❝her dance
was watched by
the heavens
but it was only
ever meant
for the moon❞
- Himanshu Goel
When Henley Hall's popular and passionate ballerina, Madeline Noyer, dances her way into the life of Welton Academy's in-secret aspiring actor, Neil Perry...
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"I'm guessing it didn't go well?"
Madeline Noyer stood in the main floor hall of the administration wing of the school, playing with the metal cord connecting the phone to the phone box itself with her fingers.
It was after dinner on their first day back from Summer break. The last night before classes were to begin. But she and many of the other seventeen year old girls already knew this, and what they were more excited yet scared for was that it was the last year they were ever going to do this again.
The boy on the other end of the phone sighed and Madeline could almost picture the look on his face and the way he was rubbing his forehead with his fingers, "I don't think anything goes well in this place..." he answered finally.
Madeline shook her head, "Did Mr. Nolan give you a hard time already?" she teased.
"Not as much as my parents on the ride here," the boy joked, "I don't really think I'm as smart as Jeffrey."
Madeline frowned, "Todd," she started, "Don't say that..." she spoke, but she knew that even if she could come up with some well put together dialogue of reassurance, he wouldn't ever believe it.
She knew Todd. They were childhood best friends that were products of mothers that were childhood best friends. In all her years of knowing him, he only ever could believe in himself from what he was able to show for himself. But knowing how the Anderson's were, if she were in Todd shoes too, she would never believe a soul.
Todd shook his head, in part to keep himself awake and the other because of his realization, "I'm sorry, Madeline - Erm, how was your entrance day?" he asked, shaking himself out of his pessimism.
His best friend sighed a breath out, "Same thing every year... Nothing new," she answered, before changing the topic again, "If it makes you feel better, we're a lot closer now compared to when you were at Balincrest."
"Alright, yeah, but they're making me do soccer instead of rowing," Todd groaned, "I - I don't even remember the last time I played soccer," he admitted and Madeline laughed.
"At least it's a new start, Todd," she noted, "Have you made any friends yet?"
"Not really..."
Madeline started to walk back and forth in front of the phone box to stretch her legs. "What? No one? Really?" she questioned, "No one at dinner? Oh! What about your roommate? Have you talked-"
"Madeline, I don't wanna talk about it," Todd interrupted, "Besides you know we're never gonna be able to see each other till Thanksgiving."
Madeline nodded frowning slightly, "I know - I know, I'm sorry," she spoke before glancing at the old clock, "I should go soon... Same time tomorrow?"
Todd nodded, "Yeah, I'll call."
Madeline offered a small smile as she stared ahead of her at the clock, "Alright, goodnight Todd."
