a hand just before the lift, Sass abruptly stopping his playing and the room falling into complete silence. Adrien's eyes found Marinette in the mirror. It wasn't hard to see she'd struggled with the lifts throughout the day. He'd been tempted to go over and help her, but it wasn't his job to do so. He wasn't her chosen partner and he was quite sure Luka had got this under control. He was experienced and supportive.

Adrien started to count backwards from five as his father glared daggers at each of the dancers before falling on him. His gaze held there and Adrien knew exactly what was about to happen.

"Adrien! Come here."

All eyes were on him as he walked to the front of the studio, his father standing impatiently wait of his arrival. He hated this. He hated the attention. He just wanted to dance.

"Yes, father."

"I'm changing your partner." His father wasn't even looking at him; instead, he was looking around the studio, hands tight behind his back as he scoured over the faces of many of his terrified classmates.

"W-why?"

"Ms. Dupain-Cheng." Gabriel held one hand up with a click summoning all attention to be directed to the named girl.

Great! This was all he needed. The one girl in the studio who had been unable to complete the routine.

Adrien watched her response in the mirror, as she winced with horror and a red blush took over her cheeks, she was probably thinking she was about to be escorted out of the studio.

Luka pushed her forward, her head turning back to him as he gave her a reassuring nod. Adrien couldn't help the twist in his stomach as she moved closer, he'd never been anxious about dancing with anyone before... until now. She came to a stop beside him, her eyes on his father as she gracefully curtsied to him.

"Yes, Monsieur Agreste?"

"You will partner with...Adrien." She seemed to grow a couple of inches as her back straightened and she stood tall, her blue eyes widening to rival the vast expanse of the ocean. Adrien suddenly became worried he was about to be drowned.

"M-me? B-but I'm not..."

It was obvious, from what he'd caught in reflection, Marinette wasn't a natural at pas de deux. This was uncalled for and unfair. It was their first class and Adrien knew what people felt like dancing with him, Alya had openly admitted how terrifying it was at the start of the session.

"She's not ready, father," he said. His hands clenching at his sides. He knew his father had issues with Marinette, just as soon as the other girls had, but this just wasn't fair and he needed to protect her. He felt responsible for her, almost like a defence between himself and the man who seemed to take pleasure in others' downfall.

"Is that true? Because at this studio, Adrien, we should always be ready."

"I am!" The sweet sounding voice of the girl with the spoon was confident and believable, yet he knew better.

"I don't think –"

"Come on, Adrien." Her small, delicate hand slipped into his as she dragged him into the middle of the studio floor, everyone around them watching.

"Are others joining us?" Adrien asked.

Instead of replying, Gabriel turned his head to Sass. "From the top."

"I hope you know what you're doing, Shortcake."

She gave him a small reassuring smile as they moved into the start position. He hadn't danced with Marinette, he didn't know how she felt to lift and support, he didn't know her balance, he didn't know anything.

Coppelia, Act 1, No. 2: Waltz began to play again, Adrien attempting to keep a positive attitude when it came to dancing with someone he hadn't before. His father had been out of line asking him to do this. In front of the whole class too — like he was making a point. He glanced at Plagg, his mentor and friend, the dance master giving him a nod of support and belief, one he would hold onto for the next few minutes.

A glance back at Marinette and she had almost completed the first section meaning he would be joining in the next soon. His heart was on the verge of bursting as he watched her mirroring the practised movement of his mother. The resemblance punched him in the gut once again, as she lifted onto pointe and performed the perfect pique attitude derrière. She was graceful, there was no doubt about it, which was amazing in itself. She'd walked into more doors than he could count.

She was quite mesmerising when you properly looked, and suddenly he didn't feel quite as tense anymore — the knot loosening in his stomach.

Adrien began to dance through his section before joining in with her, supporting her and guiding her from move to move. She fit in his arms easier than he expected, his hands grasping her hips in a content fit he hadn't had with Alya... or anyone else for that matter.

She stepped back in preparation for the lift, his eyes trying to tell her to trust him, because she could. He would never drop or harm his partners. He was a professional.

He was tuned into her now, knowing her preparations without even thinking, becoming super aware of the movements and how her body worked.

Suddenly, she froze. He could see the fear in her eyes. Trust me! He urged on again. He watched her breathe out, before glimpsing in the mirror, no doubt looking at his father.

Trust...me!

Finally moving into her chassé, Marinette glided across the floor, launching into the air and closing her eyes in the process. Not at all ideal, but he'd dealt with worse.

She lifted just high enough off the ground for him to grab her and take her up into a lift. He grabbed her hard, wanting to show his father exactly what he could do, that he was capable of making his own ideas and in that moment, Adrien decided to change the choreography.

With a quick alteration to the hold, Adrien extended his arms, pushing her up over his head – double the height of the original his master had choreographed. Locking his arms, Marinette was in the air, a little squeak leaving her mouth as he pushed her higher, and higher. The arabesque lift was now over six feet in the air. Plagg's mouth tightened, obviously unimpressed by the change to his routine but Adrien didn't care. He needed to prove his point, and with Marinette it just seemed to work.

As he lowered her down back onto her pointe, before spinning her and bringing her into his body, he glanced over towards the mirror catching sight of his father.

Marinette spun around, her leg turned out and body perfectly poised, he attempted to push it on again. He spun Marinette again, aiming to get a double pirouette rather than just a single. He pushed her, twisting her too far, her head unprepared and unable to keep the turn stable — a slight wobble at the end.

Gabriel held up a hand, stopping Sass from playing anymore before heading out of the room. Nathalie, hot on his tail.

Not a word was spoken.

Silence encompassed the room as Adrien still held Marinette by the waist. He felt her foot lower down to the ground, an unsteady shift of weight as she gained her balance. Everyone was still staring at the door where Gabriel had just walked out, and Adrien swore he could hear his heart beating erratically in his chest. The thudding mixed with his heavy breathing and a broken soul.

The sound of a hard hitting impact drew everyone's attention to Plagg. "I think we'll call it a day there. Studios will be open for practice until later this evening. You're all excused."

Marinette broke away from him, her hands joining together and fingers threading through each other. She looked at him with a small smile on her face. How could she be smiling when his father was probably talking to Nathalie right now and ripping them both to pieces?

"Well, that could have gone worse," she said. His jaw dropped at the idea that she thought this had actually gone okay.

"You stumbled on the last turn," he said, crossing his arms over his chest. "You need to make sure you spot better."

Without waiting for her response, he turned and made his way out of the studio and towards the storage unit. Plagg grabbed his arm as his past, his jaw clenched tightly and eyes burning through Adrien. He wasn't happy.

"That's not protecting, Adrien."

Without replying, Adrien pulled his arm from his hand and continued on his way.

It was better Marinette had heard it from him now, not from his father later. It would give her time to think about how she would explain it. He grabbed his bag and slipped his phone into his pocket, preparing himself for the call from his father.

There was no way this observation was going without some sort of critical feedback. He'd just have to sit around and prepare for his father to once again tell him exactly what he'd done wrong.